A gift from God

February 27th, 2026

Dear church family

Some things are difficult to talk about. Last year significant revisions were made to laws around abortion in the same week that the so called 'Assisted Dying' bill passed it's third reading in parliament. Why should this concern us?

Life is a gift from God. If you have ever heard someone speaking about the 'sanctity of life', you might have wondered what this means. Genesis 1:28 tells us that all people are made in the image of God. We are created with value, purpose and personhood, and this is rooted in who God is and what he says about us. The value of human life is what motivates us to treat all people with dignity and respect, to care for the most vulnerable - the Bible often talks about orphans, widows and foreigners in the land, to honour and look after the elderly in our society, to strive for a society that offers equal treatment to those living with disabilities, to provide for those who cannot provide for themselves, to love all people as Jesus loves them (even our enemies!).

Our laws and society in the West has been built on this Christian belief. It is worth noting this has not been the norm throughout the world and throughout history and many other civilisations have had different values, leading to practices we would rightly see as wrong. For example, in some Arctic communities, elderly individuals who could no longer contribute to the group or people suffering with infirmities were left behind in remote locations to freeze or die of starvation. In Roman society, the practice of exposure was a widely accepted practice where unwanted newborns or infants, often female, illegitimate or frail, would be left in public places or in the wilderness to die of exposure or be taken by passersby. This was used to control family size, manage poverty or handle birth defects.

When it comes to the unborn, there is often a wider ethical debate about when human life begins. This is in large part because society needs to be able to determine and justify at what point the rights outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights are afforded to a baby. As followers of Jesus, however, we take great assurance in the fact that God knitted us together in our mother's womb and that we are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:13). Jeremiah 1:5 says "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart". Job 10:11-12 and Isaiah 49:1 describe God as the creator who forms, clothes and even calls people from the womb. Looking at the life of John the Baptist, he leapt for joy in the womb, indicating that even unborn children can respond to the Holy Spirit! It could be said that people instinctively know that life begins in the womb, especially when a baby is wanted.

As we think about these issues, we also need to remember the grief for those parents unable to conceive, or for those who have lost their babies through miscarriages and stillbirth.
We also need to treat with compassion, dignity and respect, those who have had abortions or who find themselves in the difficult position of having an unwanted pregnancy with all the upheaval, uncertainty and isolation that can bring. Love motivates us to point those people to Jesus who died for them and loves them with an everlasting love. We are called to be those who help people find freedom from the guilt and shame they might be carrying, and know God's grace and mercy. It also helps us to bring hope into what might seem like a hopeless scenario and show people another way is possible.

God loves all people, from the most vulnerable to the most powerful, from the youngest to the eldest, from the unborn to the terminally ill. We need to remember that our life is a precious gift from God and that wherever we find ourselves in life, we deserve to be treated with dignity, respect and honour because we have been made in God's image. This is why at a fundamental level God commanded, "You shall not kill" in Exodus 20, the sixth of the ten commandments. When you read the Hebrew, this commandment is focussed on the intentional taking of innocent life. If we start to make exceptions to this commandment, we quickly end up in the deep waters of moral compromise and often are swept further out than we ever intended at first.

I know that many are concerned about the Crime and Policing bill being passed through the House of Lords which is expected to be voted on in March, an amendment of which decriminalises abortion up to birth (although the law still limits medical procedures to 24 weeks). I encourage us to pray about this and as we feel appropriate, to lobby the House of Lords.

I appreciate how difficult this area can be and the personal pain and issues it can bring up for us in all kinds of unexpected ways. Please feel free to contact me or one of the pastors if there is any way we can be praying for you or if you need to talk or have any questions.

With much love,

Mark

SUNDAY GATHERING | 10:30AM
Join us in person this Sunday as we continue our series 'Apprentices of the Kingdom' or join us online: https://youtu.be/9oF8qks5hgk

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FINBERRY FOCUS
Launch team meeting | Sunday 8th March | 3pm-5pm
We are so excited to be launching into Finberry together as a church on Sunday 19th April! God has brought us this far and will continue to lead us into the next stages. We are continuing to build our launch team and prepare lots behind the scenes.

If you have felt stirred to by the idea of Finberry to come as part of the launch team or to come as part of the new congregation there, please do connect with Kelly or Matt as soon as possible! We have our first launch team meeting on Sunday 8th March 3pm-5pm, if you would like more details get in touch. Email Matt matt.wardley@newwells.church Email Kelly kelly.carolan@newwells.church

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THE WELL COMMUNITY CAFE
Open Tue | Thu | Sat 9am-12noon
Have you visited our cafe since it's revamp? Still the same great coffee and cakes

We serve locally roasted coffee, and, of course - the best hot chocolate in town! :) Come for a visit

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CHURCHSUITE MAINTENANCE
We have updated our Churchsuite account today on Friday 27th February. For any questions, or if you are experiencing any problems after this update please email Alie: media@newwells.church

NEW DISCIPLESHIP GROUP
Alternate Thursdays from 12th March | 1 - 3pm | Willesborough
We are excited to announce that we will be starting a new discipleship group in Willesborough every other Thursday afternoon from 12th March. If this is something you would like to join, please get in touch with Kelly kelly.carolan@newwells.church

PRESCHOOL
Book your place now for September!
We are committed to developing a warm and inviting environment where all children and families feel welcome! Our preschool team are professionally qualified, motivated and personally committed to providing good quality care and education for your child. Visit www.newwells.church/preschool for more information or to book your place

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