Monthly Newsletter — October 2012
London Newsletter October 2012 / Issue 33 |
|
In this issue:
|
Upcoming Events:
|
October LetterIn previous newsletters we had requested prayers for Yousef Nadarkhani, an Iranian Christian who had been sentenced to death for his faith 3 years ago. We are delighted to report that he has recently been released from prison by the Iranian authorities. You can read the press report of his release at http://global.christianpost.com/news/youcef-nadarkhani-thanks-praying-supporters-god-after-being-freed-from-iranian-prison-81908/. The article also includes the full text of Yousef’s thank-you letter to all who have been praying for him. At services on Sunday September 23rd we agreed to participate in an initiative to work with four other churches in the Byron area to establish a food bank on the west side of the city. Each church will contribute food and volunteers to man the food bank. A box will be placed at the door to services each week to receive food donations. The food will be stored in our storeroom, and our own members who are in need will be able to help themselves. At the end of each month, the donations will be delivered to the Byron food bank. The food bank is only able to handle non-perishable items. Suggestions are: Canned goods (tuna, meat, fruit, vegetables, soup), macaroni and cheese, peanut butter, jams, rice, and breakfast cereals. “Exotic”items such as chickpeas, lima beans, specialized pastas, etc., should be avoided as people tend not to take them. We look forward to having our national director, Gary Moore, with us this month. If you know anyone who might remember Gary please let them know of his visit. We plan to have ‘snack’ lunch after services to allow more time for fellowship. In September’s Discipleship discussion we covered the topic of prayer. I have included a comment on prayer by Karl Barth, a Swiss theologian, in this month’s newsletter which I hope you will find insightful. Warmest regards, Colin and Sue |
|
Karl Barth on Prayer “In His Son God has become man, and therefore He has actually taken our side and become our Brother. And in His Son we are actually raised as His brethren to the side of God. Now if the Son asks Him, how can the Father possibly fail to hear Him? How, then, can the Father fail to hear and answer those whom His Son calls His own, who are together with His Son His children, who ask Him in company with His Son, with whom and for whom the Son asks? How can there be even the smallest interval between asking and hearing? As Jesus Christ asks, and we with Him, God has already made Himself the Guarantor that our requests will be heard.” Karl Barth’s comments remind me of Jesus’ words: “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you” (John 15:7) |
|
Things to Pray for: Please continue to pray for:
|
|
Quotations Worth Thinking About “When we believe that God is Father, we also believe that such a father’s hand will never cause his child a needless tear. We may not understand life any better, but we will not resent life any longer.” – William Barclay “The soul’s deepest thirst is for God Himself, who has made us so that we can never be satisfied without Him.” – F.F Bruce “If there is one stitch in the celestial garment of our righteousness that we must insert ourselves, we are lost; but this is our confidence – what the Lord begins, He completes… Our confidence must not be in what we have done, nor in what we have resolved to do, but entirely in what the Lord will do.” – Charles Spurgeon |
|
If you do not wish to receive this newsletter in future, please reply to this email with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line |