Youth Service - 25th May 2008 - Sarah Mercer
Financial Report - Lin Milne
Dates For The Diary (Family Fun Day at Waddow Hall etc.)
Back To Read May 2008 Newsletter
Youth Service - 25th May 2008
As a Christian we need to do what God wants us to do. Some of these things are worship, prayer and telling other people about Jesus. God gave us the earth and the chance of life after death so we need to worship him and thank him for what he's done. We can't live without help from God so we also need to pray to him for help. God is here for a reason. He didn't just make the world and then leave us behind. He wants us to talk to him about our troubles, the good things in our lives and then the average everyday things.
Telling other people about Jesus is something that a few Christians forget to do in their lives. I went to see Yfriday in March with some people in the youth group and there was a person who talked to us about becoming a Christian. He told us about this verse in the bible. It was in John 10v10 and it said:
'A thief comes to steal and kill and destroy, but I came to give life - life in all it's fullness,'
Non-Christians
get the idea that if they become a Christian then there life is going
to be stolen away from them. In this verse it says that Jesus came to
give life and the people who follow him get life in all its fullness.
Life on earth then life after death. If you don't follow God then your
life is being stolen by the devil. When you tell people in your work place,
school or anywhere else you go, ask them what they think about becoming
a Christian and tell them about this verse in John 10v10.
There's another passage in the bible that tells us about doing what God
wants us to do. In Matthew 21v28-32 it says:
'Tell
me what you think about this: a man had two sons. He went to the first
son and said, "Son, go and work today in my vineyard". The son
answered, "I will not go". But later the son changed his mind
and went. Then the father went to the other son and said, "Son, go
and work in my vineyard". The son answered "Yes, sir, I will
go and work", but he did not go. Which of the two sons obeyed his
father?" The priests and leaders answered "The first son."
Jesus said to them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and
the prostitutes will enter the kingdom of heaven before you do. John came
to show you the right way to live. You did not believe him, but the tax
collectors and prostitutes believed him. Even after seeing this, you still
refused to change your ways and believe him.'
What Jesus is saying is that the prostitutes and tax collectors believed what John had told them about Jesus and acted on what they heard. They had been told to give their lives to God, to commit themselves to what God wanted them to do and told the people they met about Jesus. This is why they went to heaven. The priests and leaders didn't do those things. They didn't believe what they heard about Jesus so they didn't do what God wanted them to do which means they didn't go to heaven. What I want you to do is to challenge yourself to tell a certain amount of people this week who aren't Christians about Jesus and how amazing it is to be a Christian. And then the week after keep telling those people about Jesus but tell maybe 1 more person. Set yourself targets to tell people about Jesus. God has given us the earth and we need to give something back to him. The least we can do is to follow him.
As my final point my sister got me a sponge bob square pants file for Christmas. It made me think about what face I am on each day of the week. So, which Sponge bob square pants face are you everyday of the week?
Are
you usually the happy faces?
Or are you a sad face?
When you get up every morning then be 1 of the happy face and say to yourself
"I'm going to be really happy and nice to people today and tell them
about Jesus"
Then people will be happy to be around you and might listen to what you
are saying more than if you're not happy.
Many thanks to Sarah Mercer who spoke at the Sunday Youth Service on 25th May and allowed us to reprint the talk here. Thanks also goes to all J08 members who took part in a refreshing and memorable service
FINANCIAL REPORT
The
ministry team thought it would be a good idea to let everyone know where
we are at the moment with our finances and the Diocese. Frances and I
went to see the Financial Controller at Blackburn a couple of weeks ago
and we talked over the fact that, last year, we were unable to make our
full Diocesan Quota. He made us aware that, even though we do not have
a vicar at present, we are still required to pay the Quota as the Diocese
automatically accounts for the vacant parishes when working out the annual
quota.
So, the question was - given that the shortfall would be added to this
year's quota and that was already more than the PCC thought they could
pay - how could we meet the requirements needed to keep the work of God
going here and in Blackburn Diocese? We came to an arrangement whereby
the Dicoese would help us out financially if we proved we could pay more
towards our quota than paying at present. This was discussed at the next
PCC and the decision made to increase our monthly payment by £500
per month.
We
are deeply grateful to all who give faithfully to the work of the church
and pray that the Lord will bless you in all your giving. There are a
couple of thoughts listed here which may give us all a chance to consider
our Christian giving:
· There is still time to obtain a weekly giving envelope if you
are a regular attender on Sunday, please see Lin about them.
· If you find it difficult to have the right amount that you wish
to give every Sunday, have you considered a standing order? This can be
be a monthly amount taken straight from your bank account and save the
weekly hunt for change. Again, Lin has the forms.
· Any money given by someone who pays Income Tax will be increased
by the standard rate of tax if it is Gift Aided. Please see Lin who will
be only too glad to get a form for you to sign. If you put money in a
blue envelope, please remember to put your name and address or it will
not be valid.
· Unfortunately, churches are subject to the same rise in prices
and costs that we all do at home. Please think and pray about how much
you give. Even giving an extra £1 a week can mean a big difference
at the year end if we are all able to do so.
· St Paul wrote about giving in 2 Corinthians Ch9 v6-9: "Remember
this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly and whoever sows
generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has
decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for
God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to
you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you
will abound in every good work."
· Most of all please pray that, as a church, we will be honouring
to God in how we spend our income and use it to further the work of the
Lord in Parbold and our other financial commitments.
Lin Milne, Treasurer
PRAYER ITEMS
·
Please continue to pray for the Flintoffs, Betel and James Dau , the Bloemfontein
Hospice and the work of Oasis Trust in Chennai
· Please pray for wisdom for all involved in seeking a new vicar
for the parish - the Diocese, Churchwardens and PCC.
· Praise God for the wonderful service led by our Young People
in church. And remember the coming service in School on Sunday 8th June
and all involved in the planning.
· For our Youth Work and Sunday School, that the leaders will be
inspired by the Holy Spirit and our children will be encouraged in their
faith.
· Please continue to pray for healing for Linda, Karen's sister
after a major operation.
· Pray for comfort and a sense of peace for Joan Long.
· Please continue to pray for Julie Fenelon, Barry Woolfenden,
Val Hughes, Ruth Oldknow, Maureen Haestier and Dorothy Watkinson.
DATES FOR THE DIARY
12th July - Morecambe Bay Walk, see Barbara Long for details.
FUN
DOWN ON THE FARM
Sunday 6th July 12.30pm Lowes Farm, Newburgh.
Bring your own food to BBQ and drinks. We will provide the salads &
sweets.
Also the fun and games including: rounders, football, wellie chucking,
guess the weight of the bale, boules, croquet and the grand finale ..........TUG
O' WAR!
Tickets: £5 per adult, children free.(money for church refurbishment)
Viv & Stuart Smith
FAMILY FUN DAY AT WADDOW HALL
Waddow Hall, Clitheroe
30th,
August 2008
A must for all our church family- young and old alike - book the date in your diary now and then come along and join us on the day
Having had such wonderful days as a Church Family in past years at this lovely venue, the grounds of Waddow Hall, near Clitheroe in the lovely Ribble Valley are the setting once more for an action packed family fun day, by popular request, later on this year.
Come along and enjoy the fellowship of others, walks in the countryside and various activities laid on for all the family to join in.
We will need to know numbers for the day, especially the activities people want to join in, by the end of June, at the very latest, so don't delay! The more the merrier. Even if you just fancy having a lazy day why not come along and join with others, in a relaxed atmosphere, have a picnic and go for a walk along the river or just soak up the lovely grounds of Waddow Hall. Barbeque facilities will be provided. There are no age restrictions at all. We would just love to see you, all, whether you are young, a teenager, a mum or dad, single or 'attached', a "recycled teenager" just come and why not bring a friend? Please give an early indication of your wish to join on the day as soon as possible
Jonathan Hickling and Margaret Atherton.
CONFIRMATION
SERVICE
15th October at 7.30p.m in church with Rt Rev. Bishop Alan Winstanley.
Please pray for all those preparing for confirmation with Sandra, John
and Brian.
OUT OF THE MOUTHS……..
My friend's grandson Sheldon had made it clear he did not want to go to kindergarten. So his mother was prepared for the worst when he came home from his first day at school. "So how did you enjoy kindergarten?" she asked.
Well," he admitted, "I enjoyed it more than I wanted to."
-Erma Landis, Lititz, Pennsylvania (courtesy of Christianity Today website)
THANKS
Thank you to all who contributed to this month's newletter. The next one
is the last before the summer break and will be available on Sunday 6th
July.
Lin Milne