From our Spring 2012 Church magazine
Dear Friends,
As I write this, we’re settling in really well to the “temporary” manse at 16 McAdam Way. As you well know, moving house is exhausting, however, our new home is in excellent condition and we’re delighted that the move is now behind us. Needless to say, we will not be moving again for a considerable length of time!
A new home comes hard on the heels of a new church! It’s only March, but a great deal has already happened this year. By the grace of God, the new church in the Carrick Centre has witnessed a growing congregation. A significant number of adults and children have swelled the numbers Sunday by Sunday and it’s been a blessing. I must admit that the level of growth in numbers has somewhat taken me by surprise … “O me of little faith!”
In a time when church attendances in the UK are generally declining rapidly, we are witnessing growth. Additionally, the Carrick Centre is a hive of activity every day of the week, benefitting the whole community and filled with volunteers from our congregation who are helping to make it function so successfully.
Yes, the Centre is still very much a “work in progress”, but it’s a building that energises me – it’s a building that causes me to be optimistic and I’m certainly not alone in thinking that!
At the risk of constantly repeating myself …“faith” is spelt R.I.S.K.!
Yes, by the grace of God we are growing numerically as a congregation. That’s good, but it’s worthless if we’re not growing in grace too, as individuals. Perhaps we need to reflect on these words of John Newton, who wrote the words of “Amazing grace”?
“I am not what I ought to be. I am not what I hope to be. But still, I am not what I used to be. And by the grace of God, I am what I am.”
By making that comment, John Newton was implying that he was still a “work in progress”. However, he wasn’t the person that he’d previously been once upon a time; he’d been changed by the grace of God. To what extent is our faith affecting our daily lives? Does our faith influence our lives only on a Sunday morning or all through the week?
I don’t know who wrote the following comment, but it’s certainly worth quoting – “we need to recognise with humility that we all stand condemned, were it not for the amazing merciful love of God, which has dropped the charges and set us free.”
Please pray that as a congregation we’ll continue to grow in numbers and grow in grace as individuals. I look forward to all the differing emotions of Holy Week, culminating in our Easter celebration, the greatest day in the Christian calendar.
Wishing you every blessing for the Easter season.
Sincerely
Brian