Weekly Newsletter - Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete): 14th December 2025
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK - From Vicar Geoff
The Spirit of God is at Work
Reflecting this week, it struck me that one of the challenges to all our church communities is that of NEW things. Anything new or different can make us anxious. We may say, I like it the way it is (has always been) yet it should not have escaped your notice that God is constantly doing new things. Throughout scripture He does new things. One of the ways that the story of God’s people advances throughout the Scriptures is through new activities. Consider the parting of the Red Sea – no-one had seen anything like that before. Or Jeroboam’s hand withered and restored (1 Kings 13:4-6), to pick a couple.
One of the most amazing new things that God did was sending Holy Spirit upon the crowd gathered in Jerusalem on what was to become the first Pentecost. Holy Spirit is a Spirit of movement. He will never allow us to become static or to fossilise into patterns and meetings which may well have been a blessing in the past. This is why there is a need for regular reviews of patterns of services, meetings and church activities. Are they the best use of time or resources? Is there something else that would be more effective in being a church with a mission to reach out to our communities? Such questions need to be asked in an attitude of prayer and seeking after God, because ultimately, He is head of the church.
The viability and productivity of any church community is dependent upon a willingness to think differently, begin new things and laying down those things that are no longer beneficial. There is no use in holding on to things of the past which hold the church back. To quote David Watson, ‘Heaven forbid that we should go on playing religious games in one corner when the cloud and fire of God’s presence have moved to another.’
Change leading to new things can be daunting, but if it leads to new exciting adventures with God it is the most worthwhile thing we can do. That is one of the reasons I am so excited about our newly appointed Children, Youth and Family Worker taking up her role in January. God is on the move and His Spirit is beginning to blow in a powerful way. Let’s be open to the new things that God has in store for us in 2026.
Pray for …
Our LLMs as they get involved in new aspects of ministry.
Those in our community to respond to invitations to church services this Christmas and our Alpha Course beginning in January
Those who struggle with Christmas
Give thanks for …
Our schools holding Christmas themed shows
Many opportunities to share the Good New of Jesus Christ over Christmas
Small steps taken to form our new Mission and Ministry Unit
We pray for all who live and work in the following streets in our communities:
In Copmanthorpe - Top Lane, Larkfield Close, Hallcroft Lane
In Bolton Percy & Colton - Colton Main Street
In Askham Bryan - York Road
In Acaster Malbis - The Crescent & The Willows - Mount Pleasant, Railway Cottages
In Appleton Roebuck - Orchard Close
In the name of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Amen.