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Hope 2008
December 1, 2007
Dear Friends,
“Hope 2008” is a lovely phrase that conjures up all sorts
of pictures in the mind, at a personal and collective
level. For some 2007 may have been a difficult year and
they look forward to 2008 with Hope of things being
different. We are constantly amazed at how the most
deprived in the world so often hold onto Hope when we feel
we could so easily give up.
In fact Hope 2008 is the name of a national Christian
initiative to raise the profile of the Christian Faith. The
key phrases are “Hope for our villages, towns and cities”,
“Do it more, do it together and do it in word and deed“,
which sums up some of the aims. This initiative is an
invitation to local Churches to come under this overall
umbrella and work out ways of sharing the love of God in
words and actions, especially in joint event.
In the Sevenoaks area the organising lead has been taken by
Bessel’s Green Baptist Church who have invited ideas for a
programme to be advertised jointly.
It has rightly been pointed out that most of our Churches
are already involved collectively or individually in all
sorts of community activities and evangelism and therefore
such an invitation is not new. However, there is room to
consider if particular events would fit under the Hope
Banner and be advertised together. Our young people are
already aware of some events being planned and particularly
a high profile “carnival” type event on the Vine on
Saturday August 2nd.
The “Hope” that underlies any such events is the Hope that
Jesus brings. The Bible Scholar, Alan Richardson writes:
The use of this word “Hope” in its full Biblical -
Christian sense is hardly found before we reach the
Epistles, and this is not surprising, since Christian Hope
is grounded on the Resurrection of Christ” (1Peter1:3).
Because of that truth we can experience and share Hope in
our present situations. We will be hearing more about Hope
2008 as we move into the New Year, so please pray for those
who are already organising activities in Sevenoaks and
especially how we in Otford might bring “Hope” to those who
live here. Therefore do find out what you can about Hope
2008 especially as we approach Christmas and celebrate the
birth of Jesus who brings Hope to the whole world.
God Bless you
With warmest Christian Greetings
Kath
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