St Peter's Yaxley

…reaching out in love and faith

A Prayer for St. Peter’s

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Being the Light of the World

We proclaim that Jesus is the Light of the World.

In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.  The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it  ( John 1:4,5 ).

We declare that St Peters is the light of God, set on a hill. And it is to be a beacon of hope and life and light to all that is around it in Yaxley.  We declare that God’s church here at St Peters will make a difference to this area.

Lord we thank you for the church of St Peters and that it stands on a hill seen from any direction. 

It is a place where the light of the world shines into the community from the provisions, and the people that you have gathered there in your name. 

We thank you for the presence and power of your spirit when we are gathered together and for that same strength and power of your holy spirit in us spread out around the community when we are not all together in one place. 

Alone or together we cry out to you at this time: eradicate COVID 19 and heal our planet from it’s ravages.  For all those who have been struck down by depression, health issues, job losses and relationship conflicts, in the name of your son Jesus we ask you to heal and restore them to full health and heavenly father comfort those who have suffered loss at this time.

Lord we give you thanks and praise for the building adaptation taking place that through it your light would shine out further and stronger into this community changing peoples’ lives, giving them hope for the present and the future.  Thank you  for the giving and the planning to make this possible. In Your name we bless all those working on the project with your  protection and your presence.

We pray your blessings and the power of the Holy Spirit  on all those groups who will be using the new facilities now and when we can meet together.  We pray for the Holy Spirit to give us all visions and dreams as to how the adaptations can be used and developed to meet the needs of the wider community, for your Kingdom to come closer and wider and your name to be lifted up and glorified in this place.

Blessing

We bless you people of St Peters in the name of Jesus Christ to rise up and be the light of the world, that all those in darkness will be affected and drawn to your light.  We bless you to shine out for the Kingdom of God.  We bless you to repel the darkness in the area in which you are based.  We bless you to be in the world but not of it, and therefore to be different and to be effective in Yaxley and surrounding community.  We bless you to be the aroma of Christ.

Amen

Where has your journey taken you this year?

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Dear Friends

I have enjoyed my first few months as Vicar in Yaxley, thank you for your warm welcome.

This year has been a journey in many ways, not least, travelling across the country to a new place, new church and new people.  Our Christmas story is one of journeys, Mary and Joseph travelling to Bethlehem, shepherds leaving their sheep, Wise Men travelling many miles.  The focus of our story is a baby born and placed in an animal feeding trough.  This baby was Jesus also called Emmanuel a word which means God with us. Jesus came to the world out of love for you and for me, to share his life with people and to enable people to come to know him and God his Father.

These journeys were not planned, they were inconvenient and difficult and this year may have been a hard one for you.  It might also have been one of new and exciting opportunities.  Wherever your journey has taken you this year, I pray you will know the peace that Jesus came to bring us and the love that is there for each one of us.  Please join us over the Christmas season to celebrate afresh the birth of Jesus.

With every blessing for a happy and blessed Christmas and New Year 

Rev Sarah.

Seeing the opportunity, not the obstacle

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When this issue lands on your doorstep it’s likely we’ll be approaching, or have just started, Lent.

Lent begins on 6th March; Ash Wednesday. Most people enjoy tucking into their pancakes on Shrove Tuesday but how many of us think about why we celebrate this day, and then go on to participate in Lent?

Lent marks the lead up to Easter. So, what are we really doing when we take part in Lent? As Christians participating in Lent, we are replicating the 40 days that Jesus spent in the desert, resisting temptation. It is a time of reflection and preparation.

Traditionally, Lent was a time to give something up, however, in recent years it has been recognised that Lent can be a time to give. Jesus lived a life characterised by His generosity and love, He noticed people’s needs, He gave his time, and ultimately, He gave his life and changed the World.

Campaigns such as #40acts, 40 generous acts in 40 days, recognise that through generosity, we can begin to change lives, in the same way Jesus did! Generosity happens when we see the opportunity not the obstacle, let’s seize these opportunities and see our community thrive further; let’s live the lives Jesus wanted for us.

Lent is concluded in the final week before Easter; Holy Week. At SPC we will be marking this week with four evenings of Meditations led by our Home Groups, taking place Monday to Thursday, from 7.30pm. On Good Friday, we have time for reflection at 11am & 2pm services and our Easter Sunday celebrations will be taking place at our 9am & 11am Holy Communion services. At our 11am service we will be inviting the young people whom have been preparing to receive Holy Communion, to take their first communion with us.

Everyone is invited to all our services and events, to come along and experience the love of Jesus.

God Bless,

Laura

Laura Ashley, St. Peter’s Parish Communications Officer

07939 449255, lauraashley@saintpeters.co.uk

The Light in the Darkness

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Christmas! One of the first indications we are nearing the big day is the appearance of lights. Fairy lights on trees, lights outside houses, candles in windows, shopping centre lights. Perhaps this all helps to brighten the darkest time of year in Europe.

When we walk into a room, we can’t do anything until we turn on a light. For many this time of year can be difficult. Turning on a light reminds them of relatives or friends no longer present, reminds them that their circumstances are poor, money is tight and the future looks bleak, it reminds them of their loneliness. We are told that loneliness is one of the greatest public health challenges of our time. Dark days may lead to depression which artificial light makes no difference to.

The wonderful thing about Jesus Christ is that His coming into the world brings light and hope. How is that? God has shown up. In an unexpected place; a country under military occupation where there was poverty and oppression, through unexpected people; an awkward family situation with Mary and Joseph unmarried, a difficult start; to become refugees as they fled to Egypt because of a tyrannical king. Why did God do this? Simply because He thought we were worth it. What other king would give up His throne in order to show Himself to us in human form, would be prepared to be vulnerable and experience life with all its difficulties in order to be with us, would offer us a relationship with Him so that we might not be alone and would give us life and hope?

Jesus IS “Immanuel” which means God with us. He IS “The LIGHT in the darkness” John 1:5. Christmas is not just a “once upon a time” story. No, it is Jesus breaking into the world to save us! “Christ the Saviour is born!”

We would love for you to join us at St. Peter’s this Christmas to celebrate the birth of Christ our Saviour. With a range of events and services we hope that you will find community, peace and love amongst our church family, and in Jesus Christ.

God Bless,

#followthestar

Rescued by a Refugee

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I wonder if you saw footage or read about the refugee from Mali who rescued a four year old in Paris recently.

The child had been left alone in his fourth floor apartment while his father went shopping. Somehow the boy got out onto the balcony and had climbed over the rail. He was hanging on by his fingertips. Mamoudo Gassama, who is 22, saw the boy and with strength and skill and no regard for his own safety scaled the outside of the building rather like Spider-Man. He reached the balcony where the boy was and Mamoudo pulled him to safety. A large crowd had gathered on the ground and one of them captured the incident on his phone. Footage then went viral.

Mamoudo has been hailed as a hero. He was then invited to meet President Macron who promised him fast track citizenship and a job with the city’s fire department.

Around two thousand years ago another refugee came to rescue the whole of humanity which was, at best, “hanging on by its fingertips”. With no regard for his own safety Jesus allowed himself to be lifted up and nailed to the cross. Soon afterwards having risen from the dead Jesus ascended into heaven to “sit beside the President”. The citizenship won by Jesus however was not for himself but for all who believe and trust in Him. Those who follow Jesus are promised permanent citizenship in the Kingdom of Heaven.

If you feel like you are hanging on by your fingertips or if life has never been better or if you are somewhere in between you are very welcome to join us at St. Peter’s (or your local church) and find out more about the invitation to become a citizen of God’s everlasting Kingdom.

May I invite any primary school aged children to our Big Top Holiday Club from August 28th to 31st. There will be NO clowns. Further details on our website or from our church office (number below).
With my prayers,

Jon
Jon Randall (Vicar) 07939 449255; vicar@saintpeters.co.uk