‘Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.’

It seems as though the news is full of negative stories about the lives of young people in our country today. National newspapers tell us that rates of depression and anxiety amongst teenagers have increased by 70 per cent in the past 25 years with one in four children showing some evidence of mental ill-health. Locally we’ve seen the curfew placed on youngsters in Wath town centre to try to reduce anti-social behaviour caused, in part, by teenagers with little to do and nowhere to go.

It sometimes feels as though, as individuals, there is little we can do to help these young people. The good news is that this is not the case. There is plenty we can do as a Church community and the great news is that we have been given the means and the opportunity to help these young people, and to help grow the Church younger, to give everyone in our Parish a more hopeful future.

Our knitted poppy display.

If you take a moment to think about it you’ll be able to recall the ways in which the power that knowing Jesus brings to your life and it this that the Archbishop of Canterbury wants to be experienced by as many people as possible,

” We are committed to this work because we want everyone to know how much they are loved by God through Jesus Christ, and how they can find that love for themselves. We believe that everyone should have a chance to experience the hope of the gospel of Jesus Christ and the fellowship of belonging to a Christian community wherever they live, whether in an urban city centre, an outer housing estate or in remote rural areas” said Justin Welby.

If every adult who is part of our Church community and who regularly attends our services gave a regular and considered gift to our Church, we are confident we can continue this transformation of lives. At the end of the day how much to give is a thoughtful, prayerful decision only you can make: ‘each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.’

Love is generous, love is kind and love is selfless – we see that in all God gives to us; how will you respond?