Caerwent Evangelical Baptist Chapel
NEWSLETTER
March 2002
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Dear "Villagers" My Chambers English Dictionary describes a villager as "an inhabitant of a village" and for the purpose of this article I would prefer that simple, straightforward definition. Certainly as a church we feel we have a mission to everybody in the village of Caerwent and the surrounding villages. Our congregation at present is a good mixture of people who live within the village itself and some who travel quite a distance - we actually draw from within a radius of about twelve miles, and that from most points on the compass! Some of you may wonder why people travel that far to attend a little Baptist Chapel, the reason I believe is quite simple - they have found a "spiritual home"- they have become part of the local family of the people of God and settled into the life of the fellowship. The subject of "home" is a very interesting one - "home is where the heart is" or so they say. Some who live in a village may feel more at home in a town or city. Some who live in towns or cities may well still be villagers at heart! To live somewhere and feel "at home" there is not necessarily the same thing. What I would say to those who have moved into the village and perhaps find it a little strange - not to say quiet, is that if we can play a small part in helping you to feel at home, we would willingly do so - why not join us one Sunday morning? We provide a Sunday School for the children and a crèche for the little ones where you can still hear the service (usually!). In this uncertain and generally ungodly world we all need a truly spiritual home - somewhere where the truth of the Gospel is heard; where faith is fed and encouraged; where Jesus Christ is truly Lord; where the worship is Biblical and the love between believers real - somewhere where the Holy Spirit is present. Surely all true Christian churches desire to be such! The word villager really is quite an elastic sort of term. It could include everybody, from those who dwell within the walls of the old village to the whole world, because, so we are told, we live in a "global village". That is not a problem, because we have a message for the whole world! We wish you all a very happy Easter. Eddie Jones Pastor |