"Christ is all and in all" Colossians 3:11
Minister: Rev. Steve Holland
219 Wellbrook Way, Girton CB3 0GL - tel: 277146
Secretary: TBA
Website: www.girtonbaptistchurch.org.uk
Sunday Services
(Sunday School and creche are available during the morning service, and
tea and coffee are served at the end.)
Sunday services are led by Steve Holland unless stated otherwise.
March 7th 10.30am Morning Service "The Lamb who takes our place"
6.30pm Evening Communion Service "Seven Churches
March 14th 10.30am Morning Service "Who Cares"
6.30pm Evening Service TBA
March 21st 10.30am Morning Communion Service - "The Passover Lamb"
6.30pm Evening Service Dr Eugenio Biagini
March 28th 10.30am Morning Service TBA
6.30pm Evening Service TBA
April 4th 8.00am Easter Communion.
10.30am Morning Service "The Lamb who takes our place"
6.30pm There is no Evening Service
Other Meetings, in the church unless stated otherwise
March 3rd 8pm Bible Study Group at 219 Wellbrook Way (All Welcome).
March 5th 11am Women's World day of Prayer - see advert
March 9th 2.15pm Tuesday Afternoon Fellowship
March 12th 3pm Service at Midfield Lodge
March 17th 8pm Bible Study Group at 219 Wellbrook Way (All Welcome).
March 23rd 2.15pm Tuesday Afternoon Fellowship
March 25th 10am-12noon Coffee Morning at the Baptist Church all Welcome
March 31st 8pm Bible Study Group at 219 Wellbrook Way (All Welcome).
April 1st 7.30pm Maundy Thursday Communion
April 2nd 6.30pm Easter Reflection See Easter Service Advert
April 9th 3pm Service at Midfield Lodge
THE POWER OF WORDS
Have you noticed how frequently the word "absolutely" occurs in conversations nowadays? Turn on the radio to any interview and it will soon become evident that English speakers globally are saying, "Absolutely!" instead of the affirmatives, "That's right" or "I agree", or "Exactly so".
It is always interesting to note the subtle changes in language use over time and through transient fashions. Teenagers constantly develop their own communication codes and the use of these new expressions indicates age and trendiness. Regions have always had distinctive dialects, and in order to belong, to be welcomed as a mate, one has to be obviously cognizant of local terminology. The stranger is quickly noticed.
In this region, one hears the phrases, "I was stood", or "I was sat". To the northern ear, this way of expressing whereabouts would imply that an outside force had been at work in determining one's position. The alternative "I was standing" or "I was sitting" would be used as a preamble to a story.
There is however, a subtle difference in the phrases soon to be heard at Easter time, i.e. "Christ has arisen" and "Christ is risen indeed".
Whilst the former could describe an historical event, the latter somehow captures the resurrection state of quickening, transforming life brought to the believer through the ever-living Redeemer. When we bring the verb into the present tense, the announcement thrusts the speaker into the same dynamic source of joy and wonderment today, just as it did to eyewitnesses of the living Christ so long ago.
Yet these disciples had not easily been convinced. They did not grasp hungrily at the news as those psychologically desperate to hear what they wanted to believe. But things changed.
Along a dust-track road amidst the lengthening shadows at close of day, two disciples trudged with weary feet and sorrowing hearts towards the old familiarity of their home village, Emmaus.
They were joined by a fellow traveller who gently enquired about the apparent depression that sat so heavily upon them. Then, to their amazement, he began to expound the Scriptures, detailing how the recent scenes on a hill outside Jerusalem entirely correlated with the prophetic words found in the sacred scrolls.
As they arrived at the homestead, the traveller accepted a kind invitation to rest and eat as darkness fell and lamps were lit. Over a simple meal, Jesus took up the bread, blessed and broke it, just as he had done on a hillside, and in an upper room.
Suddenly it all made sense. Everything became stunningly clear!
Rembrandt's wonderful painting of the scene as he imagined it, has one disciple standing behind the table, transfixed and wide-eyed. The other, with chair thrown backwards, kneels at the feet of Jesus as the light around him glows brighter than all the lamps in the room.
"Christ IS risen! We must tell everyone TONIGHT!"
Back they raced, down blackened tracks over seven miles, where brigands and wild beasts lurked amongst the crags, oblivious to the dangers, hearing only the pounding of their own feet, feeling the explosion of joy in their minds and the sheer wonder of revelation in their souls.
"Didn't our hearts burn within us as he revealed the Scriptures?"
They knew they had touched Heaven that day. They had heard the living Christ explaining great mysteries, shedding glorious light on transforming truths, blessing them with his resurrected life.
The Apostle Paul, in Romans chapter 10 verse 9, writes, "If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you shall be saved".
Absolutely.
Iris Niven
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