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Lighthouse

The Whole Wide World for Jesus – Mrs C Johnson

Throughout history there have been people and nations who have had the whole world, or that part that affects them, in their sights.

Wars have been fought and much discontent generated.  Some have been motivated by the lust for power, some for financial gain, and many by ideology.

Apart from wars and persecution, various methods of persuasion have been used to extend their following.

The words of the hymn Express the Desire of Christians as they contemplate the words of Jesus to His early disciples “Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel”. Our Lord’s command resulted in the establishment of the modern Missionary movement of which William Carey in the 18th Century was a pioneer, and now comprises many societies and individuals.

So how does the message of the Christian Church differ from these other contenders for the “Conquest of the world”? It is a message of love, which gives rather than seeks any reward, save that knowing that “converts” will have the prospect of entry to God’s eternal kingdom.

John Kerry

OLIVER CROMWELL

On the 3rd of September it will be the 350th anniversary of the death of Oliver Cromwell; dying in his sixtieth year.  Oliver Cromwell even today is a figure you will either love or hate, depending upon your politics or religion.  The seventeenth century diarist, John Evelyn, who was an Anglican and a Royalist, and therefore a conservative, stated that on 3rd September 1658 “that Arch-rebel died”, and despite it being a very grand funeral fit for a king, thought   Cromwell’s funeral the most joyful funeral he had witnessed, nobody crying but the dogs!

Whilst attending some lectures on Art recently the lecturer introduced Cromwell as “that awful man from Huntingdon!”  Awful must have been a favourite word of his as he had previously spoken of  Martin Luther as “that awful Protestant!”  If you hated Cromwell chances are it was because he had caused the death of the King, or his treatment of the Irish.  If you loved him it was because he and the Puritans tried to create an idealistic society based on the Word of God.  This new system only held together whilst Oliver was alive.  After his death his son, Richard, succeeded in his place, but was a mere shadow of his father and soon the Parliament called in 1660 for the Restoration of the Monarchy.  Charles II became King, but with fewer powers than his father.

Fifty-nine people signed the death warrant of King Charles I.  These people were known as “The Regicides” because they were concerned with the murder of the Monarch.  Forty-one were still alive in 1660.  They all now had to pay a price for their actions.  Some had previously fled abroad; some paid in full as they were hung, drawn and quartered; very few were pardoned.

On 30th January 1661 the previously embalmed bodies of Cromwell and Henry Ireton, his son-in-law, together with the body of Judge Bradshaw, the judge at the trial of Charles I,  were removed from Westminster Abbey and taken to Tyburn (Marble Arch) where they were hung up all day to be viewed by the public to the relish of John Evelyn.

This day was exactly 12 years after the execution of the King.  The Church of England held 30th January 1649 as a fast day every year until early Victorian times.  Later in the day they were taken down, their heads removed and the bodies buried in the common pit below the gibbet.  The heads of these three were then taken to Westminster Hall where they were placed upon poles in the south end of the Hall, above where the trial of the King had taken place. These heads were said to have remained on these poles for twenty-five years until they were blown down by a strong wind.

The skull of Cromwell, after many journeys over many years, is believed to have come into the hands of a family in Woodbridge, Suffolk, and now has been interred in its final resting place in Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge University, in 1960.

It has got to be good for us to remember people like Oliver Cromwell,  who was a very large figure in the history of this country, and along with hundreds of other people since his time have helped to create the society of freedom and liberty and social conscience which we enjoy today.  So that when next the preacher from the pulpit says “WE don’t appreciate how well WE are off in this country” we can retort in a good English pantomime manner “Oh yes WE do!”

John Bland

SOUP RUN 2008 - UPDATE

It is 8 months since we started serving food and soup to those less fortunate than ourselves. Our day is the first Tuesday in each month 8.00-9.00 pm at the back of JJB Sports. All who receive are very thankful for the service we provide.

Just to remind you there is a list on the notice board with all the dates and another for you to fill in, if you are able to help with serving in town or preparing sandwiches beforehand.  (New 2009 list available soon).  Thank you to all those who help on a regular basis with this vital service. If you require any more information, contact me on Colchester 01206 330611.

Michael Spurgeon

PROJECT ENTERTAINMENT

'Project Entertainment' is a brand new project which has a vision to   bring A Smile to The World.

We are taking circus, magic & outdoor fun & games workshops to Kenya in April 2009. We will be based at an orphanage of 150+ children just   outside Nairobi called New Hope Children Centre we will also be   visiting Day Love Childrens Centre. We hope this project will allow   us to be able to make a positive difference to these young children   who are living in poor conditions caused by poverty and injustice.

If you would like more information on the project please feel free to   talk to me Dale about this incredible venture or you could find out   about the charity working with Project Entertainment at  www.handinhand.org.

Kind regards

Dale (Catherine Scott's Partner)

COLCHESTER YMCA FOYER 1998-2008

The First Ten Years

It has been said that if an Organisation can survive the “First Ten Years” then it can go on forever. In 1993 the Planning Group started looking for a suitable site for a Foyer, and a National Organisation with which we could liaise, to make Cyril and Barbara Williamson’s vision a reality. Through discussion with Agencies in Colchester concerning the welfare of Young People, it was agreed that a Foyer with a forty bed capacity, catering for 16-25’s would be appropriate.  Because of their expertise, in Residential Youth Work, it was decided to liaise with YMCA England to facilitate the development and building of the Foyer. An excellent site was obtained in Magdalen Street, the 43 bed space hostel was completed, and the first Residents received in August 1998.

Each of our Residents is technically  classified as “homeless” and they are referred by Colchester Borough Housing and other Agencies.  After interview and subject to suitability (our Residents have to be self-sufficient because we are a low dependency unit) they are granted a six month tenancy. Each Resident has a self contained flat with a kitchen, shower and toilet unit and space for sleeping, studying and recreation. We also have an adjacent Activity Centre.

This is also used by the local Community, including the Young Deaf Community. Because each room is a secure unit we are able to accommodate any ratio of male and female Residents. The majority of our Residents are under 21 and currently there are more females than males. All our Residents have an “Individual Development Plan” which highlights their need for assistance in Literacy, Numeracy, IT skills, Social and Life Skills and Job Search. Provided a Resident complies with a few basic house rules their tenancy can be renewed up to a maximum stay of two years. Last year the average profile (based on 42 Residents) was, 18 employed, 18 unemployed (Job Seekers) and 6 in-training. Our aim is to enable them to progress from Dependency to Independency, from Insecurity to Security. To date we have enabled more than 350 local young people to do just that.

Our very dedicated Staff is led by our CEO, George Cordeiro who joined us in May 1998. There is a Board of Trustees, drawn from the local Community, led by their Chairman John Knight. They are responsible for the Governance of the Foyer.  We have a Chaplain, Rev Ray Gibbs from Mile End Church and Residents are given Gideon Bibles. It costs about £450,000 per year to operate Colchester YMCA.

Further information can be obtained from George Cordeiro: Colchester YMCA Foyer, Williamson House, 159 Magdalen Street Colchester CO1 2JX - Tel: 01206 579415 - Fax: 01206 500097.

John Knight

The Keswick Convention

While on our holiday in the Lake District we were able to attend the first week of the Keswick Convention, the theme being Creation Chaos & Christ and looking at 1 Thessalonians. Not really sure what to expect we went along on the opening night and had a great time with about 2500 fellow Christians. During that week we attended the All Age Service on Sunday morning and five of the evening celebrations, one of which was recorded for broadcasting the following Sunday on Radio 4.

We heard sermons each evening from various speakers including John Lennox who has written the book “God’s Undertaker - Has Science Buried God?”  We listened to talks about Contagious Christianity; Faith in the Firing Line; Standing Firm and Back to the Future which encouraged us to keep our faith even when under attack, encouraging others when they are struggling with their faith and being a friend to others.  As one speaker said, pressure is like a teabag, the strength doesn’t come out until you’re in hot water!

Hearing everyone singing together was amazing and it was very humbling to be a part of such a huge gathering, all there to praise God. Week 1 ended with everyone taking communion and the words from 1 Thessalonians 5 v16-18  Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Ray & Sharon

REFLECTION

Dear Lord

Make me a radiantly happy Christian.  Give me an infectious faith which others will be unable to resist.  Remind me at the beginning of each day that I pass this way but once.

Amen           

CHRISTIAN CHUCKLES

A former chorister was asked why she had given up singing in the church choir. “I was absent one Sunday” she replied, “and   somebody asked if the organ had been mended”.

“Come, Come, this will never do”said the choirmaster, “open your mouths and sing boldly.... ‘LITTLE DROPS OF WATER’, ...and for goodness sake.... Put some spirit into it!

Small boy to his new baby sister whom he had been told was a gift from God, “Quick before you forget, what does God look like?”          

WHY DID GOD MAKE THE UNIVERSE?

Why did God make the universe, the earth and sky above? Scripture gives the answer when it says that “God is love”. Before God made the universe, He worked out a master plan. He knew how everything would end before it all began.

He made mankind so He could have an object for His love, but man was blind and did not see that it came from above. So God created evil as He had created night, so man could see the good in Him - In darkness we see light.

He made the “blackboard” very black, with evil, sin and woe. He made an adversary to be His cunning foe. He made the earth to be a “stage” to show the hosts above, by all of our experiences, His wisdom and His love.

He locks up all in stubbornness to make His mercy clear; Lets Satan lure all men away so He can draw all near. He gives His only firstborn Son to die and save us all. Yet each in his own class we read; we’re blind until our call.

You asked me why God made the earth, the glittering stars above? The Scriptures give the answer when they say that “God is Love”.

Old Fashioned Values

We met and we married, a long time ago.

We worked long hours when wages were low

No telly, no wireless, no bath - times were hard,

Just a cold water tap and a walk up the yard.

No holidays abroad, no carpets on floors,

We put coal on the fire and never locked doors.

Our children arrived to fill in those days

And we brought them up without any “State Aid”.

They were quite safe to play in the park

And the old folk could go for a walk in the dark

No valium, no drugs, no L.S.D.

We cured most of our ills with a good cup of tea.

If you were sick you were treated at once

No fill in a form and “come back in six months”.

No vandals, no muggings, there was nothing to rob,

We felt quite rich with “a couple of bob”!

People were happier in those far-off days,

Kinder and caring in so many ways.

Milkmen and paper boys used to whistle and sing,

A night at the pictures was our only mad fling.

We all had our share of trouble and strife

We just had to face it, that’s the pattern of life.

But now I’m alone, I look back through the years,

I don’t think of the bad times, the trouble and tears.

I remember the blessings, our home and our love,

And that we shared them together....... I thank God above.