In 1942 the famous Archbishop of Canterbury, William Temple, wrote this on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of St Barnabas Church:

‘I cherish the memories of my visits to the Church, the splendid congregations which are always assembled, and the heartiness of the congregational singing. I also remember the great numbers of Confirmation candidates presented every year. These are signs of a genuinely vigorous Church life, and I pray that under God’s Blessing this may continue and increase in the fifty years before us as vigorously as in the fifty years now past.’

My first experience of St Barnabas Church was when I came on placement from theological college in 1984. There were all the signs then of a genuinely vigorous church life. The Billy Graham Mission England campaign had just taken place. St Barnabas was fully involved in that. Not only was the local training for the event hosted and led by St Barnabas, it seems most of the congregation were involved in praying for family and friends, and for the fruitfulness of the Mission in general.

Prayers were answered and effort was rewarded. St Barnabas continued to experience steady and significant growth throughout the nineteen eighties under Ian Reid’s inspired and visionary leadership. Music remained at the heart of the Church’s life; thanks in no small part to Jenny Reid’s wide ranging and Spirit breathed musical gifts.

By the time the Church celebrated its Centenary in 1992 there were two main morning services every week in order to accommodate the number of people attending. The sanctuary and chancel at the front of the Church were re-ordered. The considerable sum of money required to do the work was raised or pledged in one day through voluntary donations from the members of the congregation.

The theme of the Church’s centenary celebrations was, ‘Jesus Christ – the sure foundation’. It is the basis of the Church’s life. Unless we build on Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit, then our work will be in vain and God will not be glorified. This is as true today as it was in 1892 when the Church building was first consecrated. St Barnabas Church only has a present and a future in as much as it is centred on Jesus Christ – his Lordship and his teachings. Compromise and lack of commitment can only weaken the Church’s ministry.

Every church has its times and seasons. It also has its critical moments when its future course is determined by its current choices and actions. I have a deep conviction that 2008 is one such moment for St Barnabas Church.

At a recent Finance Committee meeting to decide the budget for this year we discovered that - even allowing for a 5% growth in voluntary giving, a very modest increase in spending and the aim of holding a reserve of £6,000 (a very small reserve in comparison to our monthly bills) - we faced a budget shortfall of £27,000. Our total voluntary giving actually fell in 2007. This is partly accounted for by the fact that so few regular givers felt able to increase their giving to the church last year.

In the world in which we live it costs a considerable sum of money to maintain the life and ministry of the Church. At a personal level our commitment to Jesus Christ, to his church and his cause, is reflected in our financial priorities. What does our level of giving say about our commitment to Jesus Christ, our sure foundation? If St Barnabas church is to have a vibrant future it depends in part on our financial sacrifices today.

Maintaining the Church, its fabric, its buildings and its weekly services, is not however an end in itself. We have a gospel to proclaim, a mission to fulfil and a command to obey. We are to make disciples, to glorify God and to pray, work for and be a sign of the coming of his kingdom, on earth as it is in heaven.

The Just 10 mission in 2008 presents us with a wonderful opportunity. It is our choice whether we make the most of that opportunity by committing ourselves to prayer and to witness. It is up to each one of us prayerfully to consider whom to invite to the mission in Preston Park (full details are at the back of church) and to commit ourselves to being there with them. Such opportunities are rare and too easily slip through our fingers.

At a meeting I attended recently someone commented that the best any church in Middlesbrough could hope for at present is to maintain the congregation numbers it has, and not to grow. The congregation at St Barnabas is in fact showing a slow but steady increase at present. We are delighted to welcome a number of new people each week. It is up to those of us who have been coming to St Barnabas for some time, not only to help newcomers feel welcome, but to give them the opportunity to become part of the fellowship here. I believe the Life Groups are a key to that process. It is in those smaller groups that people can get to know others and to develop their understanding of the Christian faith and how to live it. The experience of other churches is that such groups are a catalyst for steady growth. Again, this will only happen if we are prayerfully committed to it. We do not aim merely at increasing the number of people who attend church on a Sunday. We are to make disciples, which is much more.

It is no exaggeration to say the future of St Barnabas depends on the choices we make in this critical year. The responsibility has been given to us, to our generation. Are we to allow financial pressures to dictate the future and to see a steady spiral of decline as a result? Will we make the most of the Just 10 mission, or will we complacently let it slip by almost unnoticed? Are we prepared to be part of helping newcomers to the church integrate fully in to the church family? In other words; are we ready and willing to commit ourselves to the Lord as he builds his church? Is Jesus Christ to remain the sure foundation of St Barnabas Church?

Erik

Monday 4th February PCC meets, 7.15 p.m. in the Reid Room

Tuesday 5th February Men’s fellowship, 7.30 p.m. in the narthex

Wednesday 6th February Ash Wednesday Lent Course begins

Saturday 9th February Barn Dance, 7 - 10 p.m. in the Church Hall

Wednesday 13th February Lent 2

Tuesday 19th February Men’s fellowship, 7.30 p.m. in the narthex

Wednesday 20th February Lent 3

Wednesday 27th February Lent 4

Friday 29th February Lydia group meets, 2 p.m. in the Supper Room

Sunday 2nd March Mothering Sunday

Monday 3rd March PCC meets, 7.15 p.m. in the Reid Room

Tuesday 4th March Men’s fellowship, 7.30 p.m. in the narthex

Wednesday 5th March Lent 5

Wednesday 12th March Lent 6

15th January Angela Deborah Stubbs aged 43

18th January Gwendoline Alma Edmond aged 87

24th January William Furness Gill aged 87

Hugo Pollak, the treasurer, gave a financial report in advance of the budget.

Erik commented on how many people had attended St Barnabas over Christmas, particularly at the Crib Service. It was agreed to look into possible doing something similar at Easter.

The PCC had a wide ranging discussion about how as a church we can welcome newcomers and integrate them into the fellowship at St Barnabas.

Good Friday Activities

2008 Lent Course

Our 2008 Lent course will begin in church on Wednesday 6^th February (Ash Wednesday) at 7-30 p.m.. This year we will all be together for the first part of the evening, when there will be some input from the front. Following that we will break in to smaller groups. If you are in a Life Group or Home Group you will be encouraged to stay in your group for that part of the evening throughout the course. If you do not belong to such a group, please still come along and you will be allocated a group for the duration of the course. (This arrangement worked very well a few years ago when we did ‘Forty Days of Purpose’ together.)

The course is ‘Breaking News’ – a six week course which is part of the preparation for the Just 10, J John mission in Preston Park. Please do come along and make the most of this opportunity.

We are planning a weekend for all the church family at Green Gables Hotel in Scarborough from Friday 28^th to Sunday 30^th November 2008.

As in previous years, we will have various workshops where all ages can work together on a theme, and we will all share together in a family service on Sunday morning. There will be a separate group for the youngest children. There will also be time to relax together.

Green Gables is a licensed hotel with a small indoor swimming pool, bar, snooker room and various lounges. Most of the accommodation is en-suite, though some larger family rooms share a bathroom. Booking forms and more information will be available from next week. Booking will start on Sunday 10^th February after the 10.15 a.m. service in the church office. Doreen and Jim Lynas are handling the bookings and Margaret Parkin will take any bookings from the 6.30 service.

In the past people have found the weekend a good opportunity to get to know people in a relaxed setting. Don’t miss out on what should be a great weekend.