| Mar 2008 | They Met at Calvary |
| Apr 2008 | Keeping the Easter Rumour Alive |
| May 2008 | The Way to Pentecost |
| Jun 2008 | Where our Unity lies |
| Jul 2008 | The Californian Redwood |
| Sep 2008 | "Dwight L. Moody, 1837-99" |
| Oct 2008 | Nine Marks of a Good Church |
| Nov 2008 | Mammon |
| Dec 2008 | Advent and the Evangelists |
| Mar 2009 | A Pattern for Lent |
| Apr 2009 | We have seen His Glory |
| May 2009 | Witnesses To The Resurrection |
| Jun 2009 | The Holy Trinity |
Is evangelism built into our regular monthly and yearly programme? Do we need a series of refreshers on how to share our faith? What does the outside of our church say about Christ to passers by?
How committed are we to an Alpha Course or an Emmaus Project or some permanent an accessible way of discovering what it means for others to become Christians? Is this a priority in our church life?
Local churches need to pool their gifts, insights and resources. Let us not try to do separately what we can do better together! God will honour this approach and our neighbourhood will benefit.
We need to have an open doors policy with a listening ear. We need to be known as a place of welcome and warmth and loving friendship for those who pass our doors day by day.
Christians are not the only people interested in the whole person. We need to develop partnerships with those who work with young people and those with skills to help the vulnerable.
With other congregations we need a permanent action for justice programme. What are we doing as a congregation to change the world? Jesus had a plan of action to transform the lives of those around him. What are we doing to rock the boat? Do we know about effective protest where our voice needs to be heard?
Poverty exists and is on the increase within the community not a street away from any of our churches. Do we know about the pressure points of anxiety and deprivation on our own doorstep? What is our congregation doing to make any difference for the poor of God’s world? Christ lives in and with the poor and in their eyes we look into his eyes.
When did I last take the trouble to read a helpful book or article on the faith and practice of good Jews, faithful Muslims, loving Sikhs, devout Buddhists or reflective Hindus? Do I know about the Christ whose light and love is present in the heart of all good and faithful religious men and women?
One of the great new facts of our time is the greening of the church as well as the greening of our local councils and our government. Saving our planet for our descendents is a God given programme and a Christ-like work – for us all!
The Minister thanks the Methodist Conference of 1996!
Norman Wallwork
Copyright ©:2009 Wotton United Church Wotton-under-Edge Gloucestershire