Intercessions 25/12/08

On this Christmas Day we want to say Thank you, holy God
As we celebrate the birth of Jesus, the word of God, let us pray with thankful hearts.
Good and gracious Lord, as we meet together to worship you, we pray that you will grant us a glimpse of your glory so that we may rejoice in your presence and abide in your peace.Lord Jesus, we remember at this time that you came to disturb the world, and to turn the lives of humankind to God. You brought love to those who were unloved, hope to those who had nothing to look forward to, peace to those who were full of anxious daily cares. The bells and lights and presents and decorations in church and in our homes, express our thanks to you, lord, for coming into the world in person.We pray that you will come into our lives at this time to turn us all again to you: to help to see ourselves as we really are and to remove from each one of us all that is unworthy so that we may truly share in your kingdom as we invite you to join us in all the festivities and know the joy of your loving presence.On this Christmas Day we want to say Thank you, holy GodLord Jesus, we pray that you will prepare us for your coming into the world:that in these difficult economic times you will drive away despair from our politics that you will revive our dreams of justice and restore our passion for what is right, good and true.May your love motivate our care for this neighbourhood and for the wider community and help us all to play a part in helping to overcome the social ills that drag so many into despair.
We pray that your love will inspire our citizenship so that it rises above the mediocre.Too often we have been silent and missed opportunities to share with others the message of love which you brought into the world and we ask that you will give us all an unquestioning faith, the deep faith of Mary and show us a new way to live, so that, with your forgiveness and with an awareness of your presence, we can truly claim to follow you in thought and word and deed.On this Christmas Day we want to say Thank you, holy GodLoving Father we pray for those whom we love, our families and friends, special people you have given to us wherever they may be – for those with whom we hope to share this special time , and particularly those from whom we will be apart. We thank you that neither time nor space can cut us off from the love we have in each other and in you.As the excitement of Christmas builds we give you thanks for children. In their enjoyment of this time may they experience the deep joys that you want for all your children and may your love shine in their hearts. We ask that you will bless children everywhere, especially those in need. Guide and bless all who care for them: parents, child minders, staff in care homes, doctors and nurses. May they all count it a privilege to care for the young people you have committed to them. Where there is deep trauma and suffering we pray that there will be special bonds of love which will help in the process of healing. Lord Jesus, we pray that you will keep close to you those children for whom Christmas is a time of despair and not joy:for those in povertyfor the abused and neglectedfor those whose Christmas will be devastated by violence and bitterness.We pray that you will flood their lives with your love so that they know they are not alone: that in all their sorrows you will be by their side.On this Christmas Day we want to say Thank you, holy GodLord Jesus, we pray that you will give us eyes to search the face of the stranger and there see your face. Give us the sensitivity to hear the doubt and hesitation and with that person share their confusions and concerns. There are those whom we know who are ill at this time; in despair or struggling to handle their pain. We pray for them now for you come to us in them and you ask for our love. We give that now as we name them and love them in our hearts………….
NAMES FROM PEW SHEET
What we have promised in love and prayer let us never forget to do.On this Christmas Day we want to say Thank you, holy GodFather, into your hands we commend all those who have died and those mourning the loss of loved ones.
ESPECIALLY we remember (IF NEEDED)On this Christmas Day we want to say Thank you, holy GodJesus Christ is the light of the world, a light which no darkness can quench. We remember before God all those who have died may they celMay they rest in your peace and glory and share your risen life.On this Christmas Day we want to say Thank you, holy GodIn our service this morning we have seen how the candles remind us of the joy that came into the world through Jesus Christ. We know that when this season is over the candles will burn low and die out but we rejoice that your true light can never be extinguished from our lives. As our thoughts turn towards Bethlehem grant to each one of us your spirit of love that we may worship as the shepherds did. Let us be open to your coming so that you will truly be born into our hearts. Be with us now and with all who worship you at this time wherever they may be. Help us all to show our gratitude by loving you and those around us – not only at Christmas but every day of our lives.Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, Our Saviour, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

LOTR

Still awaiting the Perry and Victrix models - they have been dispatched.

The latest models to the collection;

Warhammer LOTR - Mordor / Isengard Troll & Witch King on Fell Beast

Magnificent, can't wait to get these built and painted, hopefully some progress pictures later on.

New 28mm Models

(Victrix) Waterloo Bristish Infantry & (Perry) Napoleonic French Line

Usually I concentrate on 1/72 soft plastic models but these new ones are 28mm hard plastic models, I'm curious to see how they compare with each other, can I be turned to the new 28mm figures?

Above are the two sets currently on there way to me, as usual they are from the Napoleonic era. I'm hoping for them to be here before Christmas so I can get started on them, I imagine they will take some time to paint, I'll be putting images of the progress of them on this site.

I'll also be updating the 1/72 model images over the next few weeks - time permitting (and wife of course).

Euthanasia - Craig Ewert taking his own life

Another hard hitting documentary shown on BSKYB Real Lives Tuesday 10th Dec 9pm

Craig Ewert suffers from incurable motor neurone disease and his body is completely paralysed. This documentary shows Craig taking a cocktail of drugs and switching off his own ventilation machine. 45 minutes later he was dead.

This will no doubt raise the issue of Euthanasia here in Britain.

If I was to become so seriously ill and be in so much pain what would I do as a Christian? Is it comprehensible to think that I could take my own life or ask someone to do it for me? My view is that life is given to us by God, we are created in God's image. Life, birth and death are processes that God has created so we should respect them. So no one has the authority to take a life even if that person wants to die. Life is a gift from God that we cannot treat as a possession of our own to keep or throw away as we please.

On investigation I found there have been several suicides in the Bible, Judas Iscariot who took his own life after betraying Jesus (Matthew 27:3-5). In the Old Testament King Saul (I Samuel 31:4) and David's counselor, Ahitophel (II Samuel 17:23), both of these required assistance and this could be described as euthanasia.

However there was nothing in the Bible that agrees or disagrees with these deaths.

There is further evidence in the commandments that God gave us as a law to follow, the fifth commandment states "thou shalt not kill" This also relates to abortion, suicide as well as murder as we understand it.

For Christians I think it is quite straight forward, we must take God's views into account, they are paramount. As Christians we accept medicine as part of God's will for us as humans and God works along with nature and human activity and if we use medicine in the image of God it must have no role in terminating life.

What about the pain and suffering why should we have to endure that? As a Christian Sin is far worse than pain. In fact pain can have a spiritually beneficial effect if you treat it as a challenge and spiritually overcome it with the grace of God. Not letting the pain make you bitter and selfish and loving others through your pain despite it. This doesn't mean pain should be sought or that it should not be treated, that would not be commonsense, but it does mean as a Christian we should not run from pain by dying.

Also as a Christian being handicapped is not the terrible problem, the handicapped can also love, love God, love their neighbour just as well as able bodied and are not inferior to others. I also believe that if you become ill or handicapped it is part of your life course and we should accept it, if it cannot be healed.

Whether euthanasia should be illegal is another matter. It is a political matter and there is a case for allowing euthanasia for those who believe in it. There are dangers though, human error, Public officials cannot be trusted not to get confused elderly folk to sign a form permitting euthanasia, unscrupulous families who would concur with them. A real danger that what was voluntary becomes compulsory, as people decide that it is socially responsible for people with certain conditions to die. Banning euthanasia is a defence against vulnerable people, but it also infringes freedom of conscience.

CTiS - Coffee for the Congo

Coffee Morning to help raise funds for the Congo
St Ann's Social Club, Barton Rd, Stretford.
10am to 12 noon Saturday 13th December

Why do we need to raise funds for the Congo?

Many families have been displaced due to the conflict,

Homes have be burnt down.

Youngsters taking up arms.

Not enough medical facilities to care for everyone.

Please support this coffee morning for the people of Congo.

Bus Shelter Nativity

Church ad agency, Churches Advertising Network, is to reveal a commissioned oil painting of the nativity by an internationally acclaimed artist as part of a campaign to promote awareness of the nativity story at Christmas.
The painting, by Royal Academy Gold medal winner, Andrew Gadd, depicts the holy family, with halos, in a fictional bus shelter. The shepherds and wise men are replaced with fellow passengers waiting for a bus. Some are watching the nativity intently; others appear oblivious and are checking the bus timetable or flagging down a bus.

Posters are available for free download from this site http://www.manchester.anglican.org/upload/userfiles/file/pdf/Comms/Key%20events/finalNativity1.pdf

Advent Commitment - Updates

You will remember from a previous post I was talking about commitment through Advent - doing something that you would not normally do.

Homeless Shoebox Appeal - Update

I have 8 shoeboxes on the go all getting pretty full now. Members at church have been good and supplied all sorts of things, hats, scarves, small gifts, chocolates, toiletries and cup a soups. Another week or so to go and I can get them distributed. let's see if we can get some more.

Stockdales Volunteering - Update

Several people went down last week and helped brew up for the residents, the leaders were very grateful for the help and this allowed them to concentrate on the baking - those were fantastic mince pies :o)

Sponsor a child - I have been toying with this idea for a while and I have been looking for a suitable project that ticks my boxes, providing for the direct community as well as the child and allowing some interaction with the child and their family so a relationship can be established and who knows maybe more good can happen. I think I may have found the right one Action Aid http://www.actionaid.org.uk/100044/sponsor_a_child_today.html
I saw the video with Sally Whitaker (Sally from Coronation St) in on the link above and this swayed my decision, so I have sent off for some additional information. This is not commitment just for Advent but for the foreseeable future.

Ben - The Diary of a Drug Addict 2

Did you watch it? Harrowing wasn't it? If you missed it check out Sky listings they usually repeat loads of programmes.

It made me feel both sick and upsetting to watch Ben inject himself in the groin, to see his family suffering and to see Ben suffering the effects of heroin, 2 min's into the fix and then 20 minutes into the fix. This program should be watched by all young people to show them the effects of drugs on their lives and those around them.
Ben seemed such a nice person, well thought of and loved very much, but still he turned to drugs. In my experience of drug addicts, I have known a couple, even if they want to give up they can't. Once heroin has a hold on you the only way to stop is to die. It doesn't matter how many time you detox, visit hospital with infections you will carry on. This is exactly what happened to Ben.

Heroin is evil, Ben died of a brain hemorrhage when attending hospital to try and detox at the age of 34. Ben tried to detox several times and always returned to heroin. Half his life was spent taking drugs.

The programme was very moving, to watch unconditional love for a child even though he was an addict and caused problems at every family event - Christmas and birthdays all ended up with Ben issues. His father was devastated and could not bare to see Ben as this ill, dying, drug addict. His father even took Ben to by drugs.

I'm not sure how I would react to my child being involved in drugs and ending up like Ben - would I purchase drugs for my child? I'd say no now but when they are in so much pain , loosing it, manipulating every situation, pulling on our heart strings I know I would have to help ease the suffering.

Love the addict not the addiction.

All over the world, so many tragedies

Homelessness in the UK, War in Iraq, Congo and Afganistan, Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar (Burma), Bangladesh Cyclone, Cholera in Zimbabwe, drug addicts the world over, street kids in Brazil, Dafur & Chad crisis, South Asia Tsunami

The images speak for themselves..................

Our Christmas Tree

Christmas is fast approaching and for the first time in years we are organised, we are not building, we are not decorating and we are not fitting a kitchen. This year we will be taking it easy, that is if preparing for 13 people for Christmas dinner is classed as easy. Boxing day I have a special treat instore for everyone..... Trivial Pursuits evening with food and drink, should be a laugh. Rebecca wants a BBQ as well :o) We are putting up the Christmas decorations, hopefully some pictures will be published.

BEN: DIARY OF A DRUG ADDICT

Sky One Monday 9pm

"Extraordinarily powerful" Sunday Times.

Radio Times said this film is an "unrelentingly grim documentary which presents a horrific reality".

Time Out said "A bleak depiction of a heroin addicts death, as Sky1 makes a welcome foray into serious documentary making".

Filmmaker Olly Lambert’s unflinching film about the last two years of a 14 year heroin addiction.

I will be watching this documentary, I'm hoping to understand why a bright schoolboy from a loving, middle-class family raised in a quiet, picturesque village, he was a Boy Scout, loved cricket, played in the school orchestra and looked forward to the annual family holiday. But despite his privileged start in life Ben found himself on the road to ruin, injecting heroin up to four times a day.

Can this film be a warning to others not yet on this path? Ben's film is being shown in schools in Stafford as a pilot scheme, lets see what happens in the future and whether this type of reality tv earns a place on the screen.

His mum said. “What I really wanted more than anything was to educate the authorities – the probation service, the police, the hospitals Ben went to,” she says. “Because I feel that heroin addicts don’t have any face in society. They’re counted as the lowest of the low.”

Family Christmas Trivial Pursuits - Not that we're competitive

John - Homeless 2

John has been back from his journey to Birmingham for a few weeks now. He is staying with a friend sometimes and on the street other nights. His friend is also taking drugs and is an alcoholic. Staying with somebody in a similar situation isn't the best way to try to become clean.
He has a chance of staying at a more permanent place over Christmas, I hope this will happen soon, the nights are cold and worse weather is promised.
I'm not putting this down as a failure, that we as a church failed John in getting him treated and in a home. It has been a challenging experience and lessons have been learnt. Letting John stay in his tent, providing food and drink each day made John comfortable, condoned his drug and alcohol misuse. It's a dilemma, do you help or not. We are told to help, Matthew 25 35-40 tells us to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, provide a drink for the thirsty. Yet when you do this your not actually helping so this get's me thinking even more - How would Jesus actually help substance users?

Then the help arrived in the post, a newsletter from MCM with a two page spread on how Jesus would help drug users. I could have done with this a few weeks ago.
What is your image of a drug user? Someone injecting heroin or someone slipping a pill in their mouth.

Some stats for you;

40,000 people are addicted to "over the counter" drugs
250,000-300,000 problem drug users in England and Wales
Cocaine addiction has tripled in last 10 years
300,000 children have parents with serious drug problems
On average a heroin addict commits 432 crimes a year
40% of 16-24 year olds have used cannabis
In the UK 40,000 heroin users are taking methadone

So what would Jesus do and us do in turn?

Accept people for who they are, not what drug they use.
Work with drug and alcohol agencies.Be honest.
Set boundaries that you are comfortable with.
Cast your cares upon him, for he cares for you (1Peter 5:7)

Show John he is valued, support John in getting him to appointments, reminding him they are coming up, be open about expectations and perceptions, set boundaries on your time, money, possessions and relationships.

The work can be emotionally draining, the boundaries are there to protect you and help them.Pray tell God your needs with thankfulness.

I believe this is what I and Helen did and will keep doing. Just because John isn't staying in his tent doesn't mean he isn't supported.Another thing, the person also has to want to change and if they don't all you can do is keep doing the things above frustrating as it may be.

One day John will sort himself out....

Things I want to do before I die...

1. Raise my children to be good people
2. Visit some really cool places - Experience the culture of India, Climb to Everest Base Camp, Visit Tibeten Monks, Experience China (Visit the wall) (on a motorbike)
3. Serve a mission in Africa
4. Establish the perfect daily system and live it; thrive with it, to achieve everything I need to do 5. Expand my comfort zone
6. Discern my vocation
7. Get really good at talking with and listening to (actually listen and hear) others
8. Be remembered for someting great (Ok may be after I die)

Christingle & Toy Service

This year we are celebrating 40 years since The Children's Society introduced Christingle services to The Church of England. Join in the celebration and hold a Christingle of your own or

join us for a special candlelit celebration on;

Sunday 14th December. Create a Christingle from 3pm & Service from 4pm
All Saints' Church Barton Rd Stretford

Christingle - the service for children that welcomes the whole community

It is a wonderful opportunity to bring together children, family and friends, forge stronger links between churches, local schools and youth groups and together celebrate the Christmas message.

Bring a toy for local children who may not be with their families during this special time.
(please make sure that your present is wrapped and states Boy/Girl and Age on the label)

All presents will be distributed by Trafford Social Services

For more information
http://www.childrenssociety.org.uk/what_you_can_do/fundraising_appeals/christingle/what_is_christingle/7656.html

Joys, Obsessions and Fears

Joys:
1. Jackie
2. Kids
3. Family life – around the table
4. Special occasions – Christmas, Birthdays etc as long as it's not mine.

Obsessions:
1. Books – I always need more book space
2. Music – I must have every genre in my collection
3. Food – Chinese, Italian, Indian I have all the menu’s
4. Whatever I happen to be obsessed with at the moment . . . right now I think it might be homelessness, model projects, discerning my vocation, church life, North Trafford Athletic and putting the christmas tree up (Don't touch it!!!)

Fears:
1. Something horrible happening to Jackie, the kids & family
2. Scary films
3. Pot dolls (with or without eyes) – you know the ones.

One Size Fits All

Something I read.

We can look at the different churches and we see similarities with our own. For most people in the parish community church is irrelevant, people politely or otherwise push church aside, for those involved in church it's frustrating, prayer is diheartening and outreach wasn't working or there just isn't any. Does it sound familiar?

Statistics also paint a drepressing picture. Back in 1979 about 12 per cent of the entire population could be found in church on a Sunday. By 2005 this had plummeted to 6.3 per cent*. According to the Daily Telegraph around 10 churches in the UK close every week. If these trends continue, by 2004 there will be just 2 per cent of the population attending church on a Sunday - half the number attend mosque on a Friday - and the average age of the church member will be 64.

It's not all disastrous news, by any means. It's merely discouraging an inconvinient truth.

I believe there is hope and we have the answers in our churches.

Usually we would look to different programmes or initiatives to be more effective, we look for the one size fits all, the latest tried and tested technique. We think if we find the right gifted people, the new powerful initiative, then things will move forward.

This kind of thinking falls short, our church is awash with evangelistic gift and potential

* Dr Peter Brierley (ed) Pulling out of the Nosedive and Religious Trends No6 2007

It's true.....

All Saints Shoebox Appeal

All Saints’ Christmas Shoebox Appeal for Homeless People

Please help by donating

Toiletries
(Deodorant, Shaving Gel, Soap, Flannels, Toothpaste, Toothbrushes etc)
Unisex Socks, Woolly Hats, Gloves & Scarves
Bars of Chocolate
Biscuits
Cup a Soups

Matthew 25 35-40

There are over 200 people homeless in our parish, not all are on the streets. If you are under 16 the council has a duty to provide accomodation however if your are between 17 and 100 male or female you do not qualify for help. There are no facilities for these people to find a nights peace and warmth anywhere in Trafford. It may not be much but the little we can do is very much appreciated.

CTiS Advent Service

Advent is a time for reflection, a time of preparation in readiness for Christmas.
Usually I use a series of readings to help me prepare but this year the theme is different. Our recent CTiS (Churches Together in Stretford) Advent service was based on "from darkness to light" , stories from The Boaz Trust (http://boaztrust.org.uk/ Asylum Seekers), Tearfund (http://www.tearfund.org/ Victims of HIV/Aids), Shoebox Appeal and Cafod (http://www.cafod.org.uk/). The service was very thought provoking and it made you want to commit to something more that involved other people. Fill a shoebox, sponsor a child, learn about aids, presents that help people in far off places.
I have tried to encourage others to support something they would not normally do such as volunteer for projects. Several people have come forward to help with brewing up for the residents of Stockdales (http://www.stockdales.org.uk/) when they have their community evening in the hall, the leaders appreciate this as it gives them one less thing to worry about. Raising of awareness of homelessness and the issues we have in Trafford, encouraging people to supply gifts - hats, scarves, gloves, chocolate for the person via our own shoebox appeal, bring toys to the Christingle & Toy Service, these will be distributed by Trafford Social Services to children and encourage others to do the same.
What else can we do?
We can sit here doing nothing and if everybody did nothing where would we be?
We can move out of our warm houses, we can share a meal, we can invite someone round, we can volunteer to help.
Let us all do something we would not normally do, see the benefit to others this Advent.

Reflect on Matthew 25:35-40

John - Homeless 1

Over the last 6/7 weeks we have had a challenging time dealing with a homeless person who decided to erect a campsite in the ground of our church.
To bring you up to date.....
His name is John. John pitched his tent at the back of church because he had connections in our parish. His sister lived across the road. John has been homeless for approximately 15 years and has drug and alcohol misuse issues. He isn't very healthy. It has been challenging because as a Christian you have an urge to help this person, to provide food and a warm drink. Reverend Helen and myself provided for him, we also kept him up to date with his probation officer and appts at the doctors. John's story was very said, he had a family and was part of the community teaching youngsters Kick Boxing then it all went pear shaped and he chose the wrong path. He has told us he is ready to change and sort his life out. I, we believed him and wanted to help him succeed. What John was good at is telling us what we needed to hear, playing each of us off one another, the drugs agency, probation, Reverend Helen, his sister.
Then a ray of hope, The Edge (Drugs) found John a place at Betel of Britain a Christian form of rehab in Birmingham. John's sister took him and got him settled in. 24hrs later and he was back in Manchester. In the mean time I had took his tent down.
John wasn't ready for cold turkey, he just isn't desperate enough to go through that sort of treatment. John set up camp again behaind church, we had told the congregation he had gone to rehab much to their relief and now he was back.
A couple of weeks has past now and I'm not sure what can be done, John doesn't seem to want to help himself, he doesn't attend his appointments with the people who can provide for him. I pray for God to intervene and sort out this problem. I actually wondered why John was sent to our Church and now I think I know why. It's not neccessarily to help John but to highlight what seems to be a growing problem in our area, homelessness, drugs and alcohol.

Things I Pray For...

1. The safety of my family
2. Patience - I need a lot of it
3. Forgiveness - because I don't have a lot of patience
4. That certain people will feel the love of God, be strengthened, and overcome whatever it is they're burdened by, illness, a situation whatever it may be.
5. Dedication, motivation, and self-discipline
6. That I can accomplish everything I need to
7. Thanks for my family and all the things we've been blessed with

Family Fun Day - Kayaking

We wanted to do this in the summer hols but for one reason or another we ended up doing this at the end of October. It wasn't that cold with your wet suit on. Beth was the only one to complete all the tasks without falling in. :o)

Looks like we'll be doing this for Becca's birthday in July. Next the climbing wall................

Walsingham Oct 2008

Pilgrimage - A long journey or search, especially one of exalted purpose or moral significance.

Walsingham has been a place of pilgrimage for centuries. Visit the website for more details.

http://www.walsinghamanglican.org.uk/welcome/index.htm

Here are a few pictures from our pilgrimage to Walsingham. Every year we try to go on a Parish pilgrimage to Walsingham.

The gardens are very peaceful and a new outside altar has been built which is quite impressive

This year I resided in the Recheldis House which turned out to be very comfortable and had everything you needed.

Most of your time is spent in the Church located in the grounds, first mass was at 7.30am. Then breakfast in the restaurant.

Inside the Holy House;

One day the group split up and visited different area's around Norfolk, I went to Cromer, to the seaside.

On the pier in the wind, we lost a couple on here :o)



As always it is an effort to leave Walsingham, but there's always next year to look forward to.

Things I Have Learnt in Life

That we can't judge others because we don't know how the world looks through their eyes - just wish I could live up to that!

Don't jump to conclusions without hearing all sides of an argument

Prayer works

Church Porch Rendering Project

A toilet block built in breeze block was erected on the front of the Church here at All Saints.
Can you believe what it looks like.
This is the first part of the rendering process, I'm searching for the picture I had of the breeze block.
It's now all smooth it even looks better now.
The next stage is the Terracotta render and then the new stained glass windows for the doors. Hopefully completed before the Carol Concert.

18th Sunday after Trinity – Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist

18th Sunday after Trinity – Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist.
21st September 2008
Steve Worsley

Readings
Psalm 119:65-72
Prov 3:13-18
2Cor 4: 1-6
Matt 9:9-13


Helen’s asked if I would cover the sermon slot this week. I said yes – I can never say no :o) Then it hit me what was I going to talk about? How could I follow on from the last one I did – I wondered what I had actually agreed to. But not to worry put your faith in God Steve and it will all work out fine.

I looked for inspiration and found nothing, it’s like one of the desert moments in our lives, then I found out what today’s reading were. Matthew 9:9-13, God must be working in my life; I knew this passage in fact I knew it very well. I read this passage a lot. It’s one of those passages I turn to on a regular basis.

Why do I read it, Jesus calling Matthew and a big feast with cheats, liars, robbers – Great story, do you not think so?

It reminds me of why I follow Jesus; it reminds me where I was and where I wanted to be.

I think, my life is very similar to Matthews, I don’t mean I work for the Inland Revenue or anything like that but over the years I have done, said and thought all sorts of things that I’m not proud of and I’m sure Matthew is thinking just that when Jesus says to him “Follow Me”

This story is about an ordinary person, an ordinary person like me and like you being called by Jesus to be one of his first disciples

Jesus saw something in Matthew that made him think that he was a suitable prospect to help in spreading the good news.

This ordinary person was a tax collector and you may not think that’s much but like to earlier when I said Inland Revenue and you all winced, tax collectors in the time of Jesus were even worse, they were hated for being embezzlers, cheats, they were corrupt and as they were working for Rome they were viewed as traitors.

How can this tax collector be a suitable prospect for the job of running the kingdom? Tax collectors are not admired, he didn’t seem to have any particular talents, he was so to speak one of the little people and he was invited to become one of the foundation stones of Church and eventually write a Gospel.

Like Mathew, I didn’t think I had any particular talents and a small fish in a big pond.

So why Matthew, I think Matthew, at the bottom of his heart wanted to change, he didn’t like what he was doing, he didn’t like what his life stood for, he knew there must be something more. As soon as Jesus said follow me he did.

Once Matthew had accepted his new post, he did what we all do, hold a celebration. Matthew had a feast over at his house and invited all his friends, other tax collectors, cheats and robbers and Jesus joins them and eats with them. Matthew new what social customs he was violating of course, but Matthew had already learned the lesson that was about to be taught to the others.

Now this is what I do – imagine yourself in the scene, you have been invited to the feast.

Are you sat at the table?

We know where the sinful people are but what about the righteousness? What are the Pharisee doing? Remember they are strict observers of the traditions especially when it comes to ceremonial cleanliness.

Where are the Pharisees in the room?

The Pharisee are outside the room probably wondering why Jesus is eating with such a bad crowd. Are you sitting at the table eating with Jesus or stood outside with the Pharisees?

I know once upon a time I would have been stood outside,

Imagine who could be sat at your table today, a drunk, a drug addict, a gang member, the local tramp - would you be happy sitting with these people, at your table?

I read this passage to remind me that I’m not righteous, I have imperfections but I want to change and I have responded to Jesus’ Follow Me.

Jesus mingled with these people and said:
Matt9:12-13
Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick…….

In this call of Matthew followed by the feast at his house, I think Jesus taught some important lessons concerning discipleship and evangelism;

Don’t prejudge yourself or others……
Few could surpass Paul for the things he was guilty of - READ (get a Bible) 1 TIM 1:12-16

Jesus see’s people, not for what they are but for what they can become….
Peter did not live up to his name (a rock), until several years of growth as a disciple

We must never forget….
No Christian is perfect only forgiven
A Saint is a sinner who keeps trying
Churches grow out of weakness, not strength
That is we are willing to accept weak, imperfect members and help them to grow

This is re-iterated when Jesus told the chief priests in Matthew 21: 31 Truly I tell, you the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the Kingdom of God ahead of you…

So, if, on honest reflection you see yourself more like the Pharisee than his new found disciple you are indeed in need of spiritual healing provided by the great physician.

So let us ordinary as we may be in our calling, in our profession, in our work and in our abilities know that Jesus has called us to his friendship and to share in his mission in bringing him to the world around us. We may be ordinary but we have a great resource to sustain us, the Holy Spirit so let us use it and share our faith with others..

Let us finish with a prayer…..

Heavenly Father, who creates all things for a reason,shape us like clay to your purpose, tell us our true names.Fire us with the Holy Spirit, in darkness and in light.Guide us to the people and places that can work your will in us.For we are ready, Lord,to be made your servants and your disciples in Jesus’ name.Amen.

Building a Railway - A Life's Ambition

Over a period of time I will show how the railway progresses. My main problem has been space and lack of it, however the new loft will become available soon. It is because of this new loft space I have stopped work, I may be able to build something larger.

The layout at the moment is fairly basic, I have been collecting potential track plans and base board information. Lets see how it progresses.

Intercessions 16/9/08

Let's pause for a minute and think about all the occasions when we have to decide which path to take, which person to support, what life choices to make. Let's take a moment to think, too, about how we react to other people who make choices that are different from our own.
Let us pray:
Hear our prayer, Lord, for the whole family of your church. Bless our Bishop’s and clergy, give your grace to our lay people here at All Saints, that they may lead us with strength and unity. Help them to see their work as service and their role as stewards of your church.
Give courage to those who are discerning their own calling within your church, show them your will, help them to understand and see your work in the world.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer
We pray for our country. Let your love surround the Queen and her family; give wisdom and guidance to our statesmen and leaders, and to all who have responsibility. During these times of economic hardship guide those making decisions to make things easier for the majority, may they do this without greed or selfishness.
We pray for our world, have mercy for those in distress from war, famine and other natural disasters. Heal the sick and injured, give peace to the dying, comfort those living with loss and to those trying to bring relief and order give wisdom, courage and strength.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer
Hear our prayer, Lord, for the friendship we find within the family of our church both here at All Saints and our friends at other churches in Stretford.
The comfort, peace and love of Christian friendship gives us strength. As we find these joys in our own lives may we also give them to others.
Almighty God, open our hearts that we may welcome and share our faith with others; open wide our minds that we may receive new truth and understand your will; open wide our doors that as we have come in to worship so we may go out with you to the service of the world; open wide our lives that through discipline and prayer we may experience your power in daily living.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer
We thank you, O Lord, that in a world where many disagreements exist between men, women and nations, your gospel comes to break down the barriers that divide, bringing friendship that extends across all boundaries because of our common faith in Jesus Christ.
We pray today for people in countries other than our own; in countries where governments are hostile, war and natural disasters cause suffering, healing God lay your hands on those who are suffering so that they may know the support of your presence.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer
Hear our prayer, Lord, for the children and young people especially those revising and getting ready for exams.
They are part of this church family which you have brought together in fellowship and care. For those leading the young in our church may your Holy Spirit increase in them the gifts and skills they bring to their work; grant them patience, imagination and love sufficient for their work. Help us all to respond to their needs.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer
Hear our prayer, Lord, for those who are old. Our thoughts are especially with those who have become frail and weak, those whose eyesight is failing; those who find it difficult to hear. We think of the lonely, with many memories and few friends to fill the long hours of the day; those who must have things done for them, when they wish so much they could still do them for themselves; those who are housebound, or living in hospitals or homes.
We pray for those who care for them and we pray that we ourselves may never neglect any opportunity to offer friendship and help. Teach us to be watchful for their needs and patient with their frailty and slowness, loving and serving them as honoured members of your family.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer
Hear our prayer, Lord, for people who are ill in mind body and spirit, in hospitals, at home, or wherever they may be.
Especially those who have been made know to us……………. PEW SHEET
Give them courage, hope and peace, and the knowledge that you are present in their weakness, pain and suffering.
Heavenly Father, we pray for those whose hearts have been saddened by the death of someone close and dear to them. Give to them, Father, the strong comfort which no one else can give, and let them know the comforting power of the resurrection of Jesus.
We remember those whose anniversaries fall at this time………………..
Eternal God, in your unchanging love receive all those who have died in faith, that they may rejoice in you for ever.
Merciful Father:accept these prayers for the sake of your Son,our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

16/Sept/2008
Psalm 74
Mark 14: 12-25

Workbench - 6093 Austrian Infantry 1798-1805

Italeri 1/72 Austrian Infantry 1798-1805



Plastic Soldier Review: http://www.plasticsoldierreview.com/Review.asp?manu=ITA&code=6093

Images of progress to follow.....................

Intercessions 7/9/08

Heavenly Father, you are the father of all people and we bring our prayers knowing that you will hear us and help us.
Hear our prayer, Lord, for the whole family of your church. Give the leaders of your Church our bishops, ministers and lay people grace to see their work as service and their role as stewards.
Grant that we, and all your people, may be built up in our faith, and always show in our lives the love we see in Jesus.
Give courage to those who find it hard to follow you; to those who are finding it difficult to have faith because of a personal hardship or tragedy and to those who are made to suffer for their faith. Let your Holy Spirit support them, and may all Christians stand firm in the hope that your kingdom of love will come into the whole world.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer
We pray for our country. Let your love surround the Queen and her family; give wisdom and guidance to our statesmen and leaders, and to all who have responsibility in education, industry, and commerce.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer
Hear our prayer, Lord, for the friendship we find within the family of our church. We are grateful for the support and goodwill of Christian friends around us. This is part of the joy of belonging to the church family. The comfort, peace and love of Christian friendship gives us strength. As we find these joys in our own lives may we also give them to others. Help us to understand, love and serve each other so that our thankfulness is expressed in deed as well as word.
Almighty God, open our hearts that we may welcome and share our faith with others; open wide our minds that we may receive new truth and understand your will; open wide our doors that as we have come in to worship so we may go out with you to the service of the world; open wide our lives that through discipline and prayer we may experience your power in daily living.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer
We thank you, O Lord, that in a world where many disagreements exist between men, women and nations, your gospel comes to break down the barriers that divide, bringing friendship that extends across all boundaries because of our common faith in Jesus Christ.
We pray today for people in countries other than our own; in countries where governments are hostile, war and natural disasters cause suffering, healing God lay your hands on those who are suffering so that they may know the support of your presence.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer
Hear our prayer, Lord, for the children and young people of our church, and for those who are beginning to sense the wonder, the mystery, and the difficulty of life. They are part of this church family which you have brought together in fellowship and care. We pray for understanding and wisdom in our worship and life together, so that all we do may lead our children into a fuller and richer understanding of your love and purpose. Help us to respond to their needs. Give us patience and compassion. Help us to offer them our time and our experience with true sincerity and love.
We thank you Lord, for those who have accepted the care and leadership of children and young people in the church. May your Holy Spirit increase in them the gifts and skills they bring to their work; grant them patience, imagination and love sufficient for their tasks and in the fullness of time, crown their service with true success.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer
Hear our prayer, Lord, for those who are old. Our thoughts are especially with those who have become frail and weak, those whose eyesight is failing; those who find it difficult to hear. We think of the lonely, with many memories and few friends to fill the long hours of the day; those who must have things done for them, when they wish so much they could still do them for themselves; those who are housebound, or living in hospitals or homes.
We pray for those who care for them and we pray that we ourselves may never neglect any opportunity to offer friendship and help. Teach us to be watchful for their needs and patient with their frailty and slowness, loving and serving them as honoured members of your family.
Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer
Hear our prayer, Lord, for people who are ill in mind body and spirit, in hospitals, at home, or wherever they may be.
Especially those who have been made know to us……………. PEW SHEET
Give them courage, hope and peace, and the knowledge that you are present in their weakness, pain and suffering.
Heavenly Father, we pray for those whose hearts have been saddened by the death of someone close and dear to them. Give to them, Father, the strong comfort which no one else can give, and let them know the comforting power of the resurrection of Jesus.
We remember those whose anniversaries fall at this time………………..
Eternal God, in your unchanging love receive all those who have died in faith, that they may rejoice in you for ever.
Merciful Father:accept these prayers for the sake of your Son,our Saviour, Jesus Christ.

CHILL FACTORe

Luke, Rebecca and Bethany on a day out at the Chill Factore.

Tubing they call it.
Good fun and some good food afterwards ;o)

Next time we want to do climbing.
http://www.chillfactore.com/

PCC Meetings (1)

September and PCC meetings start again.

I love going to PCC's. In fact, when the agenda comes, I am excited and looking forward to how we are going to discuss and work with God's big plan for our small church. We get on well, we have fun - in fact they are a really important time of fellowship for me, because we pray together and study the bible each meeting and helps us. We have made some key decisions recently, which we have communicated to the rest of the church and most people - after all, you can't please everyone - are happy and encouraged. But then again we only want to discern what is God's way forward for our church.

hmmm.... we can do things better and we have to be able to adapt and be flexible. The PCC is not the best aspect of the life of the church but it could be. We need to consult together and that means consult God and then discuss with each other.
Do we really need to discuss the Summer Fayre in January?
Do we need to look at our agenda's? Can you see God at work in your agenda?
Do we need to understand the PCC primary roles?

Pastoral - The PCC is responsible and accountable for the pastoral work of the church.
Evangelistic - The PCC is responsible for the local churches emphasis on how we tell people the good news.
Social - It's not the role of the PCC to arrange socials but having a responsibility to the sustaining of churches.
Ecumenical - Working together developing mission opportunities

Workbench - Never mind the workbench

These are still in the cupboard and will be done as and when time permits :o)