Don’t be late, join ‘HOPE 08’

  ‘Hope 08’ is committed to encouraging churches and organisations of all Christian denominations to get involved in their communities all over the UK and to be the good news of Jesus, both in word and deed.

  After ‘The Message 2000’ in Manchester and ‘SOUL IN THE CITY’ in London, the question was ‘where next?’  The response is ‘HOPE 08’ and the thinking behind it was: ‘why do one thing for one week in one city when the whole church could rise to the challenge of reaching the whole nation for the whole year and beyond?’

  The main idea of HOPE 08 is to help our community but other, wider-ranging ideas include courses relating to marriage, parenting, finances, health and fitness.  In particular, HOPE 08’s projects will involve working with young people and local community police in troubled areas.

  At Easter, the focus will be on making the celebration of Easter accessible to everyone in the community.  Other courses - such as Alpha, Christianity Explored, Emmaus and the ‘Y course’ are being planned, alongside prayer groups.

  For most people, involvement will come as a church or as part of Churches Together being commmitted to working through the year in communities.  This is based on the view that ‘we do it better when we do it together’.

  Wouldn’t it be amazing if, everywhere people looked, there were Christians getting involved with their community, finding out needs and being ready to take action?  HOPE 08 aims to be a catalyst for encouraging and resourcing churches of all traditions to help them ‘raise their game’ in community service.

  The Rev. David Coffey, President of the World Baptist Alliance and Moderator of the Free Church Council, has said: “HOPE 08 has my unequivocal support.” 

  Church members who were at the October Church Meeting may recall a suggestion that, rather than talk about being involved in our community, we - as a church - should ‘get hands on and involved’.

  How about 2008 being the year when we do just that?  It may be that we could join together with Christians Together in Marshalswick to enhance our community.

  There are lots of resources for HOPE 08: books, DVDs, literature and the website (www.hope08.com or www.hopeinfo.co.uk).

  Just watch this space!

By Pat Hicks.

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Twelve ready-made New Year’s resolutions

  If you are dreading the thought of failing in your New Year’s resolutions, here are a few - achievable - positive suggestions for you to put on your list:

* Join the coffee rota
* Start attending a prayer group
* Sign up for the flower rota
* Join the cleaning rota
* Help out at Friday People or FROG
* Offer transport for those who need it
* Review your giving to the church and/or missions
* Open the church on Saturday mornings for prayer, once in a while
* Follow the ‘McCulloch’ rule - after a church service, speak - for at least three minutes - to someone you wouldn’t normally speak to
* Recycle your used stamps for BMS
* Come to church five minutes earlier than normal and spend the extra time in quiet reflection and preparation
* Join in Wednesday or Thursday afternoons at the church

  To help support your resolve or for further resolution suggestions, talk to the Rev Graham Clarke or any of the deacons.

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Diptipur update

  The Golden Jubilee ceremony at the hospital in Diptipur, Orissa, in India, took three hours and was followed by a feast prepared for 500 people.  At the ceremony, I said: “It gives me much joy and thankfulness to God to be present on this great occasion.  It is such a significant milestone in the life of this hospital, 

  “I bring greetings from fellow Christians in Great Britain.  I bring special greetings from the Rev David Kerrigan, Director of Mission at BMS World Mission,which was formerly known as the Baptist Missionary Society.  As you know, we worked for that society and lived in this area for some years. 

  “The relationship between the BMS and this great country of India has brought many benefits and advantages to both you and us.  We need to focus on the good aspects as we view our friendship over the past and in the present.

  “Greetings, too, from my church in St Albans, in England.  They are praying for us today. Over the years, my late husband and I have had the pleasure of entertaining many friends from India - and especially Orissa - in our home.  And most recently - in January and February of 2007 - the members of my church in St Albans greatly enjoyed the visit of Rt Rev Dr Samson Das.

  “My family also send greetings on this important occasion.  Our children, Ruth and Paul, were born in this country and lived here for some time.  They both have a love for India - and our son, with his wife, visited Diptipur two years ago.  Paul wanted to visit Diptipur with me this time, and is eagerly awaiting news of my visit.  I hope my three grandsons, Benjamin, Timothy and Samuel have the opportunity to visit sometime to see where their grandparents worked and where their parents were born.

  “But we cannot live in the past.  We need to learn from it but not live in it.  Each one of us is accountable to God for the way we spend our lives and the effect we have on others.  We are responsible for the witness we give, and honesty and integrity are of the utmost importance in this witness.

  “We are responsible only to God.  It is required of us to be good and faithful stewards of the gifts God has given to our care.  It is to him that we have to answer one day and each of us should search our hearts for the motives for our actions and speech.

  “This is a hard calling at times but, in God’s love and in our Saviour’s saving grace, the task is joyfully done when we feel in the centre of God’s will.

 “I congratulate Diptipur Christian Hospital on its Golden Jubilee.  May this day be the beginning of a new era, when the hospital will be a shining light in the area and bring glory to God and healing to the people.”

Aileen Hagan.