Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

Beatitude 6 – Happy are the Pure in Heart

Matthew 5v7 “Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God.”

Do you want to see God? Is it on your “bucket-list”, or is it an aspiration that gets ignored? We get excited to see all sorts of things – whether a celebrity we admire, a remarkable landmark, or our team win… But God?

Jesus says, “Seek me and you will find me”. It is my responsibility to seek, it is God’s responsibility to reveal himself. What is the thing in your life that you are prepared to sacrifice everything else for? Have you used Amazon lately? If so, do you treat God as an “add on item” to get free delivery? Or is God what you are here for in the first place?

David asks the question in Psalm 24 “Who may ascend the hill of the Lord?” High places were frequently a place for encounter with God: for example, Moses met God on Mount Sinai and the temple was built on Mount Zion. So David’s question is about who can enter God’s presence. The answer he gives is, “He who has clean hands and a pure heart.” We can only have clean hands by having them washed – and forgiveness is available through Jesus Christ. But a pure heart?

Something that is pure is not contaminated. We want things to be pure – pure water, pure salt … . Our heart is the centre of our being; it is where our loves, desires and fundamental trust reside. A pure heart only loves one thing, only desires one thing, only fundamentally trusts one thing – God. The opposite is a divided heart where there are competing loves and loyalties, and the Psalmist says elsewhere “give me an undivided heart” (Psalm 86v11). The first of the Ten Commandment is like it; “you shall have no other gods before me”.

This is a challenging beatitude – do I seek God more than anything else and before anything else (whether family, possessions, career, education, health, wealth …)? If so, then you can be among the happiest on earth; you will find Him and He will satisfy your heart and soul – both now and in the future.

“Lord give me an individed heart” which seeks you above anything and everything else – and I greatly look forward to seeing you!

With love and blessing,

Roland

News

• Alpha
  • It has been lovely to have both new and returning people on the Alpha Courses. Let’s both give thanks and pray for all involved.
  • It has been wonderful to have the Twenties Alpha/Christianity Explored group. This is ceasing for the present time, but a big thank you to Dave and Emily for leading this.
• Sunday mornings
  • As previous with regards to precautions
• This Sunday
  • We will be celebrating communion this Sunday during the Zoom time.

Programme – Please contact roland@hopadmaston.org.uk if you would like to join any of our meetings on Zoom.

Sunday morning worship is now live-streamed on both Youtube and Facebook from Admaston House at 10.30am.

Prayer

Give thanks:

• For those who are participating on Alpha courses at present.

Prayer:

• Those who are suffering with ill-health at present.
• Let’s use our daily prayer diaries to pray for one another.
• For our students at Universities.

Other general information

Pastoral Care – If you are in isolation and need support (eg shopping), please contact natalie@hopeadmaston.org.uk who will arrange with the team of helpers.

Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

Beatitude 5 – Happy are the Merciful

Matthew 5v7 “Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy.”

A legalistic and judgmental spirit is the cause of much unhappiness. We are unhappy with those around us, they wind up unhappy with us and we end up unhappy with ourselves too.

To show mercy is to give others some slack, to forgive what they do wrong, to be generous to them despite their actions.

How can we do this when we are not naturally so inclined? When we truly receive God’s mercy, we are so filled with gratitude that his mercy changes us to become merciful. Feed on God’s mercy, allow yourself to be transformed by his mercy into someone who is merciful. And then you showing mercy is the demonstration of God’s mercy in you – and in that you can be sure of his mercy to come too.

The funny thing too, is that as we go out of our way to be merciful to others, we somehow also experience more of God’s mercy towards us now.

This attitude towards others is the secret of both being a light in the world (v14) and of following the interpretations Jesus gives to the Old Testament law (v17-48).

May you and I both fully experience God’s mercy, and be people of mercy.

With love and blessing,

Roland

News

• Alpha
  • The NHS Alpha has gone well with several participants.
  • There are a couple of new participants for the Ladies Alpha starting this evening and the Men’s Alpha on Tuesday.
  • The Christianity Explored with the Twenties Group restarted last week too.
• Sunday mornings
  • Covid-19 precautions – As circulated earlier, we have a specific QR code for Hope Community Church. If you have a new enough smart phone and have downloaded the app, you can use this to help support the track and trace system.
• Zoom meetings
  • There are now occasions when between Hope and St Christophers there are more than one Zoom meeting at a time. St Christophers have therefore also bought a Zoom licence. Some small group meetings are now using a different Zoom number. Sunday morning and most Hope meetings remain the same. Please contact roland@hopeadmaston.org.uk if you would like to join any of our meetings on Zoom.
• Food bank drive-through – Sunday 27^th September 2-5pm.
  • We have been able to regularly support the drive through collections for the foodbanks. This time the collection is at All Saints. The collection is for the two Telford foodbanks and the Wrekin Community fridge.
• Prayer Day – Wednesday 28^th October
  • We are planning a prayer day for the 28^th For obvious reasons this will not be the same format as previous ones. We plan to have a series of bursts during the day with some time on Zoom, some in person for those who are able and some as prayer walk too.

Programme – Please contact roland@hopeadmaston.org.uk if you would like to join any of our meetings on Zoom.

Sunday morning worship is now live-streamed on both YouTube and Facebook from Admaston House at 10.30am.

Prayer

• For those of use who are suffering with ill-health at present.
• The Alpha Courses (see above)
• For our students at Universities.
• For our school children for whom life is very different to last year. Some are currently in isolation due to other members of the school testing positive for Covid19.

Other general information

Pastoral Care – If you are in isolation and need support (eg shopping), please contact natalie@hopeadmaston.org.uk who will arrange with the team of helpers.

Praying for Schools week – This starts Monday 28^th September and I have attached a flyer for details.

Care for the Family Events – Care for the family offer resources for men, women, mums, dads, parenting and so on. This link gives a selection of their upcoming events – why not register? https://www.careforthefamily.org.uk/events/events-online

Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

Beatitude 4 – Happy are the Hungry

Matthew 5v6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”

Have you hungered and thirsted for something and not been able to satisfy the desire? Maybe it has been as simple as your need for a drink in hot weather, but you are away from any supply. Maybe it is something deeper you have sought such as achievement or success; maybe it is for a relationship or friendship; maybe it is for aspects of character or looks; maybe for finances or security. Whatever it is has proved either elusive or transitory – just as you think it is in your grasp, it escapes or fades away.

Jesus is saying that, as one who belongs to the kingdom of God,  you will hunger and thirst for righteousness – you will seek what is right and good. And this deep desire of your heart will be rewarded – you will be filled. Fulfilment in the Christian life is not about having everything you desire, but about desiring everything God is promising. This comes back again to repentance and a change of heart.

How can we be so filled?

• Firstly, by Christ’s death on the cross, we are declared righteous – our guilt is dealt with and gone. Have you had a nagging guilt which you have wanted to be rid of? The truth is that Jesus has dealt with it and he pronounces you not guilty. You are now righteous in God’s sight, and knowing you are righteous in God’s sight satisfies the soul.
• Secondly, God gives the Holy Spirit to those who are his children, and his Spirit has the power to overcome sin in our lives and bring righteousness. Imagine being filled with the Holy Spirit! I mean really filled – do you want it? Do you seek it?

Our problem is that we want righteousness, but when it comes to it, there are other things we find we want more. I think there are two things we can do to train our hearts to seek righteousness. Firstly, we can control what our heart sees and let it see more of God’s righteousness; secondly, we can pray and earnestly ask God to create in us a heart which craves righteousness and the filling of his Holy Spirit.

With love and blessing,

Roland

News

• Alpha
  • We have had people signing up for the Alpha courses. Are there people you can invite – either for online or in person? The St Christopher’s courses start on 24^th and 29^th September and the NHS one on 21^st.
• Sunday mornings
  • Covid-19 precautions – There is no change to the instructions issued previously.

Programme – Please contact roland@hopeadmaston.org.uk if you would like to join any of our meetings on Zoom.

Sunday morning worship is now live-streamed on both YouTube and Facebook from Admaston House at 10.30am.

Prayer

Give thanks:

• For what God has already done in you – including changing your heart (see “Thought”).

Prayer:

• The Holy Spirit’s anointing on our gathering together.
• The Alpha Courses starting up on 21st, 24th and 29th September (see previous email news).
• For students starting at university this month.

Other general information

Pastoral Care – If you are in isolation and need support (eg shopping), please contact natalie@hopeadmaston.org.uk who will arrange with the team of helpers.

Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

Beatitude 3 – Happy are the Meek

Matthew 5v5 “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”

The Greek word for “meek” is used two other times in Matthew. Both are normally translated “gentle” and relate to Jesus:

• Once when Jesus says “take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble in heart …”
• And then as Jesus enters Jerusalem and the prophet Zechariah is quoted, “Behold your king is coming to you, meek and mounted on a donkey …”

What does Jesus mean about himself and what is he calling us too?

• Jesus is most probably using the words of Psalm 37v11, “The wicked will be no more  … but the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace.” The ‘but’ is contrasting the meek with the wicked. The Biblical contrast is this – the wicked are those who are proud before God and do their own thing, the righteous are those who are meek before God and follow his ways. This was most obvious with the Israelites in the wilderness in the book of Numbers 14. They arrogantly made decisions based on their own views, inclinations, and perceptions of their relative strengths and weaknesses. The result was that they did not go into the land God was giving them as an inheritance, but had to wait for the next generation.
• If the word is to be understood as gentle, then it most probably refers to our attitude to one another being like that of Jesus who treated, especially the vulnerable, so gently.

Do we want to move into what God has for us? There is the 1990’s song which includes the line “for our inheritance give us the lost”. The truth is that the way to move into all that God has for us is to submit in meekness to him: it means obeying him whether his call is to advance, to stand still, or to regroup. What is God saying to you today? Are you meek enough to obey?

With love and blessing,

Roland

News

• Worship evening – Sunday 6^th September at 6-6.45pm at Admaston House
  • Do join us for an outdoor worship evening to take advantage of the fact that we can sing outside!! Social distancing will still be applied and chairs will be household-grouped outside like on Sunday mornings. This is in addition to our morning gathering.
• Sunday mornings
  • Covid-19 precautions – There is no change to the instructions issued previously.
  • Communion – This Sunday 6^th we will be taking Communion together during the “Zoom” part. This will be done in a Covid-19-secure way. Everyone will be offered separate blackcurrant cups and “bread” and be able to access them in a distanced way. Those who are joining on-line can be prepared with their own materials.
• Magazines
  • Big thank you to so many of you!! There are three sets remaining if you are up for more.

Programme –

Please contact roland@hopeadmaston.org.uk if you would like to join any of our meetings via Zoom.

Sunday morning worship is now live-streamed on both Youtube and Facebook from Admaston House at 10.30am.

Prayer

Give thanks:

• Use the church prayer diary to give thanks for one another.

Prayer:

• The Holy Spirit’s anointing on our gathering together.
• The Alpha Courses starting up on 21st, 24th and 29th September.

Other general information

Pastoral Care – If you are in isolation and need support (eg shopping), please contact natalie@hopeadmaston.org.uk who will arrange with the team of helpers.

Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

Beatitude 2 – Happy are those who Mourn

Matthew 5v3 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.”

This verse seems quite bizarre in the world’s eyes – surely those who party are ones who are happy and blessed?

Though this verse is often used at funerals, most commentators agree that Jesus is primarily referring to his followers mourning with regards to sin. It is a sorrow of heart at both our own sin and the sin in the world. This is an appropriate response to sin: Jesus himself wept over Jerusalem because they had not responded to him. Is my heart moved by sin?

The beauty for those in the kingdom of God is that we can go to the cross whether for our own sin or those of others. The cross brings us forgiveness and assurance of our acceptance by our heavenly Father. In the cross and resurrection we also find hope for tomorrow as we know God has the power to answer our prayers. And ultimately we have hope in the eradication of all sin in the new heaven and earth when Christ returns. We are comforted in this acceptance by our Father and our hope for tomorrow.

Truly those who mourn over sin are comforted for they are accepted by God and welcomed into the kingdom. In fact, they are happy and blessed.

May the Lord give us hearts which mourn at sin, and know the joy of his comfort.

With love and blessing,

Roland

News

• Worship evening – Sunday 6^th September at 6pm at Admaston House
  • We are planning a short outdoor worship evening to take advantage of the fact that we can sing outside!! Social distancing still need to be applied and chairs will be household-grouped outside like on Sunday mornings. This is an exciting opportunity to worship in song together!!
• Sunday mornings
  • Offerings – Thank you to those who have asked about a collection box on Sunday mornings. We recognise it is important to offer everyone the opportunity to take part in this act of worship as God has called to do. We will begin to provide one at the entrance on a Sunday morning by the hand-sanitiser station so that your hands can be sanitised before and after. We are grateful to all those who give by standing order or on-line and would encourage you to participate in this way if possible. Bank details can be obtained from Tony.
  • Coffee – As traditional as the church offering is the provision of coffee!! We believe that it is possible to offer this in the current circumstances with appropriate precautions. If someone feels this is a ministry they would like to offer to the congregation, please let Tony or Roland know.
  • Covid-19 precautions – There is no change to the instructions issued previously.
• Prayer Meetings
  • 1^st Monday evening – As people resume more normal routines, we will return to a monthly prayer meeting on a Monday evening. This will still be on Zoom at present as that seems to offer people easier access. Gill will be leading on the 7^th
  • Wednesday mornings – We will continue to meet on Zoom for prayer at 8am.
• Devoted Online
  • Those of you who were booked into Devoted have received an email highlighting the availability of an on-line video. The programme does not fit the way we are doing things on a Sunday morning at present and so we plan to use different elements from it over the coming weeks.
• Magazines
  • A huge thank you to all who have taken piles of magazines. We greatly appreciate your efforts in this – and believe this is a strategic time. May the Lord open people’s hearts and move in our communities. There are three sets of streets currently waiting for those who would still like to distribute some.
• Alpha – Do bear in mind, pray for and invite friends to the following Alphas being planned:
  • Mon 21^st September – an NHS Alpha for NHS staff being led by Andrea Ellis and others from the hospital.
  • Thur 24^th September – ladies’ Alpha led by Dawn and the ladies’ group
  • Tues 29^th September – men’s Alpha led by Roland and the men’s group.

Programme –

Please contact roland@hopeadmaston.org.uk if you would like to join any of our meetings on Zoom.

Sunday morning worship is now live-streamed on both Youtube and Facebook from Admaston House at 10.30am.

Prayer

Give thanks:

• For our church family
• For the increasing freedom we are able to experience

Prayer:

• The Holy Spirit’s anointing on our gathering together.
• For wisdom for all in the application of guidelines.
• As many start back to work and education this next week, let’s pray for peace and wisdom for one another.
• Ruth is beginning to reach out on behalf of St Christopher’s Trust to young people in the area. Please pray for her and those she makes contact with as she seeks to launch this new initiative at this critical time.

Other general information

Pastoral Care – If you are in isolation and need support (eg shopping), please contact natalie@hopeadmaston.org.uk who will arrange with the team of helpers.

Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

Beatitude 1 – Poor in Spirit

Matthew 5v3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

On Sunday mornings, I have been interested to look at the commands of Jesus in sequence in Matthew – seeing what he has actually told us to do: we are now at what we call the “Sermon on the Mount”. This sermon is heavily reliant on the idea of the kingdom of heaven, and much of it is expansion of the principles set in the beatitudes. I intend to reflect on each beatitude in turn over the next few weeks in this “Thought for the week”.

In our culture it is often the assertive, the self-confident and the self-assured who obtain things. In the kingdom of heaven it is quite different. Jesus says the kingdom of heaven belongs to those who are “poor in spirit”. He means those who are humble, who are not self-promoting. It is those who do not consider themselves to be the most important or to be the most “OK”. Someone who is poor in spirit will recognise their errors and admit them, they will defer to the preferences of others, and they will not presume their own importance; they will not seek their own ends, but consider the needs of others above their own. Our reliance is on God our heavenly Father.

Jesus exemplifies this spirit. He is the one who gave up heaven for a season to come to earth as a human. He served and served, even washing his disciples’ feet. He was ill-treated and abused even to death, but he never retaliated.

What situations are we facing where we need to exercise this poverty of spirit, this spirit of humility?

May the Spirit of Christ dwell in each one of us.

With love and blessing,

Roland

News

Regathering Reminders

• Invitation – You are welcome to invite people to our Sunday morning gathering.
• Bring – Face covering, (and optionally, water-bottle and Bible).
• Arrival – Please arrive between 10.15 and 10.25, wear facemask, sanitise hands and proceed to the meeting room to sit in households.
• Facemasks – Facemasks must now be worn while in the building.
• Social distancing – Please note the government guidelines require social distancing between households. This is for our mutual protection.
• Toilets – If you use the toilet during the morning, please use the spray and paper towels to wipe the surfaces you touch afterwards.
• Exit – Please exit promptly to the grass area, taking all belongings, sanitising your hands and putting any rubbish in the bin. You may social distance with others and then exit through the gate.

• Autumn Hope Magazines –
  • The magazines have arrived and will be available from this Sunday to take for distribution. Please respect social distancing while collecting.
  • To name a set for yourself, please let me know.
  • While delivering: Take hand sanistiser with you; maintain social distancing from people you meet; Do not touch your face without sanitising your hands; Sanitise your hands before you begin and at the end.

Programme –

Please contact roland@hopeadmaston.org.uk if you would like to join any of our meetings via Zoom.

Sunday morning worship is now live-streamed on both Youtube and Facebook from Admaston House at 10.30am.

Prayer

• Give thanks
  • For our church family
  • For the increasing freedom we are able to experience.
• Prayer
  • The Holy Spirit’s anointing on our gathering together.
  • For wisdom for all in the application of guidelines.
  • Use our daily prayer guide and let’s pray for one another in this time of change.

Other general information

Pastoral Care – If you are in isolation and need support (eg shopping), please contact natalie@hopeadmaston.org.uk who will arrange with the team of helpers.