Many different words are used to describe our relationship to God. He is our king, lord, judge, friend, shepherd, redeemer, teacher, guide, and you could find other words used to refer to God. Other words are used to describe God's people, we are his slaves, servants, sheep, posession, elect, witnesses, followers, believers.
But the most profound way that we speak of our relationship to God is when we use the terms father and child. Jesus had that intimate relationship with God, he referred to him as father. In his teaching Jesus taught that God wants us to have that same close relationship with him, Jesus taught us that we could address God as 'our Father', and through his death and resurrection he made that close relationship a reality.
That is why Paul can talk about the Holy Spirit whom Christians receive as the Spirit of sonship, or adoption, receiving the Holy Spirit confirms our adoption as God's sons and daughters. For all of us, our experience of a human father's care will be tinged with a degree of disappointment, for some, father was absent, either by default or even death. Some have bad fathers, and even the best of fathers are only human and therefore all fail in some way.
But in God we have a perfect father. We can trust his wisdom. We can rely on his love and faithfulness. Paul had found, and he tells us, that this experience of God as our father is not just a theory to be learned, but a reality to be experienced. Where Paul writes of the Holy Spirit enabling the believer to cry 'Abba, Father' , he is describing an intimate relationship with all the emotional reality of a loving relationship between a father and child.
This is the sort of relationship that God wants us to have with him. It is a secure relationship, God loves us, rejoices in our successes and will forgive our failures. It is a relationship where growth and development can take place, a child looks to it's parent as a role model, and imitates, them. Our father God has given us a role model in Jesus, and the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives is to make us more like him, so we share the family likeness.
Being God's children also has it's obligations, Paul talks also of sharing in Christ's sufferings. It would be an ungrateful heartless child that accepted no obligations toward its family, and if we are God's children then we will want to be aligned with his purposes in the world. That means following in the steps of Jesus and being willing to accept life's sufferings in the struggle between good and evil. We can do this if we are in that close relationship with God, knowing that ultimately God's purposes will prevail; and that we will one day share in the joy of seeing good triumph over evil.
Yours in Christ, Peter.JUNE 1998 - PROGRAMME
All services and meetings will be held on 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 7th 10.30 am Freedom from Sin
6.30 pm Freedom from Law
Lord's Supper
Mon 8th 5.45 pm Girls' Brigade
Tues 9th 2.00 pm Tuesday Fellowship
speaker - Mrs Paris
Wed 10th 10.00 am Minis and Minders Toddler Group
7.30 pm Deacon's Meeting
Thur 11th 10.00 am Minis and Minders Toddler Group
8.00 pm Prayer and Fellowship Group
Sat 13th 10.00 am Church Cleaning
Sun 14th 10.30 am Church Anniversary - speaker - Rev Ivor Waddelow
12.30 pm Bring and Share Lunch
6.30 pm Rev Ivor Waddelow
Mon 15th 5.45 pm Girls' Brigade
Tues 16th 2.30 pm Ladies Anniversary and Tea
speaker - Mrs Joy Stephens
Wed 17th 10.00 am Minis and Minders Toddler Group
Thur 18th 10.00 am Minis and Minders Toddler Group
8.00 pm Prayer and Fellowship Group
Sat 20th 10.00 am Prayer Meeting at Margaret's
Sun 21st 10.30 am Spirit and Life - Romans 8v1-17
Lord's Supper
6.30 pm Cham Kaur Mann
Mon 22nd 5.45 pm Girls' Brigade
Tues 23rd 2.00 pm Tuesday Fellowship
speaker - Miss Kilkenny
Wed 24th 10.00 am Minis and Minders Toddler Group
7.30 pm Church Meeting
Thur 25th 10.00 am Minis and Minders Toddler Group
8.00 pm Prayer and Fellowship Group
Sat 27th 10.00 am Prayer Meeting at Margaret's
Sun 28th 10.30 am God is Sovereign - Romans 9
6.30 pm Man is Responsible - Romans 10
Mon 29th 5.45 pm Girls' Brigade
Tues 30th 2.30 pm Tuesday Fellowship - The Manse
JULY
Wed 1st 10.00 am Minis and Minders Toddler Group
Thur 2nd 10.00 am Minis and Minders Toddler Group
8.00 pm Prayer and Fellowship Group
Sat 4th 10.00 am Prayer Meeting at Margaret's
Sun 5th 10.30 am God's Masterplans - Romans 11
6.30 pm Given to God - Romans 12
Lord's Supper
DEDICATION SERVICE - SATURDAY 4TH JULY 12 NOON
There will be a dedication service for Tinotenda Lynette Danielle Smillie. (Lynette's grandaughter on July 4th. Tony and Effie invite all members and friends to join in the service and also to the reception afterwards at York Road Community Centre.
CHURCH OUTING - SATURDAY JULY 11TH - lOAM
Don't forget the outing to the Watercress preserved railway on July 11th. On the way back, we will be stopping for tea at Frimley Baptist Church. Information sheets for this trip are available and there are still seats left.
CHURCH BREAK TO ASHBURNHAM PLACE FRI SEPT 11TH- 13TH
A weekend away to Ashburnham Place has been planned for September 11th - 13th. The cost of this weekend will be £64 plus travel costs. If you would like more details please contact Peter. We need to know definite numbers by Sunday 21st June at the latest.
GIVING TO THE CHURCH
Offerings and donations to the church during May amounted to £983.05. Our target for the month was £1000. In addition £45.88 was put into the collecting box for the UNICEF Sudan famine relief appeal which we are sending off. Thanks to all who gave.