Leaving our comfort zones
BENEFICE RETREAT
We all have comfort zones – those places where we can relax with a high degree of satisfaction. And in today’s world we surely need them… So what would induce us to step outside…? Whether we find it easy to love other people or not, it was a command that Jesus gave - to leave our comfort zones and go out to make disciples of all nations. The call here is for commitment. The word 'mission' implies going out, being sent, leaving our comfort zone behind - just for the sake of other people. These are people deserving of God's love and blessing; deserving too of our love and compassion. With so many people starved of love and attention today the imperative of the Gospel seems even more urgent. 'Going' can be just out on the streets of Chipping Sodbury on a Saturday night as a Street Pastor. Or it may mean uprooting with family to go to foreign parts, as did Jon and Jo Parsons to work in Kibera 10 years ago. Such a move may feel far from comfortable at first, but grows on you as time goes by and as meaningful relations are established. It could also be fraught with risks: Alan Henning went out on a dangerous mission and it cost him his life. Or it could simply mean getting out of our armchair and visiting the neighbour across the street. A lot simpler in many respects – but maybe equally difficult. It all comes down, in the end, to doing what God calls us to do – however small or big. Obeying can bring great blessing. And if you want to pray for missions – something that can be equally important – there is the monthly Global Action Prayer meeting in the Church Centre… 8pm on every 3rd Monday Frank Gray
Friday 3rd July - Sunday 5th July 2015 Langasty Retreat House
A lakeside retreat in the beautiful Brecon Beacons Single Rooms, Twin Rooms and Accessible Rooms available Total cost £136 per person Deposit £70 (non-refundable By 1st December 2014 please Cheques payable to: St John’s P.C.C. Chipping Sodbury Register with Ian Yemm at Church or Email: ian@svbcofe.org.uk Phone 07514 139825
More information: www.llangsty.com
The Great Writer ? There was once a young man who, in his youth, professed a desire to become a "great" writer. When asked to define "great," he said, "I want to write stuff that the whole world will read, stuff that people will react to on a truly emotional level, stuff that will make them scream, cry, wail, howl in pain, desperation, and anger!" He now works for Microsoft writing error messages
Thank you… to all of you who gave so generously to the harvest appeals. A lot of money was raised from Old Sodbury for Aid Ukraine and bags and bags of food were taken to the Yate Food Bank and the Sisters of the Church. A car full of fresh vegetables and tinned goods were taken to the Sisters of the Church from Little Sodbury.
Thank YOU all! 7