I WILL WAIT.....AND RISE AGAIN!

EASTER SUNDAY 2008 was a real celebration for the family, and of course great to have so many of the family coming together to celebrate that that is exactly what we can be because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We started at 7am on Wye Downs celebrating with Churches Together in Ashford, with music accompanied by our own musicians. Following this many of our family members returned to the school for our annual Easter Sunday Breakfast, cooked brilliantly by Sara and her team. About thirty enjoyed this. A time of prayer followed this, before we shared in our resurrection celebration. Near on 100 people gathered for this, including some new faces which is always great to see. There was plenty of celebration, with new and old songs brought together to help us have a real celebration of Jesus Christ living among us, and indeed within us. The all age presentation was shared by Rachel, and was brilliant. A moving time for testimonies and sharing, saw many people moving forward to the mike, to share the reality of the living Jesus in their life, and many thanking God for how this church has helped them to discover Him as their Lord and Saviour. Following this Captain Ian spoke on the reality how this week has helped many of us to wait on God, as we should, but how, as with the Resurrection, we are called to rise again to the new life, to the new opportunities, to the new openings that He has for us. Captain shared how we can stay at the cross - we can stay in that place of worry, shame, sin, bitterness, anger, illness.....forever. Or, as the Cross and Resurrection means for the Christian, we can claim the victory which is ours and stand up and march on! Continually we were reminded about a new chapter that God has for us....and how that starts at the Cross. The chapter starts to be written when we rise and move on. The enrolment of new soldiers of Jesus Christ followed. During these moments God's Spirit came and challenged many to come forward and kneel at the Cross to start a new chapter, to renew promises and indeed their covenant to God. Following this too, many came forward to hug, encourage, greet our new soldiers, some praying with them, others giving great words of blessing. To conclude we reminded ourselves that we no longer need to doubt Him...because we can experience Him, and proclaimed 'Thine be The Glory' - endless is the victory, He over death has won. To conclude the day we enjoyed a celebration buffet which celebrated the 60th birthday of Carol Monk, the birthday of Betty, and the enrolment of our new soldiers.