COUNTING OUR BLESSINGS

New Years Eve. We didn't expect many at church today to be honest. But we were blessed with about seventy people, if not more with us. We decided to end the year as we started - with a breakfast and time of celebration. This time we met in the school hall and even that was full! We focussed on Psalm 24, and counting our blessings. We recognised how many new faces we had seen in this past year since moving to the school - and over twenty five have been welcomed to the family, and we now see regularly. Who could have seen all these blessings in the past year - we know God did, and just desired that we would obey Him. We recognised how it is so wasy to spend New Years Eve looking at failings and weaknesses of the past year - but actually as Christians we should be counting our blessings - and there we recognise all that God has done - what an aweseom God we have. During this meeting our senior leader encouraged us to use Psalm 24 as our desire for the new year - to remain in God's Presence, and to be there because we have clean hands and pure heart. Senior Leader Ian, shared how as a couple, Sue and Ian are committed to ensure we know the fullest spiritual life in Him that we could have, and that we can never be about anything else. They committed to seek to not fail us or Him - and to continue to ensure that we are growing in Him and knowing all His blessings. We recognised that we needed to have open hands, giving hands and hand that would be used to be able to continue to grow in Him and live empowered lives. It was a special end to the year - and one where no one could fail to see how He has blessed us in so many ways. We concluded with singing these words:- May the God of Love fill us with all joy and peace as we trust in Him, as we trust in Him, May the God of Love fill us with all joy and peace as we trust in Him, as we trust in Him. That we may overflow with hope - by the power of the Holy Spirit, that we may overflow with hope, with hope, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Father God, we love You, Father God, we thank You, Father God, we love You every day. Fill us with Your Joy Lord, fill us with Your Love Lord.......

We pray that for you too.

LIVING EMPOWERED

Each year it is our custom to take a focus for that year, to help us to build our teaching ministry around over those twelve months. For the last few years, we have seen the very reason why God has led us that way, and this past year our focus has been Living Empowered. God challenged us at the beginning of this year to encourage the church congregation to 'grow up' and become bigger and stronger men and women of God. We were also challenged that what we are doing today is preparing us for tomorrow. We saw how God was revealing to us that what we do and did we could do on our own, but without the Holy Spirit empowerment we were very little effective. It has meant a real boldness in some of the teaching. It has meant a real boldness in some of the way we have pastored and cared for people. Its pretty hard at times, when you know God is wanting to challenge us and shake us up, when God is wanting to do something amazing among us, but people are just so comfortable. God really wants us to be effective people. God really wants this world to be full of the signs and wonders of His presence among us - yet we all hold so much back - because we have what we want and taking it further might be asking far too much thank you very much. One of our leaders shared with us a sign that she saw on a van at the beginning of this year. It read: Progression through empowerment. That hit it right where it should be. In order to progress in our spiritual lives and in our relationship with Him, we have to allow God's Spirit in. He gives us daily bread - not stale bread!

It is our sincere prayer that for our members and friends this year, they have more of His Spirit in and working through their lives than ever before. We love them too much to see no progression!

Sue and Ian [Senior Leaders]

CHRISTMAS - His Presence among us

Many people have shared how this season has been for them a Christ - mas - knowing the presence of God among us. We have had some special times together, which for many will be held onto dearly. For many too, the opportunity to provide a family for many without on Christmas Day is also very special, and helps us put our belief into action - on a day when many are not easily thinking of others. It was estimated (although not totally acturate because numbers were up and down all day) that we served about 150 meals on this day. As we looked around us we wondered how on earth we had managed such a day at our own church centre in the past. This year we were granted use of the East Stour School, and what a blessing that was. There was space - there was room - there was safety!!!!! The day commenced at 9am as people started arriving, although some had been there behand preparing, and some even there the day before setting up. Meeting the guests is always a privilege and as well as welcoming back familiar faces from the past, we also welcomed new faces for the first time. This being our 4th year, we have a good regular attendance, and as well as some of the faithful volunteers returning, again we were able to welcome some new faces to the team. One commented on how amazed she was at such a miltary operation! To many of us it was just chaos that we tried to get through. God was gracious - providing us with enough drivers, enough food and gifts to give to people as they left, and enough time to pack a lot into one day - from a carol service, led by captain Sue, to our four course Christmas dinner, to entertainment, games and quizzes, a christmas tea and concluding with a couple of songs. Everyone mucked in together, and the day seemd to go well without too many errors and problems. Whilst it is hard work, we do thank God for this opportunity. Many burdened people shared the day, and many left unburdened. One lady commented on how she enjoyed watching the sea of faces filled with happiness. A number of our guests were without homes, other on low income, others with very little family - if any - so indeed we were able to provide one big family for so many people. And what a family it was.

Our sincere prayer is that we will be able to have brought hope to those dear people, and that they will remember long after this season, the presence of Christ among them, as we continued to express to them that this is just what this season celebrates - and can be known beyond such a day as well.

I FEEL AMAZING!

Christmas Eve Morning Worship continued our reflection on The Gift that God has given us. Today we moved from hearing about the gift to seeing the gift and the reaction that the Bible states people made. We shared how people knelt before Jesus in awe and amazement. We shared how people were bowled over by seeing what they heard. We shared how people went glorifying and praising God. But we did not just share all this, we saw it happening before us. Many people made prayers before the cross - many people were overwhelmed by the presence of God and broke into tears. Others responded to what God was saying, and gave their lives to Him afresh. Above all - one person knelt before the cross for the first time, and in tears cried out to God - her God - the greatest gift ever. After the meeting.....she shared how she felt amazing. She told how she found herself at church this morning, and had no idea that would happen when she walked in! Thank you Jesus. This is what its all about....seeing people responding to this Gift and we can, but be nothing else than thankful.

We pray for all those who responded to God today - and pray for those who have not yet got to that point. There are many yet who have a way to go in their journey - but we pray with all our hearts, that they will journey to adore Him - and humbly bow before Him, and crown Him Lord of all.

CHRISTMAS IS COMING

Christmas Day is just days away now and the pace is picking up. For our church community its not about the completion of cards, the wrapping of pressies, its ensuring that everything is ready to make Christmas Day so special for lots of other people who we will be welcoming into one big family to celebrate the day. Four years ago we became aware that there was no organisation providing anything for people on Christmas Day, and therefore agreed that we would look into arranging a meal for people on that day. Our assistant senior leader suggested it did not end with that, but that we had tea for them as well. Now the day runs for our guests from 9.30am for registration till 6pm which is home time, and then the clearing up starts! This year we are blessed in being able to use the local school, which we use for Sunday Worship, and will allow us to house people safer than we ever have. To date, we have 110 registered to share the day, and the numbers are increasing - so the phone does not stop and emails are red hot as well. What we want to do on that day is provide the best we can for so many who would be on their own; would be without family, or are on low income. We are blest with a great volunteer team as well, many new for this year from previous, and people of all ages which is great.

If there is anyone out there that reads this blog (we are not sure - no one ever leaves comments) we would ask for your prayers please, and especially for all those who will come and share with us; that they will see Jesus for themselves as we seek to share Him with them through our care for them on this day.

NO LIGHT HERE!

Opportunity to take the Light of Jesus to the streets continues here in Ashford. We are not content to keep that message to ourselves. On Sunday we took to the streets to invite people to our carol service, and by playing carols drew the listeners out from their dinner tables to hear a reminder of what this season is all about. We saw some people in that carol service because of that! This week we started by ministering to the people of South Ashford, especially in the Stanhope area. This is an area to which we are seeking to extend our ministry, and the army has appointed an envoy to develop this. As we walked around the estate you could discern emptiness, you could discern oppression - here the Light of Jesus was being proclaimed. The words of carols, although not associated with everyone expressed the sentimnts - Jesus Christ is Here - Christ is born in Bethlehem! But as we walk into one of the square in that area, all the street lights were out. We expressed how the musicians needed light to play. One lady heard that and replied - there's no light here, we're always in darkness. But Jesus Christ is here! The people who walk in darkness have seen a great light.......Lord, help people to rebuke the darkness, and break through to Your Light.

WHOSE PARTY IS IT ANYWAY?

Church Leader Heather Whitewood reminded us this morning, whose party it is anyway, and that this season is all about Jesus - but how actually lots of people forget to notice its His time, and not ours. Our morning worship today was focussed on just that, and the reaction that many people have to The Gift of Jesus - how many are fearful - like the shepherds; how many are threatened - like Herod - but how some are wise - like the wisemen. We concluded by looking at how John the Baptist encouraged us to prepare the way for Jesus - and repentance is the key. Several people knelt or stood this morning in response, and that was good. In the afternoon about 100 gathered together for the community carol service, and again we were able to welcome many people whose faces are becoming family to us. In all today, its been great again to celebrate Jesus in our midst, and see how He is using a church community like us, to help people to recognise whose party it is, and how we can celebrate together! Thanks Heather! and above all thank you Jesus!

GOD'S GIFT.....

This past Sunday as part of our all age christmas celebration, various people spoke on the Gift of God to them. Our adult ministries officer (sara hayward) invited Stuart Marshall, who is our assistant church treasurer, to speak on this subject and Stuart shared the following:

When I was first asked by Sara to say what God has done for me this year, I was in initially reluctant. After all, what HAD he done for me? When this year, I was in initially reluctant. After all, what HAD he done for me? Then Caroline nudged me and reminded me about my rather enforced career change. That was it then! In April this year the Company I work for changed hands and we went back into the private sector. At the time my job was a Personnel Manager. Naturally with a Company changing hands, the new owners had their own views as to what the Company should look like. However, my colleagues and I were assured by our boss that our jobs were safe, as they had retained the same role as ours in a sister Company. We were then told that the headcount of our department had to be reduced by some 25 per cent. I wasn’t worried as our boss reiterated his previous assurances. We were then all called to a meeting when details of the job losses would be announced. The three of us were shocked, to say the least, that our boss now stated that we were to be reduced from three to two. What was worse, this would not be achieved by seniority, but by suitability. In effect, we would be applying for our own jobs. A few weeks later, it was the day of reckoning. Much to my surprise (with tongue firmly in cheek) it was me (I?) who was out of a job. I then found myself applying for jobs like it was going out of style – both externally and internally – otherwise, for the first time ever, I would be unemployed. I mentioned my predicament to one of the few senior managers I consider to be a friend and he mentioned that he had a vacancy that I might be interested in. However, it would mean a career change and it involved working shifts – including nights. As it happened, it was a job I’d thought about on a number of occasions as it involved working with a group of staff I love and respect. I had an interview and the day before we left for Devon for our holiday, it was confirmed that I’d been appointed as Service Delivery Manager. I started training a couple of weeks later. I’ve now been passed out and I can and do work on my own. Clearly God was looking after me but at the same time challenging me. The point I’m trying to make here is that God will help you but at the same time, you’ve got to help yourself. I know that you have been praying for me and I thank you and God for everything you and he have done for me. Not least my family for putting up with me being even more grumpy than usual.

YOU HAVE BROUGHT ME JOY

She stood there for some time listening as the band played a whole selection of Christmas Carols. She did not seem to want to move on, appearing to be frozen to the spot. And then she spoke. Stating how she felt the music was beautiful, and then moving on to complete why she had arrived at the supermarket (to shop) she said: thank you. Your music has brought me joy and meaning to this season.

We engage in a lot of mission outreach throughout this season. Our purpose is not to provide nice music in that sense, but to help people see what this season is all about. Here for this precious lady was beautiful music that helped her at that time, and we hope will indeed be remembered in the months to come. We commit to continue to pray for her.

WITNESS FOR JESUS!

Last Sunday we welcomed Sue Wall as a soldier of Jesus Christ in The Salvation Army. We believe this is very much about committing to discipleship and lifestyle choices, so that they can follow that path that God has called them to walk in these days. We are blessed by a great family, many of who are really seeking to move on with God. Sue shared the following word last week, which we would like to share through the medium of this blog. The picture enclosed features some of our leadership team as they surround Sue as she signs her covenant with God. The leaders stand in support and commitment to the spiritual growth and development of Sue.

I have been an adherent member now for three years, and I have felt richly blessed by having such a caring church family. Just recently I have felt the Holy Spirit asking me to take another step of faith. He wants be to be a soldier. After a lot of prayer and many talks with Lyn (*) I have taken this step. I would like to thank you for all your support, care and love. To Sue and Ian (**) and the leadership team, I promise to be a good soldier.

(*) Lyn is our discipleship officer

(**) Sue and Ian are our senior leaders

IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD CHURCH

This morning we sought to be an all age church - and we were - this evening instead of staying in our building and talking about Jesus, we went out into the neighbourhood and shared Jesus with the people of South Willesborough. About twenty people helped to share The Light of Jesus - some played their instruments and played carols, others shared their voices and sang about Jesus, other engaged in leafleting and chatting face to face to the various people who came out to see what was happening. We are so blessed in this area to have people who we are building relationships with - for no other reason other than we love them and God has given us this love for them. HE has loved us, and His love for us is great. We cannot keep it to ourselves. The Message paraphrases one of the readings this Christmas that says - and God moved into the neighbourhood. He is among us - Jesus Christ is here - and thats an exciting reality that we must share with others. We pray this Christmas we will help people to see The Light - and not just the trappings of Christmas that we can all get sucked into!

ALL AGE CHURCH

We have to say we are pretty proud today as a church! This morning our school hall was packed full of people of all ages - it was like one big family. Our annual All Age Carol Service this year saw more people than ever attend, and featured every age linked to this church. So many are new faces to the church community who we have built relationships with in recent months, some recent years. It was also great to have new faces worshipping with us as well, and the enthuasism was very electric at times. So today we shared in celebrating the coming of Christ with the Baby and Toddlers, and our family support officer did us proud! We celebrated with our Kingdom Kids, who wrote a drama for the event and also sang us 'following the star'. We celebrated with our youth group who wrote a presentation themselves and then engaged in a mime to 'Mary's Song'. The Band played today which is not a normal weekly thing, but they added so much with their piece that they played, and also accompanied some of the carols. Our Adults were not forgotten either, thanks to our adult ministries officer. Stuart Marshall and Trevor James both spoke amazingly on the gift of God that is theirs, and that was very special. The meeting started by singing 'Jesus Christ is here' from Go tell it on the mountain, and then into 'Give thanks to the Lord our God and King - His Love endures forever!' Indeed we saw and knew Jesus Christ among us, and give thanks that His love was evident among us. Who would have thought that the move from our centre to the school could so quickly show evidence of this?

PROMISES, PROMISES

Daily Reflections for this week has helped us to explore the amazing promise that God has given us, and fulfilled in Jesus Christ - that He would be our Light in the darkness; that He would come right among us, and He would show us The Way. We have reflected this week on how our promises are so far from fulfilled, and yet God has foretold His Promise, Fulfilled His Promise, and given His Promise For us! God desires that we stick with Him, for He is going nowhere! As we continue to reflect on The Gift, we thank God for this amazing Gift and ask Him to reveal more of Himself to us.

THE GIFT

This weekend has been a very full one for this church community. Starting yesterday we held our Ashford District Christmas Celebration - and was well attended and raised a lot of money for our christmas charity projects. Today (Sunday) we were able to see our monthly family together, and enjoyed a good meal together for Christmas, a candle light carol service, a celebration this morning, and welcomed four new people into members (including one being enrolled as a soldier of jesus christ in the salvation army). What has been very clear throughout this weekend is the reality that we have been offered this Gift - everything of God - and its there for the taking.