THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK - From Vicar Geoff
Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert. (Isaiah 43:19 KJV)
The astute will realise that this is the verse for the ABC Churches for the year 2025, the word being NEW. It is important that we revisit this every once in a while, so that we can continue to reflect upon it. We need to continue to ask the question, what is God saying to me and the ABC Churches?
Everything around us changes and change brings in the new. In Copmanthorpe a big change has been seeing new houses being built, some of which I believe may be occupied by Christmas. We’ll need to post our Christmas Cards through the new doors – when it is available! Such a change brings different questions for different people – how is the village going to cope, where is the infrastructure, what new things will these new people bring to village. We may find it threatening to our way of life, but actually we should see such a change as a Gospel opportunity. The questions we need to be asking ourselves is how can we welcome these new residents? How can we serve these new people, as Christians in the ABC Churches.
I reference Copmanthorpe, because 300 new dwellings are in the process of being built at a seemingly rapid pace – but the same applies to all our villages. The Ship Inn in Acaster Malbis will have potentially new licensees, sadly because the Phill the Landlord is not well. That will be a change. People move in and out of all our villages all the time and that in itself provides new opportunities, new families and friends. How many of us invite people to come to church, especially new residents?
I remember someone (my memory isn’t what it used to be), saying that when we invite people, we should couch the invite in terms of ‘I’m going, it’s going to be great, why don’t you come too?’ In a recent survey approximately 40% of people said that they would come to church if they were invited. What might seem like a regular thing to us, could be a new thing for them!
Why not invite someone to join you in going to church this Christmas. That person could be waiting for such an invitation.
Pray for …
- Our LLMs developing their skills and using every opportunity to encourage growth
- Our newly appointed Children, Youth and Family Worker
- The process of bringing the ABC and AAA Churches together in Mission and Ministry Unit
- The many opportunities we have to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with those in our communities
- The generosity of many in our communities in supporting our churches
- Those who serve on our PCCs
- In Copmanthorpe - Tadcaster Road, Tadcaster Mews, Weavers Park, Weavers Close, Smithson Court
- In Bolton Percy & Colton - Colton Braegate Lane
- In Askham Bryan - West Wood Lane
- In Acaster Malbis - Lilac Avenue & The Vines - Mount Pleasant, Yew Tree Close
- In Appleton Roebuck - Orchard Close