ISSUE 1038 DECEMBER 2017

On & Off Duty

cpauk.net | coact.org.ukLatest news from the Christian Police Association

At Christmas we celebrate how God gave the world a baby named Jesus to provide the most amazing gift of forgiveness and eternal life.

Christmas is a time for joy and comfort for most. However, for those working in public service it is a time when they have to set aside those joyful celebrations as they give their time and energy to keeping our streets and communities safe and secure over this festive time.

A Christmas Prayer Dear LORD. We seek your blessings on us all during this special time. As we celebrate Christmas help us to be a faithful witness for You as opportunities allow us to share the message, truth and hope of the Gospel.

LORD, at this time we especially lift up our colleagues from all the emergency services who will be on duty over this Christmas period.

We pray for all our colleagues within the Police Service; for their protection and wisdom as they are presented with diffi cult and often dangerous situations. We also pray for their families. May each be comforted with the assurance that you will be with their loved ones as they faithfully work to protect and serve others.

We pray for the Ambulance Service, paramedic teams and all medical staff who will be responding and caring for those in need. We pray for the Fire and Rescue Service, who will also be responding to those in need. We pray for the Coast Guard, RNLI and other Rescue services who will risk their lives to save those on land and sea.

‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.’ John 3:16 (NIV)

The Christmas Gift above all others

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On & Off Duty

2 Latest news from the Christian Police Association

In November 2016 CPA Deputy President, Deputy Chief Constable Paul Netherton, shared the distressing news that one of his offi cers, Jim Lewis-Clarke, had been diagnosed with a highly aggressive prostate cancer. The prognosis was terminal. In April 2017, at the CPA National Conference in Gloucester, Jim Lewis-Clarke spoke, thanking the CPA for their prayerful support and sharing a little of his journey as his treatment continued.

With his permission we bring you a further update from Jim – in his own words. We are sure you will agree that his journey tells of an amazing gift of life.

‘When fi rst diagnosed with high-grade metastatic prostate cancer I cried out to God for help although up to that time, although becoming a Christian around the age of 12 or 13, I had drifted away and thought my life was fi ne without Him. Yet, on that evening of my diagnosis I went, for the fi rst time, to a local church meeting where I called out to God for my healing.

I was also greatly touched with the knowledge at that time through the intervention of Paul Netherton at the CPA Leaders Conference, delegates had stopped everything to pray just for me. Yet there were some dark weeks in which I questioned my continuing existence and the meaning of life itself. I even made a video for my children before I looked too emaciated and photographed the leaves of what I thought would be my last autumn. But despite the darkness around both me and my family, I then began to feel an overwhelming sense of love, joy and peace which I knew was from God and that despite all I had been told, that He would heal me. I also found assurance and strength in a number of Bible verses including James 4 v 8 where it declares ‘Come near to God and He will come near to you’.

How true. Indeed, I was so confi dent of this promise that the day after one of my chemotherapy sessions,

I decided to drive to the Gloucester CPA Conference to thank everyone for their prayers. Then in early September I and my wife met with my Oncologist to get the full results of my CT and bone scans at what was the conclusion of my treatment. My wife said the Oncologist looked amazed and beamed as he detailed that the cancer had gone with now only the bone scan showing slight traces of shadow, consistent with bone healing.

So it was that, as my wife (who is not yet a Christian) and I skipped hand in hand back to the car, I said not for the fi rst time “I told you so! Now do you believe me!?” God had always been in control. Less than two weeks later I was baptised and my wife invited lots of family and friends to join us for this special day. As now as I anticipate my retirement next May I also look forward to knowing his plans for our lives and of celebrating the gift of this new future He has so graciously given us. And as Albert Einstein once said, ‘There’s no such thing as coincidence. It’s God in disguise.’ Yes, my God, my Healer and my Saviour.’

More details of Jim’s remarkable journey and of his accounts along the way can be found at http://jl-c.net/author/jimadmin/

The Gift of Life

Jim Lewis-Clarke

Within our communities we pray for those who are vulnerable, alone, in need, or of a broken heart this Christmas. May they know that your love for them is unconditional. For those who may do harm within their community, we ask that they change their ways and that they begin to know of your love for them.

We pray for all the public sector workers, the charities and volunteer groups who will also be working within our communities. We ask that you protect them and give them strength to continue their valuable work.

Amen

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cpauk.net | coact.org.uk 3

It may be a surprise to know that the fi rst Christmas cracker appeared in the 1840’s when London sweet maker Tom Smith tried (unsuccessfully) selling sweets containing a small motto or riddle wrapped inside. However, one night while sitting by a crackling log fi re, he had the idea to make sweets that would ‘pop’ when their fancy wrappers were pulled apart. Now millions share a cracker in hopeful anticipation of that snap when contents will spill out - including of course the obligatory paper hat, generally sized either for a two year old or for someone with a cranium the size of a beach ball.

Putting such minor inconveniences to one side, when you pull that cracker this Christmas time why not take a few seconds to consider, from a Christian perspective, what that Cracker could represent.

The ‘body’ of the cracker indicates the hope and anticipation of the special day. The ‘snap’, announces

A Cracking Christmas

God’s arrival on Earth. The joyous message inside declares The Good News of the Gospel. The free gift is God’s Grace and Salvation available to all. And fi nally, that hat, is a crown worn by the King of Peace.

So as you pull that cracker and then scoop your novelty hat out of the gravy boat, take that time to remember what Christmas is really about.

Mike Quinnell - Regional Coordinator, North East

A Time to Celebrate

CPA Northern Ireland Information available on requestThursday 7th December Bedfordshire Police Christmas Service, 7.30pm St Francis of Assisi RC Church, 25, High Street, Shefford SG17 5DD

Friday 8th DecemberSouth Wales CPA Christmas Service. The Pavilion, Police HQ Canteen. 12 noon.

Monday 11th DecemberLeicester Joint Police and Fire & Rescue Carol Service in Leicester Cathedral at 7pm.

Tuesday 12th DecemberSouth Yorkshire Joint Police and Fire & Rescue Carol Service in Sheffi eld Cathedral, 7.30pm.Further information available from carol.service@southyorks.pnn.police.uk

North Yorkshire Carol Service at 4.30pm. St Oswald’s Church, Fulford Road, York. YO104HJ

Cleveland Carol Service at 7pm. Stockton Baptist Church, Thistle Green. Stockton on Tees. All welcome

Monday 18th DecemberSurrey Emergency Services Christmas Carol Service at 8pm. St. Saviour’s Church, Guildford GU1 4QD. All proceeds in support of UK Police Memorial Trust. awardsandceremonies@surrey.pnn.police.uk

Derbyshire Police carol service at the Parish Church of St. Mary and All Saints (also known as the Crooked Spire) in Chesterfi eld.

Tuesday 19th DecemberNorfolk High Street Chapel, HOPTON IP22 2QX (near Diss). 5.30pm for refreshments. Service starts at 6pm. All welcome.

Thursday 21st December Kent CPA Carol Service at 12 noon. Police HQ, Sutton Road, Maidstone, Kent. ME159BZ

Across the United Kingdom CPA Branches are hosting or supporting Christmas services. Here are just a few of the events taking place:-

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ON & OFF DUTY is the CPA monthly digest of news and articles. We also update a monthly Prayer Diary intended to inform and encourage those associated with the CPA. Please forward any items to offi ce@CPAuk.net by the 20th of each month. NB: All articles published will also be available for unrestricted viewing via the Internet. The views expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of the CPA Council.

On & Off Duty

4 Latest news from the Christian Police Association cpauk.net | coact.org.uk

President Sir Matt Baggott CBE, QPM, Chief Constable, PSNI (Ret’d) Chairman of Council DC Tony Gale, Leicestershire PoliceExecutive Director Lee Russell Editor Allan Spencer Administrator Jackie White

Christian Police Association46-50 Rutherford Drive, Park FarmWellingborough NN8 6AX

Tel: 01933 409485Email: info@CPAuk.netSkype: cpaukhq

@uk_cpa /christianpoliceassociation

Registered Charity: 220482 (E&W) SCO43784 (Scotland)

OUR MISSION is to Be a National Voice for Christians in Policing Encourage and support Christians in the Police Service. Communicate in words and action, the truth, message and hope of the gospel of Jesus Christ to colleagues and the community we serve. Build bridges between the Christian community and the Police.

CHRISTIAN POLICE ASSOCIATION

We owe a deep debt of gratitude to all those working to keep us safe. Please fi nd the time to pray for our Police and indeed all our emergency services. Whilst we are all enjoying this special time of year, let us remember in our prayers all those who are ensuring it remains peaceful, secure and safe.

Happy Christmas to you all.

In the January issue of On and Off Duty we will cover all the news from our CPA Leaders conference which was held in late November. Marie Reavey was elected Chair of Trustees, Tony Gale was elected Vice Chair and we said goodbye to trustees Andrew Varney and Barry Knott. Full details next month.

Why not donate to CPA online?You can do so securely through give.net via the link www.give.net/CPA_National/oneoff

OUR VISION is to see The CPA as a national charity which actively leads on issues relevant to Christians in Policing An active and growing branch of CPA in every Police Service in the UK and every Christian in the Police Service to fulfi l their potential in Jesus Christ. Colleagues and those we serve to know Jesus Christ personally. Police and Churches working together in every community to reduce crime and improve quality of life.

... and fi nally from the Director

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