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A Time of New Beginnings
Dear friends
It’s already 2010!
Lots of people came to celebrate at our Christmas services across m2o. It was a particularly special Christmas for those who became Christ followers on Alpha -this was the first Christmas that really was Christmas.
At the St Matthew’s morning service this week people made commitments to new beginnings, and many of us will have been taking stock and seeking fresh direction for our lives as we began a new decade.
Christmas is a reminder of God’s great gift to us, and now we have the gift of a new year with all of its possibilities. I was recently reminded of this when my Bible readings returned to Genesis chapter 1, which concludes with these words:
“God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.”
With all of the new beginnings and familiar ‘continuings’ of a new year, it is easy for activity to take over. I have also been challenged by these words:
“Unless the LORD builds a house, the work of the builders is wasted." (Psalm 127 : 1)
We believe it is right that we renew the call to prayer and fasting that we have received in the past. We are encouraging people to fast on Thursdays, this is also the day of our weekly 7.15am prayer meeting. There is some useful information about fasting on our website www.m2o.org.uk, follow the link to ‘Prayer’ under the ‘St Matthew’s Church’ heading.
We are also restarting the pre-service prayer meeting at St Matthew’s Church - twenty minutes to focus on God, and to pray for his kingdom in our lives, our church and through us to the world around us. We will meet in the Prayer Room, on the left at the front of the church building (9.40-10.00am Sundays).
Alpha begins again soon on – we are praying for lots of people to come along, particularly people from New Bilton. Kid’s Club and Messy Church kick off at Overslade, which will be a lot of fun and a great place for children and grown-ups to get to know Jesus.
God has great things for all of us in 2010 – both in new beginnings and in familiar patterns.
Happy New Year!
Tim Norman, Associate Vicar
“LORD, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O LORD.
Renew them in our day, in our time make them known” (Habakkuk 3:2)
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Tim Norman, 08/01/2010 |
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| | David Gibbons | 08/01/2010 09:14 | | This is a poem I wrote the other day that has much the same message so I thought I would share it:
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January 7th
Epiphany has passed,
Christmas has ended.
Many had already packed it away
Awaiting next year.
Now, even those who keep the traditions
Will begin the process.
So as you start to box up the tinsel
For another year
Here is a question to ponder:
Where do we go from here?
Do we simply slip back
Into familiar ruts
And comfortable ways?
Or do we,
Like the Magi,
Listen to dreams
And hear voices
Telling us to take a different route?
For this was just the beginning of the story
For the babe we celebrated
And His journey
Took Him to Golgotha and beyond.
Now He bids us be strangers and pilgrims
Here, in this world.
Will we do it...this time?
Well, will we?
| | | Andy Webster | 27/01/2010 08:30 | | Hi everyone!
As my family and I are new to m2o, the theme of 'new beginnings' is particularly appropriate. I hope that this fresh start for us will begin a new era now that we are finally able to leave the house with the kids (2 boys, 1 & 3), and have (just) enough sleep behind us to muster words and even sentences when meeting people!
Thank you for the welcome we have received and we look forward to getting to know you all.
Tim's Psalm 127 reference gave me pause for thought too, as I'm in the process of building an extension to our home in my 'spare' time.
I wonder, has anyone made new commitments and/or new year's resolutions they'd like to share here?
Lord, I pray for all the new beginnings at m2o; that they would bring a sense of refreshment and re-definition of purpose. Help us to listen well and follow your calling closely and faithfully.
Peace,
Andy
| | | Sheila Bridge | 30/01/2010 17:13 | | Great to hear from you Andy, blessings on you, your home and family. Looking forward to meeting you.
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