August Newsletter
Dear friends
As I write this letter August draws to an end. I am aware that the responses to the words ‘how are you?’ will be very varied. In all of your responses may you have a real sense of God’s peace as I am prompted to begin with just a little of my Address last Sunday.
What a difference Jesus makes because of the truth which Christians know. Before Jesus came God seemed distant and perhaps threatening. Since Christ’s coming, we can come to believe that because of Jesus, God welcomes us into his presence. We rejoice when we know what it is to accept God’s invitation to join his worshipping community, of what it means when Christ reigns within us and we are willing to let him rule our hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit guiding and helping us. Appreciation which results in owning how vital fellowship with other believers is, as together we seek to live out the faith and truth to which we hold – that only God’s kingdom will last. God’s kingdom is unshakeable. In faith we believe that everyone who follows Jesus Christ is part of that unshakeable kingdom and whose future rests on the solid foundation which cannot be destroyed. If we go from here with no other message today, may that which we do go away with be so important to us because it affirms the importance of building our lives on Christ and his unshakeable kingdom, owning the words of Jesus Himself in Matthew 7:24-27: “Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” [NIV]
I have just come from a time of prayer ahead of the Global Week of Prayer from 1st to
7th September. Consider making this your prayer next week as we saturate in prayer the world, the Medway Towns and situations of which we are aware. ‘Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God.’ Hebrews 12:14 and 15a. [NIV]
We are grateful for the continuing encouragement to look after the world in which we live. I take this opportunity to remind us that Medway Council’s newsletter ‘A cleaner Medway’ contains really useful information and action points. Google Medway Council A Cleaner Medway or email MedwayCouncil@public.govdelivery.com and you will be able to sign up to receive their regular newsletter by email. From now on we will also have a regular item on our Church Meeting Agenda so that we can keep abreast of information about recycling and caring for the planet.
Dates for our diaries in the coming weeks:
On behalf of Embrace the Middle East we look forward to welcoming Duncan Warmington to speak to us on Wednesday 3rd September at 2 pm.
Friends of Kent Churches Ride and Stride 13th September. We will open the church for part of the day to welcome visitors as they cycle and walk this local area.
Church Meeting Sunday 14th September.
Harvest Sunday 28th September. The service will include the launch of the Blythswood Care Shoebox Appeal. Bring and share lunch follows the service.
Sponsored knit for Blythswood Care Shoebox Appeal 29th September. Thank you to those of you who will be knitting. If that does not yet include you and you would like to be involved please speak to Lorna. Thank you too to those willing to sponsor knitters.
We look forward to welcoming Wendy Piccinini to speak on behalf of The Leprosy Mission during worship on 5th October and Chris Knott to speak on behalf of Starfish Malawi on
26th October.
Macmillan Cancer Coffee Morning 8th October 10 am to 12 noon.
Kingfisher Singers concert Saturday 29th November at 2 pm.
Other important dates which we can begin to share with others for whom these opportunities are special times of the year:
Our service on 2nd November will include reading of names in our Book of Remembrance.
Remembrance Sunday is on 9th November.
Advent Sunday is on 30th November.
Our service on 7th December will include the hanging of stars in memory of loved ones on the Christmas tree; the service on the morning of December 14th will include the Nativity and our Carol Service will be on 21st December at 6 pm.
Carols at KICC Sunday 7th December at 6 pm.
As we enter September and what is so often a time of new beginnings, we pray for children and young people starting a new academic term at school, college or university. We pray for young people embarking on work opportunities and also for those for whom the way forward is not yet clear.
Whoever we are and wherever we are at this time, we thank God that he is with us always.
God bless you all
Pam