King Richard III

No one in Leicester, or probably in England, can have been unaware that yesterday saw the burial of King Richard III in Leicester Cathedral. The whole story of his discovery and identification has been incredible – almost one of fiction. But now he has been laid to rest.

As the funeral service made clear, death is not the end for those who die trusting in Jesus Christ. For them, they will see their Saviour face-to-face and will rise to glory on the final day.

Richard was a complex person and people argue his good and bad traits. Christ is not concerned with Richard’s, or our, perfection. To all who turn to him, like the thief on the cross, he offers life in all its fullness – now and after death.

As the commentator, John Snow, stated at the end of the broadcast, “Richard’s story is coming to an end – as all our stories will end.”

Alpha course finishes

Alpha Course Members and the Helpers

Our Alpha coursed finished this week. Here is a photo of the happy group. We have enjoyed exploring faith together and deepening our understanding of Jesus.

Many thanks to Vivien & Colin who fed us so well with great love and care.

The group is hoping to meet again in the summer term to find out how we are all getting on.

My story

This week I am sharing my story of faith with 900 young people at Manor High School. We are blessed to have the opportunity to regularly come into the school and share a bit about our faith and the different Christian festivals. This week we’re looking at Easter and as a Christian, Easter Changes Everything, a theme we looked at at our previous Ignite a few weeks ago. I shared my story of what Jesus has done for me and that this has been everything to me during my childhood and my Leukaemia and the lessons I learned even in some of the darkest and toughest times that are still saving and serving me today. I don’t regret them and I wouldn’t change them because they have made my faith and me who I am today. God is good in everything and His love and grace changes everything.
Lou McGoldrick

Fun @ 4 - This Sunday

Ignite

 We had our 3rd IGNITE tonight, focusing on Easter and the build up to it, not just while Jesus was on earth but God’s plan all along. Jesus’ faithfulness and love is shown at the cross and his dedication to us spans eternity. We also enjoyed lots of pudding and rocked out some worship. Great night, thanks to everyone who came, we missed those who couldn’t make it. Why not try out our next one? Watch this space. The next one is on the big question: “Is it okay to doubt?” 

This Month’s Charity – CPAS

The charity which is this month’s focus for our prayer and giving at St Paul’s is CPAS. CPAS is short for “The Church Pastoral Aid Society.”  That sounds a bit of a mouthful, which is why the initials, CPAS are usually used. But actually the CPAS is “just what it says on the tin.” It is a Society which Aids (helps) Churches in their Christ given mission to Pastor (care) for their own congregations and the communities to which they have been called to witness to God’s love.

CPAS itself claims:
“We are committed to mission and equipping churches for their God-given task of evangelism.
We believe the most strategic way for us to help churches become more mission-focused is by developing effective leadership.
We long to see a Christ-centred, Bible-based, mission-focused Church where leaders are clear about their call to discipleship, growing in Christ-like character, and competent to lead in a time of rapid change; where leaders discern God's direction, enable action, build teams, develop leaders, facilitate communication, and nurture people;”

By its courses, training and literature CPAS has often helped St Paul’s in the past. We pray for its continuing role in the future.

CPAS website  

Lent Lunches

It has become an Oadby tradition that during Lent, on Saturday lunchtimes, each of the churches in turn provides a simple lunch – soup, roll, cheese and tea or coffee.

This Saturday, it was the turn of our church, St Paul’s Oadby, to provide the lunch. Some people from the church arrived early and set up the tables, with chairs and tablecloths in the church. Others then brought the soup and food.Guests from all the churches (and maybe none?) started arriving at midday. By the end, there were so many present, extra tables had to be erected. The high noise level suggested that many were catching up on friendships.

Although it was only a simple lunch, few would have suffered had they missed it. It was therefore appropriate that the money that was given was donated to Christian Aid, so that those who often have so much less to eat than ourselves, maybe helped to live free of starvation.

Christian Aid Website

Churches Together in Oadby Website

Two Rows by the Sea

At a time when many Christians are paying for their faith with their lives, I was very struck by this poem, published by the Egyptian Bible Society. It relates to the execution of Egyptian Coptic Christian workers in Libya by the Islamist extremists.

Two rows of men walked the shore of the sea,

On a day when the world’s tears would run free,

One a row of assassins, who thought they did right,

The other of innocents, true sons of the light,

One holding knives in hands held high,

The other with hands empty, defenceless and tied,

One row of slits to conceal glaring dead eyes,

The other with living eyes raised to the skies,

One row stood steady, pall-bearers of death,

The other knelt ready, welcoming heaven’s breath,

One row spewed wretched, contemptible threats,

The other spread God-given peace and rest.

A Question...

Who fears the other?

The row in orange, watching paradise open?

Or the row in black.

Our prayers are with all those who are being persecuted for following Christ. May we never take our freedom to worship for granted.

Don’t Miss out on Alpha!

The 2015 Alpha course is more than halfway completed. But if you missed out, there is always a chance to book your place on the next Alpha course.

If you wonder what the Christian faith involves, what it would mean for you and why it gives joy and security to Christians, why not come and find out? Give our vicar, Steve Bailey a ring on 0116 271 0519 to enquire about the arrangements for the next course and to book your place.

So, don’t miss out for next time.