Tilehouse Street Baptist Church, Hitchin

OUTLOOK

Outlook April/ May 2025

Pastoral Care Report

We approach the Easter weekend, a very special time remembering Christ’s death and resurrection. The clocks have gone forward and British Summertime has begun. One of my favourite services is the Sunrise Service, which takes place at Priory Hills on Easter morning. The only sound is bird song and it is so peaceful.

He lives, all glory to His name!
He lives, my Jesus, still the same.
Oh, the sweet joy this sentence gives,
"I know that my Redeemer lives!"
(Samuel Medley)

We bring before the Lord those in our fellowship who have been and are going through a difficult time:-

• Stephen Copson is recovering well after his recent surgery
• Pam Slade, Jean Ireland and Lillian Dixon have all been unwell recently, but are all on the mend now
• Eileen Smith has also been in hospital, but is so much better and has also had help with her hearing, which is great
• John Maguire is also recovering from surgery on his ankle, but hopefully will be back walking soon
• Anne Moody is still going through chemotherapy and has now lost her hair, but asks me to convey a big thank you to you all for the support and prayers. She has now got a new cat called Ash, for company
• Aud Eastham had a very bad fall and spent a short time in hospital followed by some respite care. She is now back home. Unfortunately Harry is also still under the weather
• Mary Brown was in her chair last time I visited her
• Maralyn Clarke is still spending most of her time in bed, but sometimes gets to sit in her chair

We think of those who have recently lost loved ones.

We pray particularly for Jane, who has been our minister for 9 years 11 and now commences her final year with us. A big thank you to her for her unending faithfulness during this time.

Wishing everyone who celebrates their birthday in April and May, a happy one.

We also pray for the work of the Garden House Hospice, for their care and love they show to many people and families going through a hard time.

Finally we pray for Tilehouse Street Baptist Church as we have our Easter services, thinking of the united service on Maundy Thursday with Walsworth Road Baptist Church and Christchurch. This year it is held at THS. We look forward to Easter, particularly Easter Day, when Carol Ward will be baptized. We pray for her at this time.

Wishing everyone in our fellowship a very Happy Easter.

Correspondence

A big thank you to all those who supported the World Day of Prayer service in March. £200 pounds was raised for the Cook Islands.

Val Chivers (World Day of Prayer Rep.)

Message from Anne Moody

Thank you seems such a small word for all the prayers, cards, messages and hugs! I do need to thank everyone for the care and support I have been shown, in what has been a very difficult time.

Particular thanks need to go to Katie Russell. Although she may not read this, I must acknowledge her role and how she has gone out of her way to help me. Thanks also to members of the Bible Study group who have supported me in a number of ways including lifts to and from hospital. Support has not just been from the church but particularly helpful has been my family and members of the youth club I attended 50 years ago, where I made my commitment to Christ!

Considering I was only diagnosed on 15th January, things have moved fast, and I am now ¼ way through chemotherapy. To say I dreaded this would be an understatement. While visiting some of the youth club who are still in Southampton, I went to an evening service which had a call for prayer. Unknow to me the lady who prayed for me had been an oncology doctor. She prayed that I would be able to remember that, as the chemicals went in, so did the Holy Spirit. This was particularly helpful as the first chemical was bright red!

Overall, the chemotherapy has not been too bad, apart for 2 side effects, the vertigo, which is still a problem and of course the hair loss. This is where I want to thank everyone at church. It was extremely difficult to admit that most of my hair had gone and I had to wear a hat. The acceptance and love I felt from everyone was so important and helped me to move on to losing the rest of my hair that week.

The other worry for me was having a PICC line fitted (a sort of semi- permanent canula.) I was dreading it, but God had gone before me. I entered the room and the first question was, “Are you related to Moody and Sankey?” That was not the question I expected, but it meant that what could have been a real ordeal was anything but. The Christian nurse said she was praying as she did the procedure and as I left, she prayed a blessing over me.

I would like to finish with the hymn Jane chose to finish our anniversary service. Throughout recent weeks this has been extremely important to me.

In Christ alone, my hope is found
He is my light, my strength, my song
This Cornerstone, this solid ground
Firm through the fiercest drought and storm
What heights of love, what depths of peace
When fears are stilled, when strivings cease
My Comforter, my All in All
Here in the love of Christ I stand.
(Keith Getty and Stuart Townend)

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