CTNB

CHURCHES TOGETHER IN NORTH BLACKBURN.
( 4 churches, 4 denominations )

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Until recently, I suspect that few people knew what a tsunami was and even less could spell the word,  nor any more. Sadly we humans often tragically only learn from our ignorance or mistakes. 

About that awful time I was in a discussion with people on the ‘existence of God’ - and God was taking a bit of a battering as a consequence of the tsunami. All the usual “what kind of a God allows a huge wave to kill so many” etc…. “earthquakes …acts of God” ……  poor God I thought. Remembering the old adage - ‘the best form of defence is to attack’ we aired the view that God had inspired scientists to develop ‘tsunami early warning systems’ - given technologists and engineers the skills to create and build them - BUT - the powers that be decided that they were to expensive to put in place.  

It was suggested to the agnostics & atheists that the ‘powers that be’ were not God, but in fact world powers and leaders whose sense of time and history lasts as long as they are in government or the board room.   

Thank God there is talk of setting up these systems now - but this cost pales in insignificance when we try to calculate the cost of rebuilding great parts of Asia - and it takes no account of the cost in lives and human misery that certainly would have been saved had an warning system been in place. 

Planet earth I suppose, is a fallen earth - like the fallen Adam and Eve - and needs a Saviour too. Earth, like little ordinary people, needs protection from the greedy powers on earth. Global Warming - Greenhouse Gases - wastage of finite energy resources, are all destroying our planet. It’s easy just to blame ‘the big powers’ - but we are all consumers and must share the blame by our lifestyle.

 The world will always try to blame God for things that go wrong, it is a transference of  guilt, and it helps to take the blame off itself. Real belief in God is so hard as it forces us to take responsibility for his world, to care for its people and protect it for unborn generations to come. This will eat into profits and demand we have a simpler way of life.

 I doubt if these ideas will win elections, such altruism, like canceling world debt etc… though praiseworthy never actually happens. But it will win the support of the world’s most vulnerable people - and a place in heaven.

 Goodness will always pour out from tragedy. The generosity of  ‘little ordinary people’ to the Tsunami Appeal has been both spontaneous and enormous. Love of neighbour is a God given gift and it has been marvelous to see. The money we have raised is real and not a pledge. These tragic events must be a wake-up call to mankind to see the world as the ‘global village’ that it is and to work at a United Nations level to protect all its people, especially those in the greatest hardships and dangers.

 Father Jude

Yearly in January we hold a joint Morning Covenant Service.
The next service January 2005 will be held at Lammack Methodist Church.

Starting on the 1st Sunday in September CT in NB will be holding a joint evening service Monthly. Starting with:

October Revidge
November The Good Shepherd
December Lammack
January St James and then they will continue in this order through 2005.
The Covenant Service January 2005 is at Lammack.

During Lent, we study together on the four Sunday evenings before Easter Sunday.

As well as worship we also socialise and work together in Christian fellowship.

These include:

Bright Lights, a party for youngsters on the 31st of October to counteract Halloween activities.
A Bit Of A Do this is a celebration of our combined talents, just a fun night out.
Carol Service in the town centre.
Walk of witness
Youth Project for local youngsters.

WE, the people of
The Church of the Good Shepherd,
The Church of St James
Lammack Methodist Church and
Revidge Fold United Reformed Church

Are aware of the differences to be found among us in doctrine authority and practice and see some differences as part of the richness that pervades all parts of God`s creation and not least his Church.
We rejoice that each subscribes to the same truths of faith summarised in
Our belief in God the Father
Who created all things.
And in His Son Jesus Christ
Who came to redeem mankind.
And in the Holy Spirit
who sanctifies the people of God

Yet we recognise that our differences may be seen as divisions in the unity to which we are called." May they be one,so that the world will believe that you sent me "
(GNB John 17 v 21).Together we repent when these divisions become hindrances to belief and obstacles to our partnership in the Gospel.

We therefore
Affirm our love for Jesus and one another declare our oneness in upholding the great truths set forth above and pledge that henceforth we shall all willingly:
~ Seek to make visible the unity we have so far achieved and work towards an understanding and expression of Christ`s will in this matter ;
~ Support each other in discovering and appreciating those distinctive features in our several traditions which are of God;
~ Explore together the Christian faith and its outworking's;
~ Co-operate by making our collective resources and spiritual gifts available according to need;
~ proclaim together the message of the Gospel;
~ Share together in prayer and worship.

To these matters we give our assent.