Northfield Methodist Church

Dear Friends
A number of years ago, I remember a father speaking about his journey through bereavement upon the accidental death of his teenage son. He shared one of the significant moments in that journey being when he wrestled with the question, "Whose child was my son?" One answer to that question was, "My son was also God's son. In fact before he was my son he was God's son who was only given to me on loan to be loved and cared for before being reunited with his Heavenly Father again."

Dear Friends
On that first "Palm Sunday", Jesus as he so often did, did something totally unexpected. He came riding into the city on a humble donkey. Let's think about that donkey for a moment.
It may only have been a donkey, but for those who had eyes to see, Jesus was claiming to be a king! A very different king of course. A king of peace. A king of love and truth. A king of the heart and soul. A king of resurrection life. A shepherd king. Not a king of war or political power.
It was only a donkey, just an ordinary means of transport in those days, but somebody gave it. I am constantly amazed at how God's people give, of their time, gifts, money and themselves. When God changes our hearts he opens them and we begin to have a new view of our possessions. These things are no longer "ours", they are God's and we need to pass them on to help others in need. To reach out with his love, to build his church and his Kingdom.

This Lent we invite you to begin and end each day with a recitation of Jesus' Great Commandment:
"Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength."
The second is this: "Love your neighbour as yourself". There is no greater Commandment greater than these."
Jesus here amends the Shema of Judaism (Deut 6:4-9) by adding Leviticus 19:18 thus revealing that real discipleship is all about learning to love God and others.
Will you commit yourself to repeating these words twice each day, for the duration of Lent. And whenever it comes to mind throughout the day, recite it again.
In your evening recitation of one Great Commandment, give some moments for reflection to confess any sins against the Great Commandment throughout the day.

Dear Northfielders
Next Sunday is our Covenant Celebration! It is that one very special Sunday in the year when we renew our promise to love and serve the God we have come to know in Jesus Christ. We will use the following words to do this -
I am no longer my own but yours;
Put me to what you will.
Rank me with whom you will.
Put me to doing,
Put me to suffering;
Let me be employed for you
Or laid aside for you;
Let me be full;
Let me be empty
Let me have all things
Let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things to your pleasure and disposal.

Dear Friends
2007 has been a busy year it has flown past, certainly for me. I am always so grateful when December comes around again because it is a time when we can slow down a bit. Many businesses close for a few weeks. Followers are in recess. Some are fortunate enough to go on holiday. Some stay home and relax. Whatever this time holds for you, may it be a special and a blessed time.
Peace, Love, Giving and Joy are words we have focused on during Advent. These are central words at Christmas-time, but most important of all is that the living God became flesh and came to live amongst us in order to make it easier to find him and be drawn into a deeper relationship with him. As Charles Wesley's wonderful hymn says, "Our God, contracted to a span, incomprehensibly made man." He became like us in order to open the way for us to come to God. This is the greatest gift of Christmas.

On Sunday 2nd December 2007, the Kingsway Primary school, which is responsible for educating many of the children who are cared for at our outreach project - Point of Light, were delighted and amazed at the festivities that awaited them. The school was transformed into a place of celebration and joyous activity. 100 children aged from seven to ten years of age were treated to an early Christmas party, thanks to KPMG. The school was a buzz with jumping castles, face painters and plenty of delicious goodies to eat!