The United Reformed Church Chesham

Dear Friends

Education always seems to be in the news and there are lots of people commenting on the ‘right’ changes to be made. Inspections in education seem to be there to pick up the faults rather than to help and encourage, so everyone sighs with relief when they are over and the results are passable! We have 5 year Pastoral Visits to our URC churches, but these are not quite the same as inspections and should be helpful. So the churches don’t escape being checked out!

Yet it can be very helpful for someone from outside a situation to come and comment on the way ahead. The visit of the General Assembly Moderator to our District in January brought us a positive message for the way ahead. Focus on God and mission and the things of the church will be alive and well. Be warned that if you focus first on the church then mission will not follow and the church will fall. Put God and mission first – an important vision for a church. Too often we look inward to feel safer and do not take up the necessary challenges.

We can look out to the wider church and learn. It is not so hard to be involved in the wider Church. Next month is the start of Lent, which is the time of the Churches Together for Chesham House Groups. Why not sign up for a group and share with other Christians in the town? The course is based on events of the first Easter and the title is ‘They were there when we crucified our Lord.’

Another opportunity is to join in the World View Sunday on 5th February at our church. We will be looking at the Reformed Church in different parts of the world.

Jesus told us that You are the light of the world… no one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all the house…let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:15-16)

God at the centre – God can set us ablaze and the purpose of our light shining is to give glory to God. With love Bridget

A good start to any challenge is to pray: Lord, forgive us when our vision is restricted and we miss opportunities to speak out or to act for you. Give us the courage to accept new challenges. Be the light in our lives and may we take that light into the world so that more people will learn about Jesus and share in your glory. Amen