Stainglass window
Christmas 2011
3rd Dec Advent Party
12th Dec @ 2pm
Carol Service at Oak tree Court
16th Dec @ 2.30pm
Carol Service at Stratford Court
17th Dec @11am
Carol Singing outside Co-Op
18th Dec Nativity and Christingle Service and Carol Service
24th Dec @ 11pm (Service starts at 11.30pm
United Service at URC Etwall Rd
25th Dec @10am
Christmas Day Service
"Just What is This Book?"
Dear Friends,
The Bible is still the number one best seller, and has been for centuries past. If God were to get the royalties, the sum in the heavenly bank account would be staggering.
What do you make of the Bible? The cynical (most of whom have never read it) dismiss it . Even so, they acknowledge and recognise it as the great foundation of the Christian faith.
When we read passages from the Bible in Church, we describe them in the carefully chosen. "This," we say of both Old and New Testaments, "is the Word of the Lord". we acknowledge that they are not just some ancient document (although they are too), but that through these words, God is speaking today just as he did to our forefathers two thousand years ago and more.
Sadly, we cannot leave it there. According to a recent survey, only 15% of regular churchgoers have read the Bible, although many, of course, dip into this bit or that bit. No one would pretend that it is an easy book to read, but the sad fact is that the vast majority of Christians are willing to express opinions about the Bible when they have made little attempt to grapple with it. This is even more true of those who don't pretend to be Christians.
Stop and think. These last 60 years have seen more translations of the Bible published than ever before. in Africa, Asia and Latin America, men and women are gobbling up the Bible like hungry people in a famine. it speaks to them, and they are fed. not so in Europe, where, surrounded by every kind of understanding, even Christians can't be bothered to give any time to the Bible.
This, then, is the challenge to us today. Four hundred years after the Bible became widely available through printing, our forefathers and mothers read it. They gave time and effort to it, and it shaped our history. They became "the people of the book"
This month sees our united Bible Sunday service being held at the Church of the Ascension, on October 15th at 4pm. Try to be there if you can be.
At the Wednesday morning Emmaus group, beginning on the 1st November, we're going to work our way through the Bible and it's story, week by week, to get an overview of how it all fits together.
And on the fourth Sunday evening of each month next year, we're going to think about how better to read and understand the Bible. as an introduction to that, on the evening of Sunday November 26th, we're going to ask the question, "Just what is this book?" Make a note of the date NOW.
Anyone who wants to understand and follow the Christian faith needs to read the Bible. Don't plan to start doing so next week. Start today!
Your friend and pastor,
Jonathan Calvert
For further information: Look out for a new book "Reading the Bible" just published by SCM, and recommended by our own friend and member Prof Michael Taylor.