Millions serve him as their Lord and worship God.

Over the past two thousand years the Christian Church has spread to every country in the world. In great cathedrals and in little churches, in private homes and in the open air, Christians meet to worship God through Jesus Christ and to dedicate their lives to His service.

Jesus was born and lived in the area around Jerusalem. For his first thirty years he worked as a carpenter and craftsman. For the next three years he travelled constantly, proclaiming a message he called 'the good news', the Gospel.

Jesus taught people to look on God as Creator and loving Father, and to ask Him to meet our needs as a child asks his or her father, secure and confident of his love. The prayer he taught his followers begins 'Our Father'.

At the heart of Jesus' message was the good news of God's reign, God's kingdom. Where God reigns, there is love and peace, freedom and justice. He called people to turn from their old selfish ways and to start a new life, placing themselves under the reign of God, and working for justice, truth and freedom for everyone.

He showed what this means by the way he lived his own life, serving those in need. He used his remarkable powers of healing to relieve the sufferings of many people. He offered his friendship to those who were excluded by respectable society.

Jesus saw himself as God's servant, God's chosen agent. His loyalty to God forced him to challenge the authorities of his country in the name of God's kingdom. Faced with this challenge they arrested him at night, hastily tried him and convicted him and executed him the next day by nailing him to a cross.

Shortly after his death he appeared to his friends alive. Christians believe that he was raised from the dead by God and that his resurrection proved that he was God's chosen servant.

His followers came to realise that Jesus was not only a man. He was 'the human face of God'. They worshipped him as 'The Lord'.

The risen Jesus is alive for ever. Christians believe he is present with us in Spirit today.

Through him God offers forgiveness and the opportunity of a new life to everyone. Everyone is called to follow him. You too are invited to join this community of faith and to discover the power and the joy that God gives to those who serve Him.

If you feel this is a good time for you to consider this further, we hope you will make contact with your local Anglican\\Episcopal Church.

Jesus said: 'Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest'.
(Matthew 11:28)

Jesus said: 'Do not worry, saying 'What will we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What will we wear?' Your heavenly Father knows you need all these things. Strive first for God's kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well'.
(Matthew 6:31-33)

Jesus said: 'The Kingdom of God is like treasure hidden in a field. Someone found it and in his joy went and sold all that he had and bought the field'.
(Matthew 13:44)

Jesus said about himself: 'The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many'.
(Mark 10:45)

This is the prayer Jesus taught his followers to pray. You may like to say the prayer slowly, pausing to think about the meaning of each phrase.

Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power and
the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen

If you would like to read more about Jesus, get hold of a Bible or a New Testament you will find four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. The second of these, Mark, is the shortest. It is probably the best one to read first.