APRIL
2001
This is selected highlights from Lindfield United Reformed Church's
monthly magazine, Good News. It is freely available from the Church
and Lindfield Post Office. The printed edition also contains useful
information regarding local meetings and 'Family News'.
If don't live in the area, and wish to recieve a copy of the magazine,
please Email the Editors.
Contents this month:
Worship in April
(Norman Smith)
Letter from the Minister
(Norman Smith)
Prayer Power
(Revd Brian Stone
Watch Out!
(Tom Elphick)
A "Birds Eye"
view
Balcombe URC Speakers
The church of today
(David TIngley)
How many men does it
take to open a door (Suzy Jacques)
Worship in April
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Personal prayer is available after every service. Prayer requests
and brief statements of praise for answered prayer can be
put in the red book on the concourse table. You can ask the minister
for personal prayer ministry at home or in hospital.
From your Minister
He demonstrated deep care for his mother, he prayed
that those who had inflicted on him such an agonisingly painful
state be forgiven, he offered a common criminal a place in heaven,
and all that after a cunningly rigged trial and within a short time
of his own seemingly premature death!
Most people in his predicament would be so absorbed
with coping with the mental and physical suffering that they would
have little energy to be concerned for others but Jesus, as always,
gives us the ultimate in unselfishness. From a human point of view,
he could so easily be eaten up with resentment, angry with the authorities,
and disappointed with his heavenly Father that there was no alternative
but to let himself be crucified. After all, he had brought help,
healing and hope to such a wide variety of people. He had gone out
of his way to make known a compassionate, forgiving, yet powerful
God. All the charges against him were found wanting, so he had every
reason to react negatively. Instead, his dying hours shone with
the love he had talked about, and demonstrated, throughout his ministry.
Being a Christian has many privileges and advantages.
There is much to gladden the heart and comfort the soul but the
real test for Christians come when the going gets tough. It is well
worth examining again how we react when we get treated unfairly,
when we are the recipients of anothers rudeness, when our
boss treats us like a doormat, or a member of our family behaves
in such a way that we are deeply offended. Again and again, we are
encouraged in the word of God to remember how Jesus reacted and,
with his help, to do likewise. His love was open and free. It was
not restricted just to those who loved him. He went out of his way
to make the outcasts of society feel valued. He did so because his
eye was always on the eternal kingdom, which can only be tasted
in this world. He knew that suffering and death were not the final
curtain but would be a gateway to a fuller, freer life. That is
what is promised to all Christian believers and that should be the
incentive which allows him to work through us so that we are as
unselfish as possible, in all our relationships, day by day.
Happy Easter and God bless you
Prayer Power
In his famous book The Power of Positive Thinking,
Norman Vincent Peale wrote:
"Today, any successful and competent businessman will
employ the latest and best-tested methods in production, distribution
and administration, and many are discovering that one of the greatest
of all efficiency methods is prayer power."
When it comes to living the efficient Christian
life, we hope all Christians would agree that prayer power is, indeed,
vital. Yet not all Christians find prayer easy. It is one of Gods
greatest gifts to us but it is not always a gift we use well.
As you will see on the previous page, there are
to be three seminars, during June, on the subject of Prayer. Please
make a note of the dates for what promise to be very stimulating
evenings. Please also pray for our congregation to be greatly blessed
by them.
Brian Stone
Watch Out
I heard Suzy Jacques talk about a Bible passage
that the children at Junior Church had to learn. Not realising it
at the time, this passage was to have a deep impact on me later
on. Last month, I hit a rough patch. Firstly I suffered a few relationship
problems with friends, then split from my first love, Katy, and,
finally, I felt that Gods presence was lacking in my life.
The feeling of unanswered questions and not much guidance was leaving
me quite depressed. So what did I do but turn to the passage I had
heard "Have faith in the Lord your God and you will
be upheld" (2Chronicles 20:20). This passage, that I adore,
has helped me regain some of the things that I thought Id
lost. Even though there are some questions still unanswered, I can
see how God is working in my life, especially through the people
who helped me through it all. (Thank you, you know who you are!)
The main message Im trying to get across
is how little things, such as Bible quotations, can really help
in big ways. Gods power, love and faith are shown through
these words and they ARE life-changing. I believe God intentionally
made me remember the passage because he knows the path Im
walking and when I need help, the help that only he can give. So
watch out for these things!
Tom Elphick
A "Birds Eye" view
My mate and I have built nests in Ryecroft garden
several times. We usually choose the front garden, where there is
more to watch, but possibly extra hazards, too. The foliage is quite
sparse but enough to provide reasonable camouflage for our home.
We have to be always on the lookout, however, because, in spite
of the busy main road, it is quite normal to see a cat scurrying
by, and we have no desire to supply dinner or tea for such four-legged
creatures. Flying around does enable us to keep an eye
on the comings and goings next door.
There are times when we wonder what the people
do there; some come very frequently and others just very occasionally.
I must admit, it does our feathers good when they emerge from what
we call a bird song session (not that they all sound
like birds!) looking quite bright and smiley. Sometimes, we fly
high and watch what they get up to. You might be surprised at the
places they frequent, and the distances they travel. Quite a few
of them wait for hours on what I think is called a station
(I suppose because everything is stationary!) Eventually, they climb
into boxes and we might just catch a glimpse of them again, late
in the day, as we go to roost for the night. We sometime try to
guess how they spend their time but it is virtually impossible to
know. We only hope they think it is all worthwhile, going through
that routine day after day. We think they call it a big mouse
race!
We really like seeing the children in and around
the building. Some come on Sundays but lots more during the week.
The majority turn up in chauffeur driven cars, some
even give the driver a kiss as they jump out. Occasionally, they
look upset as they leave but most have clearly arranged for their
escort to turn up at a particular time and are pleased
to see them.
One thing is clear, there is plenty going on virtually
every day next door so, if you have time to spare, you are sure
of a welcome. We happen to think our proximity to the place is neither
here nor there but we think most who come and go and, indeed, those
who avoid going, would gain much by meeting our friend the
dove, who symbolises so much that is important in making the
most of every day. Have you met him?
Ruffles
Balcombe URC Preachers
1st April Godfrey Armitage
15th April Easter Day Richard Tucker
Services are normally held on the first and third Sunday of the
month, starting at 11.00am and usually lasting about an hour. Support
from Lindfield URC would be most welcome.
The Church of Today
Recently, it has been my pleasure to indulge in a little known
fascination that I have for historical traces of past generations.
The likes of Time Team, Channel 4s Archaeology for Dummies
series, goes into all the aspects of the lives they are trying to
learn more about with digital re-constructions, re-enactments
and historians poring over town records. Usually, I get a real feeling
for the type of life that was being led so many years ago.
My enjoyment, in this instance, has not been from simply watching
someone else do all the work, but having a slice of the cake for
myself! As part of my research for the (currently under construction)
website for Lindfield URC, I was fortunate enough to trawl through
the past history of the church, in the form of church meeting minutes,
dating back to the turn of the previous century. Suffice to say,
there was no mention of toasters throwing wobblies or PCs
hurling themselves out of 20thC Windows as the last two digits turned
to 00. No. But I did learn a lot about the church from
which we gratefully derive.
As someone who has lived in these parts for the best part of forever,
I was well chuffed to see names I recognised Wood, Durrant,
Butcher and Trinder all with their own links to present day
members of our fellowship. People have a tendency (correctly, perhaps)
to say to young people, "You are the church of the future."
But it is pretty hard to see that and take it in at face value.
Looking at pages and pages of the notes from yesteryears members
meetings showed me that, back then, it was about the people who
were around at that time. When they were few in number, they encouraged
each other; when they were without a minister, they shared responsibility;
when they needed to make a decision, they took a good few meetings
of discussion before they did so. Some things never change! They
used the gifts they had been given, within their church situation.
Those faithful church members, whether it be nearly 200 or just
10 years ago, have enabled Lindfield URC to become what it is. It
has not always been easy and the church has had to admit it has
made mistakes before even scrapping complete ideas because
they couldnt agree! That is it, though we may be Christians
but we are all human too.
As Noel Caplans book The Annals of the Congregational Church
concludes:
"One thought remains to be expressed: the names of many men
and women have not been recorded those whose prayers and
unobtrusive support have helped to keep this church alive over the
generations. The man whose expert handiwork suddenly is seen in
place after hours of hard work in his own home; the woman who spends
untold and uncounted hours keeping the church and its fittings neat
and fresh. Nor should anyone discount the steady support, especially
the prayers, of those whose age or infirmity keeps them from our
midst".
You and I are the church now what a privilege and responsibility!
David Tingley
How many men does it take to open a door?
orget women and light bulbs! This morning it was commuters and
bleepy train doors. The 8.09am rolled in (on time once
again I am going to have to start getting to the station
earlier) and came to a halt. No one was getting out of the carriage
that we were all waiting to get into.
Nothing happened
the doors didn't open. People were piling
into all of the other carriages and we were just standing there
like lemons, looking at the "Press" button, with the square
of light around it, expectantly waiting for the driver to automatically
open the door
it just wasn't going to happen. Two men, nearest
the door, half made movements to press the button but they moved
at the same time and so both pulled away again, each one expecting
the other to actually go the whole nine yards and make contact with
it.
"For goodness sake, just press the button!" was
the thought going through my head as, for once, I found myself taking
the initiative and actually doing something I pressed the
button.
The doors opened and, as everyone piled in in front of me (yes,
it did cross my mind that it was a touch ironic) one of the almost
made it guys turned to me and said, "Why didn't we think
of that?"
There's a doorway to heaven but we can't just presume that the
doors are going to open automatically. Jesus has come to the door
and is waiting to let us in but, until we make a move towards him,
until we decide to ask Jesus into our lives, the door remains closed.
If you haven't done it yet, press the button. How many men does
it take to open a door?
Suzy Jacques
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