January 2013
“God Grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference”
Rhoda at Lunchbox
Praise and Proclaim
Worshipping without an agenda Every 4th Sunday @ 7.15pm. Location changes, ask Andy or Sam or email e-prayernetwork@live.co.uk
If anyone wants to follow me (Andy Mason) on twitter, I’m @mase_the_vicar not @revandym (who is a friend of mine, Andy March!). He is much more eloquent than me, and has written about his dream of what Church should be, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, can be‌ A dream of the church
I Have a Dream I dream of a people who love God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength; Who worship with passion, serve with conviction, who hunger for revelation, who know and love God's Word, who know they will never stop learning; Lifelong disciples, who follow Jesus faithfully, knowing they are loved by the King - accepted and forgiven people; A dream of a grace-filled and Spirit-fuelled people; Who love until it hurts, who step out boldly and shine light in dark places; Who welcome all indiscriminately; Who rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep; Bringing peace, healing, compassion, love and hope wherever they go; A people for whom generosity and hospitality is instinctive, who see and develop potential in each other and others; A dream of a transformed people who bring transformation; A restored people who bring restoration; A healed people who bring healing; A dream of God's people His beloved bride, His body, His temple, His holy nation. A dream of the Church. Rev. Andy March (April 2012)
Beautiful Outlaw
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Experiencing the Playful, Disruptive, extravagant Nature of Jesus. By John Eldredge If there’s one book (besides the bible) that I think every Christian should read, its this one. This book completely changed the way I look at Jesus, it takes him out of fluffy Christian mythology and looks at Jesus the man, who loved and laughed and made fun of his mates. This book explores the gospel in a unique and realistic way. Without compromising who he is it makes Jesus accessible and relatable in the modern world, a truly spectacular read.
Bishops delighted at “inspired” choice for Archbishop
both his career in business and his contribution to the life of the Church over the last 20 years. His knowledge and experience of mediation will be one of the many special gifts that he lends to this role. I greatly look forward to working alongside and in support of a man whom, in the relatively short time I have known him, has quickly gained my greatest admiration and respect.” Rt Revd Dr Lee Rayfield, the Bishop of Swindon added:
The Bishops of Bristol and Swindon have wholeheartedly welcomed the announcement that Rt Revd Justin Welby will be the next Archbishop of Canterbury. Rt Revd Mike Hill, Bishop of Bristol, praised Bishop Justin’s exceptional experience, outstanding record and special gifts and expressed his greatest admiration and respect for him.
“Justin is an inspired choice for Archbishop and I am really encouraged by news of his appointment. He will be well aware of the challenges before him and we will be praying that he can help make them God-given opportunities for renewal of the Church.”
Rt Revd Justin Welby, 56, is current“I am delighted to hear of Justin Wel- ly the Bishop of Durham. He will be by’s appointment as the next Arch- enthroned as Archbishop of Canterbishop of Canterbury,” said Bishop bury in Canterbury Cathedral on 21st Mike. March 2013. He succeeds Archbishop Rowan Williams who will become “He brings exceptional experience Master of Magdalene College, Camand an outstanding track record from bridge in January 2013.
Bishop Justin is a former oil executive who ran the reconciliation ministry based at Coventry Cathedral, working extensively in areas of civil war or other violent disturbance, before becoming Dean of Liverpool in 2007. He was consecrated Bishop of Durham in 2011.
“Together with the whole Church in the Diocese of Bristol, we shall be holding Justin, Caroline and their family in our prayers as they prepare for this new phase of their lives and great responsibility,” concluded Bishop Mike.
e-prayernetwork@live.co.uk We’re still praying, why not join us? “By this all people will know you are my disciples, that you love one another as I have loved you” Jesus
My Dad
My dad’s bigger than your dad. My dad’s as tall as the moon, as strong as the wind, as wide as the sky. You should see my dad! He’s got stars in his fists. He bends rainbows on his knee. When he breathes, clouds move. He’s good is my dad. You can’t scare him with the dark. You can’t scare him with guns or sticks. He makes bullies say sorry just by staring. Big green monsters fall asleep on his lap. Ghosts start haunting each other. My dad’s been everywhere but he says he likes the world. Earth people are fun, he says. My dad knows more than teacher. He knows everything. He knows what you’re thinking, even when you try to trick him by thinking something else. If you tell a lie my dad says he can tell by the look on your face. My dad’s the best dad ever. I say I love him a million times a million times a million times a million trillion. My dad says he loves me a billion trillion times more than that. My dad likes to love. My dad made the world.
Crossword
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Across 1.
7.
He was replaced as King of Judah by his uncle Mattaniah (2 Kings 24:17) (10) ‘Let us fix our eyes on Jesus…. who for the joy set before him -- the cross’ (Hebrews 12:2) (7) Relieved (5)
8. 10. Impetuous (Acts 19:36) (4) 11 Surprised and alarmed (Luke 13.
15. 17. 18.
21
22. 23.
24:37) (8) ‘It is -- for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for the rich to enter the kingdom of God’ (Mark 10:25) (6) Directions for the conduct of a church Service (6) One of the acts of the sinful nature (Galatians 5:19) (8) (And 20 down) ‘She began to wet his -- with her tears. Then she wiped them with her -(Luke 7:38) (4,4) ‘We will all be changed, in the twinkling of an --, -- the last trumpet’ (1 Corinthians 15: 51 - 52) (3,2) ‘But he replied “Lord, I am --- go with you to prison and to death” (Luke 22:33) (5,2) Third person of the Trinity (2 Corinthians 13:14) (4,6)
Down 1. 2.
3
4 5. 6. 9.
12.
14. 16. 19
20.
He betrayed Jesus (Mathew 27:3) (5) Paul’s assurance to the Philippian jailer: ‘Don’t - - yourself! We are all here!’ (Acts 16:28) (4) ‘Fear God and keep his commandments, For this - - the whole - - of man’ (Ecclesiastes 12:13) (2,4) The sort of giver God loves (2 Corinthians 9:7) (8) Sun rail (Anagram) (7) Naboth, the ill-fated vineyard owner was one. (1 Kings 21:1) (10) Paul said of young widows, ‘when their sensual desires overcome their - - to Christ, they want to marry’ (1 Timothy 5:11) (10) This was how Joseph of Arimathea practised his discipleship ‘because he feared the Jews’ (John 19:38) (8) Mop ruse (Anagram) (7) 16. Foment (Philippians 1:17) (4,2) Where Joseph and Mary escaped to with baby Jesus (Mathew 2:14) (5) See 18 across
Prayer of St Francis Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; and where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may
not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen
Some News! Many of you will remember at last year’s ‘Experience Easter’ Mission our speaker on Good Friday, Eva Jackson (she did a phenomenal talk!) also announced she was pregnant! Greg and Eva have had a little boy Elijah – do hold the family in your prayers! Many of you met Mark and Helena Davey who came down to help
us with our ‘Experience Easter’ Mission, and Mark came down for a 6 week placement with us over the Summer. Mark is studying for ordination at Wycliffe Hall Theological College, in Oxford. He has now got a curacy fixed up and from June he’ll ‘serve his title’ at Christ Church, Herne Bay in Kent, in the Diocese of Canterbury.
Some Courses we’ve been running! ‘Christianity Explored’
We have been running ‘Christianity Explored’ (not to be mistaken for the diocesan course called ‘Exploring Christianity’ that Peter runs) which is similar to Alpha but going through Mark’s Gospel, in the day time on a Wednesday afternoon following Lunchbox. We have had a small group, but have had some great discussions, as people wrestle together with what it means to be a follower of Christ.
Just Ten
It has been great too, to do the ‘Just10’ course, where the evangelist J.John (who is very funny as well as being a very moving speaker) goes through the 10 Commandments in reverse order (starting with 10 and ending with number 1); these have been really challenging and inspiring, as it is talking about areas of our life that as Christians we don’t often talk about, but I think perhaps we should! The group meets fortnightly on a Tuesday evening 7.30 pm in Down Under and anyone is welcome to join us!
Loving Your Kids On Purpose
Also on a Monday morning we have kept the mums and toddler Alpha group running, doing a Christian parenting course called ‘Loving our kids on purpose’. It has been brilliant seeing Christian mums and not yet believing mums sharing about issues of parenting, and also talking about theology and applying biblical principles to everyday family life.
Can God Help Me?
Some of you may already know that our daughter (Lisa) suffers with M.E. (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. When she was very ill with this illness I was blessed to find a book called ‘Can God help M.E.?’ by Liz Babbs. Although my daughter chose not to read this book herself, some members of my family and I read it and it really gave us an insight of Lisa’s illness through the eyes of a fellow sufferer.
Liz was studying for her Bachelor and Master Degrees in Education at Nottingham University and worked for many years as a secondary school teacher. She became a Christian in 1987. In 1989 Liz suffered with the illness ME, which saw her hit rock bottom; but she was dramatically healed of that illness through prayer some years later. It was as a result of this healing that she sensed God calling her to mission and to write her book ‘Can God Help M.E.?’ Liz wrote meditations and pieces of scripture into her book which really helped give us a hope of healing for Lisa and with continued prayers, the lightning
process and God’s help Lisa has become much better. It has taken Lisa a long time to achieve this; she still is very fatigued but is trying to live as “normal” a life as is possible. Liz is considered to be an expert in the area of prayer and spiritual formation and has written and voiced materials for many organizations. Liz has led many Christian meditations in the UK and US, on radio, TV and touring with her one-woman stand-up performance ‘Licensed to Chill’. Liz’s most recent work is her 2013 Easter Bible study book and CD for small groups. This book comprises of 6 meditations and is called ‘Transformed by the Presence of Jesus’; this book goes beyond traditional Bible study and, through a popular meditative approach, encourages you to step into the shoes of wellknown Bible characters – so that you might be transformed, as they were, by the presence of Jesus, allowing Jesus to touch your life in fresh ways so you too can become an instrument of change and transformation. I really Thank God for Liz Babbs. She certainly was used by God to touch the lives of my family and for that I will always be thankful. Angela Chapel
Café Tots is going from strength to strength with over 60 children now registered. We also have 10 mums to be and a few dads and grandparents who come along too. Our trip to Holy Trinity Church for our Harvest Festival was a great success. The children brought food to go to the Bourne Family Project and received an apple.
fun activities. The new Café Tots year starts on 8 January with visits from St Johns Ambulance (paediatric first aid), health visitors, Senco (behavioural specialists) currently being planned. We will also be celebrating love with Valentines Day craft/cooking and creating something special for Mothers’ Day. January also sees the launch of the popular START breakfast club (from 9.15am to 10am when Café Tots regular sessions start) - a fun introduction to Christianity. Café Tots is on a Tuesday from 10am to 11.30am - term time only - cost £1.50 per family. Open to all children (up to the age of 5), mums/dads/carers and mums to be.
This half term we have continued to learn each week a different letter of Please call Fiona Brown 0793 037 the alphabet. We have enjoyed lots of 2036 for further information. cooking and craft and some really fun CraZicise. One of the highlights was a visit from the local police and we tried on lots of police hats. In November and December we learnt the songs for Holy Trinity's nativity play. The children played the parts of stars, angels, sheep and shepherds. We also went on our Christmas trip to the Santa steam train where we received a lovely present. We are looking forward to next term's
watch this space Looking Ahead Sam is writing a discipleship course using the book of the Acts of the Apostles; if you’d like to think more about discipleship and more about one of the most exciting, inspiring and challenging book of the Bible… And Gill Godfrey is hoping to start a quiet service (in fact by the time this goes to print it might even have started, a chance for those who want to go deeper with God through more of a contemplative service. Next term with our Café Tots we hope to do the Start Course (or similar) with the mums over breakfast, and hopefully another Alpha. Also, after Easter, we hope to run another Alpha, in partnership with our friends at Hanham and Soundwell.
Exciting times ahead.
Andy writes:
Standing on the shoulders of Giants. It is true we are living in changing times, Christendom is dying – it might even be dead!; Church as institution no longer resonates with our culture, in fact sometimes our buildings, ‘professionalism’ and history are for many barriers to the advance of the gospel. Christendom was defined by buildings, programmes and an ethos of ‘keeping the show on the road’ but I look out of the window and it clearly isn’t working in the 21st century; many church buildings in Kingswood are in ruins. Christendom is dead, and hanging on to it as a mind-set is clinging on to an outdated and obsolete relic from the past, it served us reasonably well (although not as well as we often think it did). To be fair the writing has been on the wall for a while, Bonheoffer (a theologian who was martyred by the Nazi’s in the Second World War) said: “The restoration of the church will surely come only from a new kind of monasticism which will have nothing in common with the old, but a life of uncompromising adherence to the Sermon on the Mount in imitation of Christ”. (Dietrich Bonhoeffer, 1935).
I have been interested in what is called (rather unhelpfully) New Monasticism; I think the word conjures up images of wandering around Kingswood in a monk’s habit and open-toed sandals(!) but I believe it is realizing that there is a wide variety of treasures from the past, which in a changing times, resonate with our culture in a way that the old and clunky model of Christendom hasn’t done for many centuries. Instead of placing our emphasis on programs, budgets, building and ‘keeping the show on the road’, rather on our life lived in following obedience to Christ, journeying with others (interestingly, every move of God from the Patristics, such as Francis/Dominic/Clair or local boys Wesley/Whitfield, has had at is centre personal renewal but also a strong emphasis on community, fellowship of the saints, other Christians travelling together), but it is a journey with a purpose “following Christ, being ‘salt and light’”. This type of Christianity is not about an hour on a Sunday morning but affecting our whole lives, yet it is more than this, it is not only doing Christ-like stuff, it is doing it in a Christ-like way, defined by humility and servant-hood, not a
begrudging apathy but a willingness tic expressions of community, being to serve. salt and light as we live out our lives missionally in a Christ-like way. In the last issue of ‘Celebrate’ I talked about the call to go deeper, in Yours in Christ, many ways that is still the theme, but Andy somewhat more defined; this issue (and hopefully our lives together) are shaped by personal renewal in our relationship with Christ, journeying with one another in real and authen-
“If you haven’t found anything worth dying for, you haven’t found anything worth living for”
Unsung Heroes Event… At the end of October we had our ‘Unsung Heroes Event’ and it was great to welcome the Hon. Chris Skidmore MP, also Cllr Pat Apps, Cllr Bill Bowery and Cllr Pat Rooney, along with representatives from Kingswood Street Pastors, St. George Singers, Kingswood Furniture Project, Kingswood Bus Project, Down Under Café, Lunchbox, Christians Against Poverty, the Kingsmeadow Flat, Mothers’ Union, Jungle Club and Castaways. It was a good event – a special thank you to Sam, Rachel and Allana in getting it all set up. Hopefully this will be something we can repeat as we continue to reach out into Kingswood with a hand of blessing and of grace.
“Living one day at a time; enjoying one moment at a time; accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as he did, this sinful world as it is, not as what I would have it; trusting that he will make all things right if I surrender to his will; that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with him forever in the next. Amen” Reinold Niebuhr (also known as ‘The Serenity Prayer’ in AA)
“All things come from you and of your own do we give you!” What is this saying when we choose to buy unethically traded produce, particularly tea, coffee and sugar, we are putting cash into the pockets of wealthy business people who are exploiting some of the world’s poorest people (including children), often in appauling conditions? (It isn’t like we are saving money, the price of fairly traded goods is now much more comparable with other brands now). It is sinful. This label tells us that the workers who produce this product work in adequate conditions, and receive a fair days’` wage. I want to challenge to us all (both as individuals and corporately) to be ethical shoppers and consumers, Andy. “What does the LORD require of you; to love justice, do mercy and walk humbly before you our God”. Micah 6:8
“Every time you spend money, you are casting a vote for what kind of world you want” Anna Lape
The Walk On a sunny Saturday afternoon in September, four members of Holy Trinity Church plus a dog set out on a sponsored walk. The idea was to walk to near-by churches and at the same time raise some money for the Gloucester Historic Churches Trust. This organization has already given us two lots of money for the Restoration Fund so this was a way of giving something back, though we will benefit from some of the money raised. Having set off from Holy Trinity Church, we were seen off by Mandy and Victoria Newport, who handed us a donation, this was a good start.
walker here). The dog didn’t like this part of the trip and had to be carried part of the way. At Bitton Station we were greeted by friends from church and after a toilet stop we marched on to St Mary’s Church at Bitton. Here we had our forms signed and a welcome cup of tea as well as a delicious slice of cake. The dog had a ham sandwich! It had taken us 2 hours and 10 minutes to complete our walk.
From there we were transported back to Holy Trinity and a rest. It was interesting to visit these churchDown the hill we travelled, through es and to be welcomed by them. Also the under-pass and on to Warm- it was pleasant to be sharing the walk ley church, where we had our forms with members of the signed and were given a cup of tea. Ed congregation and to exchange ideas Sims’ sister was there waiting for us to and points of view. wish us well on our next stage. Next time perhaps we can have a few We then joined the cycle track to Bit- more walkers and do even more for ton station. This part of the journey our fundraising. was not so easy as we had to avoid being knocked by the cyclists (Saturday afternoon is not a good time for a
“If I do not have love, I have nothing” St. Paul
A Commentary On The Vote For Women Bishops Posted by oliver on Tuesday, November 20th 2012
The General Synod has failed to agree legislation that would have enabled women to become bishops in the Church of England. The legislation required a two thirds majority in all three Houses of Bishops, Clergy and Laity but failed to achieve that majority in the House of Laity by a mere six votes.
Rt Revd Mike Hill, the Bishop of Bristol, expressed dismay at the outcome:
“I regard the outcome of today’s debate as disastrous. Whilst I have never believed it necessary for anyone to leave the Church on the basis of the Measure before us today, others clearly took another view. “It will be very difficult for those of us who have supported the ordination of women bishops to process our disappointment in the days ahead. My prayers are with the many people who are hurting, particularly women in our churches and those within and outside the Church who are bemused and disillusioned by such a failure. It is amazing to me that the decision to ordain women as bishops, which the Church of England agreed in principle several years ago, has now been undermined for the foreseeable future. In a culture that celebrates democracy, it does seem strange that a clear minority has managed to influence the debate and elected representatives in such a way. However, we will have to come to terms with where we now are and somehow learn to live together with the serious ramifications this failure to move forward creates.”
Revd Emma Ineson, a representative of the Diocese of Bristol General Synod, added: “I am sorry, disappointed and ashamed that this Synod couldn’t find a way to echo the view of the vast majority of the church who wanted to see women bishops. Now, yet again, we will have to wait – we don’t know for how long – which will be painful and tedious. But I hope we will get there eventually.” Having failed to agree the legislation over the course of the last three years, the legislative process starts again and it is unclear when it might be able to be brought back
At the swimming baths Moses had an unfair advantage! “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, as long as ever you can” John Wesley
"It's not that there's no point spending time with Christians, and sorting these things out - but we have to remember that every single minute we spend with people who should know better by now, is yet another minute that we're not spending exploring the possibilities of God and the community of faith with people who don't yet know friendship with Jesus." Jon Oliver
Crossword Answers
Across
1. Johoiachin 7. Endured 8. Eased 10. Rash 11. Startled 13. Easier 15. Rubric 17. Impurity 18. Feet 21. Eye at 22. Ready to 23. Holy Spirit
Down
1. Judas 2. Harm 3. is Juty 4. Cheerful 5. Insular 6. Jezreelite 9. Dedication 12. Secretly 14. Supremo 16. Stir Up 19. Egypt 20. Hair
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