Dear Friends,  

For my message to you this month I would like to share with you something from my quiet time from a book by David Watson.

He writes:

In order to be a church we must come together (Matthew 18:20; Acts 2: 1, 42, 46). In no sense do we belong to the church unless we regularly gather with God's people (Hebrews 10:25). We need each other. If you take one page, I can tear it to shreds easily. If I take a whole book, I cannot tear it at all. Others need you, even if you don't feel you need them. The church is not the Minister supported by a few volunteers; it's a gathered community of God's people who are committed to one another as they are to Christ.

A community doesn't speak primarily of activities but of relationships. We need to build deep and loving relationships with each other seven days a week. This is a painful business for which love, forgiveness and understanding are constantly needed.

Someone has said, 'The effectiveness of our ministry depends on the fervency of our love for one another.' An atheistic psychiatrist has said that the church has failed people because it has not yet discovered the secret of community.

Whatever we call 'mine' should be shared with others.

Sometimes people on the fringes of the church life are critical of an 'in-group' - but they shouldn't be; not if the 'in-group' represents those who have made a full response to the Lord and to his Body, while others stand on the sidelines, being critical and uncommitted. If you want to be in the 'in-group' - get more involved: give more of your love, time prayer and of yourself!

As the song says:

Build your church Lord,
Make us strong Lord,
Join our hearts, Lord, through Your Son,
Make us one, Lord,
In Your Body,
In the kingdom of Your Son
(Dave Richardson @1977 Kingsway's Thank you music used by permission of CCl 5597)

Ask yourself this question:

Do I feel that I really belong to my church? If not, why not and what needs to change?'

On Saturday September 11th The Elders and I would like to invite all of you to join us for a special Church day - "Discipleship Matters".

Please put the date in your dairies now and keep the day free. Wouldn't it be amazing if the whole of our church managed to come together to share one day of worship, teaching, true fellowship as we learn how to deepen our commitment to Christ and each other.