This month’s message from the Church Secretary

Dear Friends

Isn't it amazing when for no particular reason, our minds flash back to something, perhaps only two or three words which someone said, probably in the distant past and completely out of the blue it comes back to us.

Looking at some old photographs recently there was one of a large group from Sunday School setting off through Browns Field for a walk around the Reservoir, where we were to have a picnic.  Some two or three hundred yards from our starting point, the School Room, one 'young lady' said "how much farther, Mr Newbury" and "how much farther" is a phrase of which we have been reminded on occasions in the intervening sixty plus years.

Another few words which have come to the fore on occasions, and which always bring a smile, was when a bag of dolly mixtures was sent around the coach when on our way to set out on one of our many Derbyshire rambles, with the instruction "only take one", so those three words, on the occasions they come back to mind bring back wonderful memories.

When thinking about an Easter Message for this months News Letter, four words came back to me, not spoken words, but written ones from the early 1960's.  At that time, another period when we were without a resident Minister, we were very fortunate in having students from the Nottingham Paton Congregational College to lead many of our Services.

On one occasion one of the students asked if I would type out a sermon for him - exam time was approaching!  While I cannot remember any of the contents, the title obviously stayed in the back of my mind and I recalled those four words 'from fear to faith'. Picture the scene after the traumatic events of Good Friday, the disciples were completely shattered, totally heartbroken, but more than that, so terribly afraid that they would be the next to be rounded up by the Jewish authorities that they were hiding behind locked doors.  Then just a few days later they were out in the open their fears banished, their faith vibrant and alive 'from fear to faith' in a big, very big, way.

It is difficult to imagine a greater transformation in such a short space of time.

What was it that brought this dramatic difference? CHRIST WAS RISEN.  They had met their RISEN LORD and it was the beginning of a new life.

It can be the same for us.  The Risen Christ invites and challenges us to follow Him. to live in His way, knowing that He has promised that He will always be with us.

Do take up the invitation and the challenge, accept the promise and may the joy of this Easter time be yours now and in all the days which lie ahead.

Margaret