Minister's Letter: December 2013 & January 2014

Dear friends,

We have had an eventful few months since I wrote last. We have lost three of our church members – and we mourn their passing, and of those others in the past year that we miss so much, and wish we could still have with us. And yet in the midst of deep despair and grief and pain we see the church at her very best. We see prayers being offered for those in need, we see practical help being given – including meals – to ease the load, we see love in action.

Love in action is what we find through the story of the birth of Jesus Christ. God sent his one and only Son to be amongst us and to live life as we do. He sent His Son to show us what true love is, what real comfort looks like, and to give to us the example we should follow for the rest of our lives.

Love in action is what we should live for the whole of our lives – to those on the margins, to those we find it hard to get along with, to those we have had disagreements with. Love in action is about seeing the very best in someone and wanting the very best for them, despite the circumstances we may be faced with.

Love in action is what we see on the streets of most of our cities and large towns on weekend nights with Street Pastors – showing the love of God in practical ways like giving out bottles of water and flip flops, calling a taxi to ensure those worse for wear for drink can get home safely. Please pray for the Street Pastors around the UK and the work they do to show love in action every week.

Rt. Rev'd. George Carey said recently in the media that the Church of England may die out within a generation. This, he says, is due to the lack of attention given by Ministers in the Church to the younger generations who are not filling our churches as the older generations have done. I would extend what he says to include people in churches who have no desire for change because it doesn’t fit with what they are used to. Love in action would be to accept that change is necessary if we are to see a vibrant Circuit and Church in this next generation. Love in action would be to encourage us all to share what God has gifted us with for the benefit of the growth of His Kingdom.

So – will you think and pray about this with me? What does love in action mean in your life? What does love in action mean in our life as the Methodist Church in Frodsham?

I hope that we might come to the same conclusion – love in action means putting ourselves last and others and God first – that we might be a blessing to many and God might be glorified.

May we be able to show love in action to our friends and family, within the church and in the community this Christmas and New Year. May God’s blessing be upon us as we seek to embody the nature and character of the Christ Child this season of Christmas. May we be humble enough to put others first and to place the example of Jesus Christ in front of us each and every day in our life of faith.

I pray that God’s peace and blessing will rest upon each of you this Christmas – and upon your homes and families throughout the coming year. May we start a New Year with love in action for all those God places across our paths.

Christmas greetings and Happy New Year!

With love from Rev'd. Denise