All Aboard
These meetings are held at Les Adams Methodist Church on the first 4 Thursdays in October, beginning at 730 and putting the kettle on for tea to go with the cake at 830pm!

Everyone is welcome!

Week 1 - Thursday 2nd October :
"Faith tested"
We kicked off this series by trying to piece together what we could remember of the story of Noah and the Flood. How does it begin? What happens? Who is involved? What are the main themes? How does it end?
We thought about the way the story is often passed over or discarded as fantasy because the details of it defy logic! We reminded ourselves that the biblical account in Genesis 6-9 is made up of 2 separate stories from different times and traditions, that have been interwoven, thus accounting for some of the discrepancies. (for example, did Noah take 2 pairs or 7 pairs of each animal?)
We went on to think about the instruction from God in Genesis 6 : 14 that Noah build an ark.
We thought about the test of faith that it must have been for Noah. Was God serious? What would the neighbours think?
We went on to consider the links with our own lives - times when our own faith has been tested. What has helped us stand firm in our faith?

Noah is one example of a whole load of bible people who do seemingly crazy things, believing they are obeying God. We'll begin next week by reminding ourselves of a few of them. 
I wonder, by the way, how we can know the difference between God's voice and our own ideas?

Week 2 - Thursday 9th October :
"Faith in practice"
We continued our reflection on the story of Noah and the flood by considering how essential it was for Noah to act on his belief. Faith must be about more than the private beliefs we hold in our heads. We need to show evidence of it in our lives.

We considered ARKs - and the idea that to change the world we could begin by seeking to do "Acts of Random Kindness" - taken from the film "Evan Almighty"
What Acts of Random Kindness have others done that have made an impact on us?
What ARKs have we done for others?

We thought about the words of Mahatmi Gandhi "Be the change you want to see in the world"
and Mother Teresa "It's not the magnitude of our actions, but the amount of love that is put into them that matters" 

Week 3 - Thursday 16th October :
"Faith in community"
We thought this week about those with whom we share faith - how we're not in this alone, but in community, together with others.
Noah wasn't alone, but had his family with him. We are told about his wife and sons.
We thought about the times and ways in which we are community and involved in building community. Why are we sometimes so reluctant to work with and alongside others who share our faith?
John Wesley had a sermon based on the theme "If your heart is right with my heart, give me your hand". Are we up to the challenge?

We thought also about Prayer - what do we think will happen when we pray? What difference does prayer make? Are we trying to change God or a situation? or are we ready and willing to accept that the answer to our prayer might involve changing ourselves?!

Week 4 - Thursday 23rd October :
"Faith rewarded"
We conclude this 4 week series on Noah by thinking about God's faithfulness.

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