Ambassadors for Christ

20 Pages·2017·0.57 MB·English

The Magazine Of Market Harborough
Methodist Circuit
www.harboroughmethodistcircuit.org.uk
All of us in Market Harborough, Kibworth, Naseby and
Husbands Bosworth Methodist Churches and Gartree
Christian Fellowship are:-
Ambassadors for Christ
1
Dear friends,
After a sabbatical of three months, I feel a lot more refreshed and very
pleased with the work of the church that has continued in my absence. I
am very grateful to all those who have kept things afloat and running
smoothly. We have also been doing some extensive renovations at
Kibworth and in Market Harborough youth wing! Do pop in to have a look
when you can!
Market Harborough’s Covenant Service takes place this year on 2nd
September at 10.15am, to coincide with the stewardship renewal. It is
always a good opportunity to renew commitment to God, and think about
what we might offer in God’s service over the next year.
But more than anything, I want us all to be encouraged, in every church in
our Circuit. As I go around (in churches and in the wider world), I so often
hear discouraging sounds, pessimistic grumblings and even despair:
‘Church’ is not what it used to be; we are failing to attract many young
people; congregations are ageing; we need to work harder; our
denomination may not survive! I want to reflect on these things over the
next few months, and assert that all of these things are red herrings which
disguise the truth of the gospel. Over the next year I want to encourage
us all to a renewed faith, a renewed hope, and to do everything with a
renewed joy, giving thanks to God in all circumstances. (I’m sure St. Paul
once said something similar!) But I’ll give away the punchline now: it’s
about trusting in what God is doing, living the life God has given us now,
and not panicking about what we can’t do.
At the start of this new Methodist year, you might like to join with us by
saying the Covenant Prayer wherever you are. Its meaning is serious, its
words are hard, but ultimately it’s about trusting in the God who loves us
and gave himself for us.
Yours in Christ,
2
The Methodist Covenant Prayer
This is a modern version, based on John Wesley’s original. The very first
Methodist Covenant Service was held on 11th August 1755.
I am no longer my own but yours.
Your will, not mine, be done in all things,
wherever you may place me,
in all that I do and in all that I may endure;
when there is work for me and when there is none;
when I am troubled and when I am at peace.
Your will be done
when I am valued and when I am disregarded;
when I find fulfilment and when it is lacking;
when I have all things and when I have nothing.
I willingly offer all I have and am
to serve you,
as and where you choose.
Glorious and blessed God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
you are mine and I am yours.
May it be so for ever.
Let this covenant now made on earth
be fulfilled in heaven. Amen.
Date for your Diary
There will be a Fair Trade and Eco Fair
on Saturday, 27th October from 10am to 4pm
at The Methodist Church, Market Harborough
More details to follow
3
“D I Y” Bible Study 36, written by
THE MINOR PROPHETS SPEAK TODAY
HAGGAI
EXAMINING OUR PRIORITIES
Introduction
We know precisely when Haggai was prophesiying - between
29th August and 18th December in 520 BC (see 1:1, 2:1, 2:16). As
the earlier prophets had warned, Jerusalem (including Solomon’s
magnificent temple) was destroyed by the invading Babylonians
in 586 BC and the majority of the inhabitants were taken into
exile until 536 BC, when Cyrus of Persia (conquerors of the
Babylonians) decreed the Jews could return to Judea. The
rebuilding of the temple was to be the priority, but by 520 BC little
progress had been made as the returnees were too busy with
their personal affairs.
As I write, the Kibworth church is embarking on a number of
changes - Haggai seems particularly relevant!
[1] Priorities
READ 1:1-11. What had gone wrong?
.....................................….……………………….….…………….
.…......................................................….………………………...
.…......................................................….………………………...
4
READ 1:12-15 and 2:1-4. Make a note of the people’s
response.
.....................................….……………………….….…………….
.…......................................................….………………………...
.…......................................................….………………………...
[2] Encouragement in times of difficulty
READ 2:1-9. List the encouragements given there.
.....................................….……………………….….…………….
.…......................................................….………………………...
.…......................................................….………………………...
READ 2:10-19. A difficult passage, which may be a call to
personal, spiritual purity.
[3] Methods used by the prophet to communicate his
message
A) Questions
READ the following verses and note the question that is
asked:
1:4 ……….……………….…...….……...….…………………..
….…….…….….….….….….…….….……………………..
1:9 ……….……………….…...….……...….…………………..
….…….…….….….….….….…….….……………………..
2:3 ……….……………….…...….……...….…………………..
….…….…….….….….….….…….….……………………..
2:19 ……….……………….…...….……...….…………………..
….…….…….….….….….….…….….……………………..
5
B) Repetition
READ the following verses, and note the repeated words:
1:13 & 2:4 .…...….……...….…………………….………………
1:5,7; 2:15,18 …….……….…...….……...….…………………..
2:6,21 .…….……………….…...….……...….…………………..
2:4 ..……….……………….…...….……...….…………………..
[3] Conclusion
READ 2:20-24. The work was still in progress - but what
would happen in the future?
.....................................….……………………….….…………….
.…......................................................….………………………...
.…......................................................….………………………...
To find out what did happen - turn to the book of Ezra (which
gives us the story of this period).
READ Ezra 5:1-2 and 6:14-15 (and the section between if you
have time!) The date in v15 is 12th March, 516 BC.
Give thanks for God’s provision!
Do we need to examine our priorities?
6
Our Turkish Friends
We’ve been asked to write an update about our Turkish friends,
Ayhan & Neşe Kaya. Some of you will remember that they have
spoken in church twice about how they converted from Islam to
Christianity.
Although Turkey is a secular Islamic state with its constitution
permitting religious freedom, things have now become much
more unpredictable, especially for Christians, who are very much
in the minority. Someone who once worshipped with them
recently denounced them.
Their teenage daughter Kayra has been bullied at school for
speaking up and saying she is a Christian, more than once by the
teacher of religion. After much prayer and heart searching they
have taken the decision to send Kayra to school in England. To
begin with they considered moving to England themselves but felt
God wanted them to stay in Turkey and continue to witness on
the university campus in Izmir (which was Smyrna in the Bible).
This is a costly thing for them to do as Kayra is their only child.
They have also had to raise the large amount of money to pay for
Kayra’s schooling for the next three years, some of it from
supporters in England, where Neşe trained in travel and tourism
and where she became a Christian
Please pray for the whole family as Kayra comes to England this
September to be educated at a boarding school and they adjust
to living apart, and also for all Christians in Turkey during these
difficult days.
Malcolm & Kath Harrison
7
Changes, Changes
Well, another Methodist Conference has been held and decisions have
been made. We will be welcoming Rev. Michaela Youngson as
President and Bala Gnanapragasam as Vice President. Please pray for
new Ministers facing their new appointment and for congregations
receiving their new minister. By the time this is read, students will be
ready to start university, most children will be back at school; new
schools, new teachers. For teachers; new pupils, new classmates all
need our thoughts and prayers. Whether examinations have been
successful or otherwise, many need our attention.
Plans will be in place for our harvest thanksgiving services after many
worshippers will be returning from their holidays. Despite the unusual
weather, we still expect our supplies of food to be plentiful. As we
thank our maker, we must also bear in mind many who are suffering
from famine.
The weather will certainly have changed after what we have
experienced in July. Who knows what other changes we might meet
unexpectedly.
8
A favourite hymn of mine of Charles Wesley (StF 459) may sum up my
thoughts:
Captain of Israel’s host, and Guide
Of all who seek the land above,
Beneath your shadow we abide,
The cloud of your protecting love;
Our strength, your grace; our rule, your word;
Our end, the glory of the Lord.
By your unerring Spirit led,
We shall not in the desert stray;
We shall not full direction need,
Nor miss our providential way;
As far from danger as from fear,
While love, almighty love, is near.
God’s Blessing, Laurie
REMEMBRANCE: 100 DAYS OF PRAYER
Churches around the country started 100 days of prayer for peace
and reconciliation on 4th August as a part of Remembrance 100,
which was launched to mark the centenary of the end of World War
1. On Sunday 4th August 1918, King George V and Queen Mary
joined members of Parliament for a special Church service in
Westminster. The King had asked that 4th August, 1918, the fourth
anniversary of the declaration of war, should be observed as a
National Day of Prayer. The war ended 100 days later.
9
We are wayfarers
We are wayfarers, following roads
to the ends of the earth,
pilgrims on our way to the end of the age.
‘Behold, I am with you to the end of the age’.
We are travellers on the road to freedom,
a community of grace
with good news for all we meet.
‘Behold, I am with you to the end of the age’.
We’ll travel lightly, travel together,
learn as we go; we are disciples,
our mission is love,
the journey is long.
‘Behold, I am with you to the end of the age’.
10