THE first Methodist Church in Crediton was built on Bowden Hill in 1815 – we now know it as The Moose Hall. Subsequently it was too small for the growing congregation and on April 28, 1892 our present building was opened.

Our minister, Rev Ben Haslam, led the service on Sunday, April 27 and wished a happy 133rd birthday to the church. A member of the congregation was celebrating his 11th birthday and a baby was christened during the service.

Ben asked if we could give any gift to the baby who had been christened, what would we give? Some presents are put away in a cupboard and forgotten about.

Others, like chocolate, are eaten straight away! What if we could give a gift that lasts for ever, even after this life is over and we could still enjoy that gift?

Jesus is offering us the gift of life. When He talks about life, He means far more than just being alive.

He means He shares His life with us. He gives His spirit dwelling within us. He gives us a peace, a security and a joy that comes from knowing God.

The incredible thing is that even when this life is over, our journey with God does not end.

So, Ben said he would like this baby to know Jesus and the wonderful new life that Jesus brings. He wants everybody in the world to know Jesus.

No-one should be left behind or left out. Ben wants everybody to come to Jesus for themselves.

People do not always realise this, but what Jesus offers is not rules about how to live or religion that keeps you on the straight and narrow, but life and life in all its fulness.

In John’s Gospel we read of Jesus appearing to the disciples after the resurrection. The first thing Jesus says is “Peace be with You”.

A little later in the Gospel, He says “My Peace I Give to You”.

What do you think about when you hear the word peace? Having no conflict, no arguments, no stress, everything being just right, relaxing at the end of the day? That depends on the circumstances.

The sort of peace that Jesus is offering does not depend on all our circumstances being right. The peace that He is talking about is more about being secure in the knowledge that God loves you, that God holds you in His hand and knowing that God is with you.

It is something that you can experience even when things are going wrong, even when things are stressful and difficult.

Even then, you can know the peace of knowing God is with you because it is not about your circumstances – it is about the fact that God who makes this promise is faithful and trust-worthy.

Then Jesus says to His disciples, “Receive the Holy Spirit”. What does He mean by that?

People talk about spirituality and often light smelly candles and listen to whale music or something that makes them feel more relaxed, calm and chilled out. Something that gives them the sense that there is more to life than they can see.

There is nothing wrong with smelly candles or whale music, but they are trying to manufacture a sense of spirituality and trying to create their own peace.

What Jesus offers is not something that we manufacture. He gives us the gift of His Holy Spirit to guide us, encourage us and transform us.

Jesus gives us a peace that does not depend on our circumstances and this is real spirituality. It is not something that we can manufacture.

It is something that is given to us as a gift and it is something that Jesus means when He offers us life in all its fulness.

Millions and millions of people have found what that is when they put their faith in Jesus and say “I want to follow you”.

Then they find they do not feel alone, do not feel despair, do not feel hopeless, but feel that their lives have a purpose, strength and direction that comes from beyond them.

That is not something they have to earn or manufacture, but something that is given as a gift and a gift that is given to everybody.

It is a good thing to think about on our Anniversary Day, because that is what this church, and every church, exists to do.

Not to dispense rules about what people can and cannot do, not to tell them to do this and that, but to point them towards life and point them towards Jesus Christ. Jesus gives us this new life and when we ask for this new life, He give it and nothing can take it away from us.

Life will continue to have its ups and downs and sometimes things will go wrong, but His presence will never leave us and we have the assurance that our journey with Jesus will not end when our bodies fail us.

We have His presence in the here and now giving us strength and hope and transforming us and we also have the future hope of something more incredible and wonderful than we can imagine and it is all ours.

It is not something we have to earn. It is something which is given to us when we approach Jesus in faith and ask for this new life which He gives without limit to all who ask.

The celebration of Holy Communion then took place and then around 40 people enjoyed a delicious anniversary lunch.

Bronwyn Nott