Author: Chris Chorlton

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Parish News 14 October 2018

A Missional Community

This weekend marks the beginning of a new chapter in the life of St Paul’s. Two farsi speaking members of the congregation will move into the vicarage. Together with others they will form the beginning of a praying together, learning together, and reaching out into the community together community.
Please pray for them.
The community NEEDS: – a kingsize bed frame
– two single beds and matresses
– a fridge and freezer
If you are able to provide any of these, or know someone who can please let Sue, Michelle, or Chris know. Thank you. We will inform you of any other needs as they arise.

The Week Ahead

St. Barnabas Mothers Union invites you to a FREE CONCERT by a local Ukelele band at 2.30pm, on Tuesday, 16th October in the Village Hall. Please come and join us it promises to be a fun afternoon.
Tea and cakes will be served.

PCC Meeting 7pm 18th October at St Paul’s

Beetle Drive – 20th October at St Barnabas Church. 5pm onwards.
‘Last Night of the Proms’ to celebrate the winners.
Tickets £5 – Children free (with Adults!)

This Month

Christmas Preparation – already!
At 3.30pm (after school) on Friday 26th October various members of St Paul’s plus friends will be packing shoeboxes at the church. We support Blythswood as we can send a bigger variety of items and to a wider variety of age groups. Boxes are mainly delivered to the poorer parts of Eastern Europe. Any offers of help/support would be appreciated. Blythswood News would give you far more information about the group through whom we send our boxes. Further details from Joanna

Further Ahead

Parish meeting preparing for INN churches: Tuesday November 6th @ St Paul’s at 7.30pm. The meeting will include more details about hosting the homeless at St Paul’s, a chance to sign up to help and essential training. Your help would be much appreciated.

Parish Forum 18th November at noon
Following a Bring and Share Lunch St Barnabas Village Hall
This is a new event where we meet together to discuss the vision and direction of our Parish and Mission. Please make every effort to come.

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God’s Grace is for all

Today’s message was very clear. God’s grace sustains us, through Jesus Christ.
And our closing hymn, All Things Bright and Beautiful, reminds us of all the good things he has made for us.
And, like the woman in Mark’s Gospel, all we have to do is ask. Even if (ESPECIALLY if) the way ahead seems difficult and dark.

Mark 7:26b “She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.”

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“Some do not believe”

Jesus said, “It is the spirit that gives you life, the flesh is useless” [John 6:63]

We are made of flesh and bone, of course, but is that all? Is there anything else? What brings everything together? Who wrote the rule book on which our frail bodies depend?

Some would believe that random cosmic particles brought us together as molecules which self-replicated and formed into ever more complex structures. If that is what they believe, then who are we to argue?

But Jesus says very clearly here that only through the spirit can we find true life. Eventually all flesh will fail. Without a confident faith in the spirit sent from God the Father, we might as well turn round and go home now.

And some of his disciples did this. They’d heard enough and were ready to turn their backs on him.

[John 6:67-69] So Jesus asked the twelve, ‘Do you also wish to go away?’

Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.’