The sudden and unexpected death of Joan Roadnight last Saturday has left a huge gap in our church community. We rejoice with her that she is with her Lord whom she loved so dearly but she will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with Eric, James and Helen and Lorraine and Ram, and also with her wider family and the many people in our local community who will all miss her. Joan has been an inspiration to us all and was ready to ‘step into the next room’ to be with Jesus as she lived her life in such close communion with him. We are the richer for having shared in some of her journey.
Joan’s funeral will be on Friday 28th, 2.00 pm at the United Reformed Church.
This seasons we are looking at the Psalms. Beautiful, honest and inspiring among other things, these 150 poems and songs could keep us occupied for years! Instead we are taking time during our Sunday meetings until the summer to study this book. We will be leaving it up to the speaker and overseer to choose which Psalm/s we look at and how we explore them together.
Notes from Annie's introductory talk are in the Links section and you are invited to delve into the Psalms yourselves, perhaps re-visiting an old favourite or discovering new things and maybe sharing what you find when we meet or on the Blog.
In true PetworthCommunityChurch style, the younger generation were well represented at the weekend away. From our own little granddaughter Esme-Rose, to the fast growing Oli, children were a large part of the weekend. And the highlight of this was helping Callum celebrate his 10th birthday with that wonderful cake !
The theme of the weekend was about equipping the saints; we looked at ‘church’ - it’s organic nature, how to ensure that it is sustainable and future proof. We explored the ministries that Paul discusses in Ephesians 4 and began to indentify and confirm our own, and each others, ministries and gifts - recognising that these aren’t fixed and boundaried, but changing depending on our particular situations and activities - based around our changing life callings. They are meant to be operating both within the church when it is gathered and in ‘church in the community’.
As we prayed for Nigel and Emma in their particular calling in parenting Esme-Rose, my mind went back 30 years to when the then PCF met in the Red Cross Centre, and I used to look after Nigel each Sunday morning in the kitchen. It struck me that what we were praying about was ‘reproduction’ - ensuring that the past and present is re-birthed into the future. But Esme-Rose is not a clone of Nigel - she is the result of the coming together of Emma and Nigel - producing something new and unique.
And that is why the ministries and gifts are given - to ensure that church is continually re-birthed into the future through the equipping of the saints. Not a replica of now, but an organism ‘fit for purpose’ for the demands of tomorrow.
Over the last year Ruth and I have become proud grandparents of Molly and Esme-Rose, but we have also enjoyed welcoming Hannah’s son Theo (Nick’s girlfriend), and Carla’s Elijah. During the weekend, I found myself instinctively ‘looking after’ the various children who were there - regardless of whether they ‘belonged’ to me. Looking after other peoples’ babies is part of the privilege of belonging to the church family. It is not only baby-sitting when requested - it is about praying for, and nurturing, the families and the children. (No I am not offering a babysitting service !)
There are of course other babies that we are called to look after - the particular ‘babies’ we each carry in the form of ministries and gifting. We need to be nurturing each others’ calling - giving them space to be and exercise their gifts, supporting and encouraging them as they go out into the community as church - representing the risen Lord Jesus, and taking Kingdom values into the various situations we face.
So what’s your ‘baby’ ? And whose ‘baby’ can you nurture ?
We don't have a church office but to speak to me about items for this Blog or for information about Petworth Community Church you can call 01798 343440 or email mailto:welchs@btinternet.com
The sudden and unexpected death of Joan Roadnight last Saturday has left a huge gap in our church community. We rejoice with her that she is with her Lord whom she loved so dearly but she will be greatly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with Eric, James and Helen and Lorraine and Ram, and also with her wider family and the many people in our local community who will all miss her. Joan has been an inspiration to us all and was ready to ‘step into the next room’ to be with Jesus as she lived her life in such close communion with him. We are the richer for having shared in some of her journey.
