Dear Brethren,
"Let every soul be subject to the superior authorities, for there is no authority except under God. Now those which are, have been set under God, so that he who is resisting an authority has withstood God's mandate. Now those who have withstood, will be getting judgment for themselves, for magistrates are not a fear to the good act, but to the evil. Now you do not want to be fearing the authorities. Do good, and you will be having applause from it. For it is God's servant for your good.
Now if you should be doing evil, fear, for not feignedly is it wearing the sword. For it is God's servant, an avenger for indignation to him who is committing evil. Wherefore, it is necessary to be subject, not only because of indignation, but also because of conscience. For therefore you are settling taxes also, for they are God's ministers, perpetuated for this self-same thing. Render to all their dues, to whom tax, tax, to whom tribute, tribute, to whom fear, fear, to whom honour, honour." Rom. 13:1-7
"You're joking, not another one!" Brenda from Bristol's despairing response - now preserved on YouTube - to the BBC reporter who had just informed her of the date of the 2017 UK general election.
If domestic elections have that effect on Brenda, it can be reasonably assumed that she is not an international affairs geek and is unaware that 2024 is being described among the commentariat as a "Super-election year": the UK and US electorates being joined in the exercise of suffrage by those of over sixty other countries.
While the world grows ever more turbulent at a rate which mocks the term "Exponential" parties will churn out alleged antidotes, despite overwhelming historical evidence that, at best, they amount to triumphs of optimism over realism
But those of us privileged to receive God's revelation know that man's remedies are vain, his quest for utopia via secular wisdom doomed. We have an expectation in Christ which far transcends mere optimism: the blessing of salvation for the body of Christ, and the realisation that, ultimately, God will be "all in all". II.Cor. 5:18
It is with great pleasure and eager anticipation that we can turn our minds to the forthcoming Concordant Bible Society Annual Conference. It has always been looked upon by regular attendees as a spiritual oasis amidst worldly turbulence, and prized all the more since the lockdown induced loss of in-person attendance four years ago.
The conference will again be held at the Thornleigh Hotel, Grange over Sands, Lancashire. Those of you receiving this newsletter by email should find the booking form attached.
If it has reached you by snail mail, it should be enclosed. Conference regulars won't need convincing of the weekend of warm fellowship and edifying talks awaiting us. If you haven't been before, or haven't been able to make it for a while, please give some prayerful thought to joining us.
We are a small, scattered and ageing fellowship at this point, and it is important to treasure these God-given opportunities to meet together for study and spiritual growth. The loss of in-person fellowship in our 2020 gathering was keenly felt.
So, the details: Dates: Friday 6 September 2024 - Sunday 8 September 2024. As usual, Sunday night accommodation is available for those who, as most do, want to extend their weekend into Monday morning.
Prices: Friday 6 September 2024 - Sunday 8 September, 2024, 2 nights £222 per adult for the 2 nights stay.
Sunday night (8 September 2024) stop-over also available (includes Sunday high tea, bed and full breakfast on 9 September Monday morning). £290 per adult for the 3 nights stay.
The cost for the basic weekend includes cooked breakfast, lunch, dinner and tea/coffee breaks and use of the meeting room and lounges. In order to keep the conference viable we need as many attendees as possible. If you know anyone who might enjoy a weekend away with you but they are not interested in our understanding, they don't have to attend the meetings. The venue is a stylish comfortable small hotel in a lovely position overlooking Morecambe Bay and it is easy to get around to beautiful countryside.
Meal times provide opportunity for fellowship outside of the talks!
Payment: Cheques should be made payable to the Concordant Bible Society. If you are not able to pay by cheque or would prefer to pay by bank transfer please contact Mal. Deadline for payment: 19 July 2024.
Thornleigh have tightened up their payment procedures and now require full payment for the weekend to be submitted to them 4 weeks in advance of the event but they want the list of attendees 6 weeks in advance.
Once payment is made to Thornleigh no refunds will be offered. It is recommended that you have travel insurance to cover any potential loss. As payment will be made to the society at least 6 weeks in advance refunds could be made up until it is paid over to the hotel 4 weeks before the conference. Please don't delay in booking. The sooner you book, the easier the admin!
We have pre-booked The Thornleigh Hotel for the 2025 conference, which will be held,
God willing, from Friday to Sunday, 5th to 7th September, 2025.
Sunday night accommodation will again be available for those who want
to extend their fellowship into Monday morning.
For details of the Conference venue, visit the Thornleigh Hotel website or click on this link:
Please click on the link to download the booking form, complete the details,
and post it to the Honorary Secretary, (address below) including your cheque.
A regular slot at our conferences is the Saturday night question time session. Questions can be submitted right up to and even during the session. If God lays something on your heart between now and then though - or even several things - do act on God's leading. Panellists will be glad of the time to prep their answers, and all present will benefit.
Thornleigh have many themed holidays throughout the year. If you would like to extend your stay around the conference they may have a few spare rooms if you contact Claire as soon as possible but in past years the surrounding weeks have been fully booked.
We note the passing of two greatly esteemed members of our fellowship:
In January, John Babilas went to sleep in the Lord at the venerable age of ninety-five. Until very recent years John could always be found at our conferences, notably contributing to our Sunday morning Praise and Worship meetings. John was a deeply faithful student of God's Word, and was an instrument powerfully used of God to bring many, including one of our regular conference speakers, to the Concordant Version.
In March, Marjory Henderson also fell asleep in Christ. One of a well loved trio sometimes known as "the three nurses" owing to their vocations, Marjory attended many of our gatherings until her health made this impossible. She was a faithful follower of Christ and is now asleep awaiting the call of her Saviour when she is snatched away.
That's all this time folks.
God willing, we look forward to seeing many of you at Thornleigh.
God bless,
Malcolm and Jan
CBS Contact Details:
Malcolm and Jan Ferries, Flat 5, Redholme Court, Red Hill, Stourbridge, West Midlands, DY8 1ND.
Email: sumo@honyaku.co.uk
(We do like email for written communication where it's possible: it saves the CBS postage costs, and as a blind person, blessed to have access to suitable technology, emails are very easy for me to access.)
Landline: 01384 379531
(We leave the answerphone on most of the time, but if we're in when you ring, we'll interrupt it., though that's more difficult now that BT have placed on us their Digitalvoice system, meaning we have less time to get to the phone and can't hear who is calling before we pick up - their idea, not ours! )
Mobile: 07763 187876
Website: www.concordantbiblesociety.uk
Please pass our web address on whenever you feel God giving you the leading to do so.
Grace & Truth magazine Contact Details:
The Editor, Andrew Maclarty, 3 Bishops Farm Mill, Witan Way, Witney, OX28 4DG.
Email: gracetruth@outlook.com.
Landline: 01993 706848 Mobile: 07722 693096
Website: www.gracetruth.co.uk
Back to the start.
About the Concordant Bible Society.
A Pattern of Sound Words.
Literature available.
Conference and meetings.
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