THE NEWSLETTER OF THE FREE CHURCH (UNITED REFORMED) SAINT IVES www.stivesfreechurch.org s p i r e s p i r e s p i r e s p i r e April 2014 Inside APRIL spire spire Editorial Team Month Editor Mary Anthony 469530 Val Bush 469189 Christine Curtis 350787 Keith Cakebread 462726 Copy preferably by email please to [email protected]The Stone is Rolled Away Christ is Risen Very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, carrying the spices they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the entrance to the tomb, so they went in; but they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. They stood there puzzled about this, when suddenly two men in bright shining clothes stood by them. Full of fear, the women bowed down to the ground, as the men said to them, “Why are you looking among the dead for one who is alive? He is not here; he has been raised. Remember what he said to you while he was in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, be crucified, and three days later rise to life.’” Luke 24:1-12 Page 1 The Stone is Rolled Away Page 2 View from the Manse Christian Meditation Page 3 From the Church Secretary Church Concert Page 4 Letter from Cumbria Page 5 Favourite Hymns Page 6 Choral Society Concerrt Page 7 Church Activities Community Activities Page 8 Contacts Worship Deadline for May Inspire is Sunday 19th April
Transcript
THE NEWSLETTER OF THE FREE CHURCH (UNITED REFORMED) SAINT IVES
Very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, carrying the spices they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the entrance to the tomb, so they went in; but they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. They stood there puzzled about this, when suddenly two men in bright shining clothes stood by them. Full of fear, the women bowed down to the ground, as the men said to them, “Why are you looking among the dead for one who is alive? He is not here; he has been raised. Remember what he said to you while he was in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, be crucified, and three days later rise to life.’”
Luke 24:1-12
Page 1 The Stone is Rolled Away
Page 2 View from the Manse Christian Meditation
Page 3 From the Church Secretary Church Concert
Page 4 Letter from Cumbria
Page 5 Favourite Hymns
Page 6 Choral Society Concerrt
Page 7 Church Activities Community Activities
Page 8 Contacts Worship
Deadline for May Inspire is Sunday
19th April
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View from the Manse
April showers bring May flowers! Well, I hope so! You might think it strange for me to want rain, after so many dull days of our lengthy yet relatively mild winter, but our farms and gardens are desperate for it. We do need rain to nourish, refresh and clean our air and land. Rain is a blessing from God – yes we can have too much of it at times, but we do need a certain amount. Jesus says in Matthew 5.43-45, “You have heard that it was said, ‘you shall love your neighbour and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven, for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous.” Rain is a blessing for all people as a sign of God’s generous and expansive grace, not only for some, but for the whole world. Because God is loving toward all, we as his followers are to be loving toward all -- even our enemies!
These are challenging and difficult words, yet the gospel message of Good Friday and Easter that ‘God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.’ John 3.16 Jesus’ risen to new life after death confirms that message, ‘as in Adam all die, so in Christ, shall all be made alive.’ 1 Corinthians 15.22 What exciting and wonderful news, that through Christ, God has reversed the power and effects of sin of disaster, disease and death so that we might be renewed, restored and revived! How can anyone not respond to this kind of love that gives its all so that we might live? As we commemorate Good Friday, let us remember what Christ did for us and as we celebrate Easter let us overflow with joy and love that we too are ready to spread the good news of God’s love to others. Let us be people characterised by grace, ready to show God’s mercy and love to others.
With Joy and peace at Easter, Catherine
CHRISTIAN MEDITATIONCHRISTIAN MEDITATIONCHRISTIAN MEDITATIONCHRISTIAN MEDITATION
A recent article in a scientific magazine quotes research on the effect of Meditation on a group of 200 individuals. 100 of them practised meditation regularly, the others did not. On examination of their brain matter with MRI scans it was found that there was significantly more retention of grey matter in ageing people who meditate. Obviously there needs to be more research done but it is interesting.
Every second Tuesday in the month there is a session of Meditation at our sister Church, the URC Church in Fenstanton for any Christian people, starting at 2:30 pm for about 40-50 minutes, followed by refreshments. All are welcome to these sessions. Many people have found them beneficial, both for physical well-being and spiritual reflection. We use both Biblical quotes and writings by significant Christians to meditate upon.
The next session will be on Tuesday 14th April.
John Williams John Williams John Williams John Williams
tel 463117
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From The Church Secretary
Happy Easter to all our readers, I hope you enjoy the first holiday of the year, the services during Holy week or perhaps visiting family and friends. Easter is a time of looking forward, winter is behind us and we are filled with hope and expectation.
It can be difficult to predict just when things will happen. The first leaves or bulbs bursting forth, finding a king – Richard 3rd under a car park in Leicester, now interned in the cathedral hundreds of years later, or the birth of our second granddaughter sooner than expected. The unpredictability of life makes it all the more exciting!
The main topic for discussion at the March Synod was whether the URC should allow same gender marriage ceremonies to take place in our churches. This was also discussed in our March Church Meeting and views expressed are being sent to John Proctor, the URC General Secretary for consideration.
However, the Bank Holiday Snack bar will happen on Easter Monday and Ruth’s Living Questions discussion groups will continue on the 19th and 26th April at Fenstanton URC at 7.30pm. They have got off to a good start so do come along and join in some lively discussion.
The church weekend away programme is complete and will be led by Peter Ball and Sheila Maxey. We will have time to share, reflect, relax and be renewed.
Plenty to look forward to! Barbara
A Concert Date For Your Diary
On Wednesday, 20th May, there will be another concert with instrumental music, song and poetry performed and read by members of the Free Church and friends.
This will include Brian Lodde, Felicity Wrenwood, David Gardener and members of the Poetry Group as before, with perhaps some others.
All are welcome to this event which will raise money for Christian Aid.
Tickets will be on sale from Just Sharing from about 6th May, and on the day at the event.
More information about tickets, etc. will be available on “worship sheets” and in next month's Inspire.
John Williams & Brian LoddeJohn Williams & Brian LoddeJohn Williams & Brian LoddeJohn Williams & Brian Lodde
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A few weeks ago we visited our good friends Ken and Diane in Cumbria. March is not
the ideal time to see the Lake District, but we were lucky with the weather. Although cold
and damp, it was mostly sunny and it only rained once—and that was at night. They
made us very welcome and we enjoyed our visit immensely.
Ken and Diane moved to a village in the Northern
Fells, just below Hadrian’s Wall, fifteen months
ago. It is rural, remote and rugged—and they love
it! From their front window, the view is of a large
green and a duck pond—before the land rises to the
next ‘fell’. From the rear, they look onto a hillside
usually occupied by grazing sheep. Sometimes the sheep wander round to the front, so it
is important to keep the front gate firmly shut!
The couple have certainly fallen on their feet. In the short time they have been there, they
have made so many friends; and they have quickly become very much part of their village
and the Northern Fells community. Four mornings a week Diane helps young children
with learning difficulties in the village school. Two of their grandchildren live in a nearby
village and also attend the school—so she sees them almost every day. Ken is involved
with several local groups, including ‘Men in Sheds—mostly retired men who meet
socially to carry out charitable woodworking projects. The ’shed’ is just 2 minutes walk
from their front door.
They are both very happy in their new environment
although, of course, they do miss their friends in
Elsworth and at The Free Church. They love having
visitors, so—when the weather gets a bit warmer, if
you want a short break in Cumbria—why not look
them up?
Keith & MargaretKeith & MargaretKeith & MargaretKeith & Margaret
Letter from Cumbria
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Favourite Hymns— Our joint 7th –10th
When I survey the wondrous cross
Four hymns tied for 7th position, thus making up the last 4 of our Top Ten. This month we look at Isaac Watts’ famous hymn “When I survey the wondrous cross”. First published in 1707 it has been “tinkered with” on several occasions over the years, initially by Watts himself. For the 1709 edition Watts changed his second line from “Where the young Prince of Glory dy’d” to the now familiar “On which the Prince of Glory died”. Initially Watts also indicated that v4 could be omitted but that would have robbed us of some unforgettable imagery. In v5 some hymn books altered the second line to “offering” rather than “present”: Rejoice and Sing reverts to Watts original wording, “that were a present far too small”.
For me this is one of our most powerful hymns and an integral part of Good Friday worship, though it could be sung at any time. The tune “Rockingham” is again so closely associated to the hymn that it is almost impossible to sing it to other words.
![How to Meditate Daily [Infographic]](https://static.documents.pub/doc/80x56/58862beb1a28ab8f2c8b6d13/how-to-meditate-daily-infographic.jpg)
