On the record

Each time I have written a contribution for Church Chat, it has related to your money but, this time, you can put your wallet and purse away.  Now that the church organisations are taking a well-earned break after a full year’s programme, the Nurture and Outreach Group has asked them to complete a ‘Review of Church Family Life’.  The group expects to publish a report of the findings In the autumn.
The group, which comprises deacons and other church members, aims to: ‘nurture a sense of community within Marshalswick Baptist Free Church through pastoral care, visiting, and associating together and to build a desire to engage in outreach to the local community and, in partnership with the wider church, to the world.’
One of the comments that the group has received recently concerned a person who missed a particular service/sermon, because that person was otherwise engaged.  Presumably, that person had forgotten about the use of the Tape Library.
Each Sunday, Adrian Gardner, Bernard Lusby or I not only control the amplification and deaf loop equipment but also record every service.  These recordings form the church’s tape library.
At present, the library has tapes of services for the past five years - although we will be recycling some of the old ones soon.
I would like to thank Iris Adams who willingly takes on the task of cleaning the returned tapes so that they can be re-used.  I would also like to mention Doreen Coombs, who records Church Chat each month on to tape. Copies of this recording are available in the vestibule.
Although these tapes are provided primarily for those who are ill or housebound, those who are well and live a busy life can make use of them too.  One of these tapes could help you make good use of your quiet time each day.  It can be useful to re-hear a sermon -perhaps revisiting the early points in the light of knowing the ending!
I know of one person who listens to the service tapes while doing the ironing.  The benefit of this - compared with hearing it ‘live’ - is that, if you get interrupted or your mind wanders, you have the facility to re-wind and start that section again.  That is one facility that we can all make use of in our lives. We often think, ‘if only I had tackled that situation differently’ but, with God’s help I will try to do better next time.  You only need to ask - stating which Sunday service, morning or evening, you want - and, with the high speed copier we have, it takes just four minutes to copy a 90 minute tape.
 At this holiday time, I hope that you all will have, or have had, time to get off the treadmill of daily toil and be able to stop and reflect on the wonders of God’s creation - be it in your back garden or on your journeys.  When on your journeys, please visit the local church where you are staying - as it is interesting to experience different churches’ approaches to worship and fellowship.  As you leave the church, see if you can obtain a copy of that church’s magazine, if they have one.  On your return, please give the magazine to Helen or Robert Little.  They are always looking for material to be included in future issues of Church Chat!

By Chris Songer.