 Thank you for your great feedback on the month of mission focus where we heard from wonderful speakers from various missional focussed organisations; CMS, Fusion, God’s dreaming, Hands at work in Africa. Each of these seek to further the Kingdom of God in the mission fields God has given them. Each of us have our own mission field too. I wonder whom God is calling you to witness to? … To share the Gospel with?… to invite to Church?
Last Sunday we looked at the 'one another' commands in the New Testament, reminding us to love and care for one another, encouraging us to grow to more like Jesus, and be good witnesses to this around us. Being a loving, caring, welcoming Church is part of the mission God has given us. In my prayer time this morning I expressed to God that I want our Church to be more accessible for our older folk, and more attractive to the younger generations God brings in. I’m prayerfully depending on Him for what is needed to change, develop and grow. A few months ago, at a “Leading your Church to Growth” conference, Gillian and I were inspired to pray for the growth of our Church. We recognise that it’s God who grows the church as we all play our part in mission, discipleship, worship and pastoral care. We continually look to him for vision and guidance to help us “be” the church he has called us to be in our current time & culture. Thus, we have adopted this prayer.. above. This of course supports our church’s vision which is on the back of the post cards Gillian has skilfully designed for us (you can get one next Sunday at Church if you missed out last week). We hope you will choose to pray this prayer often. You may like to put it on the fridge or in your bible, or wherever you will be reminded to pray. Prayer needs to undergird everything we do, so all is done in accordance with God’s will and purposes. It’s ultimately all about him, not us! We would also like to invite you to join us for a “Leading your church to growth” local course. We will meet together over 6 months, on the third Wednesday evening of each month beginning June 21, at 7pm. Come expectant of being encouraged and brainstorm how we can work with God in HIs plans to grow our church. Together, we will join with other local churches over zoom. If this is something you’d like to take part in, please join us. All who care about our Church’s growth are welcome! You might also like to check out the link to the UK LYCIG website: https://www.leadingyourchurchintogrowth.org.uk If you’d like more information please speak to Gillian or myself. If this doesn’t appeal to you, you may like to prayerfully consider joining our Pastoral Care Connections network, or our welcoming ministry team which we are currently developing. God is already doing some great stuff here behind the scenes! Its great to partner with Him in His mission here in this place. This coming Sunday is Pentecost and we will seek to gain more understanding of the Spirit’s power for living out God’s purposes and mission in the world. I will also have the joy and privilege of baptising two children - Evie and Mia. Please pray for them and their family and friends, that they will continually seek to follow Jesus all the days of their lives. May we each be inspired by the Holy Spirit this week for all He’s called us to do.
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As Mother's Day approaches, some family members may begin to feel nervous. Not all people find it a "happy" day. In contrast, some of us really enjoy it. So with tender compassion for those among us that find it a "hard" day, we will give thanks for mothers in our service this Sunday, and turn our hearts to those who don't have a mother at all... the orphans in Africa.
I met many orphans on my trip to Africa 7 years ago and I was changed. Before we left on our mission trip to Zambia, we were told "You need Africa more than Africa needs you!" This was true! Africa changed me personally; way more than I made a difference there. I learned how much we take for granted in this country and how many privileges we enjoy. I came home grateful for a bed, a house, a light, a candle, a match. The poorest of the poor I had met and walked with have none of these. They sleep on the dirt, under a tree or in a mud hut if they are lucky enough to have one. One family was blessed to have a piece of plastic to sleep on and they pulled it out of their house and offered us to sit on it so we didn't have to sit in the dirt. They were so caring and hospitable even with no furniture, food, water, or even a match. At night, they have no light... when it's dark... it's dark! This Sunday, the CEO of "Hands at work" in Africa, who walks with the poorest of the poor on a daily basis, helping them to help themselves by setting up care points, and training care-workers to be carers to many orphans in rural poverty-stricken communities will share some stories and challenge our thinking to consider how we can support those who have no parents at all. Please come with open hearts and minds, In Matthew 28:17-20 it says the disciples worshipped then Jesus told them to go out into the world making disciples of all nations. Following Jesus' command to make disciples is something I’m deeply passionate about. Second to worshipping God and loving people, there’s nothing else I’d rather be doing than being on about God’s mission in the world. Therefore, I’m really enjoying our month of mission's focus.
After a fantastic week one with Andrew Livingstone from CMS, and a wonderful Sunday hearing and seeing the whole biblical story told through the paintings on the “God’s Dreaming” banner, I hope you’ve been inspired to continue sharing God’s great plan of salvation with all who will listen and/or see. The biblical story shown in pictures has crossed linguistic and cultural barriers showing that Jesus is good news in everyone’s language. May many continue to be saved and healed through the gospel message. This coming Sunday is our 3rd week of mission talks. Our guest speaker is Gemma Bell from Fusion. Fusion do great work locally. As a church we support Fusion with food donations on the first week of each month, and with financial donations periodically. It will be great to hear more about what they do and how that ties in with God’s plans for the world and our local community. The following Sunday (Mother's Day), we hear from George Snyman, CEO of 'Hands at work in Africa" … turning our hearts to the poorest of the poor in Africa. I have met many orphans there and have such a great heart for them. May each of these speakers remind us that we are all called to be on about God’s mission in the world, in many and varied ways. Though it's a different time and era, Jesus' command to his first disciples is still the same command He gives us today; “As you go, wherever you go, Make disciples”. So, I wonder, who are your disciples? Who are you helping to draw closer to Jesus? At Alpha, a small group of us a considering “who Jesus is” this Thursday night. Feel free to join us for dinner, dvd, and discussion if you’d like to know more. |
