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Our December / January
Pastoral Letter

is provided by
Paul Freedman

Look back in wonder: look forward in hope

As we approach both a new beginning in the shape of our saviour’s
birth, and the end of the calendar year, it is perhaps worth a glance
in the rear view mirror to see how far we’ve come, and to look
forward.

You might think we haven’t come very far, other than remaining
stable, but even if that were so, that in itself is something of an
achievement. In a year when several churches in the Synod have
closed, just to be functioning with a weekly service and all the other
things we do should be the cause of some celebration and
thankfulness to a God who’s nature is to be faithful to those who
call on Him: God is faithful, who has called you into fellowship with
his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord (Cor 1:9): Let us hold fast the
confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is
faithful (Heb 10:23).

But there is much more to celebrate than simply standing still: we
see a number of new faces week by week; we are actively engaged
with our programme of church growth; we are working to worship in
innovative ways; we have offered our building for a variety of
events, secular and non-secular, thereby keeping us on the map
and supporting our community; we have a lively programme of fund
raising, benefitting not only ourselves but the community; we have
hosted the Foodbank, and are shortly to host a Friendly Food Club
initiative. These, and many others, are signs of a church that is
striving to develop, rather than merely stand still.

But in addition to these outward signs of life, we must pay attention
to the inner life, lest we become like the church at Sardis - you
have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead (Rev 3:1). God
told them that the only way back to whole life is by waking up;
remembering the Gospel and repenting.

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