Happy New Year!

Happy new year. Here we are at the start of another new year! We all hope for a change for the better(!); but apart from a seven changing into an eight it seems like everything else is the same. Even the weather! Yet each year we hope for better.

Hope is a good thing. It helps us through the tough times. The Bible is filled with hope, which is just as well as much of it was written during tough times, whether it was slavery in Egypt, war in Canaan, exile in Babylon or occupation by the Romans.

The greatest hope of all is that Jesus Christ has overcome death and paid the penalty for our rebellion. We will only see that full extent of the victory when He comes again and completely annihilates the source of evil.

The following promise was originally given to Israel when it was on the verge of complete defeat and exile, “For I know the plans I have for you’, declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you’. Jeremiah 29 v 11-12.

My prayer for us all is that we may fulfil the purposes that God has for us in 2018; that we may find a way, with His help, to overcome the things that pull us down; that we may experience more of His love and power in our lives and those around us; that church will be a place where we experience more of His love and power in our lives and those around us; that church will be a place where we experience a meaningful relationship with God and one another.

Abundant Life. Living life to the full!!

Rain, rain, rain!

I don’t know about you, but I have been known to moan about the amount of rainy days we have had over the past few months! I do miss the sun and hope that by the time you are reading this that we will be in an Indian summer. How can I moan when in many parts of the world the weather conditions have been much worse? We have seen so much devastation – mud slides in Sierra Leone, floods in

Bangladesh, Nepal and India; hurricanes in the Caribbean and the United States. We are truly lucky living in a country which very rarely experiences extreme weather.

Once again it is harvest time and we see the farmers gathering in the crops in spite of the weather, making the most of every opportunity. Years ago, one of the most popular Sundays of the year was harvest festival when most of the rural community would gather to give thanks for the harvest and enjoy a good old harvest supper. Sadly, this doesn’t seem to happen as much now.

One of the Bible readings quoted at harvest time was Genesis chapter 8 verse 22, ‘As long as the earth remains, seed time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease’. This promise was given by God after a catastrophic flood which engulfed the known world. In spite of all of the pollution, misuse of the planet’s resources and massive population growth, the promise is still true. So often we worry about the future and what will happen to the planet and it is right that we are concerned and do our best to care for all that God has given to us, but remember this: He is the Lord and He will look after us. Jesus said, “the thief comes only to steal kill and destroy. I have come that you may have life and have it to the full”.

Pastor Martin

God's Unconditional Love

My daughter and her husband have recently bought a puppy called Luna. Luna is a Jack Russell and is full of love and mischievousness. She was from a litter of four. She brings a lot of joy to our family and certainly is the centre of attention. Life has definitely changed for my daughter Helen, as now every time they want to go out, they have to consider Luna. It has also a big change for our dog Millie. Millie is ten years old and wasn’t too happy the first time that Luna visited our home, but gradually she has got used to her, has been playing with Luna and we have seen them cuddled up together.

Dogs are wonderfully good at giving love, even when they know they have been naughty and are told off. They can’t stop giving love and wanting to be loved. They are so unconditional with their love. Our dog hates it when we get the suitcases down from the loft, as she knows it means we will be going on holiday; but the moment we get back all is forgotten. She is wagging her tail and so glad to see us.

People aren’t always as understanding or forgiving as our pets. Many times in life we are hurt and it is hard to move on. One of the things that Jesus said is, “I have come to heal the broken-hearted”. That is something our world needs more and more. Jesus is very forgiving and has a love for mankind that is unconditional. Whatever hurt you have been through, why not ask Him to comfort and heal you. My experience is that He can help you deal with the disappointment of life; release you from the anger that can arise when you are let down by others; give you hope for the future and help you to love again.