Dear Friends,
Well the Easter celebrations are over the glorious month of May is with us and we look towards the joy and the celebration of Pentecost in June and wonder at Ascension Day at the end of this month. Those first century Christians or followers of ‘The Way’ faced amazing challenges in their day. We as 21st century Christians have other issues to grapple with. The challenges to our faith from so many sources, the secularisation of society. The pressures on other activities. When we lived on Salford Quays in the early days of the BBC and ITV moves from the south there were so many challenges with no Church buildings, oh joy oh rapture, but we had the use of other spaces so Hayley the Anglican Priest developed Church in new ways. Tuesday in the Pub – ‘A pint and a parable’ great discussions, A cinema night once a month followed by a discussion, a Choir on a Thursday evening for all voices, Worship on a Thursday lunchtime using part of the Diamond building of the University. Prayer Walks round the Quays, Why do this? because the majority of folk went home at the weekend from the BBC and ITV. So no point to a normal Sunday!!
We have many challenges in the coming months and years in our Churches we need I believe to look at different ways of being Church, what has been great for us is not possibly going to be for the future generations should we not be looking for new ways and possibly on different days. I may be nearer 80 now but still believe our faith and love for Jesus is as fresh as ever. We cannot have the attitude that I was greeted with at a Church not in this circuit that was ‘There won’t be many here today but we will keep this Church going while we can and then it will shut!!!
We have staff changes later this year let’s be open to new challenges, and opportunities to change and welcome new ways as we move through this year.
One with the Father, Ancient of Days,
Through the Spirit
Who clothes faith with certainty,
Honour and blessing, glory and praise
To the King crowned
With power and authority!
And we are raised with Him,
Death is dead, love has won
Christ has conquered;
And we shall reign with Him,
For He lives, Christ is risen from the dead!