Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Felbridge
Welcome
I begin the day in the Church Office getting for XTB club
(Explore The Bible) at Felbridge Primary School (or sometimes
helping Mark take an assembly at the school, which has included
popping out of a big Bible, dressed up as characters, such as
Abraham and King David!).
XTB club at lunchtime, playing games, singing songs, making
posters and learning Bible stories.
After this, I have my one-to-one with Sarah, and then probably
preparation for the Sunday childrens groups.
FRIDAY
Morning: Church staff meeting, or final preparations for Youth
Group in the evening.
Afternoon: More Moore College studying...
And then Youth Group in the evening. We have a meal together,
a Bible study and play some games (usually Killer Uno!).
SATURDAY
Day off I usually see my sisters, or my boyfriend, James, or
university friends.
SUNDAY
Sunday Services, morning and evening youll probably find
me in Out of the World or The Rock or sometimes leading the
prayers or doing one of the readings in the services.
YOU HAVE MENTIONED THE MOORE COLLEGE AND SGP
TRAINING WHAT HAVE BEEN SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF
YOUR THEOLOGY TRAINING SO FAR?
I rI really enjoyed studying Marks Gospel with Moore College.
It was written for a Gentile audience and is a very interactive
narrative that draws the reader in. It has two main sections: the first
focussing on Who is Jesus? and the second looking into What
did Jesus come to do? and What does it mean to follow Him?
These sections are linked by Peters confession, in Mark 8:29, which
answers the question of the first section and leads the reader to
ponder the questions of the second section.
One of my favourite weeks at the SGP training course was at the
British Museum. We had a guided tour looking at various different
exhibits, all of which were related to the history recorded in the
Bible. Being a recent history graduate this was the best trip I could
ask for, and it showed how historically accurate the Bible is so
accurate that even the British Museum use Bible references in
some of their explanation plaques!
This term I am studying the first books of the Bible and Doctrine, in
particular looking at what the Bible teaches us about God, as well
as Exodus in details and Old Testament Narrative.
JUST A FEW FINAL QUESTIONS FOR YOU IF THATS OKAY...
CUSTARD CREAM OR BOURBON?
Bourbon...its both chocolate and biscuit.
CYCLING OR WALKING?
Cycling.
TEA OR COFFEE?
Always tea...milk and no sugar (in case you plan to make me one!)
CHICK-FLICK OR HORROR MOVIE?
Well, I probably wouldnt choose either if action, adventure or
fantasy were on offer. But chick-flick would definitely come before
horror movies.
Thank you so much, Abby.
Please do be praying for Abby in her work here with us, and dont
forget to invite her round for lunch or dinner, or just a cup of tea...
milk no sugar!
Sunday services at 10am and 6pm (and 8am on the 2nd & 4th Sundays)
Suffering and
Serious Illness
Peter Davies, a regular speaker at St Johns
over many years, spoke on this subject a few years ago.
Here are some of his key points...
My grandson, David, died 10 years ago having been struck
down by an acute and fatal leukemia with no warning. During
his illness and since then, I have found myself struggling with all
sorts of questions. I am convinced it is foolish to pretend to have
a complete answer to why God allows these things. Its equally
wrong to assume we should have the answer.
One of the places I turned to was the book of Job in the Bible. He
suffered far, far more than any of us ever will and he realises by the
end of the book that he has no right to demand an explanation
of God as to why he had been put through so much pain. He
admits, Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things far too
wonderful for me to know.
But God has given some answers. We may not know why one
person is singled out for a disease, but we can know part of the
reason why diseases exist. We can also know how to react in a way
that pleases the Lord. The main problem for many is why would
a God who is good and loving allow suffering? And at times it is
suffering on a vast scale. In a world of pain, whether terrorism or
tidal waves or in one childs serious illness, where is God? And what
is he up to? The Bible says He has the whole world in His hands.
Sometimes He does perform amazing miracles of mercy. At other
times He seems to be deaf to our cries for help, and He allows us to
be targets for evil people, dangerous viruses, and natural disasters.
Now we may never fully solve this puzzle, not in this world anyway,
but God has given us enough pieces to help us to trust Him even
when we dont know as much as we would like to know.
Some of you may be living with some personal fear or tragedy
today. What you need right now is not some three part sermon
on why. What you need most is a listening ear, a warm hug or just
someone to sit quietly with you. But, at some point along the way,
you will also need the truth of Gods word to comfort you, and to
help you see your problem from Gods side. But even the Bible
has no complete and knockdown explanation for suffering. And
therefore people tend to think like this: A God who is all-powerful
and loving would surely be able to put a stop to all this suffering.
But because suffering exists, God cant be all-powerful and loving.
QED. But that isnt the only approach. I believe in a God who is allpowerful and loving. If suffering exists, as indeed it does, God must
have his own good reasons for permitting it. And thats what this
article tries to explore.
I want to make 5 short statements about the mystery of serious
illness. These are my own views from studying the Bible and from
events in my own life and in my family.
Book recommendations
A PRAYER
Our Father, help us to see that we may need sickness
for the good of the soul, even more than health for the
good of the body. For those of us who are fit and well,
let us be grateful that our good health is a gift of yours,
and will you forgive us for taking it so often for granted.
Whether in sickness or in health, let a sincere concern
for Your glory be our ultimate motive for living, and may
all the glory be yours. Amen.
A Calming Experience
Ros Whiteman, a member of St. Johns Church and the Wednesday Watercolours Art Group, tells
her story of Gods strength in suffering
ONE JOURNEY I WOULD RATHER NOT REPEAT, BUT IT HAS A HAPPY ENDING!
We all have dreams of
places to go, things to do
in our lifetimes, so it was
with great expectations
that Mike and I set off on
our holiday to Mexico in
October 2013. My dream
had always been to swim
with dolphins ever since
I was a child. We were
really looking forward to
being so close to these
wonderful creatures
but there was one black
cloud hanging over our
holiday of a lifetime. Only
a few weeks earlier I had
discovered a lump in my breast one Sunday morning. I went
straight to the doctor on Monday. This was the start of a different
journey for Mike and I.
We had a fantastic holiday and tried hard not to think about
what was ahead of us. I underwent several mammograms and
investigative operations over the next few weeks and constantly
told myself that God was with me. I was finally told on the
28th December that I had breast cancer and would need a
mastectomy within a month.
It was devastating news! Mike was with me all the way, listening
to the surgeon giving me my options, speaking to the Macmillan
nurse etc. Telling my children was one of the hardest things I had
to do.
It was in the New Year that I really felt my journey to recovery was
going to start. We talked incessantly about our feelings as openly
as we could but there were times for both of us when our tears
would flow alone. As I put away the Christmas decorations and
packed away the wooden Nativity figures I had bought only the
year before I did wonder whether I would be around to get them
out again and enjoy another Christmas.
I was due to have my operation on Tuesday 28th January and
gradually the fear was setting in. I tried hard to conceal it and
put on a brave face, but inside was a different story. I was able to
draw strength from my family and also many friends, particularly
those at St. Johns who I knew were praying for me.
On Sunday 26th January, I experienced something that changed
me. When I went to bed, I lay there staring up at the ceiling
when I became aware of an unusual glow in the corner of our
bedroom. It was a hue I had never seen before, and thinking that
I must have looked into the light bulb before I put the bedside
lamp out, I shut my eyes for a few minutes. When I opened them
again five minutes or so later, this glow was still there. I didnt
I think the worst part of all that has happened to Ros was when
we went to see the surgeon and were told that the lump was
cancerous. All Ros could do was to keep saying that she was so
sorry and kept apologising to me. I told her not to blame herself
Ros has written about her recovery and it was very hard work for
me being nurse, chef and cleaner, but well worth it for the woman
I love.
Ros has now made a full recovery and I know that her strength
and faith has helped her through.
HAPPY 150TH
BIRTHDAY!