Coinciding with the New Year is a new book which we will be reading together as a church up to Easter. Written by Richard it’s about Discipleship. The main thing is to make the main thing the main thing. This may be hard, but it is not beyond us. The kingdom of God is available to every one of us. It is within reach. It is at hand. It is near. Practical and accessible, this book sets out a framework which will enable you to success in your desire to follow through on your commitment to being a disciple. Seven short chapters outline a rule of life that is easy to remember and possible to achieve. Jesus offered us life. Seven …

What does being a Christian mean to you? What is the most important part of it all? How do you feel you are doing? Does it all make sense? Do you want to know God better? Have you ever thought something ought to change?
Jesus came to offer us a life in his kingdom and as a church it is our main aim to learn how to live this life well. Church people call learning about this life ‘discipleship’. Over the next year discipleship is going to take centre stage in our thinking and living as a community. Some of us have been disciples of Jesus for a while. Others have only just signed …

It’s great when summer comes and regardless of the weather we all look forward to the slightly slower pace that this holiday season brings. Summer is a good time for stuff we don’t normally have time for – hanging out in the garden having a BBQ, going on trips to the sea, going overseas, relaxing with a book. As a church August is always a slower time for us and it gives us time to recharge our batteries ready for the new school year in September. Take the opportunity to reflect about your own life with God. Take time to check on your most important relationships. Summer time is a gift to us. Perhaps …

It was a fab weekend! Just getting together, sitting down in the sunshine, going for a gentle stroll, enjoying a cup of coffee, eating great food, were all fantastic, but it was the quality of the the teaching and the sense of what God was saying to us through each other that will really last. During the morning David and Myrtle Lawrence presented us again with the invitation and challenge of Jesus to join in his revolution of love. Once again we were moved and excited to see ourselves as change-makers, system-breakers, culture-shapers. We were encouraged once again to see how this revolution was always intended to extend to the edges of human life. God was …

A few years ago it seemed clear that god was reminding us once again about the centrality and importance of prayer in our lives. We talked together about how Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday and went looking for the life of prayer displayed by the people of God at the time and how angered and disappointed he was with what he found. We also talked about the invitation god was offering us to participate in his mission to our loved world by joining him in prayer. This led us to latch upon the phrase ‘house of prayer’ and we were encouraged to both make our own homes ‘houses of prayer’ right across the community, and also …

Our boiler is finally getting fixed and the sun is coming out and so we are all heading back to the main church building for our Sunday services. It’s been a great experience worshipping together in the school and we will continue to enjoy our first Sunday of the month services there. So this Sunday we are walking down the road from the school to the church to celebrate Palm Sunday and it will be good. Entering the ‘gates’ of the church and making sure that the place is filled with prayer for all peoples we will connect again with the story of Jesus’ last week.
It’s been a late Easter and we are ready to celebrate all …

It’s been an interesting month! On the first Sunday in February we launched a new service at our local junior school (St Michael’s) and it went down a bomb. Then the boiler at the main church building broke down for the umpteenth time this winter and was finally given the last rites. So it looks like St Michael’s Church has a new temporary home at St Michael’s School… at least for the time being. Many thanks to Dave Goucher and the rest of the School staff who always make us so welcome. We really appreciate it!
What’s interesting is how just moving building subtly changes other things – changes the way we relate, the way we …

Christmas is a time of giving. January can sometimes be a time of money worries. As a church we are committed to helping each other to live life well and a major part of this is helping each other deal with money. if you have any concerns about being debt or paying the bills, then get in touch and there are gifted people who can help you through. If you want to do some budgeting on your own, then register online with ‘My money steps’ which is a brilliant tool that will take you right through the process of budgeting and dealing with your debts. Check out the website here: www.mymoneysteps.org
Don’t let the fear overwhelm …

It was a bolt out of the blue. One word. “Everyone” Nothing more, nothing less.
And I knew it was a God thing.
I am excited about our new series on Sundays called “EVERYONE”. I believe that God wants us to know something simple, but deep – that this thing is for EVERYONE, that he is for EVERYONE, that this gospel is for EVERYONE, that God’s love and blessing and presence is for EVERYONE. It sounds simple and sounds as if we already know it. Which we do. It’s just that we don’t always really know it – or live as though we know it. Somehow we have categories of who is in and …

New Year is often a time of reflection and anticipation. Our prayer is that God will go with us and that we will be obedient to him in the year to come. If you get a chance, grab a few minutes, be still, and pray. To help you in your prayers, here is an ancient blessing and a wonderful covenant. Don’t rush… take your time… God bless you.
A blessing
The Lord bless you and watch over you, the Lord make his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you, the Lord look kindly on you and give you peace; and the blessing of God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit be upon you and remain with you, now and always. …