A week of journeying towards the cross until finally, once again we, in an act of unity with the churches of Tamworth we find ourselves witnessing our to our faith in Jesus, the Christ, and in the salvation that comes through the cross. Will you be joining to reflect upon, and witness, the salvation of the world made real through the sacrifice of the Christ?
Before us is yet another Easter which sees our shared Lenten journey come to an end and sees Christians across the globe gather to greet the Easter morn' and joyfully respond to the words, 'He is risen,' with at the proclamation, 'He is risen indeed - Alleluia!'.
There are many challenges before us as we seek to live and witness as Christians where we are. Challenges we will find in:
Our Town
Many of those around us are potentially pagan (this means not Christian) and so we face the challenge of telling the Christian story to people for the first time. Are you equipped and confident that you can do this?
Our Families and Friends
Often trying to share our faith in our homes or with loved ones can be the most difficult witness of all because familiarity and the feeling of deja vu - those 'having been there before moments' - can see us going dow the same old roads saying, and hearing, the same old things. Do you feel you'd like to find new ways of sharing what you believe?
Do you know that you need to find new ways of sharing but don't have the time or perhaps feel inadequate or out of your depth with it all? If the answer to any of this is 'Yes' then talk to someone who can help you get past the obstacle because once you have there's no greater joy than doing it and seeing changed lives (yours included)
Ourselves
It is often said that the 'road to hell is paved with good intentions' and this is definitely true in my life as I see myself determined to become someone different, do something different and be found in different places where I can be useful to others. The Apostle Paul sums up my experiences neatly in Romans 7:
'For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do - this I keep on doing.'
This is the same for all of us and is the reason that Jesus came to this earth: To create within us the ability to do what we desire and put of those things that pull us down and separate us from neighbours, family, friends and, ultimately, God.
So let us make Easter a place of rejoicing and commitment to one another, to those in our town, to our families and friends and to God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
For those of you who live in, or her to, Tamworth (the Midlands not upsidedownworld's version) don't forget the act of witness on Friday - always a time of blessing and reflection as one for those who are still perhaps 'far off':
May you and yours have a most blesséd Eastertide.
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