Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Psalm 107:1
Dear All,
Hope you have had a good week. There’s lots to share this week.
Call to prayer
We are calling the church to a day of prayer on Saturday 10 February 2024 from 9.30 am to 4.30 pm. This will include prayer for a new minister. If you are a beginner or an old hand at prayer we hope there will be something for everyone. In the sanctuary there will be prayer stations covering repentance and forgiveness, thankfulness, intercession, relationships/family and contemplation. On the dais at the front the focus is seeking God for our church. Please worship the King there to specifically seek God for our church going forward as we wait for a minister.
There is no pressure to go to all areas but at each one there will be suggestions on how to take part, try new ways to engage with God in prayer and share what God inspires you to share.
In front of the sound desk is an area to be crafty. In the foyer there will be an area for chatting and sharing refreshments. Members of the leadership team will be available throughout the day if you want to share ideas or bring anything that God lays on your heart in prayer during the day.
On Sunday 11 February the prayer stations will be incorporated into the service and there will be further opportunity for everyone to spend time in prayer.
Our thanks go to Kathy and Jo for their help in setting up this day.
Lent 2024
It feels that no sooner have we put the Christmas decorations away, we are talking about Lent and Easter. Each Lent we try to encourage everyone to follow some sort of devotional reading – it has been a real blessing to many over the years to be part of using the same resource across the whole church family. We have looked at this year’s resources and settled on ordering the Lent books entitled “Watch +Pray”. There is an adult version and a version which is suitable for children and young people. The promotion for the book reads “ Watch and Pray invites us all to wait expectantly for God to meet us and sustain us through the storms and trials we all face. On the night he was betrayed, Jesus kneels in darkness in the Garden of Gethsemane. Though he pleads with his disciples, “Stay here with me … Watch and pray,” they all fall asleep, leaving him alone in his hour of deepest suffering. This Lent we are encouraged to draw on the wisdom of Black Spirituality, particularly the practice of “tarrying” (waiting) as a community to draw closer to Jesus and to each other. For each day of Lent, the Watch and Pray booklet offers a Bible verse, a short reflection, an idea for ‘watching’, and a prayer.It invites us to seek God in both familiar and unfamiliar places this Lent: in darkness and in quiet; in movement and migration; in the healing and transforming work of the Spirit; in the weeping of Holy Week and in the joy of Easter morning.”
Copies of the book for will be available next Saturday and Sunday, Lent starts on 14 February.
Bible Journaling
Last Saturday, Jo Barnard-Edwards and I had a wonderful morning in Chelmsford attending a Bible Journaling workshop. Bible journaling is all about reading and studying the Word, letting it lead you to be creative in the ways you memorize and record Scripture. Jo has asked the tutor if she would be able to come and lead a workshop at Plume Avenue and she has agreed to do so on Saturday 2 March, 10am-12noon. The workshop will cost £10 each and we need a minimum of 5 people. There will be cakes, biscuits and drinks available. Please do speak to Jo if you want to know more about this or to book.
Holiday Club 2024
We are starting to think about what may be possible in terms of putting together a holiday club this summer. As you may remember last year, we had four consecutive 2 hourly sessions each week, attended by around 20 children with a mixture of bible talks, crafts, games and songs. If you think you may be able to help in some way, please can you let me know (coombesrachael@gmail.com). We intend to set up a meeting over the next few weeks with those who are interested to think about potential plans. Your prayers for this would also be appreciated! Thank you, Rachael Coombes.
Drop–in update
Kate writes “The Drop-in now sees a number of ‘regulars’ and we have been encouraged by feedback from parents and carers about the positive impact this is having on some of the young people during the rest of their week. We are also grateful to the fellowship for your prayers and the help given in moving the chairs on a Sunday. You are helping to make a difference!”
Prophetic words, scripture, pictures and testimonies
It is so exciting when God speaks to us in specific ways through words, scripture and pictures. If during a service you receive something and feel you would like to share it with everyone, please do speak to the person leading the service. Equally, if you receive something during the week or have a testimony you would like to share, please do let me know so that we can include it on a Sunday. It is so encouraging to hear how God is working through people’s lives and sharing these things brings glory to His name so please be encouraged to do so.
This week
This week, there will be prayer meetings on Wednesday and Saturday mornings at 9.30 am and the Tuesday evening homegroup. Zoom details will be e-mailed early in the week.
With love and blessings.
