 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Website last updated on 27 August 2008. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Our Minister
 |
Telephone Number: 01252 544823
Email: linda.phillips@theinvernet.co.uk
Linda writes (taken from our October 2008 newsletter) ...
Dear Friends,
Firstly I want to say thank you to all who were involved in my Welcome Service on September 7th, and Peter and I would like to say how much we appreciated the warmth of your welcome on that occasion. I’m looking forward to getting to know you all and working with you in the months and years to come, and I’m quite sure that if we keep God at the centre of all we do, and work together with each other and with our Lord, then he will enable us to do great things in his name.
As Christians we have various ways of reminding ourselves of what lies at the centre of our faith, and one in particular is very important. On the shelf above the computer on my desk I keep all my books of worship resources, prayers, meditations, service books etc., and next to each other at one end are the Methodist Worship Book, and Common Worship – the Church of England Worship Book. Both of these books have the logo of the respective churches on the spine, and they are strikingly similar, in that for both the cross is at the centre of the design. Is the cross truly at the centre of the design of our churches? And I don’t mean by that, do we physically have a cross on display outside or inside our church, although that too is important. No, what I’m asking is whether the cross and all it symbolises and means is at the centre of the LIFE and FAITH of our churches.
So what does the Cross mean, this symbol which we probably take all too casually, which decorates our churches and our worship books, and is worn around our necks, more or less seriously, but sometimes merely as jewellery. Whole books have been written about this subject, but to put it very briefly perhaps we can say that the symbol of the cross represents a life lived wholly for God and for other people. To have the cross on the wall of our church or our home, or worn around our necks, is to say to the world – we are for God, and we are for you. Jesus was committed to God’s way regardless of what that meant, he was ready to do and to suffer whatever was necessary to bring the message of the Gospel to God’s people. And alongside his obedience to God’s will is the fact that his love for us was so deep he was willing to suffer even death on the cross to bring us the knowledge of God’s love and to challenge us to follow in his footsteps.
This may seem a slightly strange theme for a time of year when first we celebrate Harvest, and then more solemnly observe All Saints and Remembrance Sunday in November. But of course, although Harvest Thanksgiving is a Festival and time for celebration, it’s also a very appropriate time to remember how dependent we all are on each other, and the sacrifices that many have made and still make, to enable us to live as we do. But let’s remember Jesus also, the one who by his sacrifice set us an example of living for God and for others, and calls us to follow him.
May our reflections on this bring us to a new commitment to serve others in the name of Christ. Harvest time especially is one that should provoke us to reflect on the suffering of those who do not enjoy the plenty that we can cheerfully thank God for. Let us resolve to be more generous in our giving and more careful in our living, so as to express our Christian love and concern for others in everything we do.
With Christian greetings,
Linda