1 Lord, to whom can we go? Dear Friends, This week we need your prayers. The Taliban’s recapture of Afghanistan following the withdrawal of US-led coalition armed forces has been a huge shock to concerned people around the world; not least to some of the soldiers who have served there over the past 20 years. In the face of such an overwhelming event and the feelings of helplessness and despair it may evoke, it is both natural and right for people of good faith to ask, ‘What we can do?’ As I write the newsletter lead, I am reflecting on how many of Afghanistan’s population and especially their minority Christian population, are asking and praying that same question this week, in the face of overwhelming odds and persecution. The number of Christian’s at this time is unknown as many are involved in underground house churches, but it is estimated that it may be as many as 20,000. Some have reported that they have already received death warrants from militants and Taliban saying ‘we know who you are, where you live and what have been doing’. Added to this are the thousands of workers who assisted and worked for coalition forces and government agencies now hunted down as collaborators. For Christians, the answer to ‘What can we do?’ is always the same: we must recommit ourselves to answer Jesus’s call: ‘Follow me.’ As the Apostles ask in this week’s Gospel reading, ‘Lord, to whom [else] can we go? You have the words of life.’ It’s never more important to remind ourselves of this than when evil and death – including the 241,000 deaths suffered in the Afghanistan conflict – appears to have triumphed. The Second Letter to Timothy reminds us that ‘God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.’ Giving up (as opposed to taking a break, which even Jesus did sometimes), is not an option for Christians, no matter how much we may feel like it. So where, and how, can we start? The ‘where’ is easy: Wherever we are right now: at home or work, at school or college, in the shops and streets, among our families, friends and neighbours – and don’t forget what a Christian means by ‘neighbour’! The ‘how’ is easier than it may seem, too: Some of us may be called to work with aid and development agencies, political or diplomatic institutions, or refugee organisations directly involved in caring for those most at risk: women and girls, Afghans who worked with the allied forces, everyone whose social and online behaviour over the past 20 years may be unacceptable to their new rulers, and the refugees being driven from their homes by violence or fear. St Mary’s Newick Newsletter 22 nd August 2021
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1
Lord, to whom can we go?
Dear Friends,
This week we need your prayers.
The Taliban’s recapture of Afghanistan following the withdrawal of US-led coalition armed forces has been a
huge shock to concerned people around the world; not least to some of the soldiers who have served there
over the past 20 years.
In the face of such an overwhelming event and the feelings of helplessness and despair it may evoke, it is both
natural and right for people of good faith to ask, ‘What we can do?’
As I write the newsletter lead, I am reflecting on how many of Afghanistan’s population and especially their
minority Christian population, are asking and praying that same question this week, in the face of overwhelming
odds and persecution.
The number of Christian’s at this time is unknown as many are involved in underground house churches, but it is
estimated that it may be as many as 20,000. Some have reported that they have already received death
warrants from militants and Taliban saying ‘we know who you are, where you live and what have been doing’.
Added to this are the thousands of workers who assisted and worked for coalition forces and government
agencies now hunted down as collaborators.
For Christians, the answer to ‘What can we do?’ is always the same: we must recommit ourselves to answer
Jesus’s call: ‘Follow me.’
As the Apostles ask in this week’s Gospel reading, ‘Lord, to whom [else] can we go? You have the words of life.’
It’s never more important to remind ourselves of this than when evil and death – including the 241,000 deaths
suffered in the Afghanistan conflict – appears to have triumphed.
The Second Letter to Timothy reminds us that ‘God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather a spirit of
power and of love and of self-discipline.’
Giving up (as opposed to taking a break, which even Jesus did sometimes), is not an option for Christians, no
matter how much we may feel like it.
So where, and how, can we start?
The ‘where’ is easy: Wherever we are right now: at home or work, at school or college, in the shops and streets,
among our families, friends and neighbours – and don’t forget what a Christian means by ‘neighbour’!
The ‘how’ is easier than it may seem, too:
Some of us may be called to work with aid and development agencies, political or diplomatic institutions, or
refugee organisations directly involved in caring for those most at risk: women and girls, Afghans who worked
with the allied forces, everyone whose social and online behaviour over the past 20 years may be unacceptable
to their new rulers, and the refugees being driven from their homes by violence or fear.
St Mary’s Newick Newsletter 22nd
August 2021
2
Some of us will inevitably encounter new Afghan immigrants to our own country and communities, and their
future physical and mental wellbeing will depend greatly on the warmth of the welcome they receive among us.
All of us can try to make sure that we are well-informed about the situation of God’s Afghan daughters and
sons, and pray both generally for all of them, and specifically for persons and groups or communities to whom
our hearts are drawn.
In simple terms, we must be as loving as we can to everyone whose lives we can influence, and trust God for
the rest.
This week we need to pray and pray without ceasing; because our world is changing yet again, in ways in which
we cannot understand nor comprehend . . .yet in the midst of this chaos our prayers matter, and for thousands
of people just a 9 hour flight away, prayer is all they have right now.
Paul
Our Prayer for Growth
God of Mission Who alone brings
growth to your Church,
Send your Holy Spirit to give
Vision to our planning,
Wisdom to our actions, and power to our witness.
Help our church to grow in numbers,
In spiritual commitment to you,
And in service to our local community,
Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Diary Dates
Audrey Ford’s
Prayer Group Monday 6
th September 3:00 p.m. St Mary’s Church
Monday 20th September 2:00 p.m. St Mary’s Church
Lunch Club Monday 6th September - Contact Issie Baty for further details
September Services Sunday 12th September – 8.00a.m. Holy Communion – Chailey to join us at Newick.
Sunday 19th September – 8.00a.m. Holy Communion – Newick to join Chailey.
Evening Service
2nd
Sunday of the month 12
th September 6:00 p.m.
Alpha Course Thursday 30th September St Peter’s Chailey, 7:00 p.m. ( runs for 10 weeks)
Harvest Festival Sunday 3rd October
Garden Day Saturday 16th October
Ladies Supper Friday 29th October
Confirmation Service Sunday 28th November
Please remember those on our prayer list.
Rosemary Begbie, Beryl Campion-Smith, Harri Gande, Geoffrey Harrison,
John Hart, Joy Hay, Mike Hawkes, Spike MacGuire, Christina McCann,
John Morrison, Adrian, Andrea & Amber Pariss,
Gemma Peacock, Kevin Slipper, Cheryl Stewart,
Daphne Strachan, Martin Tardiff, Dave Tolhurst,
Danielle Tora, Toni Warrilow, Sean Watson, Mick Weeding,
Jenny Weller, Allen Whitmore, Nasima Wright
If you would like to receive prayers or know someone who would, please contact Rev Paul Mundy on 01825 723186 or [email protected]