Enough Food for Everyone IF

A coalition of over 100 charities and groups including Tearfund and Christian Aid have joined together to launch this new campaign for 2013. Aiming to create a movement of people like "Make Poverty History," this campaign is making the most of the G8 leaders coming to the UK later in the year and has 4 aims.
Watch this short clip to find out more about it and sign up. I have.

http://www.youtube.com/enoughfoodif

Covenant

On Sunday we began a new sermon series on the Covenant Names of God. Over the coming eight weeks we will look at the eight different covenant names of God in the Old Testament and remind ourselves of the charcterisic of God that they reveal to us.

Before we began we used this Methodist Covenant Prayer to rededicate ourselves to God.

I am no longer my own but yours,

Your will, not mine, be done in all things,
wherever you may place me,
in all that I do and in all that I may endure;
when there is work for me and when there is none;
when I am troubled and when I am at peace.

 

Your will be done

when I am valued and when I am disregarded;
when I find fulfilment and when it is lacking;
when I have all things, and when I have nothing.

I willingly offer all I have and am to serve you,
as and where you choose.

Glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
you are mine and I am yours.
May it be so for ever.
let this covenant now made on earth
Be fulfilled in heaven. Amen.

Love in Action

"Les Misérables" has just come to Leicester – the film version of the highly successful musical adaptation of Victor Hugo's novel. Technically and emotionally, it was superb. It was the only film I've ever been to where the audience clapped at the end.

But what struck me were the many resonances with Christian doctrine. From near the outset, there is the theme of mercy and forgiveness as mediated practically by the Bishop to Jean Valjean when a penniless ex-convict. However, the biblical theme of Christ's condemnation of the ungrateful servant comes to mind when Jean Valjean, as the successful factory owner and Mayor, fails to recognise the plight of a worker, Fantine, who falls into prostitution in consequence.

Jean's repentance and new life are in evidence as he finds Fantine’s daughter, Cosette, and raises her as his own. His way of love is further shown in the way that he repeatedly refuses to take his vengeance on Inspector Javert, who pursues him as a fugitive for having failed to register his bail.

The film concentrates much on the plight of the poor and it is well to be reminded of what has been described as Christ’s "bias to the poor."

This film was one which showed what a powerful influence for good film can be. It was also a pleasant change to find a Christian minister (the Bishop) portrayed in a sympathetic light.

Les Misérables is not light entertainment like most musicals, but a film that will move you emotionally – and is also very thought-provoking, if you will let it be. Do go and see it!

Flawed Saints

One of the members at St Paul's, Emmanuel Oladipo, who previously led Scripture Union International, has a worldwide reputation as a preacher and Bible teacher. He has now shared his insights with a much wider audience and written a book, "Flawed Saints."

This is a fascinating book in which Emmanuel shows that many of the greatest names in the Bible had major character flaws, disastrous family relationships and sometimes did things that were, frankly, evil. And yet, despite all this, they loved God and he was able to use them.

The book is intriguing, well written, well researched, with many contemporary parallels. If you pick it up, it's hard to put it down.
"Flawed Saints" is a great encouragement to us all, if we feel that God would never be able to use someone with all the failings that we know that we have. The truth is that he did – and he can.

Book Details: Oladipo E. Flawed Saints. Oklahoma: Tate Publishing, 2012. ISBN 978-1-61862-861-9  currently it is £12 .18 at Amazon.
Digital version available from

Thank you, Emmanuel, for this book. We look forward to many more from your pen.

Principal Services – January - March

Happy New Year! Welcome to the start of 2013. At the start of a New Year people often make resolutions or promises to try and better themselves. We are going to start this year by focusing on some promises of God that will never change or fail. In the Old Testament God made a number of Covenants, or promises, with his people. A Covenant is binding upon those involved and cannot be changed.

Details of our new programme

Join us as we focus on these 8 Covenant Names of God and hold onto the truth found in them that still applies to our lives today.

Yours In Christ,
Steve

Revd. Steve Bailey.

Wishing You a Very Happy 2013 from St Pauls

2013 is here. It's a natural to wish everyone a "Happy New Year!" However, Christians are not pie-eyed utopians. We are well aware that the world that could crucify Jesus is capable of great evil – whether that be from nature or man-made. One has only to look at the horrors of 9/11 or Syria to see that in action.

But what the Christian faith does offer is a Lord who sent his Holy Spirit to give strength to all who believed on him, and said: "Lo! I am with you always." and also: "I will never leave you or forsake you." We step into 2013 confident that we go in the company of Jesus, to meet whatever the future may bring.

Do come and travel with us, at St Pauls, through 2013 in the company of our Lord Jesus. Happy New Year!

The Queen's Christmas Message 2012

At Christmas, the Queen broadcast her Christmas message, as she has done each year, continuing the tradition set by her grand father, and televised since 1957. She spoke of the enthusiasm, fellowship and friendship of those celebrating the Diamond Jubilee; of the achievement courage and dedication, training and teamwork of the athletes and of those helping to organise the Olympic and Paralympic games; of the devotion, commitment and sacrifice of those helping in public service, particularly in the armed services.

She also related this to the inspiration that comes from those who were part of the Christmas story, such as Mary and Joseph and indeed, to the Christ child himself; and said that her prayer this Christmas Day was that his example and teaching would continue to bring people together to give the best of themselves in the service of others.

But toward the end of her speech, she said this: "The carol, 'In The Bleak Midwinter,' ends by asking a question of all of us who know the Christmas story, of how God gave himself to us in humble service: 'What can I give him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb; if I were a wise man, I would do my part'."

And she concluded: "The carol gives the answer 'Yet what I can I give him - give my heart'. "I wish you all a very happy Christmas."
That question, of how we should respond to Christ, is of essential importance. It's what we will be exploring at the Alpha Course on Tuesday evenings (for details see post of 5 December).

See the Video of the Queen's message.
Full text of the message
Contact us if you might be interested in the Alpha Course

God is With Us – Come and Celebrate Christmas 2012

After all the preparations, Christmas 2012 is in full swing at St Paul's.

Join us at 7.0 p.m. on Sunday 23 December for our much loved "Carols by Candlelight" when we will read again the Christmas story, sing carols old and new and hear other Christmas readings – all by the light of hand held candles.

Join us again for the Crib and Christingle service at 4.0 p.m. on Christmas Eve, Monday 24 December, when we will recount again the Christmas story in a way that children (and many adults) will enjoy.

Our Christmas midnight Communion takes place at 11.30 p.m. on Christmas Eve, when, in the stillness of night, we combine the thoughts and carols of the Christ child in the manger, with the memory of his death on the cross which was the reason why he came to earth.

On Christmas morning at 10.0 a.m. comes the climax of Christmas, when we join altogether for the Family Communion and remember Christ "Born This Happy Morning."

Do join us if you can. May you have a Very Happy Christmas.

Those Who Prepared the Way – Three

As we light our Advent Ring for each of the Sundays of Advent, we reached the third candle on Sunday 16 December. Each of the candles represent people or a person whose lives led up to Christ's coming at Christmas. The first candle had been the patriarchs (the leading fathers of Israel) Abraham Isaac and Jacob. The second had been the prophets whose message had told that the Messiah (Jesus) would come.

But who is candle three? The children were given a variety of clues including his desert diet – locusts and wild honey. The honey was pretty popular but there was general agreement that the locusts/insects were not going to be anybody's choice for dinner!

The third candle was for John the Baptist, Jesus second cousin, whose mission was both to call on the people of his time to repent of their sins and to announce the coming of Jesus. The call to change from what we are doing wrong is still equally relevant today.

Brookside School Visit

On Thursday children from the Foundation Stage of Brookside School came along to St Paul's to hear the Christmas story.
During their time with us they also lit the advent candles, built up a nativity scene, sang 'Away In a Manger' as well as looked around the church.
The children brought with them some decorations they had made. They are pictured hung on our tree. Each child had made their own one and on it they wrote their 'wish' or 'prayer' for others this Christmas season.
It was great to welcome the children and to see them join in so well.