A resolute life
We begin a New Year . At the point you are reading this article , you may be well on the way to living out a New Years ’ Resolution . Perhaps you ’ ve decided to join a gym , take up a new hobby , make a change to your life which you think will improve yourself , or your family . Each year , gyms across the country get a boost every January as many of us decide to turn over a new leaf in life , get on to the tread mill and shift the holiday pounds that we ’ ve accumulated . It would be fascinating to know , wouldn ’ t it , how many new gym memberships survive past the first month .
Wanting to change and improve our lives is an age-old thing , and it is basic to our humanity . As we move through life , our priorities change , and where once youthful pursuits might have been energetic sports , as families settle , we find that certainly in the west , our sedentary life needs a bit of a kick start now and again . Certainly , the pandemic has not helped . I know myself that I ’ ve had to make a conscious decision to get out of the house and exercise , even if just going for a long walk . Wanting to change direction in our life is a fundamental part of the spiritual quest , and in all religious traditions , selfimprovement , living a moral life , caring for the people and environment around us is part of the ethic that springs from a love of sacred scriptures , following a religious path , and seeking divine truth . The writer of the great Christian hymn so often sung at life-events , ‘ Abide with me ’ wrote ‘ Change and decay in all around I see , O Thou who changest not , abide with me .’ It is in seeking the eternal that we realise how changeable life is , how much we change , and how change can in fact be a very good thing . Living in a world of constant change , it is to unchangeable truths that we look for certainty . I hope you can keep your New Years ’ resolution .
Padre Alex Bennett
Places of Worship around Gloucester
CHRISTIANITY Church of England
St John ’ s ( Reverend Jacqui Hyde )
St Andrew ’ s ( Reverend Jonathan Perkin )
Roman Catholic Our Lady ’ s ( Father Paul Brandon ) Methodist
Churchdown Methodist ( Reverend Graham Miles )
Baptist
Kendal Road Baptist ( Pastor – Steve Ayers )
JEWISH Gloucestershire Liberal Jewish Community ( Rabbi Anna Gerrard )
MUSLIM Masjid e Noor
Khoja Shi ’ s Muslim Community
HINDUISM Gloucester Pillaiyar Temple
GURKHA
There is a said communion on Sunday mornings , 08.30 - 09.00am
Sunday 10.30 services are currently being live-streamed and are accessible from our Video Outreach via YouTube , or via our Facebook page – check website
Check website - various times .
Sunday 10.30 morning worship . Masks must be worn .
If you would like to go in person some Sunday , book your place in advance via website . All services livestreamed on Zoom also .
7 days a week 9am - midday , 6 - 9 pm
Traditional style , with children ’ s work alongside
Modern style , with children ’ s work alongside
Mass , with children ’ s work alongside
Rotation of Holy Communion , All age worship , and normal Sunday Worship
All age service , with children ’ s work alongside
St Johns Avenue , Churchdown , GL3 2DB ( at crossroads with Hare and Hounds ) www . stjohnschurchdown . co . uk
Station Road , Churchdown , GL3 2JT new . standrewschurchdown . org . uk
66 Cheltenham Road East , Churchdown , GL3 1HU www . ourladyschurchdown . org . uk
Chapel Hay Lane , Churchdown , GL3 2ET www . churchdownmethodistchurch . org . uk
Kendal Road , Longlevens , GL2 0NB krbc . org . uk
www . gljc . org . uk
44-46 Ryecroft Street , Gloucester , GL1 4LY www . majidenoor . org . uk
Temple As required Imjin Barracks
Wainsbridge , 69 Bristol Road , Quedgley , GL2 4NE
Badminton Road , Matson , GL4 6AY gloucesterpillaiyar . business . site
ARRC Padre the imjin WINTER 2021 29