Amen!

This coming Sunday we reach the end of our sermon series on the Lord's Prayer and consider the importance of this little word that comes at the end of prayers, Amen.

At St Paul's a few weeks ago I took my first wedding here which was a real privilage and a joyous occassion. At a wedding service the couple enter into an agreement together, the ceremony marks the start of something new that they will invest in together.

When we say Amen at the end of a prayer it is a bit like entering into an agreement with God. Amen is not just an end to our 'list' of things that we have prayed for but rather a promise to live out we have said, to 'let it be so'. We enter into agreement with God that his kingdom will and way be done in our lives.

Join us this Sunday as we say Amen together to all we have learnt from this familiar pattern of prayer that Jesus taught us.

Seeking Approval

I have just read an article on the BBC Sport website about a programme to be shown tonight about the Olympic Cyclist Victoria Pendleton. You can see the article here. In it Victoria is very honest about how she feels "trapped" by her success and reveals her lack of self confidence.
The line that struck me most was her admission of seeking approval in those around her.
I am sure that this is something we can all identify with. We often seek our significance, self worth and security in the wrong place. Only God can provide us with all these things yet we so often get caught into looking to others to provide them for us.
By the end of the article I felt that Victoria has put a huge amount of pressure on herself and that if she doesn't win gold she is going to be very disappointed.
However, I commend her whole heartedly for being so honest and real. This is something we need much more of. I also would love to see her win and she sure has the talent and ability to do so.
All of the athletes at the games will have worked so hard and given the best but only so many can win gold medals. But the truth is that for all those that look to God for their approval will find they are all winners in His sight.

Forgiveness

As we continue our Sermon Series on the Lord's Prayer we arrived on Sunday at possibily the trickest clause 'forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us'

To quote HM The Queen 'God sent into the world a unique person - neither a philisopher nor a general, important though they are, but a Saviour, with the power to forgive. Forgiveness lies at the heart of the Christian faith. It can heal broken families, it can restore friendships and it can reconcile divided communities. It is in forgiveness that we feel the power of God's love.'

We celebrated the freedom forgiveness brings and had the opportunity to come again to God in forgiveness as we wrote in felt pen on bits of tin foil and then came and 'washed away' our sin in water.

We were also delighted to be joined for our service by the Mayor of Oadby & Wigston Cllr. Lynda Eaton. It was good to be able to interview her, learn more about our Mayor and pray for her near the start of her mayoral year.

Messy Church

At St Paul’s Church, Oadby we are wanting to serve you in our community by running a FREE monthly activity for primary school children and their parents/carer.

So that we put on what is best for you can you spare 1 minute to answer 5 brief questions by clicking on the link below. Thank you!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/N2QMWTC

Programme of our Main Services – July - September

As we journey through these next three months we begin by continuing our Sermon Series on The Lord's Prayer. Hopefully, by now, you are beginning to discover the rich treasures contained in this very familiar prayer.

In August we have a couple of 'stand alone' services with their own particular topic and then we begin a new series of teaching. The book of James is famously known to be described by Martin Luther as 'an Epistle of straw'. This may be because James is a very practical book and focuses on the importance of what we do and how we live our life. This can detract from the grace of God which is freely given and cannot be earnt. However, our faith should govern how we live our lives. As James himself says 'faith without deeds is dead' (2.26)

The 30th September is Back to Church Sunday and will present an ideal opportunity for you to invite friends and family to join us.

At St Paul's we welcome people at any time and are especially delighted to be joined by the Mayor of Oadby & Wigston at our service on 8th July.

Yours In Christ,

Steve Bailey (Vicar)

Full details of the programme

The Olympic Flame has Arrived

Yesterday, I joined the mass of people lining the A6 Glen Road to watch the Olympic Flame pass through Oadby. There was a good, well tempered crowd, as people lined the road several deep. Those on the official buses whipped up the crowds in their enthusiasm, like Butlins redcoats. And people were happy to respond. We'd taken this "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" to look at a flame not substantially different from the one on the gas hob at home! But there was a buzz, an enthusiasm, and a sense of well-being.

Why do crowds produce that feeling? Sometimes, it's harmless, as it was yesterday, or as it is at Leicester Tigers Rugby or Leicester City football matches. On other occasions, it can be for good, like the crowds that welcomed Jesus into Jerusalem as Saviour. On yet others, like Hitler's rallies, or the crowd in Jerusalem crying: "crucify him!" regarding Jesus, or the London riots, the mood of the crowd can be used to encourage the greatest of evils.

Yesterday, as over the Jubilee celebrations, the crowd produced a feeling of cheerful well-being. But let's always beware of the danger that crowds’ emotions can produce.

The Vicarage Garden Party - it must be summer, even if it's cold and wet!

Yesterday, Saturday 30 June, Steve and Angie welcomed the congregation of St Paul's and friends to share their garden in a garden party. Remarkably, for this summer, it stayed dry for the first three quarters of the time and we were able to enjoy the (admittedly weak) summer sun – and even watch the vicar joining his son on the trampoline! There was coffee, tea and a great range of cakes available and plants were on sale for charity.

It was a wonderful time for chat and renewing friendship until the rain (inevitably) came, when we all went into the Barnabas Centre and continued the good time of friendship.

Very many thanks to Steve and Angie for making their garden available and to the social team who organised the event and made the cakes.