The holiday season is beginning to wind down. The white t-shirts may still be around to show off our tans. The holiday snaps are doing the rounds. The one of little Johnny’s first dip in the sea, covered head to toe in sand and ice cream. The one the kids took of dad, caught asleep in the deck chair, looking a bit worse for all the sun and sangria, still wearing those embarrassing shorts that he insisted were cool. Some of us may not admit to it, but we will be looking forward to the kids going back to school. I think I can just about hear the cheer from here.
Someone once said “if our school days are the best years of our lives it doesn’t say much for the rest of it”. Now I like that comment. That may sound a bit “bah humbug” but you didn’t have the school days I had. It may for some have to do with spending the first flush of youth footloose and fancy free and then the next 40 years or so with our noses to the grind stone and all the responsibilities that come with it. Of course I can identify with that, who wouldn’t?, but there has to be more than those few fleeting years to look forward to in life.
I became a christian at the age of 20, so had had those, so called, golden years already. But I have never found myself looking back wishing I could have them all again. Jesus has given my life purpose. Not a grand earth shattering, high octane, white knuckle ride purpose but one that, with Him, makes a difference. On that momentous day I chose God above everything else, my everyday and ordinary existence began to make sense. There have been times when I would rather not have gone to work or felt fed up and thought what is the point? I would be lying if I said otherwise. In the end I could do it with out Him, many people do, but I would rather not.
God wants to be intimately involved with everything about us. Not because He is interfering, meddling and bossy but because He loves us. He knows that with purpose we find fulfilment, joy, hope and a peace that passes all our understanding. Besides if we tell little Johnny that after school there is nothing to look forward to what has he got to look forward to? Love Jason The Man in the Manse
Church News
The visit to us of the Chiltern West Gallery Quire, as part of a local “Church Crawl” in June, was greatly enjoyed by those who came. The Quire sang for just 30 minutes. We were the third church on the crawl, and they were going to Berkhamsted afterwards for their final venue. Our church Quiz Night was interesting if not testing! With a wonderful supper provided for us. We hope to have another in the New Year. We were blessed with sunshine for the Morris service on The Common in July, it was good to meet with St Pauls to share in this annual occasion.
There are two special dates to note: our Harvest Thanksgiving weekend on 20/21 September, when the Hemel Methodist Choir will be giving a concert, with supper afterwards, and the service on the Sunday. And the annual Macmillan Coffee Morning to be held in the Baptist Hall on September 26 from 10.30am to 12 noon. We warmly invite you to these events. Why not come along and bring a friend? You are also welcome to join us for the monthly lunch which is usually on the second Saturday. Contact Brenda on 01923 269574.