Magor Baptist Church

Newsletter for 17th to 28th April 2025

Maundy Thursday, 7.00 p.m., Service at St Mary’s

Good Friday, 10.00 a.m., Service of Hymns, Readings & Prayers

Easter Sunday, 6.00 a.m., Sunrise gathering at Blackrock

Easter Sunday, 11.00 a.m., Easter celebration

Upcoming events

Maundy Thursday, 7.00 p.m., Service at St Mary’s to which you are invited

Good Friday, 10.00 a.m., Service of Hymns, Readings & Prayers

(There will be no Coffee Morning that day.)

Holy Saturday, Personal Prayer

Easter Sunday, 6.00 a.m., Sunrise gathering at Blackrock

Easter Sunday, 11.00 a.m., Easter celebration

Sunday 27th, morning service at 11.00 a.m.

Monday 28th, church prayer meeting, 7.30 p.m. in the Blue Room - all welcome

From Mark

 

A ‘Good Friday’ thought

 

What sort of predicament are we in?

 

What sort of predicament are you and I in that we should require the crucifixion of the Son of God? …The gravity of sin was so great that no correspondence in heaven or earth was weighty enough except the self offering of the Son of God - not by the swift guillotine blade, but by submitting to the degradation of crucifixion.  (The Crucifixion by Fleming Rutledge)

 

Unless I have underestimated us, I think many of us regard our own sin as an occasional mistake. We think of the slip-ups and miss-steps and sigh and we are thankful God has provided forgiveness for us. I doubt we often confront the bitter reality that the magnitude of our sin is such that the only solution was the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross.

 

And it had to be on a cross. Why couldn’t Jesus die in a painless manner? A swift and honourable death would work, wouldn’t it? Why the inhumane degradation of the cross? Because it wasn’t an even trade. It wasn’t one life for another, it was the sinless and guiltless Lamb exchanged for the corrupt and powerless sinners. It was the power of sin over humanity, heaved onto the crucified Christ in such a manner that it caused him to cry out from his strained lips,  “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” And then, He was finished.

 

Romans 5v10 relates that sin is such a powerful force, we have no ability to save ourselves. Only Christ could save us. Only Christ could bear that weight.

 

All for sin could not atone; Thou must save, and Thou alone (writes Augustus Toplady in his famous hymn - Rock of Ages). That’s the predicament we are in, and the cross is the only answer. Jesus remains our only hope.

 

The King of Kings

 

Fancy a trip to the cinema sometime over the Easter bank holiday? How about trying this one out? You’ll find it on at selected times in Spytty, Cwmbran, Cardiff and Cribbs.

IMPORTANT - Fire Door and Disabled Toilet Door

 

The fire door in the corridor, nearest the kitchen, is now electrically operated. The push buttons are located on the left hand wall on the approach,  just before the display cabinet and the other on the wall immediately outside the kitchen.

 

The door will open automatically when the button is pushed and will also close automatically after an appropriate delay. The ceiling sensors should prevent it closing if there is an obstruction.

 

The door should not be propped open, or pushed open/closed manually as this will damage the operating mechanism.

 

The disabled toilet door is also controlled by a push button system and should not be forced manually. There is a delay in closing to allow the disabled/infirm to be clear of the door before operating. The door can be locked using the red push button. To exit press and hold the green button.

Mission Boxes

Please can I have the BMS boxes brought into the church by the 27th April. It can either go into the cupboard in the flower room or given directly to me. Thank you.

Angela

April Charity Offering - Tearfund, Myanmar

 

In view of the devastating earthquake in Myanmar last week Tearfund along with the Disasters Emergency Committee is appealing for urgent donations for vital help in Myanmar - so the church is making this need the focus of our April charity offering.

 

The church will MATCH all giving to Myanmar this month and has already sent some money to help with urgent relief work. Contributions can be made on Sundays and also through online giving (reference charity, Tearfund or Myanmar).

 

Your donation is urgently needed  

 

A deadly earthquake measuring 7.7 magnitude struck central Myanmar on 28 March, destroying lives across the region. Over 3,000 people have been killed and 4,700 injured. Many more are still buried in the rubble, and these numbers are expected to rise. Those who survived the terrifying earthquake now face a desperate humanitarian crisis.

 People are in urgent need of medical care, shelter, food and water, and access to safe sanitation and hygiene.

 Hospitals are so overwhelmed that injured patients are being treated in car parks and streets.

 Essential infrastructure like roads, electricity and internet have been severely damaged, making communication challenging.

 

Jesus calls us to stand alongside people in crisis. Will you make a life-saving donation today?

 

Please click/tap on the button below for a personal account of the situation there.

Church Magazine

The Easter issue can now be read on the church website or downloaded at the button below, and some copies are also available in the vestibule.