Sponsoring a child through Compassion

Christuraj lives in Chennai India. The mud and brick shacks of his community are so close to the river that when it floods, sewage washes into people’s homes. Unemployment, alcoholism and violence are rife but life poses even more problems for Christuraj. “My father had small pox and is blind in both his eyes,” explains the 15-year-old. “I have to do everything for him.” Christuraj’s mother left when he was just five years old and Christuraj has to take sole responsibility for his father.

But, in spite of his hardship, Christuraj has big dreams. “I want to be a doctor,” he says with resolution. Every day after school and every Saturday Christuraj attends the Andrew’s Kirk Child Development Centre, run in conjunction with the child development ministry Compassion. “I want to be a big man and bring honour to my father and Compassion because they are helping me a lot.”

In the cramped and crowded community where the majority of parents work as casual day labourers, uncertain where the next meal is coming from, the child development centre is a breath of fresh air. It is here that Christuraj gets a healthy evening meal every day and regular medical checkups; something his father could never afford to provide for him. He can play cricket and football with his friends and get extra support with his studies. He even gets a chance to learn valuable computer skills. But the Bible study classes are his favourite. “What I love the most is the word of God,” he says with a warm smile.

His father’s disability means that Christuraj’s family have no regular income. Without the support of the project and his sponsor, Christuraj’s knows his life would be very different.
“If Compassion had not been there, we would have been begging on the street.”

For more than 50 years Compassion has been working to transform the lives of children across the world. In addition to their financial support sponsors can also exchange letters with the children they sponsor and pray for them. More than a million children are currently attending Compassion’s church based projects in 25 of the world’s poorest countries, but there are many more children waiting for a sponsor to give them the opportunities that Christuraj has been given.

It costs just 60p a day, less than the price of a cup of tea, to transform the life of a child like Christuraj through sponsorship.
To find out about Compassion visit www.compassionuk.org or call 01932 836490. Alternatively, speak to Diane Sainsbury.

Our Christmas Challenge

Every time I’ve turned on the radio or the television over the last few weeks there seems to be only one topic: the economic crisis. I’m not an economist, so I won’t pretend to understand all the complexities involved. Part of the problem is that none of the economists or politicians seems to know either, nor do they know how to get us out of the difficulty!

What I know for certain is that however difficult things become for us, (and they may become very difficult indeed in the years ahead), our hardships will not compare with those endured by our brothers and sisters in Darfur, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia and many other places we could all name. Charitable giving is often one of the first casualties in an economic downturn, so we need to make sure we remember those worse off than ourselves.

In Matthew 25 v.35 + 36 Jesus said: “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” This is the inspiration for the majority of charities that exist in our country.

At this time of Advent, as we wait with mounting anticipation for the Christ Child, God’s Emmanuel, the light of the world, we remember that He was not born in a palatial home with central heating, en suite facilities and surround sound HD television. Jesus was born in a cold, uncomfortable, smelly stable surrounded by animals. The stressed and busy inn-keeper acted with compassion and sympathy towards this young couple whose child was about to be born. Our Christmas challenge is to do the same for our needy neighbours. If we are not salt and light for God then what are we?

God bless, Jackie.

Jonah and the Whale

It just seems as though The Net is getting better and better. This was certainly true in November, when we looked at the story of Jonah and the Whale. The highlight was when the hall was decorated to make it look like the inside of the whale, and we all went into the darkened hall carrying glow sticks, and listened to the story of Jonah and the Whale.

These photos give a flavour of some of the fun we had.

Newsletter 19th October: It's nice to be home

On our recent holiday we have been able to indulge our love of history by visiting ancient monuments, castles, cathedrals, palaces, churches and historical pageants. We have certainly seen some spectacular sights and have sat absorbed for over two hours late at night by Le Puy du Fou near Cholet.

Yet I like going into churches for their tranquillity and stillness. Three stick in my mind. The first, in St Marti d’Empuries, Spain, was very old dating back hundreds of years but it was also in superb condition. The bare stone walls were not of dressed stone but they gave a friendly feel to the church. It was very light, because of numerous electric lights, and beautifully cared for. We managed to sneak in just before a wedding and it was stunning.

The second was a Church in Albert in the Somme which was very large and surmounted by a gold statue of the Virgin Mary. This church was only built in the late nineteenth century and before it was twenty five years old it had been largely destroyed. Yet it had been rebuilt and restored with love and care.

The final one was the imposing and highly decorated Cathedral at Amiens. It is an extremely large building with amazing carvings in wood and in stone. It is easy to become overwhelmed by the sheer scale of this church. (To modern tastes some of its features are really over the top). Its building was certainly a long term commitment – it took over 300 years to finish.

However, I have to say that it’s nice to be back at St Martin’s. It’s a lovely church with the imposing “A” frame shape and the impressive end wall carving, but what is more important the building is light and friendly on the inside. (The people aren’t bad either.) As we approach St Martin’s half centenary we know we face problems with the building but I’m sure that our congregation is no less committed than the congregations of the other churches I’ve mentioned and that by working together we can succeed to carry out all the work needed and ensure our church lasts as long as these others,

Churches are built to glorify God and if He is with us we can achieve anything.

God bless

John

Newsletter 12th October: Harvest Festival

Harvest Festival is not the most important service in the church’s calendar, but is one of the most loved ones. It gives one such a lift to enter the church, decorated with flowers, foliage, fruit and produce; to give thanks for a successful harvest, and to join in the singing of the old favourite harvest time hymns. We do not live in a rural, farming community, so our harvest may be different. We give thanks for the harvest of the seas, from the factories and workshops, the harvest of science and research, of the arts and all learning. We are so blest, we have so much and it is right we should give thanks to our most generous God and Father.

Celebrating the bringing in of a successful harvest dates back to pagan times; and in years gone by, church bells would be rung each day of the gathering. The horse drawing the last cart of harvested produce would be trimmed with flowers and ribbons. A strong and respected man of the village would be elected as ‘Lord of the Harvest’ and he would preside over the celebration end of harvest feast. Celebrating as we do today, dates from 1843, when Rev. Robert Hawker invited his parishioners to a special thanksgiving service at his church in Morwenstow, Cornwall, to give thanks for a good harvest.

In our area there are not the poor and needy who need food and flowers, so this year we focus on the work of Tear Fund, who are one of the U.K.’s leading relief and development charities. They are addressing a wide range of issues including HIV, water and sanitation, reducing the impact of disasters, economic disasters, economic injustice and climate change. They work in more than 60 countries and are committed to offering hope, providing a meaningful future and speaking out against injustice. Tear Fund is one of the charities that St. Martin’s supports and we pray that all of us will give generously to our collection, which will go to furthering the work of Tear Fund. Any tinned or packaged food given will go once more to the Glebe Centre who do such sterling work for the homeless and needy of our town.

We all have so much. We pray that with Jesus’ teaching in mind we will be able to share our God given bounty with others who are so less fortunate than we.

God Bless. Doreen.

Newsletter 5th October: Happy Anniversary

Last Thursday was the first anniversary of the St. Martin’s Café. It’s been an eventful year and one which I have enjoyed immensely. It started off as a tentative venture, trying to reach out to the lonely or isolated people on our surrounding estates. It was daunting at first with very small numbers of visitors. Then there was the heart thumping anxiety of having to do a presentation for the Bishop and his team. (They actually turned out to be delightful and very supportive.) Next was the challenge of writing an article for “The Park Hall Pioneer” to publicise the café. Numbers of visitors were already slowly increasing, but once Jane Quinn started her Tai Chi classes, numbers soared. People have been reunited with old friends and many have found new friends and support. It has become part of their regular social life. The teams of volunteers have been a joy to work with and have brought companionship and pleasure to many people in our community.

When the café was set up, one of the aims was to support “Traidcraft” by using Fair Trade products wherever possible. Not only has this been achieved but since then the idea has been extended further to include the small chocolate stall which we now have every week. This seems very popular with everyone and is helping a good cause.

Our hope for the future is to build bridges between the café and the church. To that end the church has been open every Thursday, during café opening hours, since the end of June. People are welcome to come in, sit quietly, listen to the music, absorb the atmosphere and pray if they wish. It is sad that security worries dictate that our beautiful building has to be locked for so much of the time, as it is an oasis of calm and peace in a busy world. Please pray that through contact with the café, the Christian helpers who serve there and easier access to the church, many will be brought back to faith or encouraged to find out more about our wonderful God.

God bless, Jackie

Newsletter 28th September: Our Prayer For You

A very warm welcome to everyone joining us today, we pray you will experience the love of God as we worship this morning.

In Matthew 22:37-40 Jesus said, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

As Christians our calling is to love others as we love ourselves. It’s a very challenging commandment. How can we love those who seem unlovable, how can we love those people who we find so difficult to get along with? The reality is that left to ourselves we cannot, but with God we can start to love others as we are meant.

Just as knowing who we are in Christ is the foundation for our Christian life, it also forms the basis for the way we relate to other people. “We love because he first loved us.” (1 John 4:19) We give freely because we have received freely (Matthew 10:8). We are merciful because He has been merciful to us (Luke 6:36), and we forgive in the same way that Jesus has forgiven us.

We have received God’s amazing grace, his undeserved forgiveness, love and mercy, and the more we experience this, then the more we begin to find that we want to give it away to others.

Today is Back to Church Sunday and our prayer is that you may find out more about this God who loves you.

Christ-centred Anglicanism

The Bishop of Stafford has called on churchgoers to celebrate Anglicanism and “proclaim what God has done and is doing for us in Jesus Christ.” The Rt Revd Gordon Mursell makes his comments in a pastoral letter printed in the February edition of parish magazines in the Diocese of Lichfield.

He says the church only has itself to blame for media reports about how mainstream churches in the UK have ‘lost it’, or are in ‘terminal decline’. And he adds: “We English Anglicans are extraordinarily good at talking down our church. It’s frightening to ask yourself: how often have I been in a conversation with non-churchgoers during which I’ve criticized ‘the Diocese’ or ‘the Evangelicals’ or ‘the Prayer Book groupies’ - or simply failed to use the opportunity to say what I really value about my church and my faith?

“And we are incomprehensibly obsessed with sex - or at least that’s the impression we often give. Perhaps we’ve never really got over the fact that one of our founders (Henry VIII) had serious marital problems.

“But all this is light years away from the real purpose and vision of our church, which is to proclaim and celebrate what God has done and is doing for us in Jesus Christ, who died for us and now lives and reigns as lord and king.”

He adds: “Anglicanism has not lost its way. There are already twenty times as many practising Anglicans in Nigeria as there are here. I have myself witnessed Anglican churches in Malaysia and Hong Kong that are pulsating with life and faith and engaging with justice and peace issues in their locality. And there are countless signs of hope and new life here in our own diocese. If you don’t see them in yourself, or your church, ask yourself the hard question: how Christ-centred is my church, and my faith? Or (to put it another way) does your church really behave like an institution (interested in keeping itself going) or like a movement (passionate about its goals and values)?

“Anglicanism is a living branch of the Jesus Movement. We stand for a Bible-based faith that is both life-changing and thoughtful, both enthusiastic and challenging, rooted in tradition but deeply engaged in contemporary life and culture. A contradiction in terms? Nonsense. It’s the faith Jesus came to teach and to live. So let’s celebrate it. For nothing less is good news for our world.”

Part of the Bishop’s Pastoral Letter

Tearfund

Tearfund was founded forty years ago in response to the floods and famine in Bihar, India and the suffering caused by the war between Nigeria and the breakaway state of Biafra. This was and is a specifically evangelical, Christ-centred response to poverty, suffering and injustice: to put the biblical challenge of God’s compassion into practical action.

Today Tearfund works in 64 countries with over 500 church based organisations to combat global

poverty. As they celebrate their 40^th anniversary they have a ten year vision to see 50 million people released from material and spiritual poverty through a worldwide network of 100,000 local churches. Aid is given regardless of race, creed or nationality and is never used to further a particular religious or political viewpoint.

There is insufficient space here to detail all the projects that Tearfund is involved in around the world but a glance through the most recent Teartimes gives us a snapshot. Food, medical supplies and materials for shelter have been provided for survivors of Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar, the most vulnerable affected by the food crisis in the horn of Africa are receiving food and alternative farming and irrigation methods are being taught to farmers in Burkina Faso. Mobile eye surgery clinics have been provided in Sudan, local volunteers trained to support patients with HIV in Mozambique and children orphaned by the 20 year war in Northern Uganda are receiving support and trauma counselling.

Here at St. Martin’s we support Tearfund not only with our prayers but practically through our yearly mission giving and I will shortly be sending them your cheque for £600.

‘Let us not love in words or in speech but in deed and in truth’ (1 John 3:18)

God bless.

Lilian.

Newsletter: Walsall Older Persons Project

The ‘Walsall Older Persons Project’, held on Wednesdays and Fridays at St Martins since December 2004, is one of many Mencap services. It provides an easy-going and relaxed environment for social contact and leisure activity for 20 older people with mild learning disabilities. You will see what they enjoy doing from our noticeboard and 6-monthly newsletters. Indoor activities range from making rugs to light ‘keep fit’ exercises and we are grateful to Walsall College for their continued support with leatherwork / creative artwork and to Kath Hayward for her flower arranging demonstrations – they always take away something they’ve made.

10-pin bowling competitions, evening Discos and day-trips are ways in which we help them to access community facilities that many of us take for granted. Our recent outings have included trips to Birmingham’s Sealife Centre, the cinema and theatre (Mary Poppins was simply supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!). In the next few weeks, we’ll be off to the Black Country Museum and to Blackpool.

Ours really is a great group to work with. It doesn’t take long to see beyond their disabilities - everyone has their own personality and they all bring something special to the group. There can be few better rewards in life than seeing smiles on their faces when they’ve done something new or achieved something by themselves.

Despite many positive changes over the years in the lives of people with a learning disability, they still don’t have the same rights or opportunities as other people. Mencap fights for change and understanding by campaigning at every level of government, by communicating through the media and by the practical support it provides – from accurate up-to-date information to help families access services and to make important decisions, through to helping people find the right place to live or to find and keep a job.

If you know someone who needs help and support, want any more information or see what we do, or if would you like to help us, please do come along or let me know on 07908 230210.

Peter Greenwood

Peace

A few weeks ago Simon, in his sermon, remarked on all the stress so many people seem to be under through work, with so little time for themselves or anything else. He told us that in the ‘60’s it was predicted that in the future, only 22 hours would make up a working week, and speculation arose about how to fill the extra time we might have on our hands. It seems not to have worked out like that, and most people, whether in work or retired, seem as busy and stressed as ever, with little or no time to spare. Simon quoted Matthew Chap.11v28; when Jesus said;
‘Come to me all you who are weary and heavy burdened and I will give you rest.’

This is perhaps something that we do not always do, but, if we do go to Jesus with our worries, concerns and heavy burdens, He is there to share our load, to lighten our burden, and lead us into the quiet waters, of peace and tranquillity. We must just trust in Him. Another week, Simon read out the following revised version of the 23rd Psalm, which I find very helpful. Just to read it through is a very steadying experience and helps us remember Jesus is with us, however busy we are, or in whatever situation we may find ourselves, there is His calming and supportive presence to uplift and sustain us.

‘The Lord is my pace setter, I will not rush. He makes me stop and rest for quiet intervals.
He provides me with images of stillness, which restore my serenity. He leads me through ways of efficiency, through calmness of mind, and His guidance is peace.
Even though I have a great many things to accomplish each day,
I will not fret for His presence is there.
His timelessness, His all importance will keep me in balance.
He prepares refreshment and renewal in the midst of my activity,
By anointing my mind with His oils of tranquillity.
My cup of joyous energy overflows. Surely harmony and effectiveness shall be the fruits of my hours, for I shall walk in the pace of my Lord, and dwell in his house forever.

Peace be with you,
Doreen

New Beginnings

When I’m travelling I always like to read any “wayside pulpits” I pass. You know the sort of thing: What’s missing from ch—ch?
U R !
The ones outside the WEC as you approach J10 are often eye-catching. The current one reads: Free fuel here. Fill your life not your car.

The winner of a recent wayside pulpit competition was: Don’t give up – Moses was a basket case! That one, of course, needs some biblical knowledge to understand. The message, though, is clear. God can use any of us and we must keep listening for his call. It is up to us to respond when that voice comes, the niggling reminder of that person we should have phoned but didn’t, the words spoken too harshly or the encouragement we failed to give.

Next week sees the move from summer to autumn. The children return to school moving on to a new class or even a new school or college. Church activities will also be starting up again; choir, homegroups and so on. Hopefully the summer break will have given an opportunity to spend time doing non-routine things, perhaps with family or relaxing on holiday. It is always good to have a change and return refreshed with new ideas. Today we welcome Isobel and her family as they bring her for baptism. A new start for Isobel as she is welcomed into God’s family and an opportunity for others to make promises on her behalf.

Back-to-church Sunday will be in 4 weeks time. It is up to us to invite someone to come. This could lead to a real new beginning for that person.

Parent and Toddler will restart on12th September. Like the café, this is a major outreach project. There can be up to 20 children and their mums, dads, grandmothers and grandfathers all playing together. St. Martin’s enables this to happen and help is needed to set out the toys, make drinks and chat, wash up and clear away. If you can spare a couple of hours on a Friday morning from time to time please let Emma, Louise or me know.

Liz Dunthorne

Rainy Days

I stood against the railings at the edge of the promenade and looked out across the misty North Sea. The tide was high and lapped gently against the sea wall, surprisingly calm and tranquil despite the strong breeze and dark clouds which threatened the heavy and persistent rain which would soon follow. An August weekend but few people braving the cold wet day, preferring possibly to stay safely indoors and hide away from what could be described as a dark, miserable day.
There are days when we can all feel a little like the description of the weather – too much to do, not enough time to do it in, pressure from work, pressure from home, worry about children or elderly relatives, ever increasing bills to pay, income which does not stretch as far as it used to, heartbreaking stories in every aspect of the media. No wonder people begin to feel miserable and depression is increasing at an alarming rate. Not surprising that at times we are tempted to hide away, fearing to face the day ahead because we think we may not cope and look or feel inadequate and ineffective.

But it is when we are at our weakest that God is at his strongest and stands alongside us or will send someone to be beside us.

As I sheltered from the heavy rain and looked in the distance a ray of sunshine peeped above the horizon with a promise of better weather to come, the seagulls began to screech loudly (although not nearly so noisy as they had been at 4.00am) as if they knew the sun would soon be shining, and even in the passing rain the abundance of carefully planted flowers looked magnificent; Gods glory and restoring power is evident every where, whatever the weather or however we may feel. As I watched and waited I thought about the words of a well known hymn: - Let your living water flow over my soul, Let your Holy Spirit come and take control of every situation that has troubled my mind. All my cares and burdens on to you I roll.
Thank you great and wonderful God

Lesley

Keeping the Faith: Newsletter

As many of you are aware (and are probably very bored of hearing) I was brought up on stories from the Old Testament. I often feel that we do not take enough notice of the writings about the Prophets and Kings of the centuries before Jesus.

Therefore, I was very pleased when, at the last Deanery Eucharist, the principal speaker, Canon Dr. Peter Wilcox, Chancellor of Lichfield Cathedral, devoted his address to the story of Naaman (2Kings Ch.5 vv 1-19). His light, and often humorous, talk brought the story to life as he expounded on the four most important characters – Naaman, Elisha, the King of Israel and the King of Aram. He talked about their strengths and their position in the hierarchies of the day and how each had been well blessed up to that point. It was Naaman’s leprosy which brought an unbeliever to the presence of God’s great prophet Elisha. The story goes on to tell how Elisha used his power from God to cure him of the leprosy (and how the disease was passed onto Elisha’s greedy servant - vv19 -27).

Yet this was a time when God’s favour towards the Jews was decidedly shaky since they had, once again, broken his covenant. It was left to a young servant girl to remember God’s amazing power manifested through his prophets. The most insignificant person in the story had kept her faith, even though she was a captive, and through her Naaman was directed to Elisha and his subsequent cure.

This story, and many like it in the Old Testament, reminds me that ours is not just a faith kept by the important people of the day but that it is in each one of us.

At this time of great debate and confusion within the Anglican Communion let us remember that faith is not restricted to Archbishops, Bishops or even parish clergy, it is us, the ordinary people who are the bedrock of faith.

God bless,

John.

Going for Gold? Newsletter 10 August

GOING FOR GOLD?
“You’ve all been to the stadium and seen the athletes race. Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You’re after one that’s gold eternally.

I don’t know about you, but I’m running hard for the finish line. I’m giving it everything I’ve got. No sloppy living for me! I’m staying alert and in top condition. I’m not going to get caught napping, telling everyone else all about it and then missing out myself.”
I Cor.9:24-25
(The Message)

Paul asked believers to give up their own rights, to think of others first, and be whole-hearted in their focus to bring others to Christ. He asked Christians to deny themselves as they looked forward to future rewards. This was compared to a race, picturing the ancient “games.” The Olympics were already operating in Paul’s time. Second in popularity only to the Olympic games, the Isthmian games were celebrated every two years at Corinth. Athletes would come from all over Greece, and the winners of the games were accorded the highest honour. To get into the games, and especially to emerge as victors, required that athletes practice strict self-control. Typically, for ten months prior to the games the athletes in-training denied themselves many ordinary pleasures. Each put forth his greatest effort during the contest, setting aside all else in order to win the prize
.
When Paul told the believers to be like those athletes, he didn’t mean that the believers were all running against each other with only one actually winning. Instead, he wanted every believer to run in such a way that they would win. In other words, we should all be putting the same amount of effort for the reward of God’s Kingdom that an athlete puts out to win a medal or wreath. Therefore, we must willingly practice self-control with a focus on bringing others to Christ because we are running towards an eternal prize. We have already “won”; the prize isn’t dependent on how we run the race. Because we are already assured of the prize, we should live for God with as much focus and enthusiasm as did the ancient runners at the games.

We must keep our eyes clearly focussed on the goal, running straight for it with purpose in every step, not allowing ourselves to be sidetracked or becoming lazy. We need to discipline ourselves in our Christian lives in order to stay in shape.

The time between a person’s acceptance of Christ as Saviour and his or her death is the only time when growth in Christ can occur.

Do you want to grow diligently and receive a reward from Christ on his return or be like the person who builds his or her life with shoddy materials, only to be saved “like someone escaping through a wall of flames?”

This week the 2008 Olympics at Beijing in China ended. Great Britain fared really well in the medals table, bringing home 19 gold, 13 silver, 15 bronze. making a total of 47, coming fourth overall. We are so proud of our team’s achievements, and look forward to the 2012 Olympics which will be hosted by London

Like all the athletes who trained hard and hoped to win gold for their country, are we prepared to put in the same effort for Christ who died for each one of us, so that we may live with him in eternity?

Love in Christ,
Penny

Newsletter 27th July: Sea Sunday

This morning the focus of our service is on the work of the Mission to
Seafarers (www.missiontoseafarers.org); I spent a year working with this
organisation as a chaplains assistant in the Port of Auckland between 1998 and 1999, and so it is a charity which is very close to my heart. In Britain seafarers are
responsible for bringing over 90% of our daily needs to this country, we
rely on them for our food, our clothes, our petrol and our cars, yet I
suspect very few of us give much thought to the men and women who work on
board the ships that bring these goods to our shores, the saying 'Out of
sight, out of mind' could very well be applied to seafarers.

Life at sea is fraught with many hardships and dangers. Long periods away
from home, isolation and the dangers of being at sea are things that all
seafarers have to face. Whilst the large majority of ship owners treat
their seafaring staff well, there is still a rogue minority that do not, and
so abuse on board ships and the non payment of wages are situations which
are not uncommon. That is why the support of The Mission to Seafarers can
make all the difference to their lives and working environments. As an
international mission agency of the Anglican Church, The Mission to
Seafarers reaches out to the 1.2 million seafarers that man the merchant
fleet with a message of love and hope in a harsh and often inhospitable
environment.

In over 230 ports worldwide, Mission chaplains and staff visit seafarers on
their ships extending a hand of friendship and help in times of crisis. In
over 100 ports, The Mission to Seafarers operates seafarers' centres. These
are inviting places in the middle of dull, featureless docksides. Inside,
crewmembers can make the most of their limited time ashore by replenishing
essential items from the shops run by the Mission, celebrating Communion and
fellowship in the Mission

chapels and, crucially, they can use our telephones and computers to keep in
touch with their loved ones thousands of miles away. Should problems arise
on board ship, local representatives of the Mission work with ships' agents and other partners to bring resolution and
comfort to crews.

Although here in Walsall we live far from the sea, we are all dependent on
the work seafarers do. Whilst they may be 'out of sight' we can make sure
that they are not 'out of mind', by remembering them and the work of the
Mission to Seafarers in our prayers.

If we do this, we are not only serving and supporting those who work at sea,
but also Jesus as well, who told us 'whatever you did for one of the least
of these brothers of mine, you did for me.' (Matthew 25:40)

God bless

Simon

Newsletter 20th July: Pastoral Visitors Course

At St Martin’s we have recently completed a Pastoral Care Visitors Course. This course was designed to give people confidence to visit someone in distress, to encourage them to pray for and with people and to learn how important it is to listen to others. Often we find it easy to visit our friends, but it is harder when it is someone we don’t know so well. We also want to be open to what God is saying to us at St. Martin’s. We are already fortunate to have so many kind people who visit and help others.

We intend to meet as a group from time to time to encourage each other and we also had a few practical ideas. We now have some specially designed cards to leave at a house if no one is in, letting someone know they are thought of and being prayed for. We will soon have some printed prayers to give out as well.

Please contact Simon, Lesley or Diane if you would like someone visited and we will do our best to send a member of the team.

You can request prayer for yourself or someone else by putting a prayer on the prayer board or by asking Simon to send out a message. You can also ask Lesley to put it on the prayer cards, which are distributed each month for people to pray for daily. You do not need to give details if you don’t want to, maybe just a name or even an initial. Many thanks to Lesley for leading and all who attended.

Diane

Newsletter 13 July: The Drinkers Ministry

Over the last 18 months I have been a member of one of the teams involved in the Drinkers’ Ministry. Every Friday night from 8.30.pm until midnight a team of Christians, drawn from the churches across Walsall, sets up an area alongside St. Paul’s church to provide soup, tea, coffee, squash, biscuits and a listening ear for anyone who wants to stop and chat.

It has been a real education for me. At first I was frightened and inhibited, afraid I would not be able to cope if anyone was threatening or aggressive. But to date no-one has ever behaved like that towards us. People enquire about what we are doing; many joke about the soft drinks asking, “Is there any vodka in it?” Most people are really supportive and happy that we are there.

I am constantly surprised at the number of people who are prepared to stop and talk. But it has saddened me to meet so many people in desperate need of support. What has really shocked me is the number of homeless people who come to us: some are straight out of prison, others are drug addicts, prostitutes or alcoholics – people with real problems or addictions. But some are just like you and me – ordinary, decent people, who have fallen through the cracks in our society. It truly is a case of, “There but for the grace of God goI”

Imagine how heartbreaking it is on a freezing, wet December night not to be able to do more for these needy people. I have experienced great guilt after my sessions with the team: I leave these poor people to sleep in doorways or in derelict buildings while I go home to my safe, warm, comfortable house to sleep in a soft, cosy bed. It just doesn’t seem right.

Thankfully attitudes are changing and the team leaders are meeting with the Chief Executive of Walsall this week. Pray with all of your hearts that something good will result from this and some proper support will be put in place for the most needy and vulnerable people in our town.

“Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.” (Hebrews 13 v.2)

God bless, Jackie.

Newsletter: July 6th 2008

I was reading Matthew recently and in chapter 20 Jesus tells the disciples he is going to die - this bombshell seems to be completely missed by the disciples . Why? Because they are absorbed with their concern about who will be the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. So Jesus tells them the one who wants to be the greatest in God’s kingdom must be the servant of all.

‘This, however, is not the way it shall be among you. If one of you wants to be great , he must be the servant of the rest;…’

Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians chapter 12 says the church is like a body ,one unit with many parts, each part necessary for the whole to work.

Our church has many parts/people :- vicar, church wardens, church council, ministry team, musicians, flower arrangers, pastoral visitors, homegroup leaders, children's group leaders etc. All necessary and important to the life of the church, lets be careful, that like the disciples, we don’t miss the important point of what the church is really be about because we are too concerned with our own position and status.

Mick

Newsletter 29 June: Mission Giving

As a church we donate 10% of our giving to international, national and local charities. At the D.C.C. last week it was agreed that we support the following charities by donating these amounts:

Local Charities:

Glebe Centre £900

The Vine £900

Walsall Samaritans £600

National Charities:

Children's Society £600

Scripture Union £600

International Charities:

Christian Aid £600

Tearfund £600

Africaid £1200

TOTAL £6000

It is possible that our donation can be targeted towards a particular project rather than simply in aid of the charities general funds. In the past our donation to Tear Fund went towards the Yanapanakuna project with the Quecha indigenous people and we helped to purchase a dishwasher for the Glebe Centre.

Our representatives inform us about their charity through displays, prayers in the prayer diary and during intercessions in the month when their charity is the primary focus. They also encourage us to give practical support, whether by donating clothes and tinned foods for the Glebe Centre or delivering envelopes during Christian Aid week. As our link they are also happy to talk to members of the congregation on an individual basis about the work of their charity and can advise if anyone wishes to be involved further, whether through signing up for receiving prayer emails or contributing financially or practically on an individual basis.

As we pray for and support practically and financially these charities let us always remember that

‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me’ (Matthew 25 40).

God bless

Lilian

The Net: Newsletter 22nd June 2008

The Net is close to my heart as I am convinced that it is something that God has had His hand in. We have seen new people come into St. Martin’s through The Net and I have seen members of the church play their part as evangelists. We should thank God for this. However, over the past months we have seen numbers decline and it has been difficult to justify all the hard work and effort put in by the leaders to see only 2 or 3 families come and join us. It had come to the stage where we had to consider letting this ministry of St. Martin’s be ‘pruned’ out of the life of the church.

I must admit that I could not see how we could make The Net the area of growth that we hoped for, I had no more ideas, nothing to suggest and I was completely frustrated by what was happening. Despite the prayers and sometimes tears, it was if God had gone very silent over this issue, just when we needed direction the most. The prayers were still being said, time and time again we pleaded with Him to show us the way forward, but nothing came. With no direction, no idea of how to overcome the problem and feeling totally inadequate, I could not see a future for The Net and I was ready to see it disappear.

Last Sunday’s Net service was going to influence our decision on the future. We did not expect many people as it was also Father’s Day and I was certainly expecting that we would have a great service but not be able to share it with many people. I fully expected that at the next leader meeting, we would see The Net close and hopefully see something else take its place.

To my amazement and joy we had over 30 people come, including at least 2 new families and we had a great time together. We even had more Dads last Sunday than I can remember!

What this episode has taught me is the importance of prayer and my thanks go out to all of you who have prayed for the Net over the past months, even years. I would like to think that we will see The Net grow and last Sunday was not just a one off. Whether that happens, is in God’s hands. I am certain, however, that the church needs to continue to hold The Net and it’s leaders Sue, Kath, Ann, Karen and Mick, together with all of the helpers that we have, in prayer as they use their gifts and ministry, to bring families living in our community to a place where they can meet the living Christ.

Yours in Christ

Martin

I want some more.... Newsletter 1st June 2008

Last night viewers of the BBC show ‘I’ll Do Anything’ voted for the person they would most like to play the role of Nancy in the new West End production of Oliver. One of the key opening scenes in this story takes place in the workhouse which is run by the fearsome Mr Bumble. Hungry as a result of the forced labour, and the meagre portions of gruel the children are expected to survive on, Oliver approaches Mr Bumble and asks: ‘Please sir, I want some more.’

Last week I visited a church in Dudley which is experiencing a significant outpouring of the Holy Spirit. A number of things struck me about the church, first of all the fact that there were up to 500 people in the church on a Tuesday evening (and they have been holding daily meetings like this for over 35 days). The other thing that struck me was how many young people there were in the church, but the most significant thing that struck me was the real tangible sense of God’s presence as we worshipped. On the night I attended, they were many stories of people being miraculously healed and of people coming to faith.

I asked Roger, my spiritual director, who took me along to this church, why he felt this church was experiencing such a significant movement of the Holy Spirit. His answer was that the people in the church were hungry for more of the Holy Spirit in their lives, and were saying to God ‘I want some more.’

It left me wondering, how hungry are we for more of God’s Holy Spirit in our lives and in our church? My deepest desire and prayer is for more of God’s Holy Spirit in my life and in St Martin’s. It is when we are open to the Holy Spirit that we really see God at work, lives touched and people healed.

Unlike Mr Bumble, God longs to lavish good gifts on us his children, and the gift of the Holy Spirit is the greatest gift of all, the presence of God himself. Jesus reminds us that “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" (Luke 11:13)

Don’t put it off, ask God today to fill you and to fill St Martin’s again with his Holy Spirit, and let’s all say to him ‘I want some more… more of your love, more of you power, more of your Spirit’

Father's Day: Newsletter 15th June 2008

How many of you Dads have received a tie today? Apparently this is the most popular gift!

Modern day Father’s Day was reputed to have been started by Sonora Smart Dodd, who lived in Spokane,Washington. She was so proud of her father,a civil war veteran, that she proposed a special day in his honour, on June 19^th 1910. Since 1972 this has become a public holiday in the USA. In the UK we keep the 3^rd Sunday in June as Father’s Day, though others, for example Germany, celebrate Men’s Day on Ascension Day.It appears to be a day for men to go off and get drunk! Of course , the Romans had to get in first – but in their case the day was in February and it was to honour dead fathers.

Recently newspaper headlines have suggested that fathers are not needed, following the vote that a father or male role model is not required for lesbian couples to receive IVF. Somehow I think there must be some male involvement at some point, although the words supportive parenting could exclude a male role model. In our current society supportive parenting is often lacking.

As a child of the manse, my home life revolved around church life and I used to tease my father that I had to make an appointment to see him! It certainly seemed to me that he cared more about his congregation than his children. It was only as I grew older and he retired that it became obvious that the work/ family balance had been painful to him. His own father, a schoolteacher, had spent time during school holidays him which he enjoyed, being away at boarding school during termtime. My father enjoyed the company of his grandchildren though he sadly died when his youngest two were only four and two.

It is good to have a time to reflect on the role of fathers and our relationship and memories of our own. Contrary to those newspaper headlines, fathers are needed.

Liz Dunthorne