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