Letter
from the editors …………..
April 2012
Dear
Friends,
Darren’s further knee
surgery has prevented the
writing of his Easter letter
for our Messenger. We
wish him a speedy recovery
hoping he will soon be
running about again – like
the disciples in the
resurrection accounts.
Read these gospel stories
again and notice how running
feet coupled with
excitement, permeate that
first Easter Day. Whilst
running days for many of us
may be a distant memory, may
the thrill and joy of Easter
feed our faith and keep us
alert and alive in the
coming weeks and as we
continue to celebrate our 25th
Anniversary.
Thanks to all who supported
the Wesley Singers Concert,
by the way. Choir members
are expressing their
enjoyment of the event – and
give us 10/10 for the buffet
tea.
We leave you with this
meditation for Easter Day:
The
Cross Stands Empty……
The cross stands empty
today!
On Friday it was the place
of torture, of torment, and
of agony:
the place which mirrors so
much of life,
life which contains
suffering and sorrow. for
countless numbers,
throughout history,
throughout today.
The cross stands empty
today!
On Friday it was the place
of embarrassment,, of
humiliation and defeat;
the place that mirrors so
much of life,
life which contains the
resignation and broken
spirits of countless
numbers,
throughout history,
throughout today.
The cross stands empty
today!
For Christ is risen from the
dead!
Christ is risen from the
place of torture, the place
of torment and of agony,
the place of suffering and
sorrow;
Christ is risen from the
place of embarrassment,
the place of humiliation and
defeat, the place of
resignation and broken
spirits,
Christ is risen! The cross
stands empty today – but the
cross remains.
For it is the cross – not
any empty tomb,
not a discarded shroud
but the cross that is our
symbol and badge for ever.
Resurrection does not rid
the world of a cross,
Resurrection is God’s
Eternal ‘Yes’ to Jesus.
All he said, all he did, all
he was,
and all that he suffered,
now is for ever.
God’s Eternal Word!
God’s Eternal Life!
God’s Redeeming Love!
Our Resurrection Glory –
In the sign of an empty
cross!
David
Blanchflower.
A Happy Easter to you and
yours,
Patricia and Brian
ANNIVERSARY MESSAGES
As part of our 25th
Anniversary celebrations we
have invited a few of our
previous ministers to join
us on some occasions.
One for whom this is very
difficult is Revd Ian
Howlett who is now back in
New Zealand. Whilst on
holiday there Susan and
Peter met up with Ian and
Robyn who have now sent us
greetings as shown below.
“Congratulations!
25 years of Body Building!
Twenty five years bringing
the ‘Good News’ to Armley as
a pattern of what the the
Whole Body of Christ can do
– an example for the rest of
the sadly fragmented
Church. Baptists, URC and
Methodists coming together –
not just to share a
building, but to share
everything together,
including the work of the
Kingdom for the Kingdom.
The Lord Jesus in his high
priestly prayer prayed ‘that
they may be one’ (John17:11
and 17:22) – and Wesley Road
Folk have been working at
being part of the answer for
twenty-five years!
Wonderful and well done!
Whilst Robyn and I were with
you as part of the ministry
team of Leeds West Methodist
Circuit, we were welcomed by
you all and soon felt part
of the family. The
Christian love that people
demonstrated was, for us, a
sure mark that the Lord
Jesus was at work amongst
you and, despite differences
in church backgrounds,
building His family to be of
use in the community – and
that you certainly have been
over the years.
With the passing of time,
different activities have
run their course and lost
their usefulness so have
closed. It is good that,
unlike some, Wesley Road
Chapel has not clung on to
things just for the sake of
them, but has been willing,
despite the sadness
involved, to ‘let go’ when
they are of no further use.
You are a fellowship that
accepts the inevitability of
change and jumps the hurdles
of difficulty as you seek to
finish the race that is set
before you – always keeping
your eyes fixed on Jesus.
You have accepted the advent
of modern technology as an
aid to worship, and,
hopefully, will not allow it
to eclipse the whole purpose
of coming together to honour
and praise our awesome God.
Nothing can take the place
of a child of God expressing
love and appreciation to
Father on an individual
basis, as an individual who
is a vital part of a group.
It was wonderful to be able
to share with you the
special occasions and
festivals, prayer times,
study times - with lots of
discussion and an acceptance
and openness to the
different ways of seeing and
thinking, fellowship times –
with fun and games, jokes
and laughter, Guild nights –
with interesting, mind
expanding topics, Boys
Brigade – with camps and
parades as well as activity
nights, Market Days – with
all the hard work before and
after, and storing stuff in
the baptistery for next time
(I longed and still long to
see the baptistery used for
its designated purpose!!),
lunches and dinners -where
the organisers do their best
to provide a balanced meal
at the same time as helping
people to put on weight and
the fitness group which
seeks to offer a means to
undo the calorie
catastrophes! Wonderful
groups of carers and
visitors seeking to make
sure that no-one was
forgotten or in difficulty
whether at home or in
hospital or prison –
everything the Church of
Jesus Christ is commanded to
do – seeking to provide for
the whole person, spirit,
mind and body, fostering a
caring and open community,
loving with Christ’s love,
even those that seem
different. Long may you
all, as a fellowship of
God’s people, continue to do
so in what seems to be an
increasingly hostile and
difficult world.
We remember you often with
great fondness and it was
really good to see Peter and
Susan Cordwell ‘in the
flesh’ for a few hours
during their recent
celebratory trip
‘down-under’ Thanks to those
of you who send us the
occasional e-mail.
Congratulations again, and
fond remembrance of all who
have gone before.
May you continue to see the
work of God grow and be
effective in the future
until He comes. If not
before, see you in Glory.
Our love to you all from
Aotearoa New Zealand
Robyn and Ian Howlett.”
(We are sure they would love
to hear from any of you by
either email or snail mail)
