PRAYERS

PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS:-

- Captain Susan Woodgate following the death of a close relative, and former attender at Ashford, Robert White

- Gary Chittenden going into hospital; Jennifer Lowe under going tests; Betty Peckham under going hospital treatment

- A number of our family who are far from well

SUNDAY 30TH MARCH 2008

FEAR was explored this morning in our teaching. The meeting as a whole used this focus a number of times, and we are grateful to God for helping those involved to bring all this together. Our children ministries officer, Clare, gave the teaching from The Word this morning..... and spoke on Fear and the importance of Faith. Clare helped us to recognise that within the Bible there are 366 times that Fear is discussed and that God encourages us NOT TO FEAR. Clare encourgaed us to get out the boat and to keep focussed on God, and how we actually have to get out the boat - out of our comfort zone - and move on with God. Its a challenging word, but a reality. Fear Not, for I am with You! What a promise..... what a reality..... God loves us so much that He will never let us go. Our senior leader led worship, and we celebrated again the reality that He is alive!!!! We thank God for this time together.

KINGDOM KIDS RECEIVE GOOD NEWS

OUR KINGDOM KID TEAM were out and about later on on Easter Monday visiting the homes of our Kingdom Kids and giving them an Easter Goodie Bag. The Good News of the living reality of Jesus is for all generations, and no one should be left out. Well done KK Team!

and TELL SOME MORE.....

Easter Monday concluded our week long activities and event and again great to have the church family coming together to seek to give something to the people of our communities. Today, it is estimated that over two hundred people attended our annual family community easter monday special! Our assistant senior leader, Carl, did his annual easter egg hunt, and our senior leaders arranged the catering and craft activities - all of which seemed to be enjoyed by all. An addition this year was using the youth clubs Wiis! Bouncy castles also were popular. We were so pleased to see so many, especially as most came from this area in this we are located and thus reflected a true community event. Thanks to Carl for all he did, alongside the team, and especially all those who helped to transport (Stuart) and help with Catering (Lyn, Maureen, Val, Ruth), and others including Rob, Ellie, Rachel, Clare and more.... Again many saw the reality of the risen Jesus among us, as we sought to give them something which we hope brought them much joy.

GO AND TELL.....

JESUS CHRIST IS ALIVE! So what!!!! This news is far too good to keep to ourselves, and as a church we are not content to do that. Today, on Easter Sunday, we took the message of the risen Jesus and the gift of God's love to the people of South Ashford in Stanhope. Despite really horrible weather, about sixty plus made their way to the Parish Rooms, to enjoy craft, food and more.....all free of charge. Why? Because we desperately want people to know that Jesus loves them, and that comes free, so why should we not freely give something back to the community. The pictures reflect just some of the exciting things that happened, including a special visit from Chicken Nathan, who walked around the community with our youth group and handed out bags of eggs and wished everyone a really special Easter. We pray it might well be.

ENROLMENT OF NEW SOLDIERS

EASTER SUNDAY saw us enrolling two new soldiers of Jesus Christ in The Salvation Army. Alex Smith, who has been attending the church for two years, shared how He believed God had asked him to grow closer and go deeper in his spiritual life and how becoming a soldier was the reason. Eddie Maddison, shared how he found faith when in prison, and how since meeting Jesus, he realises there is no one like Him! Both have been Adherent-Members and made this decision themselves to make a public declaration of their faith in this way. The photo shows Captain Ian speaking words to the new soldiers, and some of the leadership team standing in support.

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.

I WILL WAIT......AND?

GOOD FRIDAY continued to follow our focus of the week, and encouraging people to wait and experience that which they needed at The Cross. About fifty people attended our afternoon meditation. Fifteen Kingdom Kids also enjoyed a time together led by our childrens ministries officer and captain sue. The day started by joining with various churches in the town at St Marys Parish Church for opening worship and then a reflection in various parts of the town. Captain Sue brought a powerful Word to challenge all people about the Power of Easter and in that the light of Jesus. In our own time of reflection some took the opportunity to kneel at the Cross and pray. We thank God as always for this opportunity we have shared together today.

I WILL WAIT....AND REMEMBER

Maundy Thursday drew together a good number of the church family as we continued our thoughts around the focus for this week "I will wait....at the foot of The Cross". Tonight we spent some time simply remembering what The Cross really means, and some helpful thoughts were shared from those who gathered. Music/Songs helped us to reflect and included I Stand amazed in the presence, Seems like so long ago, What can wash away our sin?, Thank you for saving me. Some time during the evening people stood around the cross to reflect and stand amazed - at other points people knelt, some laid before God. We also spent some time sharing in Remembering through that which Christ shared with His friends that night before He died. A simple evening, yet peace filled and meaningful for many.

I WILL WAIT.....AND FIND MY STRENGTH RENEWED

The Bible is clear - if we wait on the Lord, HE WILL RENEW OUR STRENGTH! We just have to let Him. In theory there is no reason why Christians should be weary.....even Christ said that if we come to Him with our weariness and our burdens, He will give us rest. That is what Waiting at the Cross is all about, and what we shared tonight. At the Foot of the Cross we find healing, renewal, refreshing and so much more. Tonight about eighteen of the Church - a great mixture of ages, came together to worship and reflect, and came to take opportunities afforded this week to be still and know that He is God. During times of reflection and stillness, God prompted us to pray.....some laid before God, while others knelt. Some came forward and sat or knealt at the Cross. Others came with friends and prayed together. Many left feeling renewed for the next day ahead - and being reminded of the importance of continuing to wait on Him for our renewal and strength.