The Rev. Gordon Thompson Who is the Holy Spirit? He is the wind and breath of God.  In Genesis 2 we read how God formed mankind from the dust of the earth and then breathed into his nostrils the breath of God - ruach! We, in the Anglican Parish of Chatham, take God at His word. He says to ask and so we ask. "How much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!"(Luke 11:13)   Nicky Gumbel, in Alpha, says that we are to ask the Holy Spirit to come and He will come.  Come, Holy Spirit, Come!  We ask in our Prayer Times before the Sunday Morning Worship Services and He comes. We ask during our Healing Services once a month on Sunday evenings and He comes. We ask for Him to come during our Prayer Time at Vestry Meetings and He comes. The wind of the Spirit is blowing - sometimes gently and sometimes not so gently. People are being touched and some are being transformed by the fire of the Holy Spirit. The wind of the Holy Spirit is blowing,  but I feel we are only scratching the surface.  He wants much more for His Church. And so we ask, "Come, Holy Spirit, Come!" In Acts Chapter One, we find Jesus with His disciples just before the Ascension.  Jesus instructs them in verses 4 and 5 : "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.  For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."  In  verse 8 He said, "You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."  Sometimes I feel we are still in Jerusalem waiting and it is time to allow His wind to blow so that we can be witnesses in Miramichi, in New Brunswick, in Canada, and indeed in all the world. Yours In Christ, The Rev. Gordon Thompson Rector and Priest

Thought for the Week Has someone mistreated you?  Why not pray for them?  It will make you feel better. Have you had a disappointment?  Ask God to show you others who are more disappointed than you are and try to encourage them.  This will help them and make you feel better all at the same time.   - Joyce Meyer  " The Love Revolution" Readings For January 29th 4th Sunday After Epiphany Deuteronomy 18: 15-20 Psalm 111 1 Corinthians 8: 1-13 Mark 1: 21-28 Jan. 22 - Kingdom Kids Jan. 25 - St. Mary's ACW Meeting Jan. 27 - Spaghetti Night Jan. 28 - Mission 2012 Meeting Jan. 29 - Ultreya Jan. 30 - Annual Meeting For more information on the above and other parish events, see the Events page. CHURCH BULLETIN BLOOPPERS: This evening at 7pm there will be a hymn sing in the park across from the church.  Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin. LAST WEEK'S QUESTION: Who said this?  " If I be shaven, then my strength will go from me." Answer:  Samson    See Judges 16:17 Question of The Week: Whose children were killed while attending a feast?