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 Being on your knees before God isn't just a physical stance.  It's an attitude of the heart in which you are seeking God and are willing to submit to His plan for your future.    - Charles F. Stanley     "30 Life Principles" Readings For February 5 5th Sunday After Epiphany Isaiah 40: 21-31 Psalm 147: 1-12;21c 1 Corinthians 9: 16-23 Mark 1: 29-39 Jan. 29 - Kingdom Kids Jan. 29 - Ultreya Jan. 30 - Annual Meeting Feb. 5 -  Kingdom Kids Feb. 19 - Food Bank Sunday April 27-29 - Parish Mission For more information on the above and other parish events, see the Events page. CHURCH BULLETIN BLOOPPERS: Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10am.  All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall aftet the B.S. is done. Last Week's Question: Whose children were killed while attending a feast? Answer:  The children of Job   See Job 1: 13 Question of The Week: What doting father gave his favorite son a coat of many colors?