Dear Friends,

I want to begin by thanking you all for your support during Colin’s sabbatical. The kind gestures of practical help and offers of prayer have been very much appreciated. It truly has been a team effort and has reinforced in my mind the image in 1 Corinthians 12 that Paul paints of the church as being one body but many parts.

The fact is that we are ‘fearfully and wonderfully made’ (Psalm 139:14), each displaying God’s indelible mark and yet at the same time we are different, each having certain abilities and gifts, passions and interests. This has been apparent over the past few months, and the desire and commitment on the part of so many to serve the church in various ways gives me heart.

Nevertheless, we mustn’t become complacent and introspective. Rather we should be constantly reminding ourselves of what we’re here for with the words of the great commission at the end of Matthew’s Gospel ringing in our ears that we’re to ‘go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.’ (Matthew 28:19-20)

They say of the church that it is the only organisation that exists for people who are not yet its members. Our calling is not to be a social club, instead we’re to be an outward looking church, reaching out to those around us with the message of hope that we have as Christians. However, in order to do that, we ourselves need to have a thorough grasp of what it is we’re hoping for.

The question needs to be asked as to what we would say if someone asked us about the hope that we have? For many, there does appear to be much confusion about what happens in the ‘future’ for Christians. We talk of hope but what hope? What do we mean by this? Where is our hope grounded? What do we hope for? It is with this in mind that we have given the forthcoming Church Weekend to looking at this very topic, taking Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians as our guide under the title Present Gains and Future Hope.

We’re delighted that Donald Allister, Archdeacon of Chester, has agreed to come and lead this weekend for us and we look forward to hearing him open the truths of God’s word to us so that we may be equipped biblically in this area. Donald comes with years of parish ministry behind him and he is a well-known and respected Bible teacher. To complement this, we’ve secured the services of David Casson to lead a parallel track with the youngsters which, given David’s experience, we’re sure will prove stimulating and entertaining for the young people.

This is to be a joint venture with the parish of Scotby and Cotehill with Cumwhinton and I am very excited about the weekend. It promises to be a great time of teaching and fellowship with good food thrown in for good measure. There will also be opportunities to relax and get to know others on the Saturday afternoon at Ridley Hall, our venue for the day. This fine old house in a 33 acre estate is the perfect place to unwind from it all. So, whether you’ve been a church member for all your life or have just joined in recent weeks, the parish weekend is for YOU! Put it in your diaries now: FRIDAY 10th – SUNDAY 12th OCTOBER.

It is my prayer that as churches we will be faithful to the proclamation of the gospel so that we may ‘Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.’ (1 Peter 3:15) For we do indeed have a great gospel to proclaim that gives hope to us all in the midst of our present struggles. ‘God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.’ (Romans 5:8) Through Christ’s blood therefore, we have been saved and brought back into relationship with the God in whose image we were created; saved from his wrath and given an inheritance that will never fade. So…‘May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.’ (Romans 15:13)

With warmest wishes,
David