Dear Friends,

I was somewhat discouraged when recently in the church notices I asked how many knew the dates of our Parish Mission. So few comparatively seemed to know. It may have been because we are reticent to put up our hands in church. But because of this, with our Parish Mission so near now, I would like to devote my letter this month to the Mission.

If we rejoice in the forgiveness of sins through Christ; if we have appreciated what it means to be forgiven; if John 3:16 is a precious Gospel verse of God's saving love and humanities desperate need, then we are not only grateful that we are saved from hell and given eternal life in Jesus, but we yearn that others may be saved too.

It should be our concern as the church of Christ in this area, that the people all around us in the parish and locality come to know the forgiveness of sins in Jesus, and come to believe in him as Saviour and follow him as Lord. If people believe, they are saved and are on their way to heaven. If they do not believe, they are unsaved and are on the broad road that leads to hell.

We seek to spread the Good News of God's forgiving love in the Lord Jesus Christ all the time, but sometimes we make a special effort to do this. Such a time is a Mission. Our Mission from Friday, 15th March to Sunday, 24th March is a special time devoted to sharing the Gospel. We are having a team of clergy and evangelists coming to conduct a series of meetings and activities, to which we will be giving special invitation to everyone connected with our church and in our parish.

The Mission Team is led by Revd John Berry. Information about him and each member of the team, together with a photo of each, is on the Mission Notice Board in the Church Lounge. God has provided a first class team to come and share the knowledge of the Lord Jesus and is saving love with us.

Also there is on the Mission Notice Board a complete programme for the Mission. You will see that there are main meetings each evening, special services on the Sundays, and a host of other special meetings for all groups, ages and interests.

We need you all to help with the Mission. We need you to pray that God may give the Mission his blessing, so that people may come in large numbers to the meetings and really and positively respond to the Gospel.

We need you to encourage people to come. To invite people you know. To explain the meetings and explain the Mission. To have people to come to the meetings and offering to bring them, or come with them, or sit with them. To pray for the ones you invite.

We need your presence at as many meetings as you can manage and are appropriate. At least at most of the evening meetings and to the two main Services on the Sundays. As you come - Pray! Your presence means so much to the success of each activity.

We ask you earnestly to set aside the dates of the Mission and give your time to attend and encourage others to attend.

We need offers of accommodation for the Team during the Mission. We need offers of help in distributing the Mission Brochure to people and to all homes in the Parish.

There is nothing so worthwhile and so needed as Christ and to know him as Saviour. When we receive him as Saviour all our sins are forgiven, past, present and future; we are given a place in heaven; we receive new life by spiritual birth so we know God and desire to please him; we are received into God's family and God becomes our Father and guide and protector of our lives.

Join with us with all your might and main to work and pray that God may bring many many people into these Gospel blessings at our Mission. Have great faith and expectation that God will do this above all you can ask or think. Believe that in this Mission you will receive much blessing to.

Your servant for Christ's sake,