You are my fantasy person... I love you I wish I could know you... You are my fantasy person... I think of you so often... I wish you’d notice me... I talk to you in my head... I wish...

And God replies: I love you But I never see you. I KNOW you exist... I made you!... I talk to you... I need you... Where are you?

Those times you talk to me... I love you Those times you talk to me... it’s as though you are talking to a stranger, a magic-man

You ask me to do things for you or your family, I love you You ask me to do things for you or your family, to wave my ‘magic wand’ (as if I have one!)

I can only act in this world through my body on earth I love you I can only act in this world through my body on earth

You believe I exist, but so what? So does Satan! I love you You believe I exist, but so what? So does Satan! That does not mean I can work through you or for you.

You don’t really know me! I love you You don’t really know me! You can only know me by signing up to my kingdom, becoming a citizen

That means working it all out with all my other people I love you That means working it all out with all my other people

I love you My kingdom and my people are the same thing. If you dont join my people you can’t be a citizen of my kingdom

God’s people = his church His church = his active presence on earth God is present in his creation, but nothing except church can extend his kingdom or overcome evil His church = Jesus’ only form on earth His church = his Holy Spirit’s only residence

Your church needs YOU Not (primarily) to do things Not (primarily) to give money Not to keep the organisaton going

Whether you feel like it or not But to be there! Whether you feel like it or not Whether or not you get anything out of the worship time it is called a ‘service’ one that you do not one that you use! Whether or not you like the vicar... preacher... music

YOU (and your family) are God’s unique gift to others who may be here Why? Because every time you stay away God cannot use you to extend his kingdom YOU (and your family) are God’s unique gift to others who may be here especially to people who might be finding their way with God, or looking to make new links

‘But I NEED to... Visit family Have a holiday Take my children to activities Get up slowly in the mornings Do my work Make the most of good weather! Take my children to their mother/father See my friends

‘. and aren’t these all things God wants. ’ Satan – the deceiver ‘... and aren’t these all things God wants?’ Satan – the deceiver... the enemy... is very clever. ‘He’ knows how to manipulate you ‘Doesn’t God want you to do all these good things?’

‘You can’t possibly fit them in without missing some Sundays’ Vicars are recommended to take six Sundays off a year: that’s a pretty good guide for church members too!

20% are here almost every Sunday 29% are here about 40 Sundays/year Our church statistics show that of people who consider themselves church members (total 194): 20% are here almost every Sunday 29% are here about 40 Sundays/year (don’t come on 12 Sundays/year) 34% are here about 25 Sundays/year (don’t come on 25 Sundays/year) 18% are here about 12 Sundays/year (don’t come on 40 Sundays/year)

Am I trying to make you feel guilty? No! Is God trying to make you feel guilty? You need to work that out! These are measures for you only; not to compare yourself with others Lent is a great time to do it Does it mean God is not pleased with you? No! He says: ‘I you’!

However, we as a church need to provide alternatives to 10 However, we as a church need to provide alternatives to 10.30 on a Sunday morning we are starting by having an evening service at 7pm three times a month from April and a weekly service at 11.30 on a Wednesday morning and a weekly Praise and Play at 10.00 on a Wednesday morning ‘proper’ alternatives. It would be good to have some people commit to regular attendance at these so there is always a ‘critical mass’ for new people. Like an internal church plant...

‘For just as each of us has one body with many members ‘For just as each of us has one body with many members... so in Christ we form one body and each member belongs to all the others’ (Rom 12:4) ‘Let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another’ (Heb 10:24-25)