Magazine for February 2012



Household of Faith?


It’s the first magazine of 2012, a new year, and a time, perhaps, to ask some questions of ourselves and of our church: What is church? Why do we have services? Why do we sing? What does it mean to worship God – and does that actually have to be done in church? – and what about family? What is the church family and what does it all mean?As we have all taken part in a teaching series through January – adults and children – we have been considering some of these important questions and found some new, exciting and interesting perspectives to get us on track for 2012.
As Children’s Co-ordinator, I would particularly like to reflect on the issue of family. I was recently introduced to the concept of the church as a ‘Household of Faith’.

This is a wonderful way of understanding our inter-dependence between the generations – from the oldest to the youngest, from the grandparents to the new-born babies. We understand this very well in our natural families, but what about the spiritual ‘grandparents’, and the young in the faith, as well as in age?

It was brilliant to hear Grace talk about her experience at the recent Alpha course. She is not a new Christian, and by attending the course, was able to encourage those who are; she also received dramatic healing from God, so that her leg now works properly again!

Reflecting on my own early memories of church as child, I find it is the people that I can remember more than anything – the lady who played the piano, the man who led the Sunday school, the lady who always gave me a sweet (probably not to be recommended these days!), and the stewards who let me help them give out the hymn books, and always seemed grateful! – and later, the people who I knew were praying for me when I left home to go to University.

Let’s really value the times when we are all together in church, both at services and social events, getting to know one another, encouraging each other in our walk with God, and sharing the gifts and experience we all bring to family life.
Church lunches are a great way to spend a little extra time together, or family services, with organised activities when we can chat about Jesus and learn together as we draw pictures or make models.

I hope that 2012 will be a year when we learn to appreciate one another even more, across the generations, the friendship groups and the traditions we represent, to be the light of Jesus in our community, a true Household of Faith. 

Phillipa Munday

Children’s Co-ordinator