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.. THE HEACHAM DIARY .. FEBRUARY 2010 |
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Page 1 |
THE HEACHAM NEWSLETTER | HEACHAM PARISH COUNCIL SECTION |
Page 2 Church Notices |
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CHURCHES TOGETHER IN HEACHAM Christmas seems like a distant memory, New Year resolutions long forgotten, the promise of spring not yet visible. I'm writing this on a
wet, grey day, the snow almost gone but with the prospect that it may yet
return. The news on our televisions of an earthquake in Haiti with many
feared dead and millions having lost everything. A gloomy picture: the start
of a new year and a new decade hasn't been happy for many. Should we give
in to despair, or can we look for signs of hope despite what we see and hear
each day? During the recent severe weather, and in the floods in the Lake
District before Christmas, stories of individuals and communities working
together to care and support one another have been heart-warming, and give
us hope that there still are people who care. The Bible tells a story in
Luke chapter 10 that many will remember from childhood: the story of the
Good Samaritan. Jesus had told a man to love his neighbour as himself and
when asked to define who was his neighbour Jesus told the story of the man
lying injured at the side of the road, and people passing by, not wanting,
for whatever reason to get involved. Then the Samaritan came, stopped and
helped, asking for nothing in return. Who is our neighbour? How can we
love them as we love ourselves? Our neighbour may live next door and need
help to do their shopping, or someone to talk to when they feel lonely, or
they may live at the other end of the village, and appreciate a visit from a
friend to show they care. But our neighbour may also live across the other
side of the world, we may not be able to go and do anything for them, but if
resources allow we could give so that others can go to show we care. To
love others as we love ourselves, means at the simplest level we want them
to have the basic necessities of life, food, water, shelter, safety, access
to medical care, things we so often take for granted. For the people of
Haiti even some of these basics are not normally readily available, but
following the earthquake their need is desperate. Our thoughts and prayers
go out to them, and if we can give even a small amount it could make a big
difference. Helping our neighbour nearer to home doesn't have to cost
anything in monetary terms, just time and thought, sometimes seeing the need
and responding rather than walking by on the other side. Who knows what a
difference that could make to our neighbour's life. God Bless.
PARISH REGISTERS Baptisms24/02/10 Jude Felix Thomas, son of Neil and Kelly, brother to Harvey and Louis.
Faithful Departed (Church Linked Funerals)18/10/09 David James Woollard aged 67
DEANERY LENT SERVICES FOR 2010:“Committed to Growth in Luke’s Gospel”All the following start at 7pm February 24th
Dersingham These services give members of local
churches the chance to meet together during the weeks of Lent.
Luke’s Gospel shows us a human Jesus who walked alongside people,
particularly those on the edge of society, giving them hope.
The invitation is there to join this journey on the way to Easter. |
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