Worth another look?

Dear Friends,

A few years ago I went back to my old school to have a look round.

Everything looked smaller than I remembered it, especially the chairs!

Of course, nothing was smaller; it was just that I had grown.

There were a lot of familiar things, just as I remembered them: the art and technology block (where I discovered I was never to be an artist), the science labs (not my strong point), the games pitches (that’s more like it), the staff room (where we once kidnapped a teacher during rag week), the headmaster’s study (let’s not go there!).

I particularly enjoyed seeing the languages department where I took my first faltering steps in French. I wondered what my teachers would think if they knew I’d ended up being a French teacher; not to mention what my RE teachers would think!

And then there were lots of things I saw that day which weren’t there in my day: interactive white boards, DVD projectors, computer suites. I can think of some of my friends who might quite have liked school if they’d had all of this when we were there!

Anyway, all this got me thinking: what would it be like to go back to church if we haven’t been for a while?

Some people’s memories of church are pretty negative. But there have been lots of changes over the years. It might be worth another look.

For others, there are things about church that they used to love - much-loved hymns, familiar prayers. Many of these things are still there.It might be worth another look.

And what about the meaning of it all? Might this be worth another look? I mean, we carry on growing physically after we leave school and we carry on growing in our knowledge and understanding of many of the things we learn at school; but what about our spiritual understanding? Have I revisited spiritual matters as an adult? If not, might it be that things would look quite different today from how I remember them all those years ago? Is David and Goliath just an exciting story for children to act out? Or does it have something to teach us about the nature of reality, about what God is doing in the world? And have I gone back to look at it again, through adult eyes, to see what I think of it today? Might it at least be worth another look?

But even if I wanted to, where would I start? How can I go back after all these years?

Well, we’re making Sunday, 30th September a ‘back to church’ day - a chance for anyone who’s been wondering about giving church another try to do just that. Perhaps you’ve not been for a few months, a few years, a few decades. Why not come back to church and see for yourself what’s changed and what’s still the same? Why not come back and see what it looks like now compared to what it looked like then? Why not have another look?

With best wishes,

Tim

Prayer for India

There will be a Prayer & Praise evening on Tues 9th Oct 7-30 – 8.45pm to pray for those going to India on the ASHA project & for Tim also going to India in November. Fair Trade produce will be available in church on this evening

Coffee Plus

Coffee Plus is starting again. First session is 10am 24th Sep in church with a new course called 21st Century Parenting. Any parents will be very welcome and we are still looking for creche helpers and also for the Monday 1st October.

The London Women’s Convention Sat 29th Sept, Central Hall, Westminster.

For those of you who are signed up for the London Women's Convention on Sat 29th September at Central Hall, Westminster.

The coach will pick us up at 7.15am outside Whitehaven on the day. Please bring cash/cheque book to pay between £10-12 for travel cost. You will also need a Bible, pen etc and a packed lunch. We are hoping to return between 7.30-8.00pm. There are some spare seats available for anyone who fancies a day trip to London! Please let us know if you are interested.

The London Women's Convention

Click here to download the brochure

Harvest Festival

This year's Harvest Festival Services will be held on Sunday 7th October with a bring and share lunch after the 10.00 am service. The Church Wardens have been asked to co-ordinate the decoration of the church for that day. If anyone would like to help decorate a window ledge, or other space, or bring foor to the lunch please have a look at the lists by the Front Door