The Parish Magazine December 2024

10 The Parish Magazine — December 2024
the parish noticeboard — 3— 3
Why I am a Christian
The editor writes: In our February issue this year, Rev Jamie Taylor wrote: On the first Sunday of Lent, I shall vacate the pulpit
for five Sundays and, instead, I have asked five members of the congregation to speak to the subject, 'Why I am a Christian'.
They are a varied group, at different stages of their Christian journey and I believe this could be a helpful process for us all on
our own journeys. While listening to the first talk an idea came into my mind that the subject could form the basis of a series
of articles for this magazine. The first was published in April and we have, so far, published seven articles that tell the story of
how, and why, different members of St Andrew's Church Sonning are Christians. Below are some short, edited, extracts from
the published articles which all appear on page 10 of the relevant monthly issue.
ONGOING ENCOUNTER
Leslie Stephen wrote in April: For
me being a Christian, means that
I should constantly try to look at
how my thinking and my actions are
informed by Jesus’s teaching and
how I can try to reflect this in my
daily life and the work.
I believe that I am a Christian
because my faith is an ongoing
encounter with God that gives me joy
and hope for the future and where I
never feel alone facing the ups and
downs of life.
A hymn that gives me great
comfort is 'Be Still my Soul'.
I may never understand God’s
wisdom for things that have
happened in my life, but I have to
trust his will.
These are the words of the Lord
found in Jeremiah:
'For I know the plans I have for you'
declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you,
and not to harm you, plans to give you
hope and a future'
I believe God, has a plan for all
our lives, and that we need to pray
for his direction, have patience, and
know when it comes.
IN OUR MIDST
Heather Hexter wrote in May: It's
because I have searched my heart
through my life and always come back
to God. In the good times and in the
difficult times when I have asked for
help God has been there and answered
my prayers. I have been carried. My
faith is simple: I believe in love, and I
have a relationship with God through
grace which I share through praise and
prayer.
The words to a worship song which
I first heard at Spring Harvest in 1992
sum up why I am, and why I remain, a
Christian —
'I believe in Jesus. I believe he is the
Son of God. I believe that he died and rose
again, and he paid for us all. I believe that
he is here now. Standing in our midst —
with the power to heal and the grace to
forgive.
LOVE AND INSTRUCTION
Nigel Riley told us in June: I joined
in with lots of the church community
activities and services. I shared
what had been happening and I
continued to receive so much love
and instruction from them. I had
been freed completely from smoking,
alcohol and drug use and never felt a
need to use or take them. I felt safe
and loved.
My anxieties and paranoia never
bothered me again.
I knew I was saved and that Jesus
was who I had been looking for.
I was excited about the future and
what God had planned for me, and
wondered and prayed about how I
could serve him.
I studied for my degree, became
an RE teacher and have been
teaching for over 20 years and enjoy
engaging young people's minds with
the questions of life, truth, meaning
and purpose.
I have also loved being part of a
number of churches throughout my
life and enjoy serving the people in
the congregations and communities.
God has blessed me with a
wonderful family and a very special
wife, who has to cope with five males
in our home — we have four boys!
God continues to cause me to
grow in faith, in loving him and
loving the people in my life.
I am a Christian because I need
Jesus Christ from first to last.
(Continued on page 11)
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