FROM THE CURATE

One of the wonders of nature is that when you plant a seed in the ground what grows up (as well as weeds!) is the thing that you planted.æ It seems obvious. It is a rule of nature.æ

Our souls can be compared to soil.æ What we sow in them in:-

æææææææææææ - the things we do,

æææææææææææ - what we read and watch,

æææææææææææ - the way we spend our time,

æææææææææææ - what we think and say, are all like seeds being planted in the ground.æ What we plant is what grows.æ And that can, of course, be for good or for bad.æ Some of the things we allow into our lives and allow to become a part of us are good things and some are not so good.æ All of those things, however, if we feed them, have a habit of growing up and before you know it there is a whole lot of it š good or bad.æ There is a saying that ëwe are what we eat‰.æ Well there is a sense in which ëwe are what we do‰.æ What and how we are now is a result of what we have been and done in the past.

I would like to suggest that at this time of harvest you spend a moment considering before God what sort of seeds you are sowing in your own lives and what sort of harvest you expect from it.æ

The good news of the Christian Gospel is that in God‰s mercy it is never too late. We come to God and say sorry for the bad we have allowed to take root within us.æ When we tend our own gardens, we remove the weeds to allow the good plants to prosper.ææ So God - and only God - through the death of his son Jesus Christ on the Cross, can begin the process of weeding out the bad in our own lives.æ He also encourages the good things that are already growing there.ææ We need to establish them as habits.æ When we come and ask God to help us with these sorts of things he does hear our prayer and answer - sometimes in unexpected ways - but he does answer.ææ

Do take the opportunity this Harvest to take stock of what sort of seeds you are nurturing in the garden of your soul.

Greetings and peace to you all.

Mike Bisset (Curate)

FROM ST. GILES‰ REGISTERS

Baptisms

Aug 25th Lily Clare Duhamel
æææææææææææææææ Harriet Emily Flower

Weddings

Aug 17th        Graham Ian Allan and Joanne Denise Sutton
        23rd        Justin Lee Moore and Kellie Anne Lloyd
Sept 7th       ææ Peter William James Everitt and Claire Patricia Beard
       æææææææææææææææ Michael John O'Farrel and Victoria Lee Willans

Cremations at Breakspear Crematorium

Augæ 20^thæææææææ Ronald Shirville, aged 84

ææææææææ 22^ndæææææææ May Cole, aged 90

ææææææææ 28^thæææææææ Lily Hallewell, aged 83

ææææ ææææ29^th Margery Georgina Hughes,æ aged 88

ææææææææ 30^thæææææææ Victor Mayhew Lemmy,æ aged 84

Septæ 12^thæææææææ Florence O Donaghue,æ aged 85

æBurials of Ashes

Augæ 24^thææææææ Reginald Wilfred Rashley

FROM THE U.R.C. MINISTER

Once a month our joint Sunday evening service with St Giles' takes the form of "6.30 Special". It is held in St Giles' Hall (and last time we met some of us were favoured by a sneak preview of the impressive extensions). The format is simple and informal, with hymns and newer worship songs sung to guitar, keyboard, etc. A short talk is given by one of the ministers, or often by a member of either church, and usually we break into small groups to discuss questions arising from the topic, followed by comeback to the speaker, prayers and closing worship. If this appeals to you, or you are simply curious, come along on the second Sunday of each month at 6.30 p.m. and we will try to make you welcome. This is Christian worship at its most accessible, and you can question what is said!

Last month I was asked to speak on the problem of evil and suffering, one of the commonest issues that come up in connection with the Christian faith. The Bible has a lot to say on the subject, and as you might expect for a difficult question, the answers are difficult too. I'm not sure that I satisfied many of the people present - but there was a lively discussion, and prayer for an Ickenham family who had that day suffered a very sad bereavement.

My understanding of the Bible's teaching on the issue can be summed up in the words of the Canadian Christian teacher, Don Carson: "The fact remains that no Christian who passes through deep waters draws much comfort from God until they realize that God really is in control, God really does love his own people, God really is wise and good, God really can use pain in this fallen world in remarkable ways." The best example is how he used the suffering and death of his own Son, Jesus.

If you would like to explore issues like this in an open and honest way, why not come along to "6.30 Special"? Phone me for more information if you wish (01895 234862).

With best wishes,

Richard

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