Issue 133 February 2015

Transcription

1 Issue 133 February 2015 No, I am not Charlie. Personally, I find the kind of humour that characterized Charlie Hebdo distasteful, albeit certainly quite amusing at times, and often offensive. No one is spared, whether politicians, religion or the famous, all can find themselves objects of ridicule. So Charlie Hebdo is not a paper I would generally buy. But I do respect the right the publishers have to produce this material and others to buy it. Their cartoons lampoon Jesus Christ and the Christian faith as much as (if not more than) Islam but under no circumstances am I justified to react violently. The Kouachi brothers' action to avenge the prophet is simply not an option. The West's reaction to the jihadist attack on the Paris HQ of the French satirical publication has been unanimous - Je Suis Charlie, this could be me; we are all potential victims of extremist Islamist violence. As much as an attack on the cartoonists and editors themselves, this is an attack on some of the values that we hold so dear, in particular tolerance and the freedom of choice. And our response must also be rooted in these same values. But freedom, tolerance, truth, justice, respect and particularly forgiveness do not come naturally; they are the fruit of Jesus Christ's radical teaching, built into our collective psyche from centuries of Christian influence. In this respect the cover of the last edition of Charlie Hebdo is so apt. Picturing Muhammad (unidentified, but drawn in the way that they have always depicted the prophet) crying and holding his own Je Suis Charlie placard, the defiant declaration reads: Tout est pardonné, everything is forgiven. Indeed. In Jesus Christ, everything can be forgiven. Everything, from childish spite to the most horrendous atrocities committed in bitter anger and hatred - everything can be forgiven. Wonderfully, whatever we have done that we regret, we can be forgiven by God. And equally wonderfully, our own hearts can be changed by God so that we are able to forgive those that cause us pain. Forgiven and able to forgive - maybe I am Charlie after all Neil Rees clmchurchormskirk.org.uk facebook.com/clmormskirk Cottage Lane, Ormskirk, L39

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3 4 5 HANDYMAN SERVICES Why pay the higher prices for the smaller jobs? No job too small Bobby Handyman bobby-ams@blueyonder.co.uk Parbold Equestrian Centre Horse Riding Lessons for all ages and standards Family Specials from 12 Specialised tuition by British Horse Society Qualified Instructors For details of safe and friendly instruction come and see us at: Bradshaw Lane, Parbold or contact us on RAY LAWRENCE PAINTER & DECORATOR 19 Scott Drive Ormskirk Lancashire t: m: rayang.wwjd@uwclub.net I recently read a letter written by a father who wanted to apologise to a young man for not allowing him to marry his daughter: Dear Martin, I have been unable to sleep since I broke off your engagement to my daughter. Will you please forgive and forget? I was much too sensitive about your Mohican haircut, tattoos and pierced nose. I now realize motorcycles aren't really that dangerous, and I really should not have reacted that way to the fact that you have never held a job. I am also very sure that some other very nice people live under the bridge in the park, too. Sure my daughter is only 18 and wants to marry you instead of going to Oxford on full scholarship. After all, you can't learn everything about life from books. I sometimes forget how backward I can be. I was wrong. I was a fool. I have now come to my senses and you have my full blessing to marry my daughter. Sincerely, Your future father-in-law. P.S. Congratulations on winning the Lottery

4 6 7 Beyond the Compost Bin The catalogues come through the letterbox about now. Perfect pictures of perfect pinks and petunias, rampant in baskets and pots. Fuchsias like dancing ladies, and very busy lizzies; geraniums and verbenas, and those that sound like very nasty medical conditions - Osteospermum and Argyranthemum. There are plugs, mini-plugs and jumbo-plugs, depending upon the size of the little plants that you decide on. You can even purchase them ready-planted and arranged in hanging baskets, factory-farmed, virtually in flower and automatically watered and fed. Of course it is more fun to grow one s own from seed. But having recently moved house, the necessary basic work and planning is far more basic than what colour dianthus to buy. With no building to care for tender seedlings as yet, or even an essential garden shed, this is down-sizing in the extreme. Regrettably, there will be no early seed-sowing this year. This is the time for planning. The cold, dark, frosty evenings are ideal for deciding what to change in the garden when spring springs into new life, with new plants and new colours. From beyond this compost bin, there is an empty garden expanse and little else at the moment. I have no greenhouse, no shed, and even Queen Doris, our water-feature, is still waiting to claim her part of the garden, looking forward to her trellis and climbing plants in the sunshine. There is no pond, not even a puddle. So there is plenty to decide upon. As a person who likes to plan, and who prefers everything to go to plan, garden organizing is enjoyable. Jenny has told me the garden is a free space for me to arrange as I wish. No restrictions. No limitations. However, in case I am tempted to position Queen Doris on the roof of the greenhouse, or hire a digger to create a copy of Martin Mere, she is more than willing - nay, obliged - to offer suggestions. It is probably just as well. I have already examined pictures of eccentric gardens comprising topiary in the shape of elephants, or follies in the shape of just about anything! We know that plans can go awry. Although we plan to do this or that, or to go here or there, events outside our control often gang up on us. Sometimes we hear ourselves say, If it can go wrong it will do. As some of us found one evening recently, even something as essential as the electricity to our homes can go off, plunging us into a cold, unfriendly darkness - that is until the courteous and helpful electricity company furnished me with a temporary generator. Jenny had gone to Jersey that week - it was good to be provided with another Genny to keep myself and Portia cosy and warm! We are not in control of much around us in actual fact. In the garden we plan and work but life often takes us in a different direction. We should plan what we can, and prepare for what we can t. The future may surprise us. As the old hymn has it: I don t know what the future holds, but I know Who holds the future. A faith in those words will make us surprised at little. Ted Whitfield I leave everything to the cat

5 9 8 Sunday What s CLM 10.45am Family Service 7.00pm Evening Fellowship (2nd Sunday monthly) 7.00pm Praise & Worship with Music Group (Last Sunday monthly) Monday 5.30pm Children s Club (ages 4-11) 7.45pm The Core fortnightly ( 15 yrs +) Tuesday 1.30pm pm The Open Door - CLM s Adult Community Support Group - drop in for a drink, a chat and a listening ear Wednesday 12.30pm Luncheon Club 2.15pm Band of Cheer Ladies Meeting Friday Saturday 10.00am Parent & Toddler Group 7.30pm Ladies Craft Evening (2nd Friday monthly) 9.00am Missions Prayer Meeting (1st Saturday monthly) Men s Meetings as announced Home Groups meet at different times and in different homes throughout the week. For more information on any of the above, please ring Beryl on or visit the website - clmchurchormskirk.org.uk Children s Birthday Parties The Mission is available for hire for birthday parties of pre-school or Primary aged children. Please contact Beryl for further details or or iandbmackenzie@gmail.com Need Prayer? Contact us and we will be willing to pray for you or with you. Doreen Williams or Alan Mapstone Principal Church Leader: Neil Rees Administrator: Beryl Mackenzie or Christ Church Clergy Vicar: Rev Ross Moughtin

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