A friend of mine, who ran the marathon in 2006 decided to complete 26 miles on a treadmill instead this year! I really admire those who set themselves a challenge and stick with it. Running races is a theme that occurs quite often in the Bible. For instance, “the one thing I do is to forget what is behind me and do my best to reach what is ahead. So I run straight towards the goal in order to win the prize which is God’s call through Christ Jesus to the life above.” (Philippians 3.13-14). Here, and elsewhere, the Christian life is compared with a running race. As with any race or marathon, people who begin the Christian life need to assess what’s involved before launching into it. That’s where Start! comes in.
We have now run two Start! courses in Ickenham and we are planning the next. Start! is designed to get people moving in the Christian faith, by exploring some key questions, and discovering more about the person and work of Jesus Christ. Last evening, I was with a group of people drawn from the first two Start! courses, who found the course so helpful that they have wanted to continue meeting. For some, they have become more sure about their faith, for another, she has discovered that Jesus Christ exists today. One participant who has started coming to church since beginning Start!, has found it very supportive to have people around her of the same belief.
As with any race, it is continuing to the end that is important, so by popular demand, we have had some extra sessions on Bible reading and prayer and the Holy Spirit - God’s ways of training, equipping, and encouraging us to keep going. So how has Start! affected the lives of the participants? It’s provided some answers, helped make more sense of Jesus’ death, made them more ‘God conscious’ in their lives, and helped them to be more tolerant and less judgemental.
Perhaps you believe in God and would like to start living as a Christian – Start! would be good for you. Or perhaps you have lots of doubts and questions – Start! will give you opportunities to voice those, and hear the views of others too. Please see the separate advert on this page for details of the next course.
God bless
Adrian
Gwen and I have taken up camping in recent years. The initial impulse was a desire to drive across Europe and visit Rome, in the 11 days we and our son had available in 2003. We borrowed a tent. The trip went so well that the next year we bought our own tent, and have since enjoyed several short holidays in France as well as in England and Wales.
At Hurley near Henley, we’ve discovered life beside and on the Thames. In the Lea Valley we camped where the Olympic village is due to be built. Near Tours we found Clairvaux Abbey that was developed by my namesake Bernard, but later used as a prison from which the story of Les Miserables originated. In the Loire Valley we explored not only great chateaux but also the cave dwellings of the troglodytes. I wonder how many of our ICN readers enjoy camping and making such discoveries along the way?
Some Scouts from Ickenham will be joining many from around the world for the Jamboree to celebrate the Centenary of Scouting this year. Much will be discovered as they share their different cultures and ways of being Scouts. I recall totem poles and arched gateways to the tents of the various national groups at the 50th anniversary Jubilee Jamboree, and I wonder what materials, techniques and designs will be on display this time.
The tent that Gwen and I use now is very different from those when I was a teenager. It has bendy carbon-fibre poles, many zips and toggles, windows and fly screens. It has a sleeping compartment to the side, and we can easily stand up in the main section. But despite its features, and the fresh air, exercise and the excitement of new places, we are always glad to return to the comfort and facilities of home.
I wonder what the tents were like that Paul made. Paul, the letter-writer and missionary traveller in the New Testament, was a tentmaker. Luke tells us so in Acts 18:3 when he says that Paul stayed with Priscilla and Aquila in Corinth because they were of the same trade, and they worked together. They probably did good business with the travellers who came and went through that port city. I suppose Paul slept in one of his own tents during his journeys.
When Paul later writes to the people of Corinth (2 Corinthians 4:16 – 5:10) he likens life on this earth to the struggles and temporary nature of living in a tent. Knowing how he looks forward to the solid protection and permanence of the house at the end of the journey, he offers confident hope in the ‘house’ that God has prepared for us in heaven.
Bernie
Baptism at the URC
May 6th Alice Grace Day
Service of Blessing at St Giles’ after a Civil Marriage Ceremony
May 5th Mark and Diane Hallam
Cremations at Breakspear Crematorium
Apr 27th Donald James Patterson, aged 71
May 8th Pamela Mary Fletcher, aged 79
Burial in Woodcock Hill Cemetery
May 3rd David Ousby, aged 47
ST GILES’ CHURCH MONTHLY STREET PRAYER LIST
Each week at St Giles’ Church we pray for all the people who live or work in a particular road in the Parish. During June we will pray for the following roads:
June 3rd Heacham Avenue
June 10th Melville Close
June 17th Narbrough Close
June 24th Tayfield Close
If you live in one of these roads why not join us at our 8am or 9.45am services? You will be most welcome.
