OVERWHELMED BY.....GOD

Today was just the first day of our week of prayer and worship, but wow it has been an amazing day. We thank God for the many leaders, members and friends who have shared the day with us - including some tonight from other churches. We started the day at 10.30am in the home of Viv Sanderson, and shared some Prayer and Sharing together, looking at WHO IS GOD? Recognising in that that God is indesrcrible, yet so many words do describe Him! We were overwhelmed by who God has become to us, and the relationship that we share. Following this our centre was open for people to visit our various prayer zones, to engage in prayer walking, and to watch some worship or teaching videos. The centre at times was buzzing with people offering all sorts of prayers to God, or just reflecting on Him. An afternoon Bible Study from Ephesians Chapter Four was held from 4.30pm, after which Captain Susan had cooked an amazning meal for us to enjoy together. At 7.30pm our evening of prayer and worship just flowed - God released many to praise and worship Him, we looked at The Word, and we danced! We fell and His feet and we cried! God moved, and touched the lives of many. Many were overwhelmed by Him. One sister even said she heard the angels singing! Wow - what a God, as we sang tonight - How Great is our God!!!!

SOUTH ASHFORD UPDATE

Its been sometime since we updated you about our 'church plant' in South Ashford. Plans are developing well, totally under the guidance and inspiration of The Holy Spirit. Envoy Val Barkley is a mighty 'man of God' who is not seeking to run with anything, unless its totally under the Holy Spirits anointing. Hallelujah! But sometimes its also necessary to reassess where things are and what happening in order to prepare for the future. For some weeks now, if not months, some outreach has been happening through The Revival Centre in Kingsnorth Road. Its been an exciting project, and above all shown to these 'saints' that they can do it!!! Last Thursday was the last meeting of the Welcome In project at the Revival Centre, and in September, our new home (we hope) will be the Parish Rooms on the Stanhope estate, which is where Envoy Val felt our calling was sometime ago, and this has been the stepping stone to that. Last Thursday over 30 people shared together, and news of developments will follow very soon. Watch this space. In the mean time, please pray with us that we will see more of God's anointing upon this project and that anything that is not of Him will not happen! Incidently, also starting in September is a new monthly cell group, held on the 3rd Monday evening of the month at the home of Pastor Elsie from 7-8.30pm. This will be a 'drop in cell' for refreshments and chat, and as always is open to everyone. You can contact Envoy Val at Valerie.Barkley@salvationarmy.org.uk

SUNDAY 12TH AUGUST

Week Three in our series of 'The Beach Party' encouraged us to Chill Out! The last two weeks we have Celebrated at the beach, and Got Wet! This week starting with Matthew 5, we were reminded we would be blessed when we hunger and thirst after more of God, we would be filled too! Our senior leader, Ian, reminded us that many come to church with little hunger because they are satisified in the things of the world, and therefore there is only a little room left for God. But its essential, we take time out to feed on God, and to rest in Him. We explored how God calls us to rest, as reflected in psalm 23, and how in that time, we can know Ministry from God, as we give to Him our burdens and our cares - as He invites us in Matthew, to come to Him and He will give us rest. By now carrying everything to God in prayer, we forfeit peace and indeed rest! It was great to see so many with us, despite so many away, and thank God for His Presence among us.

IMPORTANT WEEK ABOUT TO START

As many people have headed off, or are heading off to the various summer camps, we recognise not everyone is able to do that, and so locally we hold our own! Although on a much smaller scale, we provide a days programme of activities and events, giving people opportunity to have time out, people opportunity to be lost and overwhelmed with God, and to give quaility time to The Word of God, and to being open to the Ministry of the Holy Spirit. Our theme and focus will be OVERWHELMED, and we do encourage everyone that is able to give sometime during the week, which we believe will be a signficiant time for the church we are part of, but also for anyone else that will join with us. The programme for the week is as follows:-

Prayer and Share from 10.30am, time aside in peoples homes to look at the Word, to worship and to discuss, this will conclude about 12noon

Prayer Zones will fill our church centre, with lots of prayer activities, guides and more to engage in. There will also be some worship and teaching videos played, and a guide to going out prayer walking. This is from 1pm

Bible Study and Application around our theme for the week will be held from 4.30pm.

Family Meal is provided from 6pm

Evening Celebration from 7.30pm-9pm - worship and prayer ministry will be the main focus.

Transportation is available. Please do come and share with us, and if you need transport, then please let us know.

THE BEACH PARTY - WEEK THREE

Join us this Sunday at 10.30am for our celebration meeting, which will continue our summer series at the beach party. This week our focus will be CHILL OUT, and look at a further reason people go to the beach - to rest! What does God teach us about rest? Come and join us this Sunday to find out

BROADSTAIRS PART TWO

Despite saying that most people enjoyed the day together, obviously the company of family members (including her husband) was all too much and meant this soldier reflected her enjoyment of the company in this way. Maybe she should have come across to the other group!!!!

BROADSTAIRS OUTING

Our Summer Outing this year took about fifty people to Broadstairs for the day. We enjoyed time together and most people sat on the beach (or to the side of the beach) enjoying the days weather we were blessed with. As always it was great to bring together people from our adult and family ministries groups and our church family as a whole, and we thank God for this opportunity of sharing in this way.

SUNDAY 5th AUGUST 2007

Quite a number of our family were away this week, but we were really thrilled to still have abou sixty with us. Continuing our summer series on 'The Beach Party: Lifes Beach - surf it up", our Captain Ian, spoke from John 4 and encouraged us to Let the Living Water Flow, and to Get Wet. The children also did some thoughts around this and came back and presented this to us at the end of the morning. The morning also included a short time on people sharing about Getting Wet and going deeper with God, and as always this was encouraging. We thank God for all those who were able to be with us, and continue to pray for those who couldn't for a whole host of reasons.

GET WET CONTINUES

In preparation for Sunday, and our focus on getting wet - the following 'word from God' has been rediscovered as the church office has been sorted out this week. We feel this is confirmation about Sunday and again a fresh word to His People in these days.

I saw this deep well, the water was at the bottom and the bucket was above the wall of the well. No matter how hard the people pushed on the bucket or tried to wind it down it would not budge. Then I looked up and above the well was a big brass tap which dripped into the bucket but Jesus was saying - He wanted to flood the bucket until it was full and overflowing with His Living Water. He wants you to have faith and not to try to fathom it out intellectally, but to trust Him and be filled with His Holy Spirit.

The Beach Party: Get Wet!

Get Wet! Thats what we are going to be encouraged to do this Sunday in our morning Celebration Meeting at 10.30am. Continuing our 'summer season' celebrating The Beach Party, we will explore the words of Jesus when He said - Is anyone thirsty - let them come to Me and drink! We will be celebrating the Living Water - which of course water being an essential by the beach!

We will be meeting at the Beach - well East Stour School, Earlsworth Road, South Willesborough, and there is also Kingdom Kids for the children and Bright Sparks creche for our toddlers (under fives). We hope to see you!