As part of my devotions I am reading Phillip Yancey’s daily devotional “Grace Notes”. In one chapter he talks about 3 of the qualities of a healthy church - Diversity, Unity and Mission. I was challenged and encouraged by his words and would like to quote some of his words with some further thoughts of my own.

Diversity
As I read accounts of the New Testament church, no characteristic stands out more sharply than this one. Beginning with Pentecost, the Christian Church dismantled the barriers of gender, race, and social class that had marked out Jewish congregations. Paul declares “there is now neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for all are one in Christ Jesus”. When I walk into a new church, the more its members resemble each other, and resemble me, the more uncomfortable I feel.

In the area of diversity Jesus has helped us and blessed us at TLC - young and old, male and female from so many nations, worship together. Whilst we say thank you to God, I urge us to continue to walk across every racial divide and truly love one another. We celebrate our differences and the beauty of our diversity and we continue to open our doors to everyone that Jesus is bringing to us - what an amazing God we serve.

Unity
“Of course diversity only succeeds in a group who share a common vision. In His great prayer in John 17, Jesus stressed one request above all others: “that they may be one”.

I have a passion that unity continues as a major prayer of TLC. In my life, unity begins with Susan and me and then my relationship with the eldership and the staff and the church; the next step is other church leaders and the wider body of Christ. Personally I love my wife, I am in unity with the eldership and TLC seems as happy a place as it has ever been for the staff. As I look wider in the church there are different views and emphases but I sense a wonderful growing unity as we love each other, serve together, reach out to the poor and the lost and believe for His kingdom to come

. I also sense the beginnings of greater unity between church leaders in Leicester.

Mission
“The church”, said Archbishop William Temple “is the only cooperative society in the world that exists for the benefit of the non-members. Some churches focus on the need of their immediate neighbourhood. Others adopt sister churches in other countries, support relief and development agencies, and send mission teams abroad. Saddest of all are those churches whose vision does not extend beyond their own facility and parking lot”

We have a ‘physical’ parish of Highfields and a ‘spiritual’ parish of the whole of Leicestershire but our mission is even wider. In Highfields through so many different ministries we are having an impact and in Leicestershire through YOUR lives we are being salt and light. Alongside all of this our passion for God’s whole world is strong.

By Yancey’s definition we are in a very good position but TLC will you pray the following with us?
• May our diversity be even wider, more in evidence and more celebrated among us
• May our unity be deeper and stronger and manifested in many ways
• May our mission be more passionately shown, more widely demonstrated and wholly out worked through every part of TLC. Amen

Coming soon

• Baptisms 7th March – 6.30pm at TLC - if you want to be baptised there is a teaching session this Sunday in the morning
• Please pray for the weekend away for all our 12- 23’s – March 12-14th
• Mothering Sunday - March 14th at moat – a gift for every lady – why not bring your mum to church?
• 2nd April Good Friday – 6.30pm a time around the cross for everyone at cv
• 4th April Easter Sunday - a celebration for everyone

Susan and I thank you for the privilege of serving you

The best is ahead

David Hind