It will soon be “Harvest Festival” at our Church – a time for giving thanks for the food we eat, and for the good things that the earth has provided.

There was a time when harvest festival was a major celebration – not just in churches, but also in every town and village. A good harvest meant that you would eat and survive through the winter – it was literally a matter of life and death. Most churches held “harvest suppers” to mark the festival, and it was an opportunity to make merry after the hard work of bringing in the sheaves.

Today, we have our supermarkets, our all-year round raspberries, and our freezers full of food. Harvest time has lost its immediacy. Yet, for much of the world’s population, there is still a total dependency on the harvest of the earth’s produce to stay alive. If the harvests fail, people die – as we have seen recently, all too vividly, in east Africa.

In the West, we are insulated, to a great extent, from the effects of droughts and crop failure; and yet we are dependant on suppliers and farmers from all over the world for our daily diet. Perhaps, at this time of the year, we should stop for a few moments, and remember just how much we rely on the earth, and other people, to bring us our food. Also, it wouldn’t hurt to say “thank you” to the greatest provider of all. As the old hymn says: “all good gifts around us are sent from heaven above – so thank the Lord, yes thank the Lord for all his love!”

Stephen Biddall

Those of you who come to Church on Sunday mornings will already know, but others may not. This autumn, we are studying how to grow in our Christian faith. The series is called “Haven’t you grown?” – which can be interpreted in two ways……as a statement expressing pleasure that you have – or as a question expressing sorrow that you haven’t.

Growth is a vital part of Christian faith and discipleship. Whoever you are, and however long you have been a Christian, you ought to be able to see that you are growing and developing in your walk with God. In fact, I believe that each one of us, if we really are followers of Jesus, should be able to point to areas in our lives where we have learned and changed and grown in the past few months. If someone asked you –“What has God been teaching you recently?” – would you know what your answer would be?

The first two studies in this series have focussed on the absolute basics of Christian life – and I make no apology for this being simple, straightforward and foundational. The G of “Growth” stands for “Go to God in prayer every day”. We need to have a living daily relationship with God, which involves sharing our lives with him, asking for his help, telling him our worries and needs, thanking him for his love, asking for his forgiveness, and being aware of his presence every day. All of this is prayer. Why do we make prayer into such a chore? Why do we so often feel like prayer failures? Perhaps its because we forget that prayer is just “being with God”, and letting him into every part of our lives. Prayer is the first essential, if we really want to grow up in faith.

The R of “Growth” stands for “Read your bible every day”. As we saw last Sunday, the Word of God is the spiritual food that sustains us in faith. Food is only good for you if you eat a healthy diet, and if you eat regularly. Food that looks nice on the kitchen shelf will only help you if you actually eat it; and it will not be good for you if you binge for a few days and then starve for weeks. Why then do we think we can leave our bible on the shelf, and still grow? Why do we think its Ok to binge on the bible at a conference – but then never open it for weeks? Like the manna given by God to the people of Israel in the wilderness, we need to feed on God’s Word every day. Bible study notes can help with this, and we are currently recommending “Living Light” – produced by Nationwide Christian Trust. You can get a free copy from Terry Dickinson (if he has any left!)

Go to God in prayer every day: read your bible every day. Even just these two simple things will make a great difference in your life. Why not make a commitment, right now, to do them both, so that God can help you grow?

Best wishes, Stephen.

One or two bits of news for you this month.

First, we will be celebrating our 249th Church Anniversary on the weekend of 2/3 July. Please do come and join us on Westbrook beach on the Saturday – some of us will be there from 10am onwards for a BIG PICNIC. It would be great to have a really fun family day together – bring food and games with you! On the Sunday, our morning service will be a Parade, and the Mayor of Margate and other guests from the local council will also join us. Then, after the morning service, we will be going to Dane Park for a picnic with other friends from all the churches of Margate. This will end with a time of worship at 4pm. It promises to be a great weekend of celebration – make sure you are part of it!

Next, can I ask you to pray about the Margate Churches Youth Project, which is being explored at present? It is hoped that we will be able to open a café-bar for young people in Margate, run by Christians, and with a Christian ethos. There has been a great deal of support for this idea, and we are currently setting up a framework to help make it happen. Two key issues are funding and suitable premises – we will need to get both of these sorted out if the project is to go forward. It seems difficult – maybe even impossible…but with God, there is no such thing as impossible! Our next open meeting is on 5th July at New Life Church – you are welcome to come and join us.

Thirdly, we will be holding a GUEST SERVCE, on Sunday 10th July, at 11am. This will be a normal Sunday morning service – but planned with guests in mind. You are encouraged to think of a guest to invite to come with you – perhaps a family member, or a neighbour, or a colleague – anyone that you could ask to join us on the 10th. Research says that people are much more likely to say yes, if they know that someone will come with them – so make sure you offer to bring them, or meet them beforehand. Invitation cards will be printed for you to use, and the time to start praying about this is now!

Finally, the Church has very kindly agreed that I can take a period of sabbatical leave, spread over the next two years. Ministers normally take a sabbatical of up to three months, once every seven years. It has been agreed that I can take my sabbatical in two parts, with five weeks in the early part of 2012, and another five weeks in 2013. It is my intention to use this time away from daily ministry to research and write a book, which will be on some aspect of ministry. I shall probably be away from Margate during these times (which are not holidays!) – so arrangements will be put in place in case needs arise while I am away. Thank you for allowing me this privelege.

With very best wishes, Stephen

A recent report from the Centre for Social Studies argues that sport can and should have a major impact on society, in terms of cutting youth crime, and increasing educational attainment. Few activities are as successful at encouraging young people to focus their efforts, build their self-esteem, and maximise their potential. Funding, of course, is a major issue, and at a time of cutbacks sport can easily be seen as an optional luxury that cannot be afforded. The benefits far outweigh the costs, however, and a little investment in promoting sport can bring huge benefits to society at large.

Christian churches have long played an active role in promoting sport: twelve of our current Premier League football clubs have their origins in churches. Christian values, such as honesty, teamwork, fairness, and discipline, are all central to sporting achievement (or should be). With the Olympic Games on the horizon, there will no doubt be many opportunities for Christians to get involved in their local communities, building relationships and helping to shape values. I, for one, think this is a good thing, and would encourage everyone to play their part. The “groaners” will no doubt disagree, but there are probably enough of us who love sport to make a difference, and to pass on something of real value to the next generation.

Have you visited the Turner Contemporary gallery yet? Opinions will certainly be divided about the building itself, and the merits of the art on display inside. I think that this is a good thing – it is one of the functions of art to stimulate discussion and debate, to get people thinking and arguing, to provoke a reaction – and on that basis, the Turner has already succeeded. I have heard many discussions already about whether the building is “hideous” (to quote one person), or “beautiful” (to quote another). I have heard a range of views about the pieces in the first exhibition, ranging from “fantastic” to “I just don’t get it!”

My own opinion is that the gallery is wonderful. It is a beautiful space inside, full of light, and with extraordinary sea views through the windows. I absolutely loved the Turner painting of a volcanic eruption in the Caribbean from 1815 (incidentally, the year our present Church was opened); and I was thrilled by the “Arcadia” installation by Ellen Harvey – a recreation of Turner’s own gallery in London – but filled with engraved mirrors showing views of Margate as it is today. Other pieces were also thought-provoking, and deserve further study – I shall certainly be going back again and again to enjoy the experience further. Of course, this is just my response – you are equally entitled to yours, and I don’t think there is a “right” or “wrong” opinion – we each react in our own way. That is what art is all about.

I hope local people will give Turner Contemporary a chance. It will not change the town’s fortunes overnight – nor even in its first year or two – but, given time and support, I am very hopeful that it can make a big contribution to a better future for our town. There is a great deal of negativity in Thanet – perhaps born out of many years of disappointments and decline. I would love to think that the voices of positivity will be raised to act as a counterbalance. In an area with such wonderful natural beauty, there really is a lot to be positive about.

The same goes for us as Christians. It is easy to become negative and downcast. Church attendances are declining; Christian values seem to be waning; “Things aint what they used to be” – to quote from the musicals. We sometimes look to the future with something closer to despair than hope. Well, there is a six letter word which means that we cant allow ourselves this negativity – a word which compels us to be optimistic, joyful and profoundly positive. That word is EASTER! Jesus is alive – and that one fact changes everything. “Because he lives, I can face tomorrow; because he lives all fear is gone; and now I know he holds the future; and life is worth the living just because he lives.”

Hallelujah! Have a wonderful May. Stephen

Shalom, Stephen

Meanwhile, now that the festivities are over for another year, on with the motley, and here’s to a great 2011.

Shalom – Stephen

“Its Christmas, Eve”

May I wish all my friends a very happy Christmas, and a peaceful and blessed new year.

Shalom. Stephen.