I think I must be getting old! I caught myself commenting to a friend that time is flying by this year, and I am reliably informed that sensation comes with older age! Although units of time are standard, for a child they creep by, for a teenager they walk by, for an adult they run by, and then they start to fly. This feeling of supersonic time comes with being busy, but I’m not sure it’s such a good thing. If you are feeling the same way, why not use this season of Lent to slow down?
If you are saying “I haven’t got time to slow down, I’ve got too many things to do”, then perhaps you need to do so more than most! One thing that we all have in common is the amount of time available to each of us each day, but how we choose to use it will differ. In the book ‘A Barrel of Fun’ it is calculated that in a lifetime, an average American will spend one year looking for misplaced objects, two years unsuccessfully returning phone calls, four years doing housework, five years waiting in a queue, and six years eating! No wonder time seems too short!
So, what could you give up this Lent in return for something that will give you an opportunity to connect more with the Lord of time? The Psalmist expressed his faith that God is interested in his life, when he said ‘my times are in your hands’ (Psalm 31.15). Doing something God-focused this Lent could give you an opportunity to slow down, and engage more with God.
Beginning in March, we have a number of small discussion groups meeting to consider the unique contribution that God wants each of us to make. All the groups will use the ‘Life Calling’ material. With a clearer idea of our calling, we can prioritise our time more effectively. A ‘calling’ or a ‘vocation’ isn’t just for Christian ministers; it’s something that God has given to everyone. Details of the small groups can be found on the St Giles’ website and / or by contacting the church office.
I have always found it good to hear stories of the experiences of other Christians and, on Wednesday evenings during March, we have four Ickenham Christians speaking about how their faith works out in their everyday life. Each talk starts at 8pm in St Giles’ Church and will be followed by night prayer.
And finding a few moments each day to read the Bible during Lent could provide a way of pressing the pause button and turning your attention towards God. If you have never read the Bible before, I suggest starting with Mark’s Gospel in the New Testament section. Another good read is ‘The Shack’, details of which were in last month’s ICN, or can be obtained from the St Giles church office.
With God’s blessing this Lent,
Adrian
FROM THE URC MINISTER
Ickenham Church News was a subject of interest and appreciative comments at a conference recently. Representatives of ‘local ecumenical partnerships’ like ours met to share experiences, and show what we have been able to do as churches working together.
Several of the ‘LEPs’ across north London have a newsletter of some form. But the content and layout of ICN, and the regular delivery to every household and business in Ickenham, caught the attention of the other groups. And so did the fact that it is also available on the web: www.ickenhamchurchnews.co.uk.
Our representatives at the conference were Cliff Potter of the URC and David Crane of St Giles’, former editor of ICN, so well placed to answer the interested questions at the conference.
The presentation that David and Cliff gave covered the wide range of joint activities in Ickenham, and was illustrated with pictures taken over the years. You will have an opportunity to see it too on Sunday 26th April. That will be during the annual service to give thanks to God for the covenant relationship and pray for each other and our developing activities: 10.30am at the URC on that day.
Sharing good news, communication of what we are about and what we do, has gained another channel recently. The new website of Ickenham URC has been launched: www.ickenhamurc.org.uk.
Congratulations to Helen Boyes who has done much of the work on this website. It is now there for you and newcomers to find out about regular activities, history and how to make contact. It takes its place alongside the websites of St. Giles’ Church, ICN and others in the community – see the list in the banner heading of this paper and the home page.
One more channel of communication to highlight is the stories that will be told by Ickenham people of the significance of Christian faith in their lives. There will be one each week, two from each church, on the four Wednesday evenings from 4th to 25th March, during the 8pm services at St. Giles’.
Let’s celebrate how God offers communication with all in his world.
Bernie
And Seby Ntege and his Ugandan
Music Group
The Women’s World Day of Prayer is a worldwide movement of Christian women of many traditions, who come together to observe a common day of prayer on the first Friday of March. Each year, the programme is prepared by a different group of women. This year, the women of Papua New Guinea have prepared a service entitled “In Christ there are many members yet one body”, to be celebrated in over 45,000 places throughout the world.