Your Kingdom Come

We are continuing our sermon series on the Lord's Prayer. Colin spoke about 'Showing Some Respect' as we focused on the line 'Hallowed be your name'.
Last Sunday Hugh looked at the question 'Who's really in charge?' as we looked at the phrase 'Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.'
Join us this week as we move onto the next line 'Give us this day our daily bread.' Emmanuel will be encouraging us to remember the importance of prayer and trust God to provide for our needs rather than spending all our time worrying.

Our Father in Heaven

Last Sunday we began an 8 week sermon series on the Lord's Prayer.

Each week we focus on a line of this famous prayer and explore it further.

At our All Together service we explored the privilage we have in praying to Our Father, our Abba our Heavenly Daddy.

We also noticed that in this family prayer Jesus starts by saying 'Our' Father and not 'My' Father. No where in the prayer is the language singular, it is all something we share, together.

Finally we looked at the balance of coming to Our Father and yet recognising that He is the creator of all. God know us but is also much bigger than us. We have the awesome privilage of praying to Our Father in Heaven.

Join us next week as we move onto the next line 'Hallowed be your name.'

Enjoying the Kingdom

Jesus called his followers to be children of the Kingdom of God, following his ways. But he was also keen that we should be good citizens of our country on earth. As a church, therefore, we were delighted to take part in the Diamond Jubilee celebrations and commemorate the Queen's 60 year reign.

But to do that, we were keen that members of the congregation should be part of the whole community. So we moved our Sunday morning service on 3 June from 10 am to 9.0 am, so that members could take part in their local street parties. Although the rain did not help and some parties moved indoors, there were reports that this had resulted in some good times of neighbours getting to know each other much better.

On the Monday afterwards, St Paul's took part in the "Big Lunch," when the different community organisations in Oadby set up stalls in Ellis Park, provided free entertainment and portrayed the work they were involved with. St Paul's youth club had a stall and in the neighbouring stall (photo) we offered a coconut shy to those who passed.

This has been a great weekend for community activity. Long live her Majesty! And may we be doing this again in 10 years time.

Happy birthday! 1980 years old!

We all celebrate anniversaries. Jesus died on the cross when he was about 32, after promising that he would send the Holy Spirit to encourage and guide his disciples. And during the Jewish feast of Pentecost, soon after, about 1980 years ago, a violent wind and tongues of fire fell on the frightened disciples. Transformed in attitude, they went out into crowds from many nations, telling of the work of Jesus and, somehow, everyone understood the words in their own language. Then the apostle Peter stood up, proclaimed how Jesus had come to save the world and explained how the Holy Spirit was what the Jewish prophets had been waiting for. 3000 people then denounced their sin and declared their faith in Christ. The church had been born!

So, this last Sunday, Pentecost, we celebrated the anniversary of that birth. At our morning Holy Communion service we considered the importance of making ourselves available for anything that the Holy Spirit was wanting to do with us, now. And then, at Communion, we remembered the death of Christ, to whom the Holy Spirit points. In the evening, we celebrated with a special Pentecost "Songs of Praise."

As at all birthdays, we wish the Church well in the coming year.

Colours of Life

The Diocesan Lay Congress on Saturday, 26 May, called “Colours of Life” was rather different this year – as an all-age family celebration at the Samworth Academy. Some of us went from St Paul's. There is much to celebrate – Pentecost Sunday, the birthday of the church, is tomorrow; we are celebrating the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics will soon be upon us.

Guest speaker, Graham Tomlin drew the comparison between the athlete in training and the Christian life. What lengths the athlete (and even many ordinary people) go to, to get "fit." How much more important that the Christian should discipline their life, both to know God better for themselves and to show to those around the difference that God makes.

Another emphasis was how Sin destroys community and the importance of the Church being involved in all these celebrations which will bring people together, so that others may see the loving God, who wants to restore fractured relationships.

But there was also plenty of fun with bouncy castles, face painting, magicians and "messy church" which showed how worship can be fun for all ages. Add in a gospel choir, a Taizé Eucharist and a Celebration Service and there was something for everyone.

A Third of a Millennium between Them!

This week, four of the members of St Paul's midweek group, Coffee Pot, celebrated important birthdays. Between them, Joyce, Edna, Phyllis, Vicki and Sheila (from left to right on the photo) celebrated 363 years. For Phyllis, it was the big 90 so there were balloons and fizz, which we all enjoyed. Many thanks to Phyllis and her family who also revealed photos of her early life. What a stunner!
We wish all these ladies many more happy and active years.

Keeping anniversaries is important for us as individuals and it is also so in the life of the church, as we remember the anniversaries of the events in Christ's work to set us free. In the communion service before the party, we remembered Christ's ascension as it is Ascension Day today, and we begin to prepare ourselves for another festival – Pentecost.

Let's keep on celebrating many more anniversaries.

Coffee Pot

Coffee Pot is our regular Thursday morning activity at St Paul's. At 9:45 a.m. we hold a Communion service in the side chapel. The congregation there is a mixture of those who for different reasons are unable to attend on Sundays and those who welcome a second, midweek opportunity to meet to worship God. Although, perhaps, quieter than the Sunday service, this service is thoughtful, good-humoured and welcoming.

After the service, around 40 join for Coffee and Biscuits (unless one is lucky enough to be present on a birthday when you might get cake!). Everyone is welcome to this, whether or not they have been to the service. Sometimes, there is also a gentle exercise class. It's a time when many who are older welcome the opportunity to get out and join with others.

If you are free on a Thursday morning, do come and join us.

Farewell, Richard. Thank you and God be with you.

Richard Atkinson, who has been the Archdeacon of Leicester for some 10 years has now been appointed Bishop of Bedford. This is a suffragan Bishop in the diocese of St Albans.

Richard has been a good friend and support to St Paul's, especially during the times of vacancy between Vicars. So it was good to be present at a service of thanksgiving in the Cathedral on Saturday 27 April, when we considered many of the activities of witness to our faith in Christ that Richard had been involved with. There was also a time of fellowship and refreshment in St Martin's house afterwards.

We would like to thank Richard for all the help that he has given us and wish him God's every blessing in his new work in Bedford and in the diocese of St Albans.

Welcome Anita and Bryan

In his work in the world, God chooses to use people. Last night was the Annual Meeting of the Parish of Oadby. We looked back at the work of St Peter's and St Paul's in the last year and looked forward to the next. At St Pauls, Paul Webster stood down after seven years as Churchwarden or Deputy Churchwarden and he was presented with a gift to say "thank you."

Anita Chettle was elected as the new Churchwarden at St Pauls and Bryan Philpott as deputy. We offer them our prayers as they undertake these leadership roles. New members were also elected to the Parochial Church Council and (St Pauls) District Church Council.

Looking back there were reports on each of the activities that have taken place in our churches and also a financial statement of the money that was raised and spent this year. We are so grateful to God that we were able to match our financial obligations and we want to thank each member who gave so willingly. Far from the popular myth of substantial central funding, all our monies have to be found locally.

We concluded with three people giving presentations of work that they had been involved with. This included a street party, the Jakin pregnancy counselling service and a visit to Pakistan.

We give thanks to God for his blessing in the past year and look forward to seeing his work in Oadby in the next.

Spring Harvest

A small group of us from St Paul's have just returned from Spring Harvest. This 6 day event was held at Butlins in Skegness. The theme of the week was 'Church Actually – God's brilliant idea.'
There was an all age service each morning called Good Morning Big Top. Each day also had a Bible teaching session based on readings from John's Gospel. These were given by Ness Wilson who leads Open Heaven Church in Loughborough and were well received.
In the evening there was a celebration service in the Big Top with worship led by Geraldine Latty and a different speaker each evening. The whole event was very uplifting and encouraging and it is hoped to take a bigger group next year.