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Bible reading: James 3v18

‘Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.’

Reflection: What do we see as we look out of our windows onto our city, our nation and our world? A society ravaged by rising crime, gangland knife culture, increasing drugs problem and violence on every hand. The situation is complicated by our political and financial institutions diseased by greed, dishonesty and selfish ambition.

So, what would we like to see? A city and a world guided and inspired by a spirit of self-giving, integrity and working for the common good. What about institutions that are honest, accountable and transparent? Wouldn’t it be great to see all people groups learning to live together with tolerance and mutual respect? And what about God as our reference point, receiving His love and power as we are restored to our true heavenly calling?

Maybe this is something like in keeping with what James calls the ‘harvest of righteousness.’

The question comes to us as to how we can get there! Whose responsibility is it? What is the strategy? Lots of different groups need to be involved, but as God’s people, we have the challenge of moving from wallowing in despair to providing a basis of hope for the future.

So, do we pray? Of course! But to reap a harvest of righteousness takes commitment and faithfulness. We can, and must, be instrumental in developing a healthy and robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results as we do the hard work of getting along with each other and treating each other with dignity and honour.

(John Alessi- St Paul’s, Longton)

Give thanks for all those helping to build healthy communities in our land.

Prayer points:
For crime in our city to fall and the lives of those causing crime to be changed; for a new spirit of honesty and integrity across the banks and financial sector; for nations across Europe to embrace the tide of migrants amongst them and help them find a home.

Bible reading: Romans 15v13 (AMP)

‘May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you will abound in hope and overflow with confidence in His promises.’

Reflection: What a goal…A life surrendered to God just gets better and better! Why? Because the more experiences we go through, looking to Him and aligning our lives with what He says, the more we will ‘abound in hope and overflow with confidence’! What great reward? Not held captive by fears, or worries about tomorrow. Talk about overcoming!

Jesus is our example. You know the story. When crossing Galilee, “suddenly a violent storm arose…that the boat was being covered by the waves; but Jesus was sleeping. And the disciples went and woke Him, saying, “Lord, save us, we are going to die!” He said to them, “Why are you afraid, you men of little faith?” Then He got up and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was [at once] a great and wonderful calm.”

Consider Jesus…He was so unaffected it didn’t even disturb his sleep! He only awoke because the disciples woke him. For Jesus the storm was no threat. His life and future was perfectly held in Father’s hands. He only rebuked the storm because that’s where the disciples’ faith was at, not His! The encouragement to us in our challenges is this: “Don’t listen to the voices of the wind and the waves around you! Align with my peace and confidence in the boat with you!” As we mature in faith and trust, God is making us more like Jesus. Keep surrendering to His truth, and the “God of hope” will increasingly shine through you. As the hymn ‘Great Is Thy Faithfulness’ proclaims, we are examples of lives filled with “strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow”!

(Jon Bellamy – Crossrhythms)

Give thanks for the hope in God that inspires you day after day.

Prayer points:
for hope for young people in our city struggling with self worth; for the lifting of downtrodden communities in our nation;
for churches across Europe to have a bold witness to their faith in Jesus.

Bible reading: John 4v34-42

‘I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest’….They said to the woman, ‘We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Saviour of the world.’ (v35&42)

Reflection: A man was travelling through the Arizona desert by train. He was the only person in the carriage not to pull down the window shades to keep out the glare of the hot sun on the parched earth. In contrast to the other passengers, he kept looking out of his window, and seemed to actually enjoy the dismal scene. After a while, the curious man sat across the aisle asked, “What do you see in that wasteland that makes you smile?”

“Oh, I’m in the irrigation business, and I was thinking if we could only get water to this land that is desert would become a garden!”

Is it time to check our vision to see if it’s really how Jesus sees situations and people?
In John 4, Jesus had just met with the woman at the well, told her the secrets of her heart and salvation poured out as living water – his gift; first to her, then through her as she brought her friends to Jesus. What a difference a day can make! He then talks to his disciples about the harvest fields being ready and his longing for workers to go out in the fields! Look, what do you see? Sometimes, even the image may seem overwhelming, though for Jesus that day, his heart of compassion was for the one he met, not the crowd on their way. What a difference a day makes!

As we pray for many to come to a saving relationship with Jesus, may we see as he sees. Knowing that the heart of the Father is that none should perish, may we find our hearts filled with his love for the ones God sets in front of us.
(Karen Porter – Beacon House of Prayer)

Give thanks for people becoming christians every day in our nation.

Prayer points:
for prodigals to return to God and people in our city encounter Jesus for the first time;
for unreached people in the nation to hear and respond to the gospel;
for Jesus to turn the secular tide in Europe and people’s deep spiritual hunger to be uncovered.

Saltbox Chief Executive Lloyd Cooke speaks to national Christian charity City Vision about his life, background his thirty years working with Saltbox.

City Vision’s aim is to support and facilitate city transformation, holistically for God’s glory by bringing leaders together across the business, church, civic and para-church arenas.

To find out more please visit their website.

In his latest ‘Yours Faithfully’ column, Saltbox Church Liaison Officer Tim Lucas looks at Armistice Day and recounts the story of the ‘Unknown Warrior’

On this day in the year 1920, four bodies were exhumed from a battlefield in France and presented to Brigadier L.J. Wyatt and Lieutenant Colonel E.A.S. Gell of the Directorate of Graves Registration and Enquiries. Each of the bodies was placed in a plain coffin and covered with a Union Flag. Brigadier Wyatt then closed his eyes and rested his hand on one of the coffins. The other three were reburied, and this selected body was transported to Britain and, on Armistice Day, placed in Westminster Abbey.

The grave of the Unknown Warrior is today one of the most visited war memorials in the world. The original design for it was that it should serve ‘to represent the many hundreds of thousands of Empire dead’, and should rest among kings as a sign ofhonour and respect.

The man responsible for finding a suitable body was the Revd George Kendall, who served as army chaplain in France during the First World War. He never revealed whether he knew the identity of the soldier, and even kept a secret of which field the body was exhumed from. In some of his final thoughts he wrote, ‘The location can never be revealed, but again I stress this great fact – the soldier lying in Westminster Abbey is British and unknown. He may have come from some little village or some city in this land, and he may be the son of a working man or of a rich man, ‘Unknown to man, but known to God’.’

For the Revd George Kendall – that is to say, for Christians – this is a resonant truth. Though a person may be unknown to people, they are still known to God.

There are many people in many circumstances, and certainly relating to war, of whom we could say this.

There are many soldiers who fought and died in the First and Second World Wars, and in all conflicts since. There are many innocent civilians who will have died as a result of wars and conflicts. There are many who live in fear of their own home because of a regime that has taken all it can and given nothing. There are many the world over who are displaced and fearful because of wars taking place all around them. There are many concerned family members and friends who anxiously wait to hear some news about a loved one fighting in the Forces. There are many broken families who have had to live with the great pain of grief after a loved one has been killed.

Some of them we will know, and some of them we could name. But others are unknown to us, and perhaps always will be.

As we approach Armistice Day, which this year falls on Remembrance Sunday, we might want to take a moment to thank God that nobody is truly unknown. Whoever they are, whatever they have been through, whatever they have seen, whatever effects it had on them, he knows. To him, all hearts are open, all desires known, and from him no secrets are hidden.

As we think about the dreaded effects of war, we might think of the Unknown Warrior and Revd George Kendall’s words, and be grateful that even when our knowledge reaches its limits, when names evade us, when details are not firmed up, when we cannot imagine what it must have been like for those people, the eternal truth is that even when details or people are unknown to man, they are known to God.

Tim Lucas (Saltbox Church Liaison Officer)

Mark’s Gospel – A dramatic Solo Performance by Howard Jones. Directed by Frank McGregor.

Longton Central Hall   32b The Strand, Stoke-on-Trent ST3 2JH
7.30pm Wednesday October 31st, Thursday November 1st and Friday November 2nd
Tickets: Adults – £5    Concessions – £3 (OAP, Unemployed, Children and teens 18 and under)
To book tel: 07952 318685
For more info visit www.facebook.com/marksgospel

Don’t miss this possibly once in a lifetime theatre experience of Mark’s Gospel – created in Cobridge and now touring the UK – but stopping off in Longton at the end of October.

Howard Jones, a Baptist Minister has spent the last two years learning Mark’s story by heart, firstly as a personal challenge but then wondering if he could turn his learning into a performance. He shared his idea with Frank McGregor,a Stoke-on-Trent based actor, artist and evangelist, who offered to direct the show.

Howard says, ‘Sadly, we have often taken this incredible story about a dynamic and amazing man and made it sound religious and boring. This is real shame, because so few get to really experience it as a story.’

The audience will experience Jesus in a way they might not expect. Howard comments, ‘I decided quite early on to give Jesus a ‘Northern’ accent. This wasn’t just a whim; Jesus was a working-class bloke from a small village in Galilee – “up north” in Israel – and I wanted to reflect that. For centuries church art and culture has tended to “poshify” Jesus, so I think it’s nice to hear him as an earthy, common man – that’s how his first followers would have heard him’.

Frank adds, ‘We took the text and started by thinking of it not as Holy Scripture but as a theatrical script waiting to be brought to life on stage. Howard has risen magnificently to the challenge of the solo performance, moving effortlessly between the many characters we meet along the way. We are convinced that as people watch, something of the awe which struck all who heard and met Jesus will be experienced by our audiences – and perhaps some will go away asking the same question many asked at the time – just who is this Jesus?’

In recent months the performance has been seen by hundreds of people young and old in Stoke-on-Trent, Stafford, Manchester, Birmingham and Taunton. Here are just some of the comments received from audience members:

“…Thank you for a truly exceptional and powerful performance. Unforgettable!…”

“…All I can say is that it was awesome…”

“…An amazing performance, God inspired. Thank you for all the hard work…”

“…Very interesting throughout the night from start to finish. Could sit through it again…”

“…Really brings the gospel alive. Glad I took the ‘risk’ to bring the kids – think it will fuel good discussions and encourage them to read their Bibles. Fantastic way to spend the evening. Looking forward to the next book!…”

This one-off day seminar is the first lecture of its kind to be held in Stoke. The seminar draws from the extensive archive of Dr. Richard Talbot, covering a period when Pagan worship and possible sacrifices were held in Stoke – up to present day Stoke Minster. Dr. Talbot’s full press release for the event can be found below:

The seminar commences in the morning with coffee followed by a tour of the churchyard where once a moated druid-circle may have stood, to the early first stone Saxon church, the Saxon cross and font to the Norman Church, its demolition and the creation of the present stone arches. Only recently Dr. Talbot has discovered the location of many other stones relating to this Norman Church – in a garden at Hartshill! The facts behind this stunning discovery after all these years will be fascinating to hear and to see the pictures.

The churchyard contains numerous stones and tombs of many of our famous potters. Dr Talbot will locate those now hidden of Thomas Whieldon, the father of the pottery industry and his family. Many new facts have been gathered regarding the ancient traditions of the Wake, how the old church was organised and importantly discussing the old churchwarden’s accounts and Bishops visitations which present a new insight of life in a different time-zone. The list of Rectors forms an integral part of Stoke’s history as many never even came to Stoke but were appointed by the Patron because of favours thereby in return to receive an almost Kings-Ransom.

The growth of the Potteries brought with it pressures upon the church and as a result in 1807 the church was divided to create several separate Rectories based upon the old Churches of Ease leading to in excess of twenty parishes stretching from Norton in the Moors to Caverswall which in the 13th century was the most-wealthiest parish in the country. This wealth extended into the 19th century as the rector received annually an income from Tithes amounting to what would be today several tens of thousands of pounds. By the early 19th century the old church found itself impossible to maintain services as it could not contain the huge influx of workers to the Potteries. The 14th century leper hospital and the parish first poor house are to be discussed.

In 1830 the present church was built on glebe land to contain more than 2000 persons which was the turning point for the parish whereby the custom of church tithes was re-implemented to the fury of local residents with protests, petitions and posters against the plan notably those from the Duke of Sutherland. These were to finance other churches such as St. Marks, Shelton and St. James Longton but somehow the church ended up £9000 in debt. The churchyard itself has its own story on where to bury and importantly how to stall grave-thieves.

The seminar is wide-ranging and places should be reserved in advance as numbers are limited. Sign in 10.30 a.m. with coffee commence prompt at 11.00 a.m. Bring own lunch from 12.30 with tea or coffee provided. Recommence at 1.15p.m. close approx. 3.00-3.30 p.m. Cost £5.00. Reserve your place now at: drrichard.talbotmbe@gmail.com. More information Tel: 07962143131

In his latest ‘Yours Faithfully’ column for the Stoke Sentinel, Saltbox Chief Executive Lloyd Cooke talks about the changing of the UK seasons and how they can reflect life and personal experience.

I love autumn. While I also like the new-birth expectancy of spring and sitting outside in the summer sun, it is autumn which is my favourite season. There is nothing quite like going out early in the morning and smelling the freshness of an autumn day.  John Keats, one of the greatest English poets, wrote his famous poem Ode to Autumn which begins with those familiar words “Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness”.

One of the good things about living in the UK is that we have clearly defined seasons, something that isn’t true in other parts of the world. This means that while we may not like the dark and cold of winter or April showers, we know that change will come and something more pleasant will appear.

This ebb and flow of our UK seasons mirrors life. For all of us there will be ups and downs; times of happiness and celebration as well as times of sadness and difficulty.  In the Bible, this is famously referred to in the book of Ecclesiastes: “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance” (Ecclesiastes 3v1-4).

In our lifetime, we will all experience the wintertime of loss, the springtime anticipation of new things and the sparkling joy that summertime brings.  However, autumn is different. It is fresh and pleasant and mellow. Traditionally, autumn points towards harvest time. It is the time when new school terms begin. It is the time when clergy friends in the Methodist Church commence new appointments.

Life always feels better when we can find balance and rhythm.  Sometimes we can plan for this but often it can be the result of a change in circumstances. Last year, I found that one of the results of losing my wife to cancer was that I reflected afresh on my life and what I wanted in the future. While I didn’t make any major changes, bereavement gave me an opportunity to take stock and make some alterations. I decided that I wanted to lose some weight, take more exercise and become fitter. I decided I wanted to read more and so began working my way through a list of “101 fictions books to read before you die!”  I also decided to become a Stoke City season ticket holder (I will avoid any comment about the start to our season!).

So, what season of life do you feel that you are in currently? If you feel happy and blessed, then savour and enjoy it for all it is worth. Share your happiness with others by being gracious, kind and generous. However, if you are lost, lonely or sad then remember that life doesn’t have to remain that way. Try to avoid becoming morose. Consider if there are some positive changes you can make (though I understand that buying a Stoke City season ticket might not be the answer for everyone!). Ultimately, make time to seek God. His son’s death on the cross means that He understands pain and loss. Perhaps go to church, try listening to inspirational music. You could try praying and if you don’t know what to say try the words of the Lord’s Prayer. My prayer for all Sentinel readers is that the arrival of autumn’s mists and mellow fruitfulness will signal a time of blessing for you & for our communities.

Lloyd Cooke (Chief Executive – Saltbox)

Reaching out with a simple act of kindness can make a huge difference to those who are struggling in life. In his latest Sentinel ‘Yours Faithfully’ column, Saltbox Church Liason Officer Tim Lucas takes a look at the theme of ‘hope’ and an inspirational story taking place up in the North East of England. 

Last week, a teenager called Paige Hunter from Sunderland was given a commendation certificate from Northumbria Police. They described her actions as an “innovative way to reach out to those in a dark place”. The interesting thing is that her actions were remarkably easy, but have saved the lives of at least six people.

Miss Hunter simply attached around 40 uplifting messages to Wearmouth Bridge at various points, saying things as simple as “You’re not alone” followed by a helpline telephone number.

Hope is a profoundly resilient thing, and yet at the same time it can be a very hard thing to get a hold on. When a person is struggling with lack of hope, the world becomes an even darker, more difficult place, and breaking that cycle by oneself is a near impossibility.

There is a story in the Bible of a man named Job. His story is complex and interesting, but the simple outline of it is that Job is massively afflicted with family deaths, loss of everything he owned, and suffering with terrible disease. At one point he asks, “Who can see any hope for me?” That is quite a telling question.

Those among us who are enduring the most difficult of times often cannot see for themselves a way out. For them, the pain feels like it will last forever, the affliction seems like it will never end, and the sorrow appears to be bottomless.

In those times vision can be obscured, and it can feel like there is never going to be an end to all that they are experiencing. In those times, they rely on someone else’s eyes, someone who can “see hope for them”. And in seeing hope, to do what they can to give it to them.

The actions of Paige Hunter shows that all it takes to inject some hope into a person’s situation is one moment. There is a moment between a person having a destructive thought, and following that through. It is often a very small window of time, but hope is powerful and does not need a huge amount of time to make the strongest of impacts.

The actions of Paige Hunter shows that all it takes to inject some hope into a person’s situation is a simple sentence. Words of affirmation and encouragement, even between strangers who do not know each other’s situations at all, go a long way. It may be the only encouraging words they have heard that day, or it may be the same as they have heard but said in a different way; but either way they are vitally important words to say.

Are there people you know who need to use your eyes to see hope? Are there simple ways in which you can create moments of hope that will benefit others?

Are you struggling? Does life weigh down upon you? Please pause. Take a moment. Breathe. And perhaps one of Paige Hunter’s messages will help you today: “Even though things are difficult, your life matters; you’re a shining light in a dark world, so just hold on.”

The world is better for having you in it.

Tim Lucas (Saltbox Church Liason Officer)