Calling all Church Group Leaders

May I ask each one of you to:

• Please give me any new information in written form before the deadline for the next magazine. (See the back cover of your current copy.) If you think there should be a change or correction of the regular wording, may I ask you to let me know. You can send the corrections or new wording to me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or through the letterbox at 4 Caernarvon Road.
• Also, if any of you have a report to give me on the work or progress of your group, I would be happy to put it in our magazine. I won't contact you. I'll wait for you to contact me.

Thanks for your co-operation! Editor

New!

Do take a look at the new maps and photos from Paul and Grace Robinson, our link missionaries in Cambodia, which are displayed on the notice board at the back of church! And please pray for them! Their latest news is found in each copy of the church magazine, together with their contact details. They would love to hear from any member of St John's. The Banana Club has set a wonderful example by sending birthday cards to Paul and Grace's two children, Isobel and Sally.

 

A Life-Changing Book!

Many years ago I was given a cassette tape with what I thought was fantastic songs. One of these in particular spoke to my heart, so I took it to the church and asked the church leader if he would play this song to his congregation that morning. He kindly did so, but it went over like a lead balloon!

However, even though I do know that it is impossible to transfer a spiritual experience to other people, I would like to have another go now! This book, The Prodigal God, is small and light, so it was easy for me to hold it when I was in bed. I started before going into hospital and then finished it there. What a book! Wow! Both you and I will have known this parable of the Prodigal Son since our childhood. It is so simple. And yet, I had not fully understood its message. I believe it has now changed my life.

This book, of which Hodder & Stoughton is the publisher, has the following blurb on the back cover. "In The Prodigal God, New York pastor Timothy Keller uses the story of the Prodigal Son to shine a light on the central, beautiful message of Jesus: the Gospel of grace, hope and salvation.

"Timothy Keller argues that the parable of the Prodigal Son, while Jesus' best-known parable, is also his least understood. He introduces the reader to all the characters in this timeless story, showing that it concerns not just a wayward son, but also a judgmental older brother and, more importantly, a loving father. In this challenging and inspiring book, Timothy Keller invites both faithful believers and curious outsiders to come to a new and totally life-changing understanding of the central message of the Christian faith."

If you'd like to borrow it, I would be glad to lend you our copy!

Ulla Fewster

Minister's Message

Giving in Grace: One Church's Experience

One of the main discussion and planning items for the DCC in March was Giving in Grace (GiG), following on from the presentation I gave at the Annual Meeting. There was some unease expressed in both meetings, that focussing on GiG would mean focussing exclusively on money rather than on mission and ministry. To help to allay these fears, I have copied below an article, which I originally wrote for the Parish Magazine in Halewood in March 2006, after the GiG programme which we ran there in the autumn of 2005:

One of the most worthwhile and exciting things which has happened at St Mary's since I came here nearly four years ago, is the Giving in Grace (GiG) programme which we did last year. Most of what follows is a short article I wrote recently for the Diocesan Resources Department to use on the GiG website.

The GiG story at St Mary's really began in March 2004, when we held a church Awayday. We spent the day prayerfully reflecting on the life of St Mary's. At the end of the day, we came up a number of ways in which we felt the Lord was calling us to move forward.

Our work that day helped us when it came to completing our GiG Case Statement, enabling us easily to identify the three main strengths and three main weaknesses of St Mary's, and to identify our provisional plans for ministry for the next 2 - 3 years.

We agreed to follow the lectionary preaching material on Matthew’s gospel for five weeks in the autumn. We sent out the Brochure with a different covering letter for core members, congregation, and fringe members, together with a response form. We encouraged the Bible Study groups, Youth Fellowship, and Sunday School to use some of the material appropriate to their situations.

The most important element of our GiG programme was prayer, and we encouraged people to pray as follows:

• We gave every member of the congregation a prayer card, and asked them to pray for GiG at home.
• We used at least one of the prayers in every Sunday service during the running of the preaching programme.
• We asked all groups meeting together to use the GiG prayer.
• We mounted a display about GiG in church to help encourage people in their prayers.
• The GiG group covenanted to pray for GiG every day.
• We adopted a 'theme song' (I will offer up my life), and sang it as part of our worship each Sunday during the preaching programme.

After the programme had finished, the whole GiG group agreed that the process of GiG in itself had been extremely encouraging and beneficial to St Mary's. It had challenged people to think about their faith, and their commitment to the Lord. A concrete result of this is that one of our Bible Study groups has grown in numbers. At this stage, we had no idea how close we had come to meeting our financial target, but there were indications that the financial outcome was going to be quite positive. This has since proved to be true.

What has been exciting about GiG is the way in which it has fitted in so well with other ways in which the Lord has been working at St Mary's. We don't want to lose that momentum. We do want to see the financial benefits of GiG translated into even greater spiritual growth within our congregation. That is why the DCC has planned another Awayday, which will take place on Saturday 17 June. On that day, one of the Diocesan Resources Officers will help us to reflect on our growth over the last couple of years, and to identify ways in which we can work to consolidate that growth, and hear what the Lord has to say to us now. To summarise the story so far, though: it is an exciting time here at St Mary's, and the Lord has worked powerfully through GiG. Praise Him!

As we plan and pray towards GiG at St John's in 2012, I expect that we will come up with a programme which has both great similarities and great differences to the way we used the material at St Mary's seven years ago. But I am confident that if we approach the programme prayerfully, the Lord will enable us to adapt it to our own context. I look forward to seeing the ways in which He will work here amongst us, and I am sure that in a few months' time we will be able to echo the last couple of sentences above with reference to St John's.

If you haven't yet done so, please do have a look at the GiG website: www.givingingrace.org. The full version of this article is still on the website, see: http://www.givingingrace.org/Case_studies/halewood.html.

Yours in Christ

Sarah

Congratulations!

We praise the Lord for the good news that Elin Louisa, 7lb 8 oz, was born safely at 2.30am on Holy Saturday, 7^th April, to Darren and Judith Churm! We thank God that mother and child are both doing well! Darren is also coping well!

 

Parish Register

Funeral:

20.3.12 Mr Victor Cliffe

 

Church Website

Have you looked at the St. John's website recently? It can be found as part of the parish website at http://www.plwyfwrecsam.org.uk/ Follow the link to St. John's. There are some interesting pictures there under 'Recent Events', and some exciting, as well as sobering, news from the 'Worldwide Church'. A couple of new features are 'Culture Watch' under the 'Film' tab and Sarah's sermons on 1 Corinthians under the 'Sermon' tab. Log in and let me know what you think. Any suggestions for improvement welcome!

David Fewster

Religion Leads to Violence

That is what some are saying to discredit all religious belief. It's true that some awful atrocities have been committed in the name of religion and it is still happening. Religion played a big part in the greatest crime of all – the death of Jesus.

At this time of year [Easter] we remember how Jesus was unfairly condemned by a Roman court to appease religious authorities. Death by crucifixion is probably the worst form of execution ever invented. It's a cruel, slow, torturous death.

The death of Jesus highlights the tragic condition of us all. We have a natural bent that opposes the true and living God. And yet the amazing thing about Jesus' death on the cross is that it displays the wonder of God's love. The place that shows humanity at its worst, is where we see God at his best.

In God's purposes it is at the cross of Jesus that evil is conquered. Jesus' death was unique. He died for others. He died for rebels against God, which is what we all are, that we might be brought back into a right relationship with God, which is what all our inner restlessness is seeking.

Jesus did not remain dead. The empty tomb is a fact of history, for which there is only one satisfactory explanation – Jesus is alive, never more to die. God's love wins. There is forgiveness and acceptance for all who stop fighting God and humbly accept his way.

(From the Borras Park Evangelical Church 'Beacon'. Used with permission)

 

'If you don't know where you're going you're sure to end up somewhere else.'

Mark Twain

"Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust…" Psalm 40:4a (NIV)

 

Does Prayer Change Anything?

They say that prayer changes things, but does it REALLY change anything?
Oh yes! It really does.

Does prayer change your present situation or sudden circumstances?
No, not always, but it does change the way you look at those events.

Does prayer change your financial future?
No, not always, but it does change whom you look to for meeting your daily needs.

Does prayer change shattered hearts or broken bodies?
No, not always, but it will change your source of strength and comfort.

Does prayer change your wants and desires?
No, not always, but it will change your wants into what God desires!

Does prayer change how you view the world?
No, not always, but it will change whose eyes you see the world through

Does prayer change your regrets from the past?
No, not always, but it will change your hopes for the future!

Does prayer change the people around you?
No, not always, but it will change you - the problem isn't always in others

Does prayer change your life in ways you can't explain?
Oh, yes, always! And it will change you from the inside out!

So does prayer REALLY change ANYTHING?
Yes! It REALLY does change EVERYTHING!

Teressa Vowell (http://christianity.livejournal.com/4037000.html)

 

DCC March 2012 Summary

The new DCC (the District Church Council for the uninitiated) met for its first regular meeting on Monday, March 26^th. There was a full agenda and at least one member hoped that future meetings would not be so l-o-n-g! Still, a lot of useful items were covered. This short report is designed to let you know some of the things which were discussed.

Again and again the Council scratched its collective head when it came to thinking of people who could help with the various jobs which need doing. For example, different organisations rent the Hall, which is also used for parties. This means someone has to open up the Hall and be there at the end to lock up. Pauline Wright is doing a magnificent job but urgently needs people to take a turn. If you can help, even just once or twice a month, please contact Pauline on 356 367. The Hall provides much needed income for the church, which is why we are grateful that so many wish to rent it.

Aled's financial report indicated that we are going to run out of money by the end of the year. He said we need £1,000 extra a month if we are to break even.

We discussed the Giving in Grace programme, which will be run in the autumn. A small organising group is being formed to make sure we as a church make the most of this excellent programme. The very comprehensive website can be found at www.givingingrace.org/. The programme will help us all to respond to God’s wonderful grace, which he has lavished on us in Christ.

The Council received reports from St John's Fabric & Finance, Hall and Social Committees; from the PCC; from TCC (Together Creating Communities); and Mission Wrexham. There was no report from CYTUN. For those who aren't aware of the work of TCC, it consists of members of different churches who engage in social action. More information from Marlene or Gerald on 355 244.

It Couldn't Be Done

Somebody said that it couldn't be done,
But, he with a chuckle replied
That "maybe it couldn't," but he would be one
Who wouldn't say so till he'd tried.
So he buckled right in with the trace of a grin
On his face. If he worried he hid it.
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done, and he did it.

Somebody scoffed: "Oh, you’ll never do that;
At least no one has done it".
But he took off his coat and he took off his hat,
And the first thing we knew he'd begun it.
With a lift of his chin and a bit of a grin,
Without any doubting or quiddit,
He started to sing as he tackled the thing
That couldn't be done, and he did it.

There are thousands to tell you it cannot be done,
There are thousands to prophesy failure;
There are thousands to point out to you one by one,
The dangers that wait to assail you.
But just buckle in with a bit of a grin,
Just take off your coat and go to it;
Just start to sing as you tackle the thing
That "couldn't be done," and you'll do it.

Written by Edgar Albert Guest

"If knowledge were our greatest need, God would have sent us an universal genius. If technique were our greatest need, God would have sent us a scientist. If money were our greatest need, God would have sent us an economist. If entertainment were our greatest need, God would have sent us an entertainer, but as forgiveness is our greatest need God has sent us a Saviour." Unknown source