Letter from the Manse July 2025

Greetings from the manse, in the name of our soon coming King, Jesus Christ who loved us all the way to the cross before we even knew about His love.
I am encouraged to read Paul’s letter to the Church at Ephesus encouraging them to be “kind and compassionate to one another” (Ephesians 4:32). We are called and encouraged by this passage to remember to use kind words when talking to and about people. I acknowledge that we may not always feel that certain people deserve kindness from “us” but we are called to be kind to all people, yes, firm sometimes but kind. It is vital to give ourselves time to reflect before we say, “what we want them to know” and ask ourselves if this is kind. We can still correct or rebuke someone in kindness and this has better effect than the “let them know the truth about themselves approach”. In verse 29 Paul talks about “not letting the unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs”. We are called to build each other up and kindness is one part of the fruit of the Spirit we can give out to people we interact with that will build them up whether they appear to appreciate it or not. We are called to be kind to one another as “temples of the Holy Spirit”
I have a dream when the conversations, actions, looks and attitudes among us towards one another are oozing kindness and drawing the people in our community to the Church as they witness how kind we are one to another and to other people outside the Church. I want to believe that we could be more effective as a family if we learn to be kind to one another. We may not always get it right but let us build one another in kindness.
In conclusion remember to be kind to yourself when you don’t get it right and when you don’t hit the target, be kind to yourself give yourself a chance and others, Amen.
Andrew