Just 10 is just three weeks away. One of the features of Just 10 that has particularly encouraged me is the way it has drawn different churches in the area to work together. This was typified for me in our Easter Sunday evening service where we were joined by worshippers from other churches in the area, as well as Phil Hillsdon from the Tees Valley Christian Alliance and our friend Martin Ruddick, who preached (brilliantly as usual!).

A number of people responded to Martin’s appeal on that evening. It was a sign I think that the fields are ripe for harvest. I do not usually get excited by pronouncements that ‘the Lord is going to do a great thing’, preferring rather to try to identify what great things he is already doing, and rejoicing in those. I have to say, however, that I have a tremendous sense of anticipation about Just 10. I believe it is the right thing at the right time for this area.

Those of you who were privileged, as I was, to take part in Billy Graham’s Mission England campaign will remember the tremendous response there was each evening to his gospel message – and what a joy that was to see. Times have changed. Many of those who responded at the Mission England rallies had church backgrounds. For some their response was a matter of writing in ink what they had written in pencil previously. For others it was a case of coming to realise that ‘Christ died for me’. What they had believed with their head made the journey to their heart.

Some would argue that the days of big events such as Mission England are over in this country. Far fewer people have any church background or Christian knowledge to draw on in those situations. Just 10 has already proved very effective in other places in the UK in recent years. There is no reason to believe it cannot be at least as effective here. Perhaps part of the reason it is so effective is that, unlike the Mission England campaign which was made up of one off nightly events, the teaching builds up over ten weeks. It acknowledges the reality that people need longer to consider the claims of Christ because they are generally so unfamiliar with them. There is no assumption that people today have the bible knowledge people in this country generally had twenty five years ago.

J John will be the speaker at Just 10. He is a very gifted communicator. Apart from being very humorous in his delivery he has a great ability to illustrate Christian truth and to demonstrate its relevance for today. What the organisers of Just 10 say is that if we manage to get a guest to the first session on the 23^rd April they will want to come to all the rest. Having heard J John on several occasions now – most recently at the carol service in the town hall last year – I can vouch for that. You will find him very engaging and easy to listen to.

May I emphasise at this point, however, that if you are not able to bring anyone to Just 10 it will still be worth your coming. J John’s talk each week will be based on one of the Ten Commandments, beginning with the tenth, ‘you shall not covet’. It is often said that the church does not emphasise the Ten Commandments enough these days, and that we need more teaching on them. This is the opportunity for us all to access such teaching.

St Barnabas is running both a coach and a mini-bus from the church car park every Wednesday evening throughout the ten weeks of the event. They will leave the car park no later than 6.50 p.m. in order to arrive in good time for the start of the event at 7-30 p.m. You will need to book your seats in advance by speaking to Alun Cradock on a Sunday or telephoning 825393. There will be security on the car park if you wish to leave your car there. It should ease the pressure on the parking in Preston Park and hopefully mean we will all get home earlier.

Please continue to pray for this event – for protection for J John and others involved in leading and organising – and for its fruitfulness for Christ. Continue to pray too that the Lord will give us all opportunity to invite those whom he would have us invite. Think what a blessing it would be if a friend or family member you have been praying for for years were to come along and make some kind of response. Imagine how refreshing it would be if, say, sixty new people joined St Barnabas church as a direct result of this event.

Yours in his love

Erik

Monday 31st March Annual Parochial Meeting, 7.30 p.m. in the church

Tuesday 8th April Men’s fellowship, 7.30 p.m. in the narthex

Monday 21st April PCC meets, 7.15 p.m. in the Reid Room

Tuesday 22nd April Men’s fellowship, 7.30 p.m. in the narthex

Wednesday 23rd April Just 10, 7.30 p.m. Preston Park How to find contentment

Friday 25th April Lydia group meets, 2 p.m. in the Supper Room

Wednesday 30th April Just 10, 7.30 p.m. Preston Park How to hold to the truth

Thursday 1st May Ascension Day

Tuesday 6th May Mission interest group meets 7.30 p.m. at 30 Addison Road

Wednesday 7th May Just 10, 7.30 p.m. Preston Park How to prosper with a clear conscience

Sunday 11th May Pentecost

Tuesday 13th May Men’s fellowship, 7.30 p.m. in the narthex

Wednesday 14th May Just 10, 7.30 p.m. Preston Park How to ‘affair proof’ your relationships

Tuesday 27th May Men’s fellowship, 7.30 p.m. in the narthex

2nd March Elizabeth Mae Falconer

16th March Evie Elizabeth Jamieson

8th March Derek Richmond aged 66

7th February Clifford Holloway aged 81

11th February Bernard Brooke aged 76

7th March Mary Wilkie Biggs aged 92

This is to let you know that this year’s Craft Aid is to be held on the second Saturday in November, Saturday 8^th November 2008. The October half term is from 25^th October to 2^nd November and this will allow us five days of final preparation after a much needed break for families! At the review meeting, some felt that we needed to start a little earlier, as the opening ceremony takes away actual selling time, so this year Craft Aid will commence at 10.15 a.m.

My grateful thanks to everybody who contributed in any way to Craft Aid, giving time, energy, skills (creative and practical) and giving financially too. We raised £4382 net, including donations, which is a wonderful total, and ensures the safe running of the eye clinic for another year. This does not only mean eye care for Jachie and district, but for the large Diocese of Kumasi, and the mobile clinic is able to go to remoter villages beyond these boundaries. As we maintain a personal contact with Sister Aba, we know that our giving makes a difference to our brothers and sisters in Ghana. It has been lovely to hear from Glynis Hill and Sylvia Wallace after their visit there in January of this year, when they spent four weeks at the clinic with Sister Aba. Glynis assisted Sister Aba with eye work (she used to nurse in the ENT departments at the North Riding Infirmary, where a certain consultant called Dr Rowland Cowley was her boss!) and Sylvia (with her accounting expertise) worked on the finances at the clinic. Now Vicki Watkinson is to visit Ghana, with two other medical students, and will be based at the clinic form 21^st July until 1^st August 2008. They can be assured of our prayers for safe travel and good health during their stay.

The bishop of Whitby will be coming to St Barnabas on Sunday 8th June at 10.15 a.m. for our Confirmation service. If you would like to be confirmed, please speak to Erik. Young people should be in year 9 or above.

Offerings

Offerings in February £11,824

Restricted (for specific purposes) £352

Thank you to all who saved yoghurt pots for the family activity day—we had a really great time.

For our holiday club in the summer we would like your help again. We need

There will be a box at the back of church to put them in. We appreciate your contribution to this outreach event. Thank you.

The PCC looked at the proposed kingdom mission giving. There was more discussion about employing a part-time schools worker.

Erik thanked the retiring members of the PCC in advance of the annual meeting. The PCC heard a report form Andrew Argyle on progress with the nave-reordering project.

The PCC heard reports from recent meetings of the Deanery and General Synods.

Sadly I was on holiday for Derek’s funeral, but was not surprised to learn that the church was packed to overflowing, for Derek had earned immense respect, admiration and affection.

A local man, he had worshipped at St Barnabas for many year, a bedrock of the choir with his fine singing voice, a man of utter integrity who saw his distinguished career in teaching as truly a vocation and whose sensitive leadership of a school which welcomed youngsters with disabilities showed a deep compassion. He held high office in the Freemasons, but never as an alternative religion, more an opportunity for that unobtrusive service of others which was his hallmark.

A private, self-effacing man, deeply committed to his family, he bore his illness with quiet courage. Truly a Christian gentleman whom it was a privilege to know.

George Alagiah, BBC News presenter, is patron of the Fairtrade Foundation and will speak on Fairtrade at Hartlepool Mosque, Turnbull Street, Hartlepool on Friday May 9th, 1.45 to 3 p.m. All welcome.

Starts Wednesday 23rd April at Preston Park, 7.30 p,m.

Week 1: How to find true contentment
Week 2: How to hold to the truth
Week 3: How to prosper with a clean conscience
Week 4: How to affair-proof your relationships
Week 5: How to tame your temper
Week 6: How to keep peace with your parents
Week 7: How to stop driving yourself crazy
Week 8: How to take God seriously
Week 9: How to know the real God
Week 10: How to live by priorities

A trip to Holy Island has been arranged for Thursday 10th July. Booking forms (cream) available from the narthex and bookings will be taken on Sunday 20th April after the 10.15 a.m. service. A lot of interest has been shown so book early.