Dear Friends
This September was a significant time in the Wades’ house. I celebrated one year in post- I know, time flies when you are having fun! Also, Izzy has started secondary school! As a parent, this is a real change of season and working out things like family link and mobile phones, knowing where and when everyone should be.
For us, the Church, these last few weeks has seen many changes. Nikki is finishing as operations manager and starting her ordination training. Rachael is starting as our office manager. Karen is leaving as our children’s worker, and Darren is leaving as church warden.
Rachel is taking on the role of children’s and family worker, and we are still looking for a new church warden… Tiff has also started her ordination training but is staying in her paid role in the office. A key part of her training is leading our new Hope Hub, which meets on Mondays, 1 pm-4 pm in the church.
Then we have permission for the work on Hall to start, a huge thank you to Mike and all his hard work. So, this led the office to move offices down to the lower hall, so if you’re looking for us, that’s where you will find us!
Change is happening, and for some, this is exciting; for others, change is hard. However, what we are seeing across the nation and in our community is that the Church is changing, and people’s hearts are changing. I wrote about the quiet revival at the start of the summer. On Sunday, we baptised two guys whose story is just what is being said, that people wake up one morning and try church. One of the guys told me he had no purpose but couldn’t go to church, and had heard and encountered God, and had given him purpose.
I think this is a great question for us to be asking each other. What gives you purpose?
As we look at change, but as we look at what is happening in our nation and community, people are longing for purpose and hope. That’s the good news we have.
In October, we shall be running Alpha and again in January as an opportunity to share this hope and purpose. Maybe you want to come along or invite someone?
Jesus said I am the way truth and life and this gives us purpose. As he says this in John 14:6-7
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
What does this mean for you as we start this new term?
Prayers and love
Rev Mark