Baptism

On Sunday April 29th, under the bright spring sunshine, James, Edward and Matthew Hingley were baptised by full immersion during the main morning worship.

What is baptism? Baptism marks the beginning of a journey with God which continues for the rest of our lives. In baptism we celebrate what God has done for us in Christ, making serious promises and declaring our Christian faith. Baptism is the first step in the Christian journey. Here are some photos of this wonderful event.

St Martin's doesn't have a full size baptistry in the church, so for practical reasons the baptism took place outside.

Although the sun was shining, the water was cold! Here James prepares for his baptism.

Next came the turn of Edward

And finally the youngest of the three brothers, Matthew, is baptised.

Congratulations to James, Edward and Matthew, we pray that they will continue to grow in their Christian faith.

What has God done for us? Newsletter 29th April 2007

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."
John 3:16-17

Do we realize what God has done for us? Do we ever stop long enough in the hectic busyness of every day to think about the death and resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ? You know I don't think we do, at least, I don’t.

We cannot come anywhere near comprehending the sacrifice and total love God gave to us when He sent His Son into this world to live, to die, and to rise from the grave. He gave us His only Son so that we shall never die, that's right eternal life! How do we get this eternal life?

It's free, all we have to do is believe, It's called faith. We are no longer alone because He is here with us. Our hearts can be filled with the peace and love of Jesus Christ.

Don’t think for a minute that your life will always be rosy. We all have our problems, on a daily basis! Loving Christ won’t change that. But now I feel I can deal with problems, because I believe that God is there in the problems with us. We can always rely on Him, Trust Him to be there for us, to listen & help if we let Him into our hearts. You see God sent His Son into this world not to judge us but to save us. To me that is what Resurrection is all about. Its about joy, It's about faith; It's about God’s love for us.

Prayer:
O Risen Lord Jesus, when all is darkness
and we feel our weakness and helplessness,
give us the sense of Your presence,
Your love and Your strength.
Help us to have perfect trust in Your protecting love
and strengthening power, so that nothing may frighten or worry us,
for, living close to You, we shall see Your hand,
Your purpose, Your will through all things.
We ask this in the precious name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Who lives and reigns with the Father,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
Amen

God Bless,
Jane

Earth Day: 22nd April 2007

“All things bright and beautiful,
All creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful,
The Lord God made them all”

Today, April 22nd, has been designated as Earth Day. The first Earth Day was held in 1970 in the USA. Over the past few years much has been said and written about the state of the earth from global warming and other atmospheric pollution to problems with the ozone layer.

For about a thousand years man has been increasing the pollutants in the atmosphere ( in the tenth century a queen of England complained of the smoke pollution in London) and this has been accelerated over the last two hundred years as man, in his pursuit of industrialisation, has caused an increase in the acid gases which were first described in 1848. (Don’t forget Queen Victoria had the blinds drawn on her train when it passed through the Black country so she didn’t have to see the filth and squalor!)

Now we are told that one of the gases which is needed for plants to produce food is the real villain of the piece. Carbon dioxide, the gas used by plants to make sugars, has been increasing quite rapidly and is now causing the earth’s temperature rise. Yet this gas has been present in the atmosphere since the earth began.

When God made the earth and all on it he made sure that everything was in balance, day and night, water and earth, plants and animals. The gases of the air were also in balance; man in his greed has upset His delicate balance.

Perhaps is it now time to remember that we are just temporary creatures on God’s earth and should look after it as He would want. Only then will we return to a world where all things are bright and beautiful again. Take time today to think about God’s wonderful creation and how we all can do our bit in preserving it for future generations.

God Bless
John

Easter Day

Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed! Alleluia!

On behalf of all at St Martin's we wish you a happy and joyful Easter, and pray that you may experience the love, hope, life and power of the resurrection in your life.

Silence: Newsletter for 15th April, 2007

Do you find difficulty with silence? When we pray we are encouraged to talk to God – tell Him of our worries and concerns – for ourselves, our families, friends and neighbours; situations that frighten or trouble us. This can become a shopping list of wants – the talking all on one side – ours. If we are able to leave a period of silence, we can be open to hearing God speak to us – helping us to make the right decision and take the right course of action.

I am afraid that all my life I have been, and still am – a ‘talker’ – none of my friends or family would dispute that; and one to whom being quiet or silent is quite foreign. Unsuccessfully I have tried to overcome or at least improve this skill of listening that I lack.

During my own prayer time at home and in church, I do listen hard in the hope that God will speak to me. What am I expecting? A voice from above? A flashing light? A momentous happening? So far - nothing like that – and perhaps I have been a little disappointed; but I will still try even harder to hear what God is trying to tell me or guide me as to what to do or be.

Scripture tells us ‘there is a’ time for silence and a time for speech’. I pray that God will show me when it is right for each of these. We must all thank God for the miracle of speech that enables us to communicate with each other – but we must also be as ready to listen as to talk.

Lord, teach us the silence of humility, the silence of wisdom, the silence of love, the silence of perfection, the silence that speaks without words, the silence of faith. May we be able to silence our hearts that we may hear the Holy Spirit of God within us.

Every Blessing, Doreen.

Thank You (Published 25/03/07)

As parents some of the first words we teach our children are ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ and in our dealings with children and young people we continue to reinforce the idea that everyone must be thanked when they have done or given us something. This is most frequently done verbally but there are times when we feel it is more appropriate to send a card, note or letter expressing our thanks. On other occasions we express our gratitude by performing some task or by giving a small gift.

Today we are joining Sylvie and Keith as they give thanks for thirty five years of marriage. We, too, have much to be thankful for, whether it is the love of family and friends, good health, rewarding employment, a full and active life or relative financial security. We are also fortunate to live in a country where we are free to express our views without fear and in a pleasant suburban area with easy access to both countryside and the facilities of towns.

As Christians we express our thanks to God through prayer, through giving time to promote His kingdom and through monetary gifts. Next Sunday will be our Gift Day when we all have the opportunity to give thanks for the way that God has worked in our lives.

What have you to be thankful for? Please give prayerful consideration to whether you are able to contribute to St. Martin’s Gift Day remembering that ‘all things come from you and of your own do we give you’ (1 Chronicles 29.14).

God bless. Lilian

Mobile

I wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phones?
What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?
What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?
What if we flipped through it several times a day?
What if we used it to receive messages from the text?
What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?
What if we gave it to kids as gifts?
What if we used it as we travelled?
What if we used it in case of an emergency?
This is something to make you go hmm... where is my Bible?

Oh, and one more thing. Unlike our cell phone, we don't ever have to worry about our Bible being disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill! And no dropped calls !

Listening (Newsletter 18th March 2007)

Mobile phones ringing, loud music playing in shops, lifts and hotels, T.V. commercials everywhere, traffic noise, aeroplanes ...our ears are continually assaulted by noise! It is increasingly difficult to find the peace and quiet we need to listen. Listening is one of the most important skills we need to develop if we are to communicate effectively. If we want to have meaningful relationships we must listen to our families, our friends, our community and, most importantly, to God.

Recently Jane and I had the experience of being "called out" by the church family to join the Ministry Team. We were both amazed and, quite frankly, terrified by the prospect. But after talking to our families and friends and listening to Simon and Richard, in great humility and with trembling hearts, we decided to go forward, trusting that the church family had listened to God.

Simon and Richard have been teaching us about prayer over the last few weeks. They have been encouraging us to listen to as well as speak to God.(re: Richard's sermon on 4th Feb.)

In the Old Testament Samuel had to learn to recognise God's voice. He thought Eli was calling him when in fact it was God. He listened carefully and his immediate response was: "Speak for your servant is listening." (1Sam. v.10)

At St. Martin's we have many opportunities to listen to God. The Taize service is one, where there is time, space and peace to retreat from the noise of the world. Father Roger of Taize said: "A moment of silence, even very short, is like a holy stop, a sabbatical rest, a truce of worries."

Let's resolve today to shut out the noise and distractions of modern life and listen more closely to God. Only then will we truly be able to discern God's will for our future here at St. Martin's.

God bless, Jackie.

Mike (Newsletter 11th March 2007)

When it was fist suggested that a banner be created in memory of Mike, I was overwhelmed. Today as we dedicate the completed banner I am still just as emotional. It is a most wonderful tribute to Mike from St Martin's that you want to commemorate him in this way. He would be astounded; he was a very humble man. However he would have loved the idea of fifteen women sewing for him! The banner is more beautiful than I could have imagined. I can't thank enough the women who have given so willingly of their time, energy and skills. In particular I am indebted to Carol Smith and Gill Beasley for the part they have played in designing the banner, organising us sewers and making it happen. They have opened their homes, been inspirational and given so much to see this through to fruition. I will always be most grateful to you all. Though we have been wielding the needles, I am very aware that without the financial support of many more, and those who donated fabrics and silks, the banner might not have been created. I am touched by your generosity. It is a great comfort to know that this church, that Mike loved, will always remember him in this physical way. What could a more fitting legacy of a lovely man who was much loved? On behalf of all the family, Carrie and myself, I thank you all so much.

Sue Keys– Statham.

Dedication

It’s been a really good year for major anniversaries. During the year we remembered two 60th anniversaries; the end of the war in Europe and the end of the war in the Far East.

In October we celebrated the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar when the English Fleet under Nelson and Collingwood defeated the combined fleet of the French and Spanish.
Just last week we celebrated the 400th anniversary of the failed Gunpowder plot to destroy James I and his Parliament.

Today, on Remembrance Sunday, we remember, principally, all those men and women who died in the two world wars. Yet British service men and women continue to die in the service of this country. Throughout the whole of the twentieth century there were only three years when British service men and women did not die on active service.

Perhaps, as we remember all of those who have died for our continuing safety, we should take note of Nelson’s prayer before the battle of Trafalgar:

May the Great God, whom I worship, grant for my Country, and for the benefit of Europe in general, a great and glorious Victory; and may no misconduct in anyone tarnish it; and may humanity after Victory be the predominant feature in the British fleet.

For myself, individually, I commit my life to Him who made me, and may his blessing light upon my endeavours for serving my Country faithfully. To Him I resign myself and the just cause which is entrusted to me to defend. Amen, Amen, Amen.

Yes he does pray for Victory but he also prays for humanity in Victory. More importantly he dedicates his life to God and asks for his blessing on his endeavours. We may not be as great as Nelson but we can all dedicate ourselves to serving God in whichever way he chooses for us.

John

Prayer

A few weeks ago, in my role as Pastoral leader, I was asked to take one of the House assemblies. I readily agreed but it was only after agreeing that I found out that the theme was “Prayer!” At this point I began to ask whether the House leader’s meeting was really that important! Consequently, I began to think about what I was going to say.

Two days before the assembly one of my prayers was answered when one of our cover supervisors offered to take the assembly.

His assembly was a million times better than I could have done. He pitched the level just right and the pupils were truly attentive to his interactive presentation.

Yet at the end I was left with the feeling that something was missing. It took a while for me to realise that he never once mentioned giving thanks to God. It reminded me that we are very quick to ask God for help and advice but very slow to say “thank you”.

I’m not very good at formal prayer; but the lines from one of the ‘Crocodile Dundee’ films, where Mick Dundee says, “God and me, we be mates!” gives me great hope. So I tend to have conversations with God for, as it says in the prayer diary, I try to “pray as I can, not as I can’t”.
In our busy lives we can still find time for informal chats with God. Prayer in all of its forms is powerful.

Oh, almost forgot, yes I did remember to say “thank you”
for God’s intervention in the assembly.

God Bless
John

Dr. Edward Jenner

This week marks the anniversary of the birth (17-05-1749) of one of the most important figures in British Science – Dr. Edward Jenner. I would guess that most of you would not have heard of his everlasting contributions to the progress of science.

His first important contribution was that, as a young man, he observed and recorded the habits of one of the most important signs of summer – the cuckoo. He was the first to expose this parasitic bird as a nest destroyer and layer of eggs foreign to the nests of many birds.

However, it is his second contribution for which he receives the thanks of mankind, for it was Edward Jenner who discovered the process of vaccination. Through his work as a country doctor he was able to use a disease of cattle called “Cowpox” to provide an inoculation against the dreadful disease Smallpox. In the eighteenth century this was one of the most feared diseases on earth – no country was spared. His breakthrough meant that millions of people gained long-lasting protection against this disease. By 1978 this disease was eradicated from all countries.
Yet, what about Jenner? Some countries feted him as a hero, others gave him a money prize but he remained as a country doctor, often suffering from sarcasm and lampooning. He could have made enormous amount of money but, in line with his strong Christian upbringing (his dad was a vicar!), he preferred to continue serving God and his fellow man.

Jenner used his God given skills to provide help and relief to his patients; in our small way can we do less? We need to pray that God will use us to serve others and use what gifts and talents we may have.

God Bless,
John

John Newton

Just recently I have had the opportunity to re-read the story of John Newton. Alongside the Wesley Bothers and Isaac Watts, Newton remains one of my favourite hymn writers with hymns like: “Glorious things of thee are spoken, Zion, city of our God”; “How sweet the name of Jesus sounds in a believer’s ear”; and “Amazing Grace”.

Newton’s early life was a catalogue of foul language, blasphemies and general vile behaviour. In fits of conscience he prayed for forgiveness but only saw it as wiping the slate clean and allowing him to continue as before.

It was only during the enormous storm which was gradually destroying the ship he was on (The Greyhound) that he really confronted the enormity of his past life and his sins and really asked for forgiveness. It was reading the words of Christ: (Matt. 7 vv 7&8) “ask and it will be given unto you: seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened unto you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened” and Luke 15 (The Prodigal son) which caused his conversion.

However, he could see that while God would forgive sinners he was worried that this would not include him. In everyday life, one is able to forgive a friend but would you forgive your arch enemy? His answer lay in Acts chapter 9 where we are told of Saul’s conversion.
From this time on Newton believed and understood the massive sacrifice that Jesus made in atoning for our sins and so he spent the remaining years of his long life thanking and praising God for his forgiveness.

We may not feel that our sins are as enormous as those of John Newton but we all fall far short of perfection. We must ask for forgiveness on a regular basis as well as strengthening our faith for it is by faith that we as sinners will be justified before God.
God Bless you all.

John

Are we Listening?

When I was growing up and attending the local Methodist chapel we seemed to spend more time in studying the Old Testament rather than the New. Even now I find myself drawn to the stories of the developing Israelites and their covenant with God.

In particular I have been reading part of the books of Samuel and it is apparent that people in those times turned their back towards God and ignored Him and His covenant. For this they were severely punished. Not even his priest Eli was spared for when his sons Hophni and Phinehas sinned against the Lord they were killed in battle and the Ark of the Covenant was captured. (1 Sam. Ch. 4 on.)

Yet at this same time we have the young boy, Samuel, who had been given to the service of the Lord by his mother, Hannah. Samuel was called by the Lord three times and each time he ran to Eli thinking that it was him who called. Eli eventually realised that it was God calling the boy and instructed him to reply “Speak, Lord for your servant is listening”. (1 Sam. Ch.3)

I wonder if we are the same. Do we choose to ignore or do we just misunderstand what God is asking us to do?

Perhaps on this Father’s Day when we each remember our own father we would be well to give praise and thanks to our Heavenly Father and ask him to speak to us as he did to Samuel. We will never be as great or as powerful as Samuel but we can each be faithful and try to do what we can to grow the Church.

God Bless
John