Sorry everyone ... due to the snow Nick's visit has been cancelled. We will rearrange for a later date.

​Tomorrow  we are privileged to welcome Nick Bundock to our church meeting. He has a vital story to tell and I am delighted that he is coming.
​We are going to think about sexuality and inclusion. It's not about the rights and wrongs of same sex-marriage or same-sex activity. It's about our desire to create a place where people can safely be themselves, no matter who they are or what they do.
​I often preach about love. I do this because Jesus stressed its importance. His apostles agreed, claiming  that whoever loves has obeyed that whole law and that God is love. Our faith is not about obeying a set of rules; it is about expressing the love of God.
​You are invited to share in this discussion. 

It's time to get practical. Our Bible reading this Sunday is about our behaviour at home, at work and in our dealings with those in authority.
​The remit is simple: we are to live such good lives that we win people over, not by mithering people into faith but by the sheer quality of our lives. Wives are to win over their husbands by the sheer quality of their lives. Husbands are to treat their wives as equal partners. Workers are to do their work well and behave well when they are treated badly. We are to respect those who have authority over us for the Lord's sake. 
​This is a huge challenge but we can do it.  
​Peter highlights some amazing truths as he urges us to do these things ... that a gentle and quiet spirit is precious in God's sight ... that we are all equal partners with God ... that Jesus is the shepherd and overseer of our souls ... that we can entrust ourselves to God ...  that while we are to respect all people we need only fear God. The more we grasp these truths the more Christlike we will be.
​Church helps us to concentrate on the wonderful truths of the gospel so we can go out and live good lives.  Let's gather expectantly this weekend.
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