What’s In A Name?

Mar 14, 2025

Naming a child is a significant decision for most families. Parents may choose a ‘family’ name to honour a loved one or may choose a name with special significance or appeal to them. Names often have meanings which they hope will reflect the character of the child. In Beth Lincoln’s wonderfully quirky novel ‘The Swifts’, members of the Swift family are brought before the Family Dictionary and named, with the assumption that they will grow up to match this definition. Perhaps that’s a good thing if you’re named ‘Felicity’ or ‘Phenomena’, but not quite so reassuring if you’re named ‘Schadenfreude’ or ‘Shenanigan’! The novel explores the question of identity, foreknowledge and free will.
Names matter hugely in the Bible, with God often giving people a new name to reflect His work in their lives (Abram and Sarai become Abraham and Sarah, Jacob becomes Israel, Simon becomes Peter.) The names given to Jesus reflect His identity as our Saviour and God (‘Jesus’ means ‘God Is Salvation’; ‘Immanuel’ means ‘God with us.’)
One part of the Bible people dislike are the genealogies, those lists of unfamiliar and (to us) unpronounceable names which are scattered throughout. Our eyes tend to glaze over when we reach these; skim reading is the only way we cope with these lists!
Yet the Bible affirms the importance of individuals by naming them, and although there are plenty of unnamed individuals who feature prominently, it’s worth considering just how many people are, in fact, named. Numbers 1:17 tells us that when carrying out the first census of Israel, Moses and Aaron took men ‘whose names had been specified’ to do the job.
God knows us by name (Is 45:4). We are given a personal name that identifies us and gives us wortth. Names matter.

Finding God In The Hard Times

Mar 10, 2025

Many of us long for an end to our troubles. We long for a stress-free life and feel we would be better Christians if only our circumstances were different. If only we had a better job, different neighbours, a nicer family, more money, a bigger house, then we would give God our full attention and devotion, we reason. Life is just too difficult!

David could have said exactly the same thing. Plucked out of obscurity as a shepherd boy by Samuel, he was anointed king of Israel. He saw great victories (the slaying of Goliath, for example), but the net result of this was Saul’s jealousy and a fugitive life on the run. He spent years in the wilderness dealing with one battle after another, and even when he became king, things were not easy. Some of the problems were his own fault; many were not.

Yet in the midst of trouble, David experienced the love of God: ‘Praise be to the Lord, for he showed me the wonders of his love when I was in a city under siege.’ (Ps 31:21)

We don’t have to wait for answers or find solutions to our dilemmas before we experience God’s love. God’s love, help, comfort and rescue are all found in a city under siege. When we feel alarmed and as though God is far away (‘I am cut off from Your sight!’ Ps 31:22), it is then that God hears and answers us and reveals Himself to us.

We can know God in the wilderness. We can find God in the place where we are besieged. He can provide rescue and refuge, a safe place of shelter, a fortress, even when we see no respite to our troubles. We don’t have to wait for better times.

Jesus quoted this psalm as he hung on the cross (‘Into Your hands I commit my spirit.’ Ps 31:5, Luke 23:46) If he could find consolation and hope in the agony of crucifixion, we can find consolation and hope as we wait for the Lord: ‘Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.’ (Ps 31:24)

Exploring God’s Word

Mar 9, 2025

Today we started a new discussion format in our evening meeting (hence the lack of livestreaming). We are still preaching and teaching God’s word in the morning, but are using the evening meeting to explore the Bible and issues that affect us through a Bible study discussion format which allows for questions and the sharing of our experience and understanding of God’s word.
Tonight we discussed witness, questions that people ask of Christians, our experiences of witnessing and gave testimonies about how God had answered our questions and spoken to us.
The children, meanwhile, were learning about the similes and metaphors used to describe God’s word (a sword, a hammer, milk, a lamp and an imperishable seed) and planted sunflower seeds which we hope to see grow – just as we grow from learning from the Bible and being directed by God.

The Peace of God

Mar 9, 2025

Dave spoke this morning from John 14:27-29 on the subject of peace. In this chapter we see Jesus gathered with His disciples just before His arrest and crucifixion. In these chapters, He effectively gives His farewell speech to His friends, yet even though He knew what lay ahead, He still speaks of peace. Even though the whole world seemed to be against Him, He still had peace – not just the peace of finding a quiet spot in nature but th peace which comes from knowing God and trusting in His plans.
When our troubles weigh us down, when there’s more week than money, when we feel lonely and afraid, when anxiety is very real, we can still know peace. In a world full of violence, sin and terrorism, we can pray for peace and experience peace that is more than just the absence of conflict and turmoil.
The Hebrew word for peace (‘shalom’) means more than simply the absence of conflict and trouble. It means wholeness and peace with God. All that weighs us down in this world can be traced back to sin and to the greed, prejudice and hatred which this unleashes in the human heart. Jesus offers us more than sticking plasters to cover up the symptoms. God is working on transformation; He is working towards a new heaven and a new earth. The world’s answers to trouble lie in sedatives, tranquillisers, alcohol and drugs, which ultimately only numb us or cover up the problems. Even the best self-help manuals can only go so far in curing our dilemmas. Jesus goes beyond what the world can offer.
Peace is ultimately found in living a life of faith which comes as we trust in God. The challenge for us is to leave behind our attitude of complaining and moaning and to focus on the positive. We must look to the good in the world and do the good which God commands (knowing that His word does not return to Him empty-handed but will accomplish His purposes.) Peace, blessing and spiritual prosperity are ultimately found in Jesus. He gives us His peace.

World Day of Prayer

Mar 7, 2025

The World Day of Prayer, written by Christians from the Cook Islands, was held at GPCC on Friday 7 March. Focussing on Psalm 139, it looked at the fact that God has made us beautiful and listened to the experiences of three women who had all experienced God in different ways. Knowing that we are made in God’s image, are loved by Him and are all uniquely special to Him gives us the freedom to love ourselves and to love others too.

We are grateful to all who attended the service and for the generous offering of £101 given towards the work of the World Day of Prayer.

Here are some photos:

We enjoyed cakes and drinks after the service:

 

What’s Happening

Mar 7, 2025

Today we have Alison from ABC Emporium visitng our Parent & Toddler group to help us celebrate World Book Day. She’ll be selling books, crafts and gifts at the session between 9 and 11 a.m.

 

Today also sees the start of our Lent lunches and Bible studies at 11.45 a.m. On each Friday from today until 11th April, we will be meeting together to enjoy homemade soup and sandwiches and a hot drink and will then be looking at readings from the book ‘Living Hope’, helping us to think about different aspects of life and Lent as we lead up to Easter. All welcome.
In the afternoon, we have the World Day of Prayer at GPCC, starting at 2 p.m. Written by Christians from the Cook Islands, this year’s theme looks at Psalm 139 and God’s marvellous work in making us.