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
‘The Key to Success’
Dear Friends,
It’s that time in the Church year when we think about the election of Deacons, and all the other jobs that need to be done to keep the life of the Church running efficiently. I recently came across in an old book the following short parable. I think it bears reprinting:
‘Xvxn though this typxwritxr is an old modxl, it works quitx wxll, xxcxpt for onx of thx kxys. It is trux that thxrx arx 46 othxr kxys that function wxll xnough, but only onx kxy not working makxs thx diffxrxncx.
You may say to yoursxlf:Wxll, I am the only onx pxrson, I won’t makx or brxak NY PLANS. But it doxs makx a diffxrxncx. Thx Church to bx xffxctivx nxxds thx work and prayxrs of xvxry mxmbxr.
So thx nxxt timx you think you arx only onx pxrson, and that your xfforts arx not nxxdxd, rxmxmbxr this old typx-writxr and say to yoursxlf: I am a kxy pxrson in this Church, and my support is vxry much nxxdxd’
I think it speaks (or should that be spxaks) for itself. We all have a part to play in the life of the Church, and as the apostle Paul makes clear in 1 Corinthians 12, if some do not play their part, then the whole Church suffers.
At the burning bush, when God called Moses (Exodus 3 and 4), he made a whole succession of excuses as to why he couldn’t do what God wanted him to do….and each time God responded by answering the excuse, and promiosing to provide what Moses felt he lacked. Let this be a challenge to us all: Wehat is God asking you to do for him? And what’s your excuse?
Your friend and pastor,
Jonathan Calvert