He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them saying, "This is my body given for you." Luke 22 v 19.
Take it: This is my body." Mark 14 v 22
Easter is the most important time in the Christian year, the events of Easter wore the central climax of the life and ministry of Jesus. On the night before his crucifixion Jesus shared the Jewish passover meal with his disciples, and he turned that meal into something new and different. He told his followers that from then on, this meal was to be a continual reminder, that his death was a sacrifice for them.
Christ's death on the cross is at the heart of the Christian gospel. Firstly it is an example of hew Christ challenges us to live. He said that if anyone wants to be his follower, the only my to do it is to be willing to deny themselves. That is a real challenge to my of us, as human being are basically selfish, with a natural tendency to make their aim self fulfilment rather than self denial.
We my be prepared to give up very much for our commitment to Christ, but when it actually comes to sacrifice we draw back, just as Simon Peter couldn't conceive that Jesus had to die (Mark 8 v 32). But Christ calls us to follow his example of sacrifice. At times however we do see shining examples of those who are willing to sacrifice like the teacher who died using her own body to protect others in the Arkansas school massacre.
In the Baptist Times this week there is the story of a little known Baptist minister was on the heard the Titanic, he gave his life jacket to another, following in the steps of Jesus, (do borrow the paper from me and read the whole story). Such Christ like examples give hope to a lost and bewildered world. They speak of a God who loves and cares for us in that same sacrificial way.
Yet still we have to say that Christ's death on the cross is a unique event that towers over all other events in human history, because Christ's death was for each one of us, personally. His death opened up the way for us to become reconciled to God our father. The invitation is to each one of us to personally "take it" for ourselves, and thankfully accept the love he offers us.
The last thing I want to say about sacrifice, is that although it is unpopular, although it involves loss, sacrifice is not pointless or wasted. It is through sacrifice that we can give blessings to others, and we in the end will receive the greatest blessings. Many have found blessings in this life through sacrifice, measureless blessings await them in the next. When Jesus rose from the dead he triumphed ever sin and selfishness, he proved that his sacrifice was not pointless and that there is more to life than we see here and now.
Happy Easter to you all, yours in Christ, Peter.
Giving to the Church Offerings and donations to the church during March amounted to £968.82. Our target for the month was £1000. Thanks to all who gave.
April 1998 Programme
All services and meetings will be held in our new church premises unless another venue is indicated in the programme below. Rev Peter Neale will be preaching at all services unless an alternative speaker is indicated in the programme.
Sun 5th 10.30am The Triumphal Entry - Mark 11
8.30pm Cham Kaur-Mann
Lord's Supper
Tues 7th 2.00pm Tuesday Fellowship -
speaker - Mr Troup
Thur 9th 7.30pm Maundy Thursday Communion
Good Friday 10.30am Meditation on the Cross
Sat 11th 10.00am Church Cleaning
Sun 12th 10.30am Easter Day - Mark 16 v1-8
Communion
6.30pm An Ongoing Story - Mark 16 v9-20
Thurs16th 8.00pm Prayer and Fellowship group
Sat 18th 10.00am Prayer Meeting at Margaret's
Sun l9th 10.30am Cham Kaur-Mann
Lord's Supper
6.30pm Cham Kaur-Mann
Mon 20th 5.45pm Girl's Brigade
Tues 21st 2.00pm Tuesday Fellowship -
speaker - Mrs Willey
Wed 22nd 10.00am Minis and Minders Toddler group
Thur 23rd 10.00am Minis and Minders Toddler group
8.00pm Prayer and Fellowship group
Sat 25th 10.00am Prayer Meeting at Margaret's -
7.30pm Girls Brigade 50th Anniversary
Celebration and Reunion
Sun 26th 10.30am Rev. Tim Stone - Frimley Baptist
6.30pm Rev. Mike Wood & Streatham
Friends - Just a Little Respect
Mon 27th 5.45pm Girls' Brigade
Tues 28th 2.00pm Tuesday Fellowship -
speaker - Mr Brownnutt
Wed 29th 10.00am Minis and Minders Toddler Group
7.30pm Deacon's Meeting
Thur 30th 10.00am Minis and Minders Toddler group
8.00pm Prayer and Fellowship group
May
Sat 2nd 10.00am Prayer Meeting at Margaret's
Sun 3rd 10.30am A Powerful Gospel- Rom 1 vl-17
6.30pm A World Gone Wrong - Rom 1 v18-32
Lord's Supper
Girls Brigade 50th Anniversary - 25th April - 7.30pm
It is 50 years since the East Hill GB was officially affiliated to the Brigade and to mark their Golden Jubilee our Brigade is holding a reunion and celebration evening rescheduled now for 25th April. Please make the event known to any old GB girls you know.
Just A Little Respect - 26th April - 6.30pm
Lewin Road Baptist Church are coming to put on a special evening service entitled 'Just a Little Respect'. The service is specially designed to invite guests along who are not used to coming to church. It involves drama video, and Rev. Mike Wood will be speaking. Invitation leaflets to this service will be available. Do be thinking and praying about who you can invite.
Jubilee 2000 Petition
This is the campaign to persuade the wealthy nations of the world to cancel debts owed by poor countries. These debts cause hardship to millions. If you would like to support this campaign please sign the petition at the back of the church. Many people from all over Britain will be travelling to Birmingham on Saturday 16th of May to present the petition to the world leaders at the G7 Summit which will be taking place there. See the notice board for details.
Church Outing - Saturday July 11th - 10am
By popular demand, we have arranged an outing to the Watercress preserved Railway on July 11th. The coach tickets will be £6.50 for adults and £4.50 for children. On the way back, we will be stopping for tea at Frimley Baptist Church and a contribution will be payable for this.
Sitting Down and Counting the Cost
In last month's bulletin we looked at some of the key events and dates from our church rebuilding experience. This month we look at the costs involved in the project.
Although the main building cost of the new church as well as the cost of demolishing the old buildings was paid for by the builder, in exchange for the land on which the flats are built, considerable other costs have been involved.
Professional fees to solicitors, and surveyors have amounted to £20,926.
Money spent On furniture, equipment and accessories has amounted to £12,512.
In addition to this a number of items of equipment and furniture have been given to the church.
This is where some of the money has come from:
A grant from Wandsworth challenge partnership £4,308
Gifts from other charities £2,780
Anonymous donations for equipment £2,332
Sale of furniture a fittings from old church £4,010
Anniversary Gifts in 1995 & 1996 £4,038
£17,468
This is a just over half the amount that we have actually spent, about £16,000 therefore has had to be taken from savings in connection with our new building project.
Our savings have been reduced further due to two other factors, firstly the anniversary gifts normally go to general funds, and as for 1995 and 1996 this money us used to purchase furniture, a further £4,000 in savings had to be spent on running costs.
Secondly, from Autumn 1994 we lest the rent income from our car park. Further savings had to be withdrawn to cover this loss until we began to receive a grant from the Baptist Union Home Mission Fund in September 1996. Therefore in total we have had to withdraw £27,000 from our savings. This has also more than halved our investment income, it means that we really do need to meet our monthly targets.
During 1997 we received a maximum home mission grant which has got us off to a good start in our new church premises, but this will decrease by 10% a year as the purpose of the grant is to help churches in financial difficulty until they are able to be self supporting.
so as we look to the future the challenge is to grow in numbers so that our giving will rise to meet our costs, hopefully till we can become self supporting. One way that friends can help in this is by giving through covenants or gift aid. These are schemes whereby those who pay income tax can enable the church to claim back from the Inland Revenue the tax paid on their gifts to the church. Please ask for details.
Mini & Minders Toddler Group
Since our return to the new building the popularity of our group has markedly increased. As a result after Christmas we had to start a waiting list.
After Easter, for a trial period we are to open the toddler group on a Thursday, as well as our usual Wednesday. We also hope to offer carers the chance to take part in a parenting course.
We are grateful to Help a London Child for a grant to safety surface the outside area, to enable the children to play outside in safety in better weather. This should be laid in late April.
We continue to be indebted to Bernice and Margaret who help so faithfully each week, and who are willing to help with our new venture. We would value your prayers as we try this new venture.
Jane
Do You recycle your rubbish? It is good not to waste things, and Wandsworth Council have a scheme whereby they will supply coloured sacks for you to save glass paper, card and cans. These are then collected when your bins are emptied. Cards are available at the back of the church if you want to join.