REPORT OF THE 2016 GAULBY FESTIVAL OF GRACE

2016 GAULBY FESTIVAL OF GRACE

 

The 17th Annual Gaulby Festival of Grace was held on Saturday 10th September 2016 at St Peter’s Parish Church, Gaulby, Leicestershire. Although it rained for much of the day around sixty folk were present and those attending were blessed with excellent ministry and warm fellowship.

 

The event was inaugurated in 2000 by the then incumbent minister, the late Rev Ashley F. B. Cheesman, to proclaim and celebrate the Gospel of Grace as recorded in Holy Scripture, build up believers in their most Holy Faith, and inform Christians about the work of the church both in this country and in other parts the world. The event has continued every year and has become one of the most significant rural parish events in Leicestershire.

 

The Gaulby Reformed Evangelical Anglican Fellowship is one of the Church of England fellowships in Leicestershire where the doctrines of the English reformers are upheld, it subscribes to the Thirty Nine Articles of the Church of England and regularly uses the 1662 Book of Common Prayer in its evening services.

 

Each year three speakers are invited and the subject this year was ‘The Need for Continuing Biblical Ministry’.

 

Our first speaker was Tom Woolford from Church Society who addressed the current situation within the Church of England and outlined the tensions between the conservative and the modernizing wings in recent times. The major divisions at this time are, of course, the ordination of women priests and bishops, and the matter of ‘same-sex marriage’.

 

Tom went on to give an account of the issues up to the present day and possible scenarios for the future. Nevertheless despite the divisions within Anglicanism there is cause for hope; around one third of the clergy would identify themselves as being evangelical, the same is true of bishops, reformed curates are not giving up and Oak Hill College at Southgate, London is sending out around twenty five new curates every year. Not only that, we know that our God is one of resurrection power who can revive and restore His church.

 

Our second speaker was Tim Burden from Middle East Reformed Fellowship who gave a report on the work of the organization which spreads the gospel throughout Middle East and North African countries using broadcasting, the internet and interaction on social media. It was interesting to learn, and is little reported in the media, that in many of these countries a multitude of  young people are dissatisfied with their religion which they see as one of conflict and division and offers little prospect for peace now and no hope whatever for the future. Current events in the Middle East are causing many to seek the truth elsewhere and discover that true peace is to be found only in the knowledge of Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour.

 

Tim also informed us about the work going on at their training facility located at Lokichoggio in North West Kenya where ministers and their wives from the UK, and elsewhere, go out on short term mission to teach training modules to prepare pastors and evangelists who will return to Southern Sudan and other countries to build up the churches there. Tim recounted his experiences at Lokichoggio during a recent sabbatical.

 

Our final speaker was Rev Andrew Young from Cheltenham Presbyterian Church who spoke from the second epistle to Timothy where Paul addresses the situation that Timothy, and believers today, would face in these last days. A major problem we face is that we are increasingly in an age that is becoming more godless and where God is being air-brushed out of everyday life; nevertheless God’s provision during all this is His Word, which is the only handbook for life that we need to confront the ills of society.

 

Rev Young challenged us to have an unwavering confidence in God’s Word which is totally sufficient and the sole ‘Rule of Faith and Life’ (The Westminster Confession). By so doing we know that what we believe is true and can have absolute and unwavering confidence in the future hope that Jesus has promised for His people, ‘Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing’ (2 Timothy 4:8).

 

The event was concluded by singing ‘Amazing Grace’ and this was followed by a delicious buffet tea and a time of fellowship. It is always good to share what God is doing in the lives of His people.

 

We were all challenged by the problems facing Christians at present but at the same time motivated to become better and more faithful servants of Jesus Christ and living witnesses to the saving grace of our Saviour who has done so much for His people. All who were present look forward to meeting once again at the 2017 Gaulby Festival of Grace which is to be held (God willing) on Saturday 9th September 2017.