Chenies Outlook Spring 13

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The Greatest Bargain

Between ‘groupon’, ‘secret escapes’, and a family favourite ‘wowcher’ we are bombarded with offers entitling us to money off. All it takes is to go to the local store, or online and redeem your voucher.

Redeem is a word we don’t use very often. In this context we receive something in exchange for the piece of paper we hand over to the cashier. A swap if you will. Another example is in school where a teacher might shout “sit there until you have redeemed yourself,” suggesting that a child could make up for their bad behaviour by being good. The world tells us that we can redeem ourselves – we exchange a voucher

or improve our behaviour. But in the Bible ‘redeeming’ is something only God can do. It highlights that we are in debt with no way to pay. Our debt (or sin) is that of ignoring God, our creator, and living however we like. This cannot be paid off with a coupon, or solved by behaving better; the Bible says the debt is too great, “for the wages of sin is death”

(Romans 6.23). Easter is all about a man willing to redeem us, to pay the debt we owed. Jesus exchanged his life so that we could go free. You may be thinking… what is the small print? Where are the terms & conditions of this exchange? What is the bill for this great swap? Well that is the greatest part, unlike the vouchers and coupons where there is still money left to pay, Jesus paid in full, no small print. Society may tell us that we can redeem ourselves, pay our way out of situations and make ourselves better people, but in God’s eyes we all need redeeming and the only payment necessaray is Jesus dying in our place. This is the gift we celebrate at Easter. Do join us this Easter (see below) to celebrate the greatest bargain ever. Rev Malcolm Hazell

Easter Fun Day

Saturday 16th

March

2 pm – 4.30 pm

£5 per child

(aged 5-11)

To book: 01923 285361

Memorial Service for loved ones

Sunday 3rd

March

3 pm (tea afterwards)

Call 01923 283046

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Outlook

Sunday 31st

March

10.30 am or 6.30 pm

Easter Egg hunt a.m.

call 01923 285361

Easter Sunday Service

Chenies Baptist Church Issue 468 Spring 2013

Honest Reflections on unemployment

OUTLOOK

I find myself, along with many others, an unemployed graduate. There is nothing special about that, the statistics suggest that there were 2.51million unemployed people in the UK in Dec 2012. But being out of work has come with unexpected emotions. There is a sense of helplessness and frustration when 100s of applications are rejected, you start to doubt your ability to do anything and financial constraints leave you with many empty days to fill. There is a feeling of embarrassment at turning down offers of going to the pub because you can’t afford to buy a drink or not being able to visit people because of the petrol cost. Yet how do we approach God when we have these concerns dragging on for weeks, which turn into months. Where do we find joy when burdened with how to pay the bills? How do you admit to the family that you don’t have any money, when you are so used to living independently? It is hard to be honest when people ask how the job search is going – as you don’t want to admit that every day it is a fight for motivation. Through this I have been struck by the realisation that my self-worth came from being self-sufficient and the status of being busy. And yet when it felt as though I had nothing, I remembered that I have

everything. Knowing Jesus means I have the richest inheritance; eternal life; I am adopted as a child of God and will, one day, be perfected in a new body. Paul – one of the writers of the New Testament, wrote of his own hardship “We do not want you to be uninformed brothers about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.”(2 Corinthians 1.8-9) It is not easy waiting for the right job and tightening the purse strings, but it has made me cling tighter to the God who promises to never leave me. Apparently it is in the desert that plants grow the deepest roots and so in this hard time I anchor myself more surely on the saviour of the world, rather than the jobs that come and go. Marie Betts (Marie worshipped at Chenies Baptist

before starting her degree, I am pleased to report

that after three months unemployed Marie has just

started working in the opticians at Boots)

SPRING 2013

Chenies Cherubs

OUTLOOK SPRING 2013

Monday 10:00 - 11:30am

Our friendly little toddler group has a

warm atmosphere inviting any

budding toddlers or babies to a

Monday morning of fun play & songs

between 10-11:30 in term time.

Mothers, fathers or grandparents can

expect a cup of tea, a slice of cake and

the chance to chat in a beautiful setting

overlooking the glorious Chess

Valley. There is also the chance to run

about in the grounds on dry days. All

are welcome. Please call Louise (01494 737495).

Saturday 16th March 2 pm – 4.30 pm

Easter is not just for adults. We like to celebrate this central Christian festival with all ages. So if face-painting, craft, chickens, videos, chocolate fountains and eggs sounds fun – don’t miss out. Children aged 5-11 welcome. To book your place call Dawn or Malcolm Hazell on 01923 285361 or e mail [email protected] Suggested donation £5

The loss of a loved one is a hidden wound that takes time

to heal. Sometimes it can feel like life is ok again and then

a song, a place, a memory comes and it is clear that the

deep loss will take longer to adjust to.

Over the last two years Chenies Baptist has offered our

community a short service to help those who are

bereaved. It has proved a real blessing to many and a

part of the healing process. Please treat reading Outlook

today as your personal invitation. Simply come on Sunday

3rd March at 3 pm.

Penny Baron – Pastoral Carer

Listen to the 10 min

talk given at the

memorial service

last year:

www.youtube.com/

cheniesbaptist

and click on the service on 26th Feb

2012

Sunday Services Every Sunday at 10.30am

Children’s & Youth group runs during the morning

Minister: Rev. Malcolm Hazell - 01923 285361

E-mail: [email protected]

Youth Worker: Ben Ansell – Call Dawn Hazell for details 01923 285361


Pastoral Carer: Penny Baron 01923 283046

Hall Bookings— Georgie Clark 01923 285382


www.cheniesbaptist.co.uk

Memorial Service for loved ones 3rd March 3pm

OUTLOOK SPRING 2013

Fridays Youth Club ‘Fridays’ is a place where young people meet to join with friends, have fun and hear a little about what it means to be a Christian in today’s world. School years 7 & 8 - 6.30 pm – 8 pm, School years 9 plus - 8 pm – 9.45 pm. (£1 per evening unless specified otherwise). You are welcome to join us this Spring:

Fridays programme Spring 2013:

1st Feb – Life size Monopoly

15th Feb – Pancake making

1st March – Bowling

15th March – Chenies Talent Night

Easter Hols Cycling trip date tbc

Dates for next term: 19.4, 3.5, 17.5,

31.5, 14.6, 28.6, 12.7 Contact Dawn Hazell: 01923 285361

Email: [email protected]

30 young people enjoy Fridays Christmas Dinner 2012

Chenies Outlook Spring 13

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Transcript of Chenies Outlook Spring 13