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You Took My Space at Church
This should wake us up.
One day, a man went to visit a church. He got there early, parked his car and got out. Another car pulled up near him. The driver got out and said, 'I always park there! You took my place
After Sunday School which is typical in the USA before the Service, the visitor went into the sanctuary for Worship and sat down. Another member walked up to him and said, 'That's where I always sit! You took my place'
The visitor was even more troubled by this treatment, but still He said nothing. Later as the congregation was praying for Christ to dwell among them, the visitor stood up, and his appearance began to change. Scars became visible on his hands and on his sandaled feet.
Someone from the congregation noticed him and called out, 'What happened to you?'
The visitor replied, as his hat became a crown of thorns, and a tear fell from his eye, 'I took your place.'
When you read this, say a prayer. That's all you have to do.
Author Unknown
Thought from the Vicarage
What do you think of when you see a Church building or walk into one?
What do church buildings say to us, or perhaps more important, say to the wider community and to the non Christian?
Some years ago a Chaplain to the Forces said that in attempting to make some kind of religious contact with new recruits, he had found that the most useful line of approach was to ask if they had ever seen a church. They might know virtually nothing else about the Christian faith but at least they were likely to have seen a church at some time. What did they imagine that this building was? What was it for? What did people do inside it? For vast numbers of people to-day the building which they see may be their only remaining link with the Christian tradition.
When I was training for the ministry I spent some time with a priest who had ministered in south London, and one day he took me and his newly ordained curate to visit his old parish. On our way out of Waterloo Station we stood for a moment on the Embankment, not far from the Royal Festival Hall, and looking across the River Thames, he asked us what we could see. We looked at the buildings, prominent among them the Palace of Westminster, the City of London and the dome of St. Paul's.
The point he wanted to make is that all of these represented power, political, economic and religious. All too often, our church buildings may be seen as representing the power and wealth of the church, suggesting that we may have forgotten the example our Lord has given us, coming not to be served but to serve, and that the building is there for the whole of the community.
The Kairos Buildings process will start soon in our Deanery. This is the Bishop's initiative to help us think strategically and creatively about how to use our church buildings more effectively: to deepen the spiritual lives of worshippers and visitors, to serve the local community more effectively and to find solutions to the problems of maintenance.
The Rev. David Heatley - Rector and Vicar of Hawkley and Benefice - Hampshire
July 2008 from the Village Magazine with thanks
Dear Webmaster of Churches Together in Epsom
I hope that you do not mind me contacting you but I am hoping that we may be able to assist each other. I run a ministry called Christian House Sitters. Now that we have reached the second half of the year members of your congregation are no doubt starting to plan their vacations. If any of your congregation are interested in having a Christian look after their home and animals while they are on holiday I am sure we can help find the right person.
Our service will not cost them anything. It is free to house owners.
Full details can be found on our web site at http://www.Christian-Housesitters.com
Our full details are listed on the About Us page of our website. These include our physical address and telephone number. On the Media Coverage page you will find a copy of an article published by Church Times.
God bless you,
Ray White
Christian House Sitters
HOLIDAYS AND WEEKEND BREAKS
If you like hills and valleys, wonderful views and good walks around Dartmoor, then the small market town of Bovey Tracey in Devon, is the most interesting and beautiful place to stay for a long weekend or an “anytime” holiday.
We visited this location over the recent August Bank Holiday weekend, staying at Ruach, which is the holiday home supported by the New Creations charity and situated just a stone’s throw away from the centre of Bovey.
It is delightfully appointed, offering two double bedrooms and a twin bedded room. There is a spacious conservatory and a sunny balcony off the lounge area with a superb view.
For relaxation, style and comfort as well as supporting the charity led by Jacqui Frost for reaching people through art and textile, we highly recommend a visit.
There is further information ............here
Ann and Michael Arthur of Epsom Methodist Church
