The Sodbury Vale Benefice
O U T LO O K
magazine
Chipping Sodbury, Old Sodbury, Horton & Little Sodbury
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ly m a o R hi
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December 2013 - January 2014
1 Jane is enrolled as a Companion of the Society of St Francis by Brother Damian.
Contacts
Churchwardens
Rector The Revd. Canon Jane Kenchington, 01454 313159 [Day off Friday] email jane@kenchington.plus.com
Chipping Sodbury
Associate Priest
01454 324970 email pjandjj@waitrose.com
Paul Jones-Williams
The Revd. Yvonne Brae, 01454 850682, Mob. 07908 513098 [Day
Anne Mudge 07823 441920
Off Monday] email jmyr@blueyonder.co.uk
Reader (Licensed Lay Minister)
Old Sodbury
Mr Ian Yemm 01454 318608 email tenor@ianyemm.co.uk
Val Walker 01454 318286 Tony Dixon 01454 321528 email chatterton33@btinternet.com
If you would like to know more about the Christian faith or are thinking about baptism or confirmation please speak to Jane or Yvonne
Little Sodbury
Director of Music
Brenda Cordy 01454 316447
Nick Sherwood, 01454 319539 Mob. 07802 427135
Church Office
Horton
Open during term time Monday, Tuesday & Thursday mornings 9.00 - 12.00
Tina Hildick-Smith 01454 320380
Administrator - Michelle Jenkins
Richards Needs 01454 329890
Annual subscription to Outlook (10 issues) ÂŁ5
01454 325160
sodburyvalebenefice@gmail.com
February Deadline
Web Site www.sodburyvalechurches.wordpress.com
Can you have all editorial to Michelle in the Church Office by January 14th at the latest please.
Advertising - Sylvia Franklin St. John’s Church Centre 07788 111 726
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Dear Friends, I remember doing a secondary school assembly many years ago, when I was a curate. It happened one December and I thought I’d take in a beautifully wrapped up Christmas present. I invited a pupil to unwrap the gift and when a box of chocolates emerged, there was great excitement. Alas, there were no chocolates in the box – it was empty. The excitement died down dramatically…and there was great disappointment in the school hall because for a brief moment, the pupils thought they might be lucky and get a chocolate. The moral behind this story was that it’s very easy for Christmas to become wrapped up with all sorts of glitter: Christmas lights being switched on in Regent’s Street, London; John Lewis, M & S, Tesco, Waitrose all vying for advert space in the TV schedules; the manic rush to buy stuff; the latest toy that is a “must have” – the list is endless. The tragedy is that in all this, the simple message of Christmas is simply lost. It might get lost because it was never known in the first place; it might get lost because it’s the last thing we think about because of all these glittery wrappings that bombard us at every turn. If someone asked us, would we be able to say what this message of Christmas is? One of the reasons we run the Nativity Crib Festival is to provide a way for us to tell people/remind people about the Christmas Story. The Festival invites visitors to pause and reflect on that wonderful, profound, mind-blowing truth about Christmas – that God – the God who created the universe – came to earth to live as a human being…who was Jesus. Why did God bother? He bothered to send Jesus to us so that we could learn to live in the way God always created us to live – to love one another as God loves each of us. God bothered to send Jesus to us because God loves each of us with a passionate love…and God wants us to share that passionate love with others. We are incapable as human beings to love others and love God in the way that God longs for us to love – we need God to help us to do that. So this Christmas, I invite you to take a moment to pause amidst all the stuff you feel you have to do at Christmas and ponder that wonderful truth that God loves you – totally, unconditionally – and God longs for you to love God back and allow God to guide you and help you to live the way of life that God has always longed for you to live. May your Christmas not end up being empty, like that school assembly box of chocolates. If you want to find out more about what I am talking about here or you would like to meet with us for us to pray for you or pray with you about someone you love or something you’re anxious about, please do get in touch. Our contact details are inside the front cover opposite this page. With love and prayers, Rev. Canon Jane Kenchington, 01454 313159, email:jane@kenchington.plus.com
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A Christmas Message from the Bishop of Gloucester: Blessed Are The Peacemakers
Baptisms: We welcomed into the Church:
“O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie” is one of the most poignant of the Christmas carols, because the sad truth is that Bethlehem is anything but peaceful, caught up in the Israeli/Palestine conflict, a sign of injustice and oppression.
Zachary Oliver Pearce & Willow Amy Hickman on 20 October 2013 at St John’s Church, Chipping Sodbury
Marriages: We send our congratulations to: Sarah Woodward & David Riordan on 2 November 2013 at St John’s Church, Old Sodbury
Funerals:We
extend our sympathy to the families and friends of:
John James Patrick (Jimmy) Squires on 17 October 2013 at St John’s Church, Chipping Sodbury Dennis William Andrews on 1 November 2013 at Westerleigh Crematorium
Praying for the peace of the Holy Land has always seemed to be an important part of Christmas and prayer for the ever smaller Christian minority in Palestine gradually being squeezed out. But in 2013 it is not just the land of Christ’s birth that has been on our television screens, but the whole North African and Middle East region, where the promising Arab spring has gone so wrong. No Happy Christmas in Syria or in Egypt this year.
Mothers’ Union Our December meeting is our Christmas lunch at 12:30 at The Bell Inn on Monday 9th December. Anyone who would like to join us please contact Audrey Fazey, Jenny Evans or Mary Warren. January meeting will be on Monday 13th at 2pm in the Church Centre and will be an Open Meeting with afternoon tea Happy Christmas and God Bless you ALL Jenny
It would be comforting to be able to forget all about such things at Christmas. A comfort, but a nonsense. For the birth of Jesus is God’s good news for the oppressed. Jesus really is the Prince of Peace - ruler of a kingdom that begins in prayerful, peace-making human hearts like yours and mine, utterly unlike any other kingdom, and which, if we will be its citizens, be a beacon of hope in a troubled world.
A Sign of the Times? As a little girl climbed onto Santa's lap, Santa asked the usual, "And what would you like for Christmas?" The child stared at him open mouthed and horrified for a minute, then gasped: "Didn't you get my E-mail?"
Commitment to that would be the perfect Christmas present we could give to God and to God’s world in response to God’s giving of his Son. The Right Revd. Michael Perham 4
Sodbury Vale Benefice CHRISTMAS SERVICES
Crib Festival Programme Tuesday 3 December The Archdeacon of Gloucester meets sponsors, guests and helpers 6:00pm - 8:00pm Wednesday 4 December Public Viewing 10:00am - 5:00pm Schools’ visits 9:15am - 2:15pm Thursday 5 December Holy Communion 10:00am Public viewing 110:00am - 5:00pm School’s visits 10:45am - 11:45am & 1:15am - 2:15am Friday 6 December Public viewing 10:00am - 9:00pm Toddler Morning 9:30am - 12:00 noon Chipping Sodbury School Choir 6:00pm Drumming Workshops throughout the evening Saturday 7 December Public viewing 10:00am - 5:00pm Roly the Clown Shows 11:00am - 11:30am 12:30pm - 1:00pm 2:00pm - 2:30pm 3:30pm - 4:00pm Sunday 8 December Parish Communion 9:30am Public viewing 11:00am - 4:30pm Contemplative Reflection 5:00pm
CHIPPING SODBURY, St John’s Church SUNDAY 22nd DECEMBER 7pm Carol Service CHRISTMAS EVE 3pm Christingle Service 4.30pm Christingle Service 11.30pm Midnight Mass CHRISTMAS DAY 8am Holy Communion 9.30am Family Communion OLD SODBURY, St John the Baptist Church SUNDAY 22nd DECEMBER 5pm Carol Service CHRISTMAS EVE 3pm Crib Service CHRISTMAS DAY 11.15am Family Communion LITTLE SODBURY, St Adeline’s Church FRIDAY 20th DECEMBER 7pm Carol Service SUNDAY 29th DECEMBER 10.30am Benefice Service HORTON, St James the Elder Church SUNDAY 15th DECEMBER 6pm Carol Service CHRISTMAS EVE 8pm Christmas Eucharist FOR MORE INFORMATION http://sodburyvalechurches. wordpress.com/worship
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Five Facts You May Not Know About Christmas
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Christmas Day is almost certainly not the day that Jesus was born. December 25 was proclaimed the official celebration date by Pope Julius I, bishop of Rome, in 350AD.
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According to tradition, Martin Luther was the first person to decorate a Christmas tree. The Protestant reformer, who lived from 1483 to 1546, got the idea after seeing stars shining through the branches of a fir tree. He was apparently so moved by the beauty of the sight that he brought home an evergreen tree and decorated it with candles to share the image with his children.
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The first Christmas card was created by British illustrator John Callcott Horsley in 1843. He had been commissioned to design it by Henry Cole, who found he was too busy to write to his friends.
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made barring children from receiving Holy Communion until the recent past. In my lifetime, the Parish Communion has become the main service in many Anglican churches; we involve children far more in our worship; there has been a lot more understanding of how faith develops; and the recognition of changing practices ecumenically and internationally. Jesus taught that children were to be welcomed, and that we were to learn from them and be like them. We are beginning to realise how important they are in the life of the church and to appreciate their spirituality. Writing about this subject as long ago as 2007, Bishop Michael said, “There is good theological reason for going down this path. Baptism makes us members of the Body of Christ and the members of the body are fed by the bread and wine of the Eucharist. There is also a more practical reason. The evidence is that churches that admit children to communion keep their young people in the church better than those who don’t. So I am wanting to encourage parishes to take this up, as a few already do, and to know that they have my enthusiastic backing to do so.” Here are some quotes from children who have been prepared for Communion before Confirmation: “It makes me feel smiley inside.” “It’s the presence of Jesus – the gifts that God has given.” “I feel special” “ It makes me strong, like, bigger,” Over the next year, I’d like us to do some thinking about this subject, through discussion and through the PCC meetings. This article is intended to open up the subject and I’d be most interested to receive your comments. Jane Kenchington
Let the Children come to Communion! In 2006, The General Synod of the Church of England agreed to admitting baptised children to Holy Communion who are not ready and desirous to be confirmed. In actual fact, the Church of England has been discussing this issue for over 40 years! I don’t know if you have ever thought about this subject. Some of you may be aware that in some Anglican churches, children are being prepared to receive Holy Communion and do receive Holy Communion; others of you are used to hearing about Roman Catholic children making their first Communion at around the age of 7 years old; some of you can’t understand why this is happening – “There was nothing wrong about waiting until you were confirmed!”, you might say. To be quite honest, it has taken me several years to come to the position where I think it is right to admit children to Communion. To start with I really struggled with understanding why the church had to change its practice. The thing that did it for me finally was when at another church at harvest we were using real bread at communion and the children couldn’t understand why they couldn’t eat any of it when they came up to the altar. As long as we have wafers, we are a step further removed from having to confront the issue. Bring in “real” bread and we can’t escape the issue! Having consequently learned that in the Early Church (AD 50 onwards), baptised children did receive Holy Communion because baptism was seen as bringing you into full membership of the church, allowing children to receive Holy Communion makes sense. Since that time, there have been various decisions 9
Sodbury Vale Social Afternoon
Are you aged over 55?
A chance to catch up with old friends. Come for Tea or Coffee and a Chat.
Have fun and meet new friends with your local Let’s get Cooking Group!
Tuesday, 28th January 2 - 4 pm At St. John's Church Centre, Chipping Sodbury. No need to book, just turn up on the day. Transport provided where needed please phone or speak to Christine Stephens, 01454 314621.
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Cook and eat great food together
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If you are looking for a relaxing way to meet new friends in your local area, and learn some great cooking skills along the way, then our new Lets Get Cooking Group is for you. These practical cooking sessions are fun, giving you lots of tips and ideas for quick, tasty, low cost meals. Eat together at the session and take home the recipe as well as any leftovers! It doesn’t matter whether you’ve never chopped an onion or you regularly cook at home, if you like food, this group is for you! For more information and to book a place at your local club, please contact: Dr Hazel Baxter The Candle Community Centre, 88 Station Rd, Yate Tel 01454 326395 Let’s Get Cooking provides training, support and resources for setting up and running healthy cooking activities for people of all ages. Visit our website at www.letsgetcooking.org.uk These Let’s Get Cooking clubs are funded by People’s Health Trust using money raised by society lotteries, through the Health Lottery
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Christmas Spirit It was just before Christmas and the magistrate was in a happy mood. He asked the prisoner who was in the dock, 'What are you charged with? 'The prisoner replied, 'Doing my Christmas shopping too early.' 'That's no crime', said the magistrate. 'Just how early were you doing this shopping?' 'Before the shop opened', answered the prisoner.
Horton School Children The school is delighted to be asked to perform at the Chapel at Dyrham Park over the Christmas period. Children have been working with Mr Webber on ukulele pieces for this and years 3 and 4 will be singing accompaniments. They’re also going to be drumming using djembes. St James Church, Horton are delighted to have the children taking part in the Lessons and Carols service at the Church, where they will sing a piece with the church choir as well as singing a school piece.
What Christmas means to me by Benedict and Beatrice Braddock (Aged 7 and 4)
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“At Christmas we like to go sledging if it snows. On Christmas Eve we go to sleep early so that Father Christmas will come. We also set up our little wooden crib set at home. We might do some making and make our own crib figures. “On Christmas Day we get up early and open some of our presents. We eat mince pies and celebrate. We eat special food. At Christmas we remember Jesus's birth. Jesus came to show us God's love. We go to church and may do a play, dressing up to tell the Christmas story. We have a special book at home about the story of the donkey that carried Mary to Bethlehem. 11
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The Invisible Mum
a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, 'Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof, No one will ever see it. And the workman replied, 'Because God sees.' I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, 'I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become. I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Christmas, 'My Mum gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade cakes, and then she hand bastes a turkey for 3 hours and presses all the linens for the table.' That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, 'You're gonna love it there.' As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.
To all the beautiful Mums out there this explains it all ! It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, 'Can't you see I'm on the phone?' Obviously not; no one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible. The Invisible Mum. Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more! Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this? Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, 'What time is it?' I'm a satellite guide to answer, 'What number is the Disney Channel?' I'm a car to order, 'Right around 5:30, please.' I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated from university - but now, they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going, she's going, she's gone!? One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from a trip, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, 'I brought you this.' It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: 'To Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of what you Great Job, MUM! are building when no one sees.' A story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was The Will of God will never take you being built, and he saw a workman carving where the Grace of God will not protect you. 12
Sodbury Vale Benefice Regular Weekly Events Monday
8.45am
Morning Prayer
St John’s, Chipping Sodbury
7.30pm
Bell Ringer’s Practice
Church Tower, Chipping Sodbury
8.45am
Morning Prayer
St John’s, Chipping Sodbury
Wednesday 8.30am
Morning Prayer
St John’s, Chipping Sodbury
Thursday
Morning Prayer
St John’s, Chipping Sodbury
Tuesday
Friday
Saturday
8.45am
10.00am Holy Communion
St John’s, Chipping Sodbury
7.00pm
St John’s, Chipping Sodbury
Choir Practice
10.00am Tubbie Tots
Church Centre, Chipping Sodbury
7.00pm
Youth Club (age 11-18)
Baptist Church Centre
9.00am
Benefice Prayers
Church Centre, Chipping Sodbury
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Sodbury Vale Benefice Calendar December 2013 Sun 1st Advent Sunday
Tue
3rd
Wed
4th
Thurs
5th
Sun 8th Second Sunday of Advent
Mon Tue Thurs
9th 10th 12th
Sun 15th Third Sunday of Advent Tue
17th
Thur
19th
Fri
20th
Sun 22nd Fourth Sunday of Advent
Tue 24th Christmas Eve
Weds 25th Christmas Day Sun 29th First Sunday of Christmas
8.00am 9.30am 11.15am 11.15am 6.00pm 3.00pm 6.00pm 1.20pm 8.00pm 10.00am 10.45am 9.30am 11.15am 11.15am 5.00pm 6.00pm 12.30pm 7.30pm 10.00am 10.45am 9.30am 11.15am 6.00pm 6.00pm 2.00pm 3.00pm 7.30pm 10.00am 10.45am 7.00pm 9.30am 11.15am 11.15am 5.00pm 7.00pm 3.00pm 3.00pm 4.30pm 8.00pm 11.30pm 8.00am 9.30am 11.15am 10.30am
Holy Communion St John’s Praise Mattins Family Communion Evensong (BCP) Meditation Meeting Crib Festival Opening Ceremony Women’s fellowship Mission Prayer Group Holy Communion Coffee Shop Parish Communion Holy Communion Family Service Contemplative Service Evensong {BCP} Mothers’ Union Christmas Lunch Exploring Christianity Holy Communion Coffee Shop Family Communion Holy Communion {BCP} Evensong {BCP} Carol Service Benefice Social Afternoon Meditation Meeting Exploring Christianity Holy Communion Coffee Shop Carol Service Parish Communion Holy Communion {CW} Morning Praise {CW} Carol Service Carol Service Crib Festival Christingle Christingle Christmas Eucharist Midnight Mass Holy Communion Family Communion Family Communion Benefice Service
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St John’s C/S St John’s, C/S St James’, Horton St John’s O/S St Adeline’s L/S Ring 314409 for venue St John’s, CS The Old House, Parks Farm
Church Centre, CS St John’s C/S Church Centre C/S St John’s C/S St James’, Horton St John’s O/S St John’s C/S St Adeline’s L/S The Bell Inn The Vicarage, C/S St John’s C/S Church Centre C/S St John’s C/S St John’s O/S St Adeline’s L/S St James’ Horton Church Centre, C/S Ring 314409 for venue The Vicarage, C/S St John’s C/S Church Centre C/S St Adeline’s L/S St John’s C/S St James’ Horton St John’s O/S St John’s O/S St John’s C/S St John’s O/S St John’s C/S St John’s C/S St James’, Horton St John’s C/S St John’s C/S St John’s C/S St John’s C/S St Adeline’s L/S
Sodbury Vale Benefice Calendar January 2014 Sun 5th The Epiphany
8.00am
Holy Communion
St John’s C/S
9.30am
St John’s Praise
St John’s, C/S
11.15am
Mattins
St James’, Horton
11.15am
Family Communion
St John’s O/S
6.00pm
Evensong (BCP)
St Adeline’s L/S
Tue
7th
7.30pm
Exploring Christianity
The Vicarage, C/S
Thurs
9th
10.00am
Holy Communion
St John’s C/S
10.45am
Coffee Shop
Church Centre C/S
7.00pm
LS PCC
St Adeline’s L/S
9.30am
Parish Communion
St John’s C/S
11.15am
Holy Communion
St James’, Horton
11.15am
Family Service
St John’s O/S
6.00pm
Evensong {BCP}
St Adeline’s L/S
3.00pm
Meditation Meeting
Ring 314409 for venue
Sun 12th Baptism of Christ
Tue
14th
7.30pm
Exploring Christianity
The Vicarage, C/S
Wed
15th
7.00pm
Deanery Choir Rehearsal
Church Centre C/S
Thurs
16th
10.00am
Holy Communion
St John’s C/S
10.45am
Coffee Shop
Church Centre C/S
7.30pm
CS PCC
Church Centre C/S
9.30am
Family Communion
St John’s C/S
11.15am
Morning Prayer
St James’ Horton
11.15am
Holy Communion {BCP}
St John’s O/S
6.00pm
Evensong {BCP}
St Adeline’s L/S
7.30pm
Exploring Christianity
The Vicarage, C/S
Sun 19th Second Sunday of Eiphany
Tue
21st
Thur
23rd
Sat
25th
Sun 26th Third Sunday of Epiphany
Tues
28th
10.00am
Holy Communion
St John’s C/S
10.45am
Coffee Shop
Church Centre C/S
7.30pm
OS PCC
Village Hall, O/S
9.00am
Marriage Preparation Day
Church Centre, C/S
9.30am
Parish Communion
St John’s C/S
11.15am
Holy Communion {CW}
St James’ Horton
11.15am
Morning Praise {CW}
St John’s O/S
6.00pm
Holy Communion
St Adeline’s L/S
2.00pm
Benefice Social Afternoon
Church Centre, C/S
3.00pm
Meditation Meeting
Ring 314409 for venue
7.30pm
Exploring Christianity
The Vicarage, C/S
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F Becoming a Christian ??? When my husband and I decided to become Christians, we talked it over and thought it would be good to tell some friends about it. We regularly had nights out with a particular couple and so decided they would be the first to know. I’m not sure what reaction we were expecting but we were certainly thrown by theirs. They were absolutely flabbergasted, waves of shock and horror rippled over their faces. Here we were telling them of our joy that the world had come into a right balance for us and their reaction was, ‘but, but, but, you’re the most drinkiest people we know.’ Neither my husband nor I quite knew how to respond to that because for one we didn’t think going out once a month made us the ‘drinkiest’ of all people and secondly we didn’t think that asking Jesus into our lives was such a dreadful act. Of course we laughed about it later but the surprise at the time was great. I’m not sure what reaction there would be today. The media seems to only report that the Christian Church is dead on its feet, whereas my experience is that today there is a new interest in the Christian faith, a fresh interest in who Jesus Christ is. And for us this is delightful. Now you want to question that and might ask why should I or anyone else become a Christian. The reasons given will be as numerous as grains of sand. But here are just some of my reasons. 1. Following Jesus makes sense out of a world that appears to make no sense at all. Wars, deprivation, death, selfishness, unkindness and racial prejudice abound today, yet when you trust Christ your knowledge of belonging to Him, being his
child and belonging to a community of committed followers takes the world out of chaos into a right order. 2. Life is so very interesting. There is so much to learn about being a follower of Jesus. You don’t have to be ultra-intelligent nor dim to follow Jesus, neither matters. A Christian knows that Christ made them just as they are and that means they are very acceptable just as they are. 3. You don’t have to fit into the demands of others. Being a Christian means you have your own thoughts, your own reasoning and you can work them through by prayer, study and companionship with people of like minds. Being a Christian brings peace and incredible joy 4. Cars, houses, life styles do not satisfy. Knowing the God who created us does satisfy. Christianity is exciting, it contains the truth and shows us what life is meant to be about. Here in the Sodbury Vale Benefice we run a regular course of Exploring Christianity but we also love to chat so if you have questions just get in touch.
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“JESUS, WONDERFUL COUNSELLOR, MIGHTY GOD, EVERLASTING FATHER, PRINCE OF PEACE” IS A BIT LONG FOR THIS FORM … YOU MIGHT WANT TO JUST USE “JESUS”>