News From Stotfold
Methodist Church
New Year, New Agreement..
We each may be looking at the new year with hope or dread, with joy or sadness, with positive or negative thoughts. I have hope, especially in the younger generations. But I feel sadness at the unfairness of the deal that young people appear to be left with, as the Western World confesses its sins of greed and carelessness for the rest of humanity and for nature. Recurring regret for past failings or betrayal can also cast a negative shadow over life. At the same time, hope in God’s love can drive that shadow away. January is often a time of resolutions to move our lives in right directions. Across the country, Methodist Church congregations will be using the words of the Covenant Prayer. Covenant means “Agreement”. In the service, we remind each other of the generous deal that God gives humanity through the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In this agreement, God forgives our sins of the past and present and offers faith in Christ to enable us to agree to follow God’s way of love for God, neighbour and each other. It is the most solemn and important of all Methodist services, yet joyful in the hope that it brings. It places the believer’s life into God’s hands, for whatever the future will bring, but also holds God to God’s own promises. The Covenant Prayer finishes with: “And now, glorious and blessèd God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, you are mine and I am yours. So be it. And the covenant now made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.”* That sounds pretty positive to me! May this New Year mark a new and energising and hopeful agreements for our lives, and for the generations to come.
Stotfold Methodist Church is not holding a coffee morning this month, but hopes to welcome you on the first Saturday of the month, 10am, starting 5th February. Monday Club resumes 10th January, 2pm to 3:30pm. We also welcome you to Sunday worship, 10am to 11am, with refreshments after. Our preachers in January are: 2nd : Peter Rogers 9th : Paul Burgin 16th : Barbara Cook 23rd : Rev Graham Claydon-Knights (Covenant service) 30th : Rev Val Reid
Revd. Graham Tel: 07340 857386 Email Graham.Claydon-Knights@methodist.org.uk (Methodist Worship Book, 1999, p.290)
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