This
past week I’ve been mulling over what I wanted to write in this, my 100th
post. I thought it deserved something a
bit significant. It wasn’t because I
couldn’t think of anything to write about that I didn’t post.
Something
else was taking up my time. Around
Langley is the parish magazine. It is
produced by the Langley’s local churches for the people of Langley Village. It is a 20-page magazine. Originally the magazine was the project of
David Tawney. He edited and produced
it. The main focus was to produce it for
the three Church of England congregations in the parish. (These being St. Mary’s, St. Francis and
Christ the Worker. http://www.langleymarish.com/ ). Sadly Mr. Tawney died in October 2011. Though he could no longer produce it, several people voiced the opinion that the
magazine should be continued—myself included.
I suppose it is the case of a seed falling into the ground so that it
can produce many more seeds.
After
much discussion, the consensus of those involved decided that some changes
should be made:
- ·It would be good to include other churches in the parish—namely Langley Free Church, http://www.langleyfree.org.uk/, and Holy Family Catholic Church, http://www.holyfamily.co.uk/.
- ·It would be free to the public. Previously, the magazine was supplied to subscribers.
- ·The magazine would be published 10 times a year instead of 12.
- ·The focus of the magazine would shift from being inwardly focused to being an evangelistic tool.
I was in Florida when the first two issues were
produced. I had expressed an interest in helping with the magazine before I left for Florida. Now that I am back, I wanted to be involved in
two ways: one by writing articles and by
taking over doing the layout (desktop publishing.)
Thursday
morning I spent about four hours setting up the first template. I had to do that before Friday morning, as I
was to meet with Mr. B’ham, who is acting as the head of the magazine
committee. We spent another two hours
tweaking the layout. The good thing is
that next month, all we have to do is change the articles. The standard information is now in place;
therefore it will take less time to prepare for the printer.
My
productiveness has been invested in the magazine—which is why I didn’t get to
writing a blog this week.
As a
new week is presenting itself. I wanted
to share with you a picture from my mind’s eye that occurred during worship
this morning. A young lady was getting
baptised this morning, so the service had a slightly different focus. At the core of the service was our statement
of faith, and standing with this young lady as she made a fresh start in her
faith.
After her
baptism was the communion service. As I
was meditating on Jesus’ death and resurrection, my imagination was filled with
the image on Jesus on the cross. The
skies were in great darkness. Jesus,
tilted his head back, and with a great cry he proclaims to all heaven and
earth; “It is finished.” (John 19:30) The words echoed through eternity—from the
fall of Adam to the moment in the future of His promised return.
As Jesus
breathed his last human breath, He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. And at that moment, the veil that separated the
Holy of Holies from the temple was torn from top to bottom. According to Jewish tradition, when a man
lamented at disaster, he would tear his garments from top to bottom. When the temple curtain ripped, with the
words “It is FINISHED” reverberating throughout the atmosphere, it was as if Our Heavenly
Father expressed His anguish over sin.
But he was also removing the power of the law that stood between mankind
and the God-head. No more playing
hide-and-seek. Rather, we could come
freely, openly into His presence. Justice
was served. It was done.
The beauty
of that image stayed with me during communion.
My prayer
for you is that you also will have moments when you can clearly come to
practically and experientially know the love of Christ.
Serving Jesus, Author of our faith,
“Lady Helene”
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