|
Linacre Methodist Mission
Linacre Road Litherland Liverpool L21 8NS Tel 0151 922 2836 |
 |
Superintendent Minister
Reverend Ann Hall Tel 0151 924 5106 |
WELCOME TO LINACRE MISSION |
|
Linacre Methodist Mission
Linacre Road Litherland Liverpool L21 8NS Tel 0151 922 2836 |
|
Superintendent Minister
Reverend Ann Hall Tel 0151 924 5106 |
| About us History Worship Beacon Project Church Notices Newsletter Boys Brigade Links |
|
|
Minister’s letter January 2009
“For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we don’t yet have, we wait for it patiently. In the same way the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness.....for I am convinced that nothing in all creation can separate us from the Love of God that is in Jesus Christ our Lord.”
Dear Friends, I bid you a Happy New Year! May 2009 be a special year for you and your family- a time of spiritual growth and discernment of God’s will in your life. May you know the Lord’s leading and strengthening hand guiding your path into the coming year and all that lies ahead. May you look to the future with anticipation and expectation of great blessing in your own life, in your family and in our church and community. John Wesley and the early Methodists had a tradition of a Watchnight Service on New Year’s Eve. Some of the churches in which Tim and I have served have upheld that tradition. It may seem an odd suggestion to some people but actually heralding in a new year in an atmosphere of worship and prayerful reflection is truly memorable. Most people have mixed feelings about New Year’s eve- many just prefer to hide away and ignore it, others just get horribly drunk; for some it’s a very nostalgic, painful time and for many it’s a bit of a let down, a disappointment. Much of that is to do with expectations. In fact there is a lot of evidence that anger often flows from failed expectations. We get hurt and often hit out at others close to us when they fail to meet our expectations. So sometimes |
it helps us to clarify expectations- our own and others. Sometimes we need to review and ask ourselves whether we are being realistic in what we hope for from other people- are we indeed setting them up to fail? What do we long for in our lives? What would have to happen or to change for our hopes to be fulfilled? What do you hope for from God in 2009??? Have you given God a thought?
Mary and Joseph took Jesus to be presented in the Temple. I wonder what they expected? Surely not that an old man called Simeon and an elderly prophetess called Anna would tell them that a sword would pierce Mary’s heart? Simeon and Anna had both waited for years, watching and waiting for the one who they believed was to come- for the Messiah. They may not have been expecting the Messiah to be the child of such an ordinary couple, and yet because they waited prayerfully, they were ready to recognise him when they encountered him. Are you being faithful in prayer? What is your heart’s desire? Maybe you hope for your children and/or grandchildren to turn back to God and receive Jesus as their Lord and Saviour? Maybe you hope for your husband or wife to become a Christian? Perhaps you long for reconciliation with a loved one from whom you have become estranged? I would urge you not to lose heart! No matter what the disappointments of the past, try to give them to Jesus. He can and does mend broken lives when we give him the pieces. Watch and pray, stay faithful in your prayerful bringing of your concerns to your heavenly Father. Commit this year, 2009 to God, commit yourself in this year to make time to be in his presence and allow Him to love you, to fill you with grace and blessing- then it will indeed, regardless of the circumstances, be a truly Happy New Year- filled with hope realised.
With love and best wishes,
Ann
|
|
| Last updated 6th January 2009 |