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Change
June 1, 2007
Dear Friends,
Perhaps like me you were very moved to watch the event
early in May marking the new power-sharing agreement in
Northern Ireland. One article describes it like this:
“Arch political opponents Revd Ian Paisley and Martin
McGuiness took the historic step on Tuesday of beginning to
lead the new power-sharing executive in Northern Ireland.
As the new First Minister and Deputy First Minister joined
all members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) in pledging
to 'prevent discrimination' and 'support non-violence and
exclusively peaceful means', praise came from Ireland's
church leaders. Revd Ian Paisley, the Democratic Unionist
Party leader, quoted Scripture, saying there was ‘a time to
love and a time to hate, a time of war and a time of
peace’. ‘From the depth of my heart’, he said, he believed
that the time of peace had come.”
As I listened to these men and watched their reactions to
one another I was thrilled to feel that this wonderful
opportunity was taking place. Nothing can take away the
sadness of many years but our prayer is that Northern
Ireland will never go back to those dark days.
There are many situations in life where we can be tempted
to believe that things will always be the same and that
change is impossible but here is a wonderful example of
such change in action. Our Christian faith is based
strongly on the an understanding of change – the change
that God works in the individual human heart, the change
that Jesus brings in our relationships through the
possibility of forgiveness, change in society as people
respond to the leading of His Holy Spirit. Such change is
linked to our understanding of God’s love for us bringing
good out of evil and light out of darkness. While
recognising there is still a long way to go, I am thrilled
to see such change in Northern Ireland.
Charles Wesley captured the continued change needed in the
human heart beautifully in His famous hymn, Love Divine all
loves excelling… he wrote;
“Changed from glory into glory, till in heaven we take our
place;
Till we cast our crowns before Thee, Lost in wonder, love
and praise.”
Our prayer is that we will be open to the transforming
power of God at every moment of our lives.
This month will be a very busy one in the life of our
Church with the Fortnight of Events to Celebrate our new
Halls between the 9th and 24th of June. Please do pray for
these events and come to some of them bringing friends,
family and neighbours. There are lots of specific things
for us all to share in… delivering leaflets to invite all
the village, bringing food for the Celebration tea (finger
food buffet) on the 10th of June and salads and desserts on
24th for the BBQ, selling “balloon” tickets for the balloon
race on the 24th, hosting the coffee mornings or evenings…
and most of all just being around with your cheerful
presence to welcome and talk to visitors. Derek Baxter may
be looking for other help for a number of specific events.
Above all let us enjoy this special time with real
thankfulness to God for all His goodness.
With warmest Christian Greetings
Kath Pawlett
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