A people who relate to God, together and to the world The Messenger June 2012 2 The Messenger – June 2012 June 2012 – The Messenger 3 Who’s Who Pastor Rev’d Marcus Dickinson 01483 422105 Pastoral Assistant Sally Pollard 01483 428646 Ministerial Training Student Jonathan Keyworth 01483 414424 Church Administrator Fiona Gwynn (01483 422105) Away Team Linda & Jonathan Chamberlain (WEC) Jeanne Jarvis (Mexico) Daphne & Eddie Smith (WEC Australia) Link Missionaries Anjanette & Scott Williamson (BMS Peru) Secretary Janet Fry 01483 527390 Treasurer Graham Seddon 01483 415425 Elders Jim Brunt 01483 424272 Eric Jarman 07504 309134 Alan Toombs 01483 416859 Deacons John Dunning 01483 417112 Richard Fortescue 01252 702533 Richard Jarman 01483 420513 Jenny Leforte 01483 420898 Sally Pollard 01483 428646 Marion Toombs 01483 416859 Matthew Toombs 01428 684421 Paul Wakeman 01252 781263 Cell Group Facilitators Janet & Matthew Fry 01483 527390 Jeannette Jones 01483 860666 Jenny Leforte 01483 420898 Sally Pollard 01483 428646 Margaret Stickler 01483 415338 Sharon & Paul Wakeman 01252 781263 Ruth Weedon & Anne Dew 01428 685503 Child Advocates Matthew Fry 01483 527390 Sharon & Paul Wakeman 01252 781263 Vulnerable Adults Advocates Ruth Weedon 01428 685503 Roger Barnett 01483 423467 Zone Youth Groups Sharon & Paul Wakeman 01252 781263 Reception Co-ordinator Gloria Hacillo 01483 416675 Audio-Visual Co-ordinator pro tem Anthony Weedon 01428 685503 Social Action Mike Hacillo 01483 416675 Friendship Club Sheila Skinner 01483 417747 Wednesday Fellowship The Committee 01483 426776 Bible-a-Month Club John Dunning 01483 417112 Short Mat Bowls Club Sheila Skinner 01483 417747 Pre School Jo Smith 01483 200453 The Ark Penny McMahon 01483 425120 Web-site Administrator Matthew Toombs 01428 684421 Catering Co-ordinator Audrey Young 01483 810795 Flowers Co-ordinator June Rothwell 01483 417405 Caretaker John Donaldson 01483 811901 2 The Messenger – June 2012 June 2012 – The Messenger 3 The View from the Manse Confident? recall many years ago someone speaking about how to overcome some of the difficult obstacles I that life throws at us, the advice was something along the lines of ‘one obstacle at a time’. …don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today (Matthew 6:34) At the time of hearing it I was much younger and in trouble with debts that had mounted from having credit cards and a badly managed bank account. At the time the obstacles facing me seemed insurmountable. I learnt the importance of prioritizing the obstacles I was facing, visualizing them as hurdles to jump over, one at a time. This illustration is one that still comes to mind during times of difficulties; the added bonus to this illustration is that now I also have the confidence of knowing that there are NO insurmountable obstacles when God is involved. There may be big, difficult, painful obstacles but they can and shall be overcome as we put our trust in God to help us. The Bible is full of people who despite the odds stacked against them have overcome. David when faced with opposition from Saul overcame the murderous intentions of his predecessor. Goliath had the jump on David in every way, height, strength, armour, weapons, skill and experience and yet David felled the giant. Elijah takes part in a showdown against hundreds of false prophets, he is seriously outnumbered as he faces this prophetic confrontation. Add to that his insistence to pour water over an offering that is to be burnt and it looks highly unlikely that he will overcome – yet the offering is ignited through divine fire. Daniel and his friends look set for certain doom as they confront the immoral and ungodly ways of a Babylonian Empire and King, they are brought through the fiery furnace. Daniel faces a den of hungry lions and walks away unscathed. Whatever we are facing at this time we can face with confidence that with God’s help we can overcome. For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13) Marcus Thursday Evening Study Group 21st June – 19th July oin us for Season 1 of our “Back 2 Basics” study sessions. Back 2 Basics will be split into two 5-week sessions; the firstJ before, and the second after the summer holidays. These studies will take place at church from 8 to 9.30 p.m. Please, come prepared with your Bibles and, if possible, having already started to think, pray and read around some of the topic titles. We will aim to start at 8 p.m. prompt – so, for those of you who need their caffeine boost, please come a little earlier and make yourself a drink before we start. Season 1 During our time together we will look at how scripture 21st June : Worship speaks into the different aspects of church life and practice. It 28th June : Prayer is hoped that these studies will help us re-discover the basics 5th July : Studying Scripture of our faith and practice, both individually and corporately, as 12th July : Church Authority we seek to engage with God’s call on our lives. 19th July : Communion 4 The Messenger – June 2012 June 2012 – The Messenger 5 The Earthly Implications Of A Cosmic Reality Acts 1 : 1 – 11; Ephesians 1 : 15 – 23 he ascended to be seated at the right hand of ome of you with good memories may the Father in glory and power, above all rule Sremember a much-hyped film back in 1979 and authority, power and dominion and every called Alien, directed by Ridley Scott. Even if title that can be given, not only in the present you have never seen it I’m sure you will have age but also in the age to come. God placed heard of it – humans exploring space land on all things under His feet and appointed Him an alien planet and find a dreaded creature to be head over everything for the church, that wreaks havoc upon them and their space which is His body the fullness of Him who fills ship. I mention this because the director Ridley everything in every way. Scott has another much anticipated Sci-Fi film coming out at the start of next month, this film So the Cosmic reality of the Ascension is is called Prometheus. Prometheus in Greek that Jesus returns to that place from which mythology was a titan, a powerful deity, who as He came in order to rule over all things. One mythology would have us believe stole fire from of the reasons we had Psalm 47 as our call Zeus and gave it to mortals. His punishment to worship is because it is an enthronement was to be bound to a rock and have a great psalm and is fitting as we recall the ascension eagle come and eat his liver each day as his and enthronement of Christ in the heavenly liver grew back overnight! Great stuff! realms. Christ is able to rule over all things because He has accomplished what no other In Ridley Scott’s new film a spaceship could, a perfect life lived, a perfect sacrifice named Prometheus is travelling through offered, the results of which are that sin and galaxies in search of our origins, presumably death have been defeated. Therefore Christ is in order to bring back some knowledge of our exalted on high. origins, some celestial fire, to help us progress in the future. The films tag line is “They went This cosmic reality has various earthly searching for our beginning. What they found implications – not least of which is that we call could be our end.” Christ Lord and Saviour. But this morning I don’t want to focus on the doctrinal implications What has this to do with Ascension Sunday of Christ’s status and titles, neither do I want you may ask – indeed. Well Ascension Sunday to focus on the missional implications found in is the day when we recall Jesus returning to the reading from Acts; to be witnesses to the the place of His origin but unlike Prometheus ends of the earth, the time after the ascension He does not steal fire but has instead promised and prior to the restoration of the Kingdom, to send a Holy Fire for our empowerment. which the disciples were so concerned with, More of that next week, I’m sure, as we enter is a gracious interim for witness. This morning Pentecost. I would like us to consider another earthly implication that results from Christ’s Ascension, But the Ascension of our Lord is a pivotal one that is not initially an outward act such as moment – post ascension whenever Christians proclamation of Divine titles or the embodiment speak of God they must also speak of Christ, of a missional lifestyle – but one that is an for Christ now reigns with God. The ascension internal acceptance of something implicit within of Christ has huge cosmic implications, indeed the Ascension of Christ. it is not far off the mark to say that in the search for our beginnings we too discover Think about the situation – Jesus has risen our end – only our end is not necessarily a from death to show Himself very much alive – doomed event whereby we are in fear for our not alive as we know life to be at this present future. Instead we discover that He who was in time but alive post death with new abilities, not the beginning is our end, our power, our glory, that Jesus was lacking any amazing abilities our hope, our destiny. When Christ ascended prior to His crucifixion! 4 The Messenger – June 2012 June 2012 – The Messenger 5 So Jesus has this new post-death life and it!!! He doesn’t say that though, instead He could, if He chose, continue His ministry, He steps back, or in ascension terms was taken could have continued to go round teaching up from before their eyes.