Letter from Jon, November 2025
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Gal 5:22,23
Dear Liberty Family and Friends
If you have been around on Sundays these last few weeks you will perhaps recognise these verses from the Apostle Paul. They have been the focus of our messages in a series we have called 'Transform'. God, by the power of his Holy Spirit working in our lives, wants to transform our lives, our character, to make each of us and all of us together more like Jesus. These aspects or flavours of fruit give us a picture of what Jesus is like, and indeed what God is like since Jesus is the exact representation of God and is himself God.
Each week throughout this series we have focussed on one of the aspects of the fruit, reflecting on how we see that in the character of Jesus and what that fruit looks like in our lives. I believe this has been a really valuable thing to do together but I am also aware that in focussing on each aspect individually it is easy to miss the wonder and beauty of the whole. Before you read any further in this letter why not take a moment to stop (something I realise is not easy for most of us!), to go back to the top of this letter, to invite the Holy Spirit to reveal himself to you and then to read these verses again a couple of times. Is there anything that stands out to you?
One of the things that I realise is that although there is something beautiful in each and every aspect that Paul writes about here, there is an overwhelming wholeness and beauty when you bring them together. This is hardly surprising when we consider that what Paul is describing here in these few short words is who God is. What Paul is saying is that God, who is utterly beautiful and wonderful and pure and holy, wants to take our broken lives, our failures and disappointments, our weaknesses and flaws, and to make something entirely new, to truly make us a new creation in Christ.
In a world where it is difficult to escape the horrors of what mankind is capable of our God is still at work bringing beauty and life and hope and he is doing that in and through us. I am painfully aware that we are far from perfect and that the thought of being anything like Jesus Christ often seems a millions miles away, but I am also aware as I look around our church family of so much of the character of Christ displayed in so many of you, for which I am deeply grateful. I am also so grateful to be part of a family where we encourage each other on towards Christlikeness, support each other in the trials and challenges of life and bear witness to Jesus Christ to the world around us. This is what it means when Jesus prayed 'your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven'.
My prayer is that you would see the beauty of Jesus in your own life, be aware of his incredible love for you, and continue to walk day by day with him allowing him to transform your life and make you more like Jesus.
Much love
Jon
Jon Farrimond, 12/11/2025