Blakenall United Reformed Church

Saturday, September 3, 2016

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Monday, April 21, 2014

Monday, July 29, 2013

We should be the Samaritan and help those who are in trouble

Many residents are getting deeper in debt , facing eviction, break up of relationships etc and the future will get worse
As Christians we must stand together with them to help.. if necessary hold their hand and give them good advice and steer them back to the black out of the red.
Pay days loans and such extortionate ways of covering debts on a temporary basis just get people even deeper into the mud.
I note that there is an organisation Christians against poverty based in Yorkshire.. we need a branch here in Walsall urgently to work together with Citizens advice bureau and Welfare rights to rescue many residents and families from a catastrophe .
We should remember the story of the good Samaritan and not walk on the other side of the road.. we do not know if we may at some future date be the one lying in the gutter hoping that some Good Samaritan notices us

Ian Robertson
Elder Blakenall URC

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Newsletter July 2013

Monday, January 28, 2013

February news

Editor’s newsletter January 2013

Dear All,

We start a new year and wonder what is in store for us? As our Minister has talked to us.. God does not choose always the most talented to do His work.. But He is with us all the way.. Very encouraging when any of us are posed to do what may seem to be an impossible task...As Wilbert has reminded us in his sermons... We shall miss Wilbert during January but hope that his trip back to Zimbabwe is successful. I hope we can establish some links with some parts of the community over there.

We also look back on another year in the life of our Church.. We must thank all those who have worked so hard to keep up the work of our Church... Everything from social events to looking after the day to day running .

I do think we must try even harder this year to attract new members to join us and recharge our junior church. We do need to increase our publicity to our local area to encourage them to join us at events and maybe then to our services.

There are going to be many more people and families who will be finding life getting tougher in the present difficult economic circumstances... There is an important place for our Church to help support the community . But they are not going to come through our door without quite a bit of effort on our part. I feel a new year resolution is poised to be posted and this one not to be abandoned by the end of January!

Regards Ian

FROM THE MINISTER’S DESK8/1/13

LET’S PUT OUR HANDS TOGETHER AND WORK

2012 has come and gone. Now we are faced with a brand new year whose paths we have never trodden neither are we aware of the kind of challenges that it brings. As novices, we step in it with caution, astute to our need for God. In Isaiah, A voice is calling, “Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God. Let every valley be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; and let the rough ground become a plain, and the rugged terrain a broad valley; Then the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all flesh will see it together For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.” (40:1-5)

It is sometimes not easy to see exactly what God had impressed on Isaiah’s heart when he called Israel to such a distinguished and noble task, work and level the playing field. Socio-political and economic imbalances can sometimes be disturbing enough for God to shack His people to some senses. It may surprise some to realise how uncomfortable our previous existence has been as we set our eyes on the glory to be revealed. We had almost grown to accept the rugged terrain in our lives. Mountains and hills had imposed themselves in our view and we had learnt to live with it. It had become normal in some situations to always follow small meandering foot paths as we navigate our way through. As much as we had developed skills and ability to cope with life trappings, it never was able to justify the unfortunate imbalances that life brings. The glory of the Lord will still need to be revealed for all flesh to see it together. It is therefore our collective responsibility to make smooth in the desert a highway for our God.

I am reminded of my own trappings in which the glory of the Lord had to be revealed. I grew up in a small two bedroomed house which had a living room and a small kitchenette. My Mother used the main bedroom with any female visitors who would normally visit for months on end. The spare bedroom was given for letting to provide income to sustain the utility bills. The kitchenette was converted into the boy’s bedroom. It provided just enough room for a double bed. The bed was free for anyone who turned up early to sleep. Six people, three facing each side, would somehow fit on this bed. The rest, depending on the day would sleep on the floor.

My Mother, a beautiful hard working woman whose beauty was now giving in to the wrinkles of age and the long hours of toiling in the sun, ensured that none of her children would go hungry and our home fire never flickered once. She worked hard to put food on the table every day and the type of meals would generally depend on what she could get.

Each day was anxious for itself. When things got really bad, she would take down her hymn book, call us all in and ask us to sing a song: “What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and grief’s to bear! What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer”! ”! I have been rocked to sleep many a night to the tune of this song. Come morning, another of her favourite songs, “Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee;” would wake me gently once again when she would be sitting by our bedside with a Bible in her hand. She read it to us loud and long. I always felt that maybe our home was blessed when she would say to us, “Children, come, sing with me once more”. One thing I learnt then is how God was always faithful to her. She always came back at the end of the day and still put food on the table for us all. On a good day and especially at Christmas, and other holidays, porridge would be prepared for breakfast, and then tea with buttered bread and jam and this would mark a perfect start for us. Rice and beef stew could be served for lunch and then Sadza and green vegetables in the evening. However, since she was just a simple house wife with no income, life remained hard and black tea and bread, sometimes punctuated with green vegetables that we would then use for both lunch and supper would make a great day for us and the multitude of relatives. Eggs were rare, only when she chose to give her children a treat after a long time. We appreciated what we had and it felt like everything to us.

It was not until I was blessed with a 12 roomed house in a low density area as a Minister in my previous charge that I realised how different life can be. My previous circumstances were never made right because I had accepted it. It remained until now on the heart of God that something must be done for all flesh to see the glory of the Lord from the same vintage point. To the children of Israel, He charges them through that voice calling from the wilderness, “Clear the way for the Lord…, make smooth in the desert a highway for our God.” Isaiah 40:3

2013 has come with new challenges for the children of God. We need to clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness. Together, let’s lift up all the valleys that had trapped our friends below. Those imposing characters and attitudes that have had no regard for anyone must be made low. If through human efforts, highways can be made, why should others continue to navigate their way through dangerous and meandering foot paths? For someone’s life to change in 2013, it’s going to take our heeding to Isaiah’s call and get everyone to work. It is true that one day you will be remembered for the contribution you are making today. The people whose lives you are touching now will impress it on God’s heart that you have been a good person.

After a period of hard work and loyalty to God, Nehemiah says, “Remember me for this. O my God, and do not blot out my loyal deeds which I have performed for the house of my God and its services.” (13:14)

Best Wishes Revd Wilbert Sayimani

Other Dates for your January diary and Future dates

Elders 9^th Jan 2013 at 7pm February 6th 7pm

Church Meeting AGM now February 7th 2pm ( as Wilbert away during January) . Also we are invited to:-

Coffee mornings 2^nd and 4^th Mondays 11 am

Church meetings last Thursday of every other month (January, March, May, July, September, November):

AGM Thursday 7th February 2pm.

Services to work with other 2 churches. We normally have parade 2nd Sunday and Communion 4th Sunday, Memorial service in June, Anniversary Service in September. 5^th Sunday to continue to be joint service.

There will be drop in coffee mornings on :

Monday 14th and 28th January 11.am

Do come in and have a chat.. A friendly social!!

This month the Church will be praying

especially for the people who live in the following streets :

Severn |Rd: Harden Rd; Barracks Lane: Green Rock Lane

Monday, December 3, 2012

December News

Notices December 2012

Pulpit Arrangements Services start at 11.0 am

Sunday 2nd John Austin

Sunday 9th Ges Murray Parade

Sunday 16th Ges Murray

Sunday Revd Wilbert Sayamani ( communion)

24th Christingle 4pm Revd Wilbert Sayamani

25th CHRISTMAS am service 9.30 Revd Sayamani You will be most welcome to join us.

Editor’s newsletter December

Dear All,

Christmas is round again... Does not seem five minutes since we celebrated in 2011!

A time to spend with our families and friends and maybe also review what we have been able to achieve over the past year. News elsewhere can seem depressing... Conflict in Gaza with the main sufferers being totally innocent civilians.. All in the region where the Son of God was born over 2000 year ago and we approach the anniversary of His birthday this month. I am sure we will all be praying that peace will prevail ... Another tragedy of a school bus wiped out by a train on a level crossing in Egypt with the loss of over 50 lives mostly tiny children... Their parents will be in our prayers who must be in agony caused by their loss.

In our area, many residents will be facing a tough 2013 with severe pressures on their budgets and their lives with more cuts to come. I hope we can offer support and help as Christians to those who are facing such difficult times.

We have had a momentous year in our church with the arrival of our new Minister. There must be an opportunity for us in 2013 to reach out and connect with our local community and emphasise the Good news message that sustains us as Christians .

I do hope you all rejoice together the Christmas and that the Holy Spirit will refresh you and prepare us all for the new year ahead with all the challenges good and bad that will happen.

Regards Ian

FROM THE MINISTER’S DESK

The year is almost coming to a close and we can look back with a measure of satisfaction at what the Lord has done for us and through us in the course of the year. We are again coming to that season of the year when everyone gets busy, rushing in many different directions. The tragedy and the irony of it all is that often, the real reason for the season, the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ is forgotten, somewhat unconsciously or unintentionally.

It is therefore important that I remind us all that Advent is that time of the year when we prepare for the Lord’s coming. At this time, most of our churches even light candles, read scripture passages and offer prayers related to the anticipation of God’s incarnation in Jesus Christ. So before the rush begins it is important to stop, reflect and listen for the voice of God. It is this quiet reflection that will redirect us into a place of quiet and peace as we think of our salvation, grace and Love. We suddenly come to that profound awareness that if God had not chosen to come to the world in His Son we all would not be here. This holy moment leads us into a place and spirit of thankfulness and gratitude.

While I was thinking about these things, I again stopped to ask about what I am thankful for in our Pastorate. Few things came to mind. Our leadership, the Elders and all those who lead and are involved in different capacities; Pins and Needles, Friendship group, Bible study leaders, home group fellowships, Brownies, Brigades, Pop In group, Coffee Mornings, Fish and chips events and many other activities that are going on in our Pastorate. I am also thankful to God for the Talent discovery and development that is bringing in a new wave of inspiration and excitement as we discover those talents that we have not been tapping into as a Pastorate. I am thankful for the manner in which we are embracing change and responding positively to the fresh expressions of faith that the United Reformed Church in general is panting for. I am thankful for the wonderful signs of Spiritual growth in our Pastorate.

My list can go on but let me stop and ask: “What are some of the things that you are thankful for in your life? As you consider your local congregation and your Pastorate in general, what are some of the things you are able to express gratitude and thanksgiving for? How is your congregation blessing those within your church and those outside? How are you blessing and encouraging your Minister and how is your Minister blessing and encouraging you? Are you at any point stopping to count your blessings at all or this is something you had not given a thought until now?

to give thanks to both God and the people around you. Too many people today conclude rather quickly that they have nothing to be thankful for, and that is mostly because they allow their minds to be dominated by that which has been a discouraging or negative experience. In any case, the Apostle Paul reminds us in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 that we must “in everything give thanks.” We need to be thankful in all things, to recognise the presence of God in sorrow as well as in joy, in the good experiences and even in the not so good ones. Are you thankful? Can you look up and thank the Lord every day and all the way, even sometimes through tears?

Christmas is a time for reconciliation, peace and hope. It is a time to know that no matter what we face and in spite of what is happening in our situations, God is in control: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called wonderful Councillor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end…”

Our thanks then must appropriately begin with what God has done, is doing and what we hope God will do. We simply need to acknowledge Him as the source of our blessings and hope. This time of Advent remind us that we must patiently wait on God to heal, restore and save us. We need to take time to listen to God’s voice, trust and act upon God’s word, and receive God’s peace. When we receive God’s peace, we will also realize that we are called to be agents of God’s peace and hope in the world. Are you an agent of God’s peace and hope at home, in your church and in the world?

I remain thankful for God’s bringing me here to be a part of you and serve Him with you in this way. I remain thankful of His Church with all its imperfections, failures and struggles. I do not know about you but advent and Christmas is a time to be hopeful and to expect the unexpected blessing from God. May you be surprised by grace and hope this Christmas?

Have a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year in the grace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Rev Wilbert Sayimani.

Other Dates for your December diary and Future dates

Elders 5^th Dec 9^th Jan 2013 at 7pm

Church Meeting 22^nd November at 2pm

Church Meeting AGM now February 7th 2pm ( as Wilbert away during January) . Also we are invited to:-

Service for Sunshine School Monday 2.30pm December 10th ....

Christmas fair 1st December 2pm.