Christ Church Online Newsletter

Read last month's October Newsletter

Encouragement - Simon Glynn

Music For Mission - Dot & Viv

God's Faithfulness - Barbara Long

Prayer Items

Adam - Stuart & Viv Smith

Recipie For Kindness - Source and Author unknown

Food For Thought - Lloyd John Ogilvie

Diary Dates

Time for a Laugh - Out of the Mouths... - Sent in by Ted Jordan, Source and Author unknown

'Just as you excel in everything else…in faith, in knowledge, in complete eagerness…see that you also excel in the grace of giving' - 2Cor 8:7'
I write again to express my thanks to Christ Church- what a great church to belong to!

I specifically want to thank everyone for being so generous at Harvest. This year instead of giving to the Bishop's appeal we decided to send the money to help Shamim, a 12 year old girl in Uganda. Shamim needs a heart operation and needed £1000 to enable the operation to go ahead. Shamim's story gripped many of us and I was particularly pleased that the young people baked cakes and sold them raising £50 to help. We were able to raise the full amount- so she can go ahead with the operation.

Firstly, this is great because we successfully rose to the challenge. Secondly, this is great because we are able from Parbold to change someone's life in Uganda. I hope that through helping Shamim, you feel something of God's joy. One of the main goals of preaching, witnessing, praying, giving, and living the Christian life is to see lives changed. I find this an emotional and inspiring thing. I really, really want to see lives changed by God and His love through us His church.

We need to be practical in our faith. The sermon series in the book of James is making us focus not on doctrine but on faith in action.

I long that our church may continue to grow: in spiritual fulfilment and in numbers. One of the things we need to excel in is giving- giving of our hard earned money. We have a generous God and He wants us to be like Him and to be generous.

Giving to God demonstrates that He has first place in my life and it brings a sense of belonging and joy. Jesus said that there is more happiness in giving than receiving. May you overflow with that joy!

Simon

MUSIC FOR MISSION

Over the past few months various members of the music group have been involved in playing for weddings - two at St. John's, Burscough and one at Christ Church, Parbold - all of which have been presided over by Simon. After the first wedding we decided to donate the money we received for our services to Helen towards her Uganda mission. This gave Dot and I an idea, so we set up 'Music For Mission'. Any monies received thereafter will be put into this fund and used to help any other members of our congregation who will be commencing mission work either here or overseas.

Although playing for weddings entails both commitment and organisation (and a certain amount of stress!), we believe everyone who has been involved has been blessed by the time they have spent together making music and praising God and hope that in some way the songs have touched the hearts of the wedding guests and given them a small insight into just how special modern Christian music can be.

Dot and Viv

GOD'S FAITHFULNESS

Even as I was planning my second trip to Kiminini, God had already made provisions for all my needs.
As I was talking with my friend Christina about my planned trip she asked if I would mind if she came along too. "Great!", so we made plans together. As the date for our trip neared it became obvious that Paul, at whose home we stayed, was not going to be around at least for the first week, so you can see God provided Chris for companionship.

Before we left England, Chris said that she had been given lots of baby clothes, I said, "pack them in your case and we will distribute them when we get there." I really had no idea where they would be distributed, as on my previous visit I had not been to any project that had involved babies. Again God had been at work - when we arrived at Kitale Airstrip, our taxi was delayed, but because of this we met an American lady and got chatting. It soon became apparent that she worked in a home for abandoned babies about half hour drive from where we were staying. "Wow!" We took her business card with address and phone number, but she did say the home was in quite a remote place and people often had difficulty finding it, so we left the airstrip with promises to contact the home and arrange to visit.

Next day we hired a taxi to take us into town. As some of you already know I had difficulty obtaining cash, but yet again God had provided, as Chris was more than willing to support me until this was resolved, that took quite some time. In Kiminini when you hire a taxi, the driver is yours for the day and this on more than one occasion proved invaluable. As we sat down for lunch (taxi driver included) we were talking of the places we would like to visit. We mentioned a home for abandoned children that was quite some way out of town, Peter the taxi driver immediately said "Ah Jeff's place, I know where that is". This was the place that was going to be difficult to find we had a driver who knew where it was, and a few days later he took us there.

What a difference a brush can make. Rose the house mama at 'Small Home' home for disabled children was almost bent double sweeping the floor of the multi-purpose room using her broom made of twigs, dust everywhere, and an aching back to go with it. The look of pure delight on her face as we gave her a brush complete with long handle - no more aching back, and a mop and bucket. The children and one of teachers from the school even tried it out, what delight for all.

It was good to see that the work on the toilet and shower block had been started and was waiting for Paul's return to have the plumbing coupled up. The walls had been plastered, the seat was in the shower and the shower head in place, the piping was in place in the toilet and joy of joy a flushing toilet was there ready to be connected. There aren't many flushing toilets around Kiminini. I thought that the walls of the cubicle were to remain un-tiled, but I have just received an e-mail and pictures showing that they are both in the process of being tiled.

Thank you for your generosity, it really is making a difference to these young people.
Barbara

PRAYER ITEMS

· Pray for Simon and the Ministry Team and PCC as they plan for the Lord's work in Parbold.
· Congratulations to Mike and Jill on the birth of their granddaughter Kiara Katy - and to Lucy and Steve.
· Pray that Joan Johnston will find God's comfort after the sad loss of her husband, John.
· Please continue to pray for our overseas links - Betel, the Flintoffs, James Dau, the work of Oasis Trust, Open Doors and Tearfund.
· Please continue to pray for Ruth Oldknow, Barry Woolfenden, Val Hughes, Maureen Haestier and Dorothy Watkinson.

"Recipe for Kindness"

Fold two hands together
And express a dash of sorrow
Marinate it overnight
And work on it tomorrow.

Chop one grudge in tiny pieces
Add several cups of love
Dredge with a large sized smile
Mix with the ingredients above.

Dissolve the hate within you,
By doing a good deed
Cut in and help your friend
If he/she should be in need.

Stir in laughter, love and kindness
From the heart it has to come,
Toss with genuine forgiveness
And give your neighbour some.

The amount of people served
Will depend on you,
It can serve the whole wide world,
If you really want it to.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

"Sometimes the Lord rides out the storm with us and other times He calms the restless sea around us. Most of all, He calms the storm inside us in our deepest inner soul."
-- Lloyd John Ogilvie

DIARY DATES

Wednesday 18th November - an evening of prayer and praise at All Saints Appley Bridge 8pm. Please come along, especially if you have never been to one of these before, we can promise it will be a blessing to you.

Christmas Choir - Charles is starting rehearsals on Sunday 8th November at 8pm. The service of Nine Lessons and Carols will be on Sunday 20th December at 6.30pm. If you would like to join the choir, please sign up on the list at the back of church.

OUT OF THE MOUTHS………Author Unknown

The Sunday School teacher was describing how Lot's wife looked back and turned into a pillar of salt, when little Jason interrupted, 'My Mommy looked back once while she was driving,' he announced triumphantly, 'and she turned into a telephone pole!'

A Sunday school teacher said to her children, 'We have been learning how powerful Kings and Queens were in Bible times. But there is a higher power than Kings and Queens. Can anybody tell me what it is?'
One child blurted out, 'Aces!'

Nine-year-old Joey was asked by his mother what he had learned in Sunday School. 'Well, Mom, our teacher told us how God sent Moses behind enemy lines on a rescue mission to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. When he got to the Red Sea , he had his army build a pontoon bridge and all the people walked across safely. Then he radioed headquarters for reinforcements. They sent bombers to blow up the bridge and all the Israelites were saved. ''Now, Joey, is that really what your teacher taught you?' his Mother asked. 'Well, no, Mom. But, if I told it the way the teacher did, you'd never believe it!'

A Sunday School teacher decided to have her young class memorize one of the most quoted passages in the Bible - Psalm 23. She gave the youngsters a month to learn the chapter. Little Rick was excited about the task - but he just couldn't remember the Psalm. After much practice, he could barely get past the first line.
On the day that the kids were scheduled to recite Psalm 23 in front of the congregation, Ricky was so nervous. When it was his turn, he stepped up to the microphone and said proudly,
'The Lord is my Shepherd, and that's all I need to know.'

The preacher's 5 year-old daughter noticed that her father always paused and bowed his head for a moment before starting his sermon.
One day, she asked him why. 'Well, Honey,' he began, proud that his daughter was so observant of his messages. 'I'm asking the Lord to help me preach a good sermon.'
'So, how come He doesn't?' she asked.

Little Johnny and his family were having Sunday dinner at his Grandmother's house. Everyone was seated around the table as the food was being served. When Little Johnny received his plate, he started eating right away.
'Johnny! Please wait until we say our prayer.' said his mother.
'I don't need to,' the boy replied.
'Of course, you do.' His mother insisted. 'We always say a prayer before eating at our house.'
'That's at our house.' Johnny explained. 'But this is Grandma's house and she knows how to cook!'

Sent through by Ted Jordan

THANKS

Thank you to all our contributors this month. The next newsletter will be just before Christmas, so if you have anything you would like to share: a prayer need, an encouraging thought or poem or a good (clean) joke then get in touch with Lin Milne.