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
Yesterday is history,
Tomorrow is a mystery
Today is a gift for you from God- that's why its called the present
Dear Friends,
Last month I wrote about the nature of time, basing our thoughts on the Old Testament book of Ecclesiastes. But the Bible has a lot more to say on the subject. So in this summer newsletter, when some of us at least have a bit more time than during the rest of the year, I thought we could continue our thoughts.
The Bible encourages us to think about time from two perspectives to get a balanced view- from God's perspective, and from our own.
First of all, we need to recognize the divine hand which is exercised over our lives. In Psalm 31, verse 15 David, who is clearly facing troubles in his life, expresses his confidence like this: "My times are in your hands". When we learn to trust God like that it takes away the fretfulness, anxiety and restlessness, and leaves us much better able to cope with our situation. He may arrange our diaries differently from the way we would have chosen to fill them. But so what? He knows best.
The same message is movingly portrayed in the book of Esther. Although it does not even mention God once, it is a powerful witness to his ability to look after things. Ester was a Jewish girl who became queen to King Xerxes just at the time when a holocaust on the Jews was about to be unleashed. Because of her position she was able to persuade the king that he had been manipulated by his advisors, and the threat against the Jews was removed. Esther's uncle says to her, "Who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?" (Esther 4:14)
Which leads us to the second lesson to emerge from the story of Esther, which is to do with the human side of things. For all their belief in God's providence, Esther still had to speak and seize the opportunity presented to her. It's a message the apostle Paul often echoes in his New Testament letters "Understand the present time," he tells the Romans (Romans 13:11); "Make the most of every opportunity," he writes to the Colossians (Colosians 4:5).
Did you notice the words at the top of this letter? They were shared by someone during a service I led at a nearby Baptist Church a couple of weeks ago. The truth is that today (whenever you are reading this!) is a gift to you from God. Don't waste it! Enjoy it to the full.
‘
Your friend and pastor,
Jonathan Calvert