St Martin’s Golden Jubilee

St Martin's Church was consecrated on the 22^nd October 1960 by the Bishop of Lichfield, the Right Reverend Arthur Stretton Reeve. Today fifty years on, we are delighted to welcome to St Martin's the present Bishop of Lichfield, the Right Reverend Jonathan Gledhill, who is leading us in our Golden Jubilee celebrations.

Although today we mark St Martin's Golden Jubilee, the reality is that the history of St Martin's goes back more than fifty years. Plans to build a church on the site of St Martin's go back to the 1940s, and for two years before the church was consecrated services used to be held in the Red House pub (now the Longhorn).

In the Bible the only church that is mentioned is one that is made of living stones (1 Peter 2:5). This is a reminder that St Martin's Church isn't a building, but people, and today we thank God for the faithful witness and service of all who have been part of St Martin's during the course of its history.

The Bible also describes the church as being like a family (John 1:12), a place where people can experience a real sense of love, fellowship and support in good times and bad. It fills me with great hope and joy when I see the church family coming together to support one another and the wider community. As a church I believe we have so much to be grateful for, and so much to look forward to.

Our mission statement is In Christ: Seeking, Growing, Sharing and Spreading the Kingdom. Archbishop William Temple said "Church is the only organisation that exists for the
benefit of its non-members." Our mission statement reminds us of this fact, and that Christ calls us to work in partnership with him in growing God's kingdom. Our society has changed a lot since St Martin's opened its doors in 1960, but our mission and calling remains the same, to make Jesus know, to share God's love and to make new disciples. Our Golden Jubilee is an opportunity for us to rededicate ourselves to the task of bearing witness to the love of God, as revealed to us in Jesus Christ.

"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit--fruit that will last." (John 15:16)

God bless

Simon

Knowing When To Let Go

One of the difficulties with church work is knowing when you should stop doing a particular job. It wasn't long after joining St Martin's that I started helping Jessica with the children's group, a task I did for quite a long time. After being involved in something for a long period it can be very difficult to let go, particularly when there doesn't seem to be anyone to take over from you. But its important to be aware of God's leading because it is possible to go from being an asset to a work to being a hindrance, so some time ago I gave up working with the Sunday Groups.

Around the same time I made it clear that I felt it was right for me to come off the Ministry team, due to circumstances this didn't happen at that time, but now Phill and Penny have joined the ministry team I feel it is right for me to resign, which I have done.

It probably appears now that I gave up these tasks to become churchwarden, but at the time I had no thought of being churchwarden in fact I was worried that if I gave up these jobs I would be doing nothing. It was only when I was prepared to trust God and let go of these jobs that I realised (rather reluctantly) what the next job God wanted me to do.

Its our human nature that tends to want things mapped out, but I think God calls us to take steps of faith one at a time trusting Him not necessarily knowing were they are leading.

A Spiritual Challenge

At the end of August this year, I had the privilege and pleasure of visiting the Anglican and Catholic cathedrals in Liverpool. In the Catholic Cathedral I picked up a pray card which I'd like to share with you:

LORD, TEACH ME TO PRAY

I cannot pray OUR, if my faith has no room for others and their need.

I cannot pray FATHER, if I do not demonstrate this relationship to God in my daily living.

I cannot pray WHO ART IN HEAVEN, if I am not striving, with God's help, to be holy.

I cannot pray YOUR KINGDOM COME, if I am unwilling to accept God's rule in my life.

I cannot pray YOUR WILL BE DONE, if I am unwilling or resentful of having it in my life.

I cannot pray ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN, unless I am truly ready to give myself to God's service here and now.

I cannot pray GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD, without expending honest effort for it, or if I would withhold from my neighbour the bread that I receive.

I cannot pray LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, if I deliberately choose to remain in a situation where I am likely to be tempted.

I cannot pray DELIVER US FROM EVIL, if I am not prepared to fight evil with my life and my prayer.

I cannot pray YOUR KINGDOM COME, if I am unwilling to obey the King.

I cannot pray YOURS IS THE POWER AND THE GLORY, if I am seeking power for myself and my own glory first.

I cannot pray FOR EVER AND EVER, if I am too anxious about each day's affairs.

I cannot pray AMEN, unless I honestly say, "Cost what it may, this is my prayer."

God bless, Jackie.

Back to Church Sunday

Today is Back to Church Sunday. Welcome to St. Martin's if you are visiting us. I hope you will find it a positive experience. Last year in the Lichfield Diocese over 300 churches took part and 3000 came " back to church" on that day.

It may be that the word " church" brings certain images to mind: somewhere cold and uncomfortable, where people whisper and children have to be quiet, where strange clothes are worn or Sunday best and you have to stand up or sit down at the right time. Church can seem to be detached from reality, a place of false solemnity and even somewhat hypocritical. I find St. Martin's a place of welcome, laughter, friendship and hope. Worship with others transforms my small faith. The home group provides an opportunity to learn and discuss within a small group of people and it is refreshing to find that we all have doubts and no-one has all the answers!

A recent survey showed that more people prayed than actually professed a faith which seems a contradiction in terms. At times of crisis it seems many challenge God ( if I get better, I'll come to church) or at least think that as there appears to be no human solution it might be worth trying a divine one! God does respond sometimes in obvious ways to these prayers but at other times " God works in mysterious ways his wonders to perform".

Evidence of the Holy Spirit at work at St. Martin's is not hard to find – just think of the Café, support for the Glebe centre, our mission giving not to mention the joy, healing and support for each other. If you are returning to St.Martin's today or visiting us I hope you will take away a feeling of friendship and a taster of what the Holy Spirit can do. Maybe this is the nudge you need to find or renew your relationship with God.

Liz Dunthorne