June: Thoughts from Huw

Dear Friends,

Matthew 10 v1 ‘Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples’

Jesus chose twelve disciples and then he sent them out to do work. They were told to cure the sick, raise the dead, heal the leprous and expel demons. That is to say, the apostles were charged with changing people’s lives. Their task in other words, was to make a difference in people’s lives.

I was challenged some years ago by a sermon preached by a Methodist minister at the Mint Methodist Church in Exeter who said:

‘What difference does my practice of Christianity make in the lives of people?

• Are the suffering and dying better off because I follow Christ?

• Are the hungry and homeless finding their lives improved because I follow Christ?

• Do children have a brighter future because I follow Christ?

• Are the marginalized affirmed and valued because I follow Christ?

• Do the self seeking and corrupt and violent learn new ways because I follow Christ?’

So, challenging words for challenging times. Can we make a difference in our homes, our churches and communities? 

What is God saying to us at Wesley?

The Spanish Catholic priest and theologian Saint Ignatius of Loyola sums things up when praying;

‘Teach us, good Lord to serve thee as thou deservest; to give and not to count the cost; to fight and not to heed the wounds; to toil and not for seek for rest; to labour and not to ask for any reward save that of knowing that we do your will.’ 

On Sunday the first of June we will be celebrating our Church Anniversary and Gift Sunday followed by the Annual General Meeting. Everybody is very welcome to come along and I look forward to seeing you.

With good wishes and prayers.
Huw.