Dear Friends,
When I think of ‘New Beginnings’, my mind often goes to one of our hymns ‘One more step along the world I go’ and particularly the chorus, ‘And it’s from the old I travel to the new; keep me travelling along with you.’
These words are so appropriate in so many situations. Ellen and Robin chose this as one of the hymns for their wedding last month and there are other new beginnings that we are thinking of at this time. Children have now gone back to school after the Summer holidays. Some, like my little grandson, Charlie, will have started school for the first time, while others will have moved to a new class or maybe a new school. University students will be starting their new term this month – some will be starting for the first time, with all the challenges of living away from home and looking after themselves, while others will be returning to something familiar yet also new, as a new term inevitably brings changes, new learning and new opportunities. The Methodist Church in St. Neots have just welcomed their new Minister, Reverend Latika Singh, so they and the other churches in the circuit are celebrating a new beginning. Churches Together in St. Neots could no longer continue in its previous format and so embraces a new beginning as St. Neots Church Forum.
All these situations mean travelling from the old to the new and all inevitably mean there will be changes and a mixture of apprehension and excitement. It is even more important then, with every new beginning, to know that God will be with us and for us to keep travelling along with Him.
It is nearly five years now since we said goodbye to our former Minister, Reverend Rick Mearkle, as he moved on to continue his ministry in other ways. This was a new beginning for us as a Church, and it brought with it many challenges as we continued our work and witness but without the leadership of our own Minister. With God’s help and with a very dedicated team, we have not stood still but have welcomed new people, continued doing some things, tried new things and enjoyed the variety of worship that visiting preachers have brought.
For well over a year now, we have been working hard to set up a Mission Partnership… another new beginning. All United Reformed Churches are now being grouped together into Mission Partnerships which means that churches will work together and support each other to enable mission and discipleship in each community.
Following the decision made by Special Church Meetings on 15th September, we are now very pleased to be able to announce the news that Reverend Alison Davis was called to serve as Minister to our Mission Partnership. We can now look forward to another new chapter in the life of our Church, believing that God has called Alison here to continue her ministry.
We must now put our trust in God as He leads us forward into something new, for ‘to have faith is to be sure of the things we hope for and to be certain of the things we cannot see’ (Hebrews 11:1)
May these words from a well-known hymn be our prayer as we travel from the old into the new:
‘Lord, for the years your love has kept and guided, urged and inspired us, cheered us on our way, sought us and saved us, pardoned and provided: Lord of the years, we bring our thanks today.
Past put behind us, for the future take us, Lord of our lives, to live for Christ alone.’
Timothy Dudley-Smith (R&S 603)
With every blessing,
Jenny