Jesus never sought popularity and was never interested in following current fashion. Moreover, he repeatedly warned his followers to expect a hard time – in fact, he warned us to be on our guard against enjoying everyone’s approval (Luke 6:26) and urged us to rejoice when we are unfairly treated (Matthew 5:12). While there is no suggestion that we should deliberately provoke hostility, we should not be taken by surprise when we find that we are out of step with the world we live in. Indeed, we should be reassured that we are indeed where Jesus said we would be. And he is with us every step of the way. For the full content, please download the December Newsletter for St Paul's and St Nick's
Quick Reaction Alert (QRA)Quick to spot and make the most of any and every opportunity to articulate our faith in Jesus to those who do not yet know him; react to those who might seek to undermine the Gospel with gentleness and respect and remain alert, recognising the twin dangers of complacency and apathy that God’s enemy takes delight in? As is often said, the church is always just one generation away from extinction. Then, let us prayerfully reflect and act upon the Great Commission entrusted to us.For the full content, please download the December Newsletter for St Paul's and St Nick's
Dear Friends, Once again, this year has flown past, and by the time you read this, we will be into the season of Advent, and the preparations for Christmas will well and truly have begun. I am conscious that for many people, Christmas may well be difficult this year as the economic crisis has begun to bite. As I have been reflecting on that, it seems to me that perhaps this year, it is more important than ever for us to think about the true meaning of Christmas. Yes, I do mean the coming of the Christ child, but I also mean really thinking about the gifts that we are giving to people, perhaps gifts that give something of ourselves as well. I know that personally, the gifts that have meant the most to me and that I have treasured for many years have been those that people have made for me. Not only has the time and effort gone into that gift, but it is also the fact that someone knows me well enough to know how much I would appreciate the gift.Two gifts stand out in my memory, one being a small knitted shawl made by my daughter-in-law, which I often wear to brighten my clothes up. The other is a wooden memory box made by my late son, which I have filled with postcards, reflections, Bibleverses and poetry.During Covid, I had great fun making gifts for my family and friends. Rediscovering knitting meant that many were recipients of scarves, shawls and hats. And whilst I’ve exhausted that skill, these homemade gifts and the time I put into them were appreciated.Giving the gift of memories, giving the gift of a small part of ourselves, is something that we can all do, and it is what God has done for us in the giving of His son, a gift that is freely given to each of us and that God longs for us to receive. The Bible tells us in John 3:16 that God loved the world so much that He gave his only Son so that if any of us will believe in Him, we won’t perish, but we will have everlasting life in Heaven! That’s a giftthat can’t be beaten.With my love and prayers for a truly blessed Christmas and New Year.Rev Dawn xFor the full content, please download the December Newsletter for St Paul's and St Nick's
