A MESSAGE FROM OUR MINISTER

Dear Friends

We have started thinking about what we are doing as a church:
Two weeks ago we had a meeting after church where we looked in more detail at our work.
You can read the excellent report in this newsletter.
It states that we have a sustainability problem. Whilst I agree with that – and yes I would like us to do something about it, I also think we need to value what we are doing already.

We may feel sometimes it would be nicer to have bigger congregation on Sundays. But I strongly believe in God’s presence when people sincerely search for the divine. An act of worship does not depend on the number of people present.
A community, of course, is built through people. This community works because many people make a contribution. We do spend quite a while together after worship because we enjoy each other’s company. We are always welcoming to strangers.

We are sincere about our faith without taking ourselves too seriously.
We have a variety of preachers who give us a variety of views on the Bible. Often I am feeling moved in a service and discover something new. We are quite laid back in our style of worship, which makes it enjoyable to be part of this community.
With some surprise we discovered we are actually doing quite a bit to hold this community together. Well done!

We do need the lettings to maintain the building but we only have very few people who are overseeing the work. It is works well at the moment and most people said on Sunday they were not doing too much. We do have a sustainability problem when this changes.
Perhaps we need to think if there are ways of distributing the work more evenly among us: the work regarding the community Centre as well as maintaining Sunday worship.

We do have a sustainability problem insofar as we cannot raise enough money through lettings to maintain the building properly. However we do hope the Manse could provide us with an income to do that.

We do have a sustainability problem when worship on Sunday is no longer a communal experience.
We need more people who are willing to make a commitment to this church, to pray with us, to teach and preach and help with the work during the week.
We believe every human is special, being is created in the image of God. We believe in God’s love and forgiveness, which in turn challenges us to forgive others. We believe our life is a gift, not an entitlement. We believe in loving ourselves as well as our neighbour.

May we be able to continue to share and embody this biblical message in this community of Camden Town.

There are a couple of questions, which can help us thinking about what we are doing:
What does each one demand from our church? Who is doing the work?

Where are we putting most of our energy? Is that ok?

Is there anything we wish we were doing? What would make that possible?

Is there anything we need to stop doing? What is stopping us?

What do we need to do/ create/ find to help us do things better?

Let us continue to pray, talk and think, to find an answer to these questions.

 

With blessings,

Uta Blohm

Garden flat

10 Acol Rd.

London NW6 3AH  Mob:07792626189 email: utablohm@hotmail.com

Prayers For the New Year 2012

How?

In this time we turn our thoughts to how we can
touch and be touched,
love and be loved,
forgive and be forgiven,
heal and be healed,
so that the goodness of our lives becomes a shared blessing.
--Marta M. Flanagan (adapted)

Prayer For Strength and Wisdom

Grant me the strength from day to day
To bear what burdens come my way.
Grant me throughout this bright New Year
More to endure and less to fear.
Help me live that I may be
From spite and petty malice free.

Let me not bitterly complain
When cherished hopes of mine prove vain,
Or spoil with deeds of hate and rage
Some fair tomorrow's spotless page.
Lord, as the days shall come and go
In courage let me stronger grow.
Lord, as the New Year dawns today
Help me to put my faults away.
Let me be big in little things;
Grant me the joy which friendship brings.
Keep me from selfishness and spite;
Let me be wise in what is right.

A happy New Year! Grant that I
May bring no tear to any eye.
When this New Year in time shall end
Let it be said I've played the friend,
Have lived and loved and laboured here,
And made of it a happy year.
--Edgar A. Guest

Our non-stipendiary minister, Rev Uta Blohm can be contacted at

Tel: 020 7586 1090       Mob: 07792626189       email: utablohm@hotmail.com

God Bless