Monday 19 November 2007

Newsletter 18th November 2007: The Cracked Pot

An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which she carried across her neck. One of the pots had a crack in it while the other was perfect and always carried a full portion of water.

At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot was only half full. For two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water.
Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments, but the poor racked pot was ashamed of its imperfections. It was miserable that it could only do half what it had been made for.
After two years of what is perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house."

The old woman smiled, "Did you notice that there were flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side?" "I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them. For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house."

Each of us has our own unique flaw. But it's the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You've just got to take each person for what they are and look for the good in them.

So, to all my cracked pot friends, have a great day and remember to smell the flowers on your side of the path.

How true is this, hope you enjoyed it!!

Newsletter 11th November 2007: Just Remembering

Today is Remembrance Sunday when all over the country in churches and at war memorials there will be services and ceremonies, but why do we remember? There are very few who can remember the first world war, more who remember the second, but for a lot of us these are just history. So is it time to forget, to move on as some argue? Or should the remembrance be for all those other conflicts which sadly have taken place since, Suez, Korea, Bosnia, The Gulf and those conflicts which we are still involved in Iraq and Afghanistan. Personally I think it is right to use this day of remembrance to include all those members of the services who have lost their lives in any conflict serving their country. We might or might not agree with our involvement in Iraq or Afghanistan but these soldiers are there in our name. But if we say that we remember them with respect and pride then surely that should affect how we act, I have been quite saddened lately to read how poorly the injured are treated when they return to this country. In an interview, rather bitterly, a young soldier remarked that the public would know about the two dead their unit had lost but they would not hear about the twelve injured, those who had lost arms, legs, sight, hearing, disabled for life. Surely the greatest measure of respect we can show is not just in remembering the dead but also in treating the injured with dignity and fairness, and with justice.

As Christians every time we take communion we remember the importance and significance of Jesus’ death, but only if we allow that to affect how we act are we truly honouring that sacrifice.

Mick

Newsletter 7th October 2007: Actions Not Words

When you have something to grumble about; buses running late, dirty streets, poor service, shoddy goods; what do you do? Do you just moan and complain or do you try to do something about it? Do you and many others complain and continually run down our town and all it’s numerous failings; or do you try and do something about the situation. It is so easy to talk about what is wrong, but how will things ever improve if we do nothing BUT talk. If you are unsatisfied with a product or a service, do something; write a letter, phone the company concerned. Recently I waited for a bus to take me to the Manor Hospital. These buses are supposed to run every 20 minutes, but it was late arriving and the moans and complaints were overwhelming. No one seemed to allow for all the road works that caused the delay but just blamed the driver. Again, our town of Walsall is continually derided and run down for it’s dirty streets and poor public services. Do YOU do anything about it? Do you campaign for more litter bins, remember not to drop your own litter, do you try to put things right?

Jesus did not just talk, He DID. When action was needed he provided it. Jesus was angry that the money changers and merchants were doing business in the Temple, (Mark 11:15-17) and he threw them out. When He saw a man with a deformed hand (Matthew 12:9-14), He healed him; although it was the Sabbath, and He was rebuked by the Pharisees. Many complain about the government and our local council, and what they have or have not done; but many of those who complain cannot be bothered to even go to cast their vote. All very negative thinking. Many people sacrificed so much to give us the vote, especially women, and it hurts and angers me that they complain but never raise a finger or stir themselves to try and change things. Would Jesus have acted in this way?

I hope and pray that we may all become doers as Jesus was and is, and not just negative thinkers who take no action even when it is needed. We CAN make a difference. Help us to see our cup ‘half full’ and not ‘half empty’; let us be proud of our town and all that it is, not degrading it or running it down. Let us count our blessings; we do have so much to be proud and thankful for; most especially our Church, our Faith, our God and Father.

God Bless. Doreen.

‘The God Delusion’: Newsletter 14th October 2007

Some years ago I saw a notice in a shopping centre which had the usual negative sign – “No Cycling, No Skating, No Skateboarding” ,to which someone had added – “No point in living!”
I have been reminded of this during the past few months when I have read my weekly comic – The New Scientist - because in it they have given much space to Richard Dawkins and his book ‘The God Delusion’.


I have to say they have been fair and balanced and have given equal space to his detractors. Dawkins is a vociferous atheist and, although it may be the wrong use of the word, is quite evangelical about it.

I feel quite saddened that some people have not come to know our God or his son Jesus Christ and often wonder what they believe is the point of life.

I remember attending a humanist funeral at a local crematorium where, we were told, there would be absolutely no allusion to religion. The “service” took place in front of the most powerful symbol of our faith, the Cross, and the candles were lit throughout. The space in the proceedings usually left for prayers had a reflection on the life of the recently departed. The words used, however, drew strongly on the Old Testament especially Ecclesiastes and Proverbs. Once again I was troubled that the person who had died and his family were left with no hope for the future – death was the end there was no chance of resurrection.

I cannot understand a life without a strong belief in God and his son Jesus Christ. He has been gracious to me and has granted me many blessings and I will continue to live in the love of Christ. Perhaps these words at the start of Hymn 52 (MP) go some way to expressing my thoughts;
“God sent His son, they called him Jesus;
He came to love, heal and forgive;
He lived and died to buy my pardon,
an empty grave is there to prove my saviour lives.
Because He lives I can face tomorrow;
Because He lives all fear is gone;
Because I know He holds the future,
And life is worth living because He lives.

God Bless

John

Holly: Newsletter 7th October 2007

It was Christmas Eve 2004 the phone rang and my niece, working voluntarily at the local Animal Hospital said “We have just received a dreadfully neglected little dog who may not survive can you accommodate her if she does”.

A Yorkshire terrier; not our kind of dog at all but we went to see her anyway and after a few days of intensive treatment we took her home. What a sad sight she was, head & stub of a tail drooping, dull sad eyes that spoke of a life of misery and suffering. Breathing but not living, at one point we thought she had just curled up and died so completely motionless was her poor bedraggled body.

Approaching three years later anyone who has met “Holly “ would witness a very different dog indeed, full of life, bright expressive eyes, a well developed personality (do dogs have personalities?) Confident in manner, as she proudly protects home & family, the difference is a response to love, an ingredient we all need in which to grow and develop our full potential. At times we can all feel unloved and unlovable and sometimes it can perhaps seem easier to love an animal than another human being, especially if that person happens to be someone we don’t particularly like or have difficulty relating to, and sometimes it could be a member of our own family; but God calls us to bear a distinct family resemblance to him and his son Jesus. “This is love not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” 1 John 4:10 At a time where there are many people and families within St. Martin’s who are experiencing very difficult times for a variety of reasons let us reach out and love one another, “For God is love and whoever lives in love lives in union with God and God lives in union with him”.1John 4:16.

Lesley

Going for Growth

The Diocese is looking for an alternative way of fixing Parish Share as part of its central strategy of “Going for Growth”. For 2008 we are asked to “bid” for our Parish Share. We have submitted a figure which is below our current formula payment and this may well involve us in further discussion with the Diocese as they seek to raise sufficient funds.

Our formula payment meant that we paid for our Minister, the Vicarage, a contribution to training future vicars and a very small contribution to other costs. Our bid for 2008 does not allow this level of support.

We are beginning to see the fruits of the hard work of Simon, Richard, Martin and many others as a result of initiatives such as the Alpha Courses and “The Net”.

The regular income of St. Martin’s is not at a level to allow us to continue to pay Parish Share at our traditional level, to tithe our giving for chosen mission agencies and charities and to fund new initiatives in “Going for Growth”.

Jesus himself spoke five times more on the subject of money than any other. If he devoted considerable time to the matter then we must also give it priority.

We all want to see St. Martin’s grow in numbers and in faith, the green shoots are there. We must continue to pray that we are able to do that little bit more with our gifts, our talents, our time and our money.

With Christ’s help our giving can do great things for His Church.

God bless Roger