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Many of you will be aware that I have been reading a former curate Tracey Bateson’s book entitled Keep Wrestling. One of the many encouragements that Tracey mentions is to: ‘Make time to feed our souls!’ How do we achieve this admirable aim?

In his ‘whatever’ passage, the apostle Paul suggests, ‘Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about such things and the God of peace will be with you.’ (Philippians 4:8)

The Christian way of life is not about ‘doing’ lots of things, e.g. attending church so many times a week, reading so much of the Bible every day, praying for a certain length of time, and so on. It is about ‘being’, i.e. being secure in our place as children of the living God. It is about surrendering ourselves to God’s grace and mercy. It is about ‘feeding our souls’.

Mel and I have been thinking about practical ways of ‘feeding our souls’ and here are a few for your consideration:

• On a walk in the countryside take in the beauty of creation, rather than talking about mundane matters of life.
• Spend more time reading a Christian book, e.g. Soul Keeping by John Ortberg, rather than reading the latest fictional book by our favourite author.
• Reduce the time watching TV (in my case less late night sports coverage!).
• Listen to Christian music or inspirational talks in the car, rather than endless debates and supposition about the latest news item.
• Observe a youngster at church responding in awe to worship or watch the wonder of a young child discovering a new skill, ability or sensation.

As we move into a season of lighter and longer days, rather than filling them with endless jobs, chores and entertainment, may we find ways of ‘feeding our souls’ and take a lead from St Augustine whose prayer was:

‘You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in you.’

God bless,

Andy McPherson, vicar

‘Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power.’ Psalm 145:4 NLT

“I once participated in a Passover meal and was struck by the level of storytelling that was involved. The great acts of God in leading the children of Israel from slavery towards freedom were explained, with an emphasis that the youngest was informed of this great act of divine deliverance.
Story-keeping and storytelling are both key aspects of the life of any community. Families enjoy sitting together and recalling events from long ago as well as the immediate present. How often do we sit around the table and open a sentence with the words, “Do you remember when …”? It’s why it’s important that church communities continue to tell of the great deeds of God recorded in scripture and add personal testimony to how God is equally active in the life of its individual members. Church is the active community of God’s people engaging in faith … It is the stories we each have of God’s dealings in our life that offer the greatest testimony to the reality of that same God in today’s world.”

The above is part of an online devotional I receive from Premier (written by Dr Micha Jazz) and it speaks to me about what our children’s ministry is all about – passing on the story of God to the next generations; telling God’s story as recorded in the Bible; continuing the story of how He is at work in our lives today!

We tell His story in schools through Open the Book; on Sundays in our groups, all-age services, and Messy Church; in our weekday groups; and at yearly events, like the Light Party.

In a couple of weeks we have our Messy Good Friday where we will explore the Easter story. Craft activities will be linked with different aspects of the story – an opportunity to sit and talk with people as you do them. There will be the prayer trail, reflecting on the Easter story as you go around and collect items on the way; these will fit into eggs in an egg box to be taken home and used to help remember and retell the story. And of course, through the service, our puppets will help to share the story!

So, how are you passing God’s story on to the next generation? Can you be involved in passing on that story to them here at St Saviour’s? Sign up today to help on Good Friday or come and have a chat to explore how else you can get involved!

Thank you.

Caz Gatehouse, children’s minister

‘They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.’ Acts 2: 42

When reading this verse I find it helpful to evaluate my life and the life of St Saviour’s. Now I understand times have changed and people don’t have the time to meet daily, etc., but one thing that we can evaluate is our attitude.
The word devoted means ‘to be very loyal and giving yourself over to …’ If we put that into the context of the apostles’ teaching, we need to consider how much we read the Bible and act upon it. It is easy to turn up on a Sunday morning, listen to a talk, and go home to live our lives for the rest of the week. But this is not what being a part of the church is about. ‘Devoting’ doesn’t mean one day a week, it means every day. Do we take time out of our busy lives to spend with God, digest his word, and act upon it? The book about the early church is called ‘Acts’, because the church acted. (It is a good thing they did, otherwise we wouldn’t know God today.) The church is not a building, but the people.

Are we willing to act? We often say we are too busy, but talking to God is easier than talking to anyone. He is always there, we don’t have to even dial a phone. We can talk when walking, eating, driving, or doing any other daily activity. I have up in my office a piece of paper that just says ‘PRAY’ because even working for a church, I sometimes forget.

With Easter coming up it is a great time to really think about this verse and how we can become more like the early church. They were seeing people come to know God daily. How long does it take us to see up to 10 people come to know God? Jesus died for us so that we can have eternal life with God. This should be something we want to share with others as God does. Just imagine if someone hadn’t shared the gospel with you. We don’t want to take opportunities away from others.

Especially our young people. We could always do with more volunteers. Feel free to join the team after Easter. A big thank you though to the few volunteers we do have, it is very much appreciated.

Nathan Bendell, youth minister

Julie Melvin explores why and how we can get involved

Can you volunteer to be a befriender of someone over 65?

Why? One third of over-75s usually spend more than 12 hours a day on their own. One in 10 of the over-75s say they feel ‘intensely lonely all of the time’. One in eight older people who are lonely said they worry about their mental health because they have no-one to talk to. At the last census 20% of Bournemouth population were over 65; nearly 10% (15,296) of Bournemouth’s residents consider themselves carers.

There is some excellent work already being done to address this need at St Saviour’s. For example, Diamond Times, which is being featured on Hope In The Community’s Facebook page at the moment (also shared to our own page).

Here are some comments made by Wendy Hallowell, a member of our 9am congregation who is a befriender with Hope In The Community:

“I have found the experience rewarding. A lot of patience is needed to fulfil needs but not ‘tread on their toes’. I read magazines, and sometimes sing or I read poetry, which she likes. Conversation can be challenging, but when the lady who usually cares and supports gets home from her shopping, I sometimes stay for a cup of tea and have a chat with her.”

How can you join in?

Give a little time: Could you drop in to chat with someone who’s feeling lonely? Or even become a telephone befriender? Just a couple of hours per month could transform a lonely life. Contact me if you would like to volunteer.

Give financially: three people giving £5 per month would allow us to re-connect someone with their local community.

Pray: Hope In The Community can send you regular information so that you can pray for an end to the growing epidemic of loneliness.

Julie Melvin, Hope in the Community representative

‘Help to carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will obey the law of Christ.’ Galatians 6 verse 2

How many times have you felt overwhelmed and alone in your worries and fears? How many times has God seemed a million miles away and you wonder if your prayers are lost in the ether? How many times have you wanted people to pray with you, but you didn’t like to ask?

I suspect all of us can identify with these … and that’s where St Saviour’s Prayer Chain comes in. We are told in Galatians to carry one another’s burdens – and this is what we do!

The prayer chain is made up of a motley crew of about 30 St Saviour’s folk: old and young, men and women, all who hear the cares and worries of our church family and pray for them. It’s that simple.

“But how do I ask the Prayer Chain for prayer?” I hear you ask.

There are two ways of contacting the chain: email or text. Each of the methods reaches me and I then ask the chain (by text) to pray for you, giving them only as much detail as you want me to share.

“… and how do I join this Chain of Pray-ers?” I hear you ask.

If you would like to be a member of the prayer chain, then please contact me. All you need is a heart that wants to carry another’s burdens in prayer … and a mobile phone!!

Sometimes we know the folk we are praying for, and sometimes we don’t; sometimes we hear what happens next, and sometimes we don’t. However, we do know that our heavenly Father hears our prayers and holds the future, and so we leave those for whom we pray in His safe and loving hands, knowing that we have helped to carry another’s burden, and give thanks for answered prayer.

Come and use us, or come and join us!

Jan Randall, prayer chain coordinator

Contact Jan by email: prayerchain@stsaviours.net

Jan’s personal testimony

Since I joined St Saviour’s a little over three years ago, I have experienced the prayer chain from both sides. Our first grandchild was gravely ill and in hospital for the first ten months of her life. We drew such comfort knowing that every day there was someone in the chain praying for her, and us, as we walked that rough road, lifting us up in prayer, committing us all to our loving heavenly Father. Without that support, that ‘bearing of our burdens’, I know that we would have been weaker, more faltering people. Our good news is that our little girl is recovering; God answered the prayers of his faithful people with her healing. This is the reason that I gladly accepted the role of prayer chain coordinator, so that I could support others in the way I was supported.