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NEEDING HELP?I ended December’s contribution to the Roundel magazine with the words “I wish you all a Happy and Prosperous New Year”. Now, here we are, barely a week into 2008 as I write, and already some of us have been faced with tragic and heart-rending circumstances. Our human reaction is to ask, “Why does God allow it?” And we have to admit we don’t know the answer to that question. But one thing I have discovered throughout my lifetime is that when we are desperate for comfort and consolation we can find what we need by committing our situation to God. When Cecil Alexander wrote the carol, “Once in Royal David’s City”, he included the lines, “And He feeleth for our sadness, and He shareth in our gladness”. I believe that really is true – God understands our feelings, especially when we take time to talk to Him about them. So I want to assure all who are grieving and sad at this time that we are praying for them, that they may know the strength and comfort they need right now. If YOU are ‘going through the mill’ and think that we might not know about you, why not jot your name down on a piece of paper and drop it into our mail box – then we’ll include you in our prayer list too. Having mentioned a Christmas carol just now I am reminded of our Carol Service, held shortly before Christmas. It was a real delight to welcome some 200 of you. Thank you for coming and sharing the time with us. Thanks, too, to those who helped make it such a success. I always manage to leave out someone if I start naming individuals; but I’m sure you will understand if I pick out the Salvation Army Band, Rev.Tim Simpson and Rev.Rob Grinsell, for special mention. As for the rest of you: it wouldn’t have been the success it was if you hadn’t been there – so thanks again. Les Tripp - from Hawkinge Baptist Church
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