Here's what Anthony Rose has written for St. George's November Magazine.....

Dear friends,

It's very hard these days to get the balance right between keeping oneself informed about the news in the world and becoming 'news drunk'. After all, it wasn't that long ago that you had to wait until the news came on the radio or the television at a certain time. Now, you can tune in 24-hours a day and watch things as they happen, or hear the same event being considered from every conceivable angle. I must admit to being annoyed at the way reporters have to be interviewed 'for the latest' by the newsreader when they've just given us a report anyway. Then there's the irritating way you get two newsreaders sharing the stories, one talking while the other looks really interested and then swapping round. OK, so I'm just grumpy and old fashioned…

This question of balance has been a hard one recently with the world financial crisis. On the one hand it would be stupid to ignore what's going on, on the other you can get so worried by speculation and comment by 'experts' that you might find these shortening autumn days just too much to bear! It has to be right to know what a mess we've been brought into, and to try to understand as much as we can about what is going on. Equally, it must be right for us all to be aware of the longer-term consequences for each family and each individual. The bottom line is that we will have to get used to a different way of living - certainly without the easy credit that has been handed out in recent years. Of course, that might be no bad thing.

On the other hand, if hearing all the doom and gloom just makes you depressed, that can't be the right way ahead. After all, there have been many times throughout history when people's security has been shaken. Imagine what it must have been like to witness the fall of some great empire that had been around for centuries, such as Rome. It must have seemed like the end of the world. Similarly, the 1929 Wall Street Crash was like the end for some. Then there have been dark days of war in our history too. Of course, the lives of millions were affected, sometimes in dire ways, but it still wasn't the end of the world.

At St George's recently we had a Gift Day where we raised some £3,000 extra for the income and work of the church community. I challenged people to do two things: firstly to be thankful to God for all that he's given us, responding generously to his generosity, and secondly to trust him come what may. He is a bountiful God and does want to bless his children. I wasn't peddling some sort of 'prosperity gospel', but I was trying to help people see that things can be different for Christians. We're all called to be thoughtful stewards of our resources; indeed, Christians should be at the forefront of living a balanced and considered lifestyle. However, we're also called to enjoy God's provision, to celebrate his goodness, and to respond positively when all others might be negative.

Trusting God in times of fear and uncertainty is not pie-in-the-sky blind faith; it's simply saying that in the midst of so much negativity there is a positive alternative. It's saying that however you want to react to bad news - ignore it or be depressed by it - there is actually Good News to celebrate. The news I'm talking about is to do with having a certainty in a positive future and to do with building your life on something sure. As Jesus said, the man who builds his house on sand (including a false hope in ever-increasing wealth) will find it won't stand when the storm comes. But the man who builds his house on the rock - by hearing Jesus' words and "putting them into practice" and by having different priorities - will find that house stands come what may.

I do believe that what is happening at the moment is a kind of judgement, where greed, mismanagement and the worship of money are now being shown for what they are - false gods. Meanwhile, I would suggest a little 'medicine' for us all at this time. By all means, listen to the news and see the signs of the times, but then try turning the TV off or putting the newspaper down, and pick up a bible to see what else is on offer. You will undoubtedly be given an alternative perspective on things!

With best wishes,

Anthony

Dragonslayers

 

On 13th January 2008, something brand new began. It is called Dragonslayers and is the new Sunday School for 5-11 year-olds at St. George’s Church. It runs at the same time as the 11 o’clock service (namely 11 am through to around 12.15 pm) and is free to attend.

It is full of fun and games and, most importantly, God. There is a quiz or competition, songs, games and star appearances from Harriett the Hedgehog, St George the knight and a very naughty green (NOT red) dragon that is intent on wanting to eat Harriett. Thankfully, he has not done so… yet. These activities are to help us to ‘slay’ any ‘dragons’ in our lives that try to stop us having a proper relationship with God and Jesus. So far, in the first three weeks, we have looked at Sin, Suffering and Doubt. There is a memory verse that we learn each week that is connected to the theme that we are examining to re-enforce the theme. We are also raising money for a charity in an orange jelly baby guitarist money box called Giltrap, a name suggested by Judy Wilson. During the first Dragonslayers, when names were being suggested, he nearly became a namesake of mine (“Dave”!).

If you want to know more, please just get in contact with either Pete Wilson or his wife Judy. As a famous tiger said more than once, “It’s greeeaaattt…”