The people who walk in darkness

will see a great light:

those who live in a dark land.

The light will shine on them.

Isaiah 9:2 [NASB]

 Don't just believe it,

LIVE LIKE IT!


The clocks have gone back, the sunrise is later, the sunset earlier and Winter is quickly heading our way.

It’s a cold dark time of the year and being British, we like to complain about it.  Yet this season is all part of God’s design to allow life to flourish.  During the harsh season of Winter, the seeds that fall from the trees in Autumn go through a process that enables the shoots that appear in Spring.  I believe this teaches us something for us as human beings when we experience harsh seasons in our lives that they do a work in us that allows the shoots of next season to bring the beauty of new life.

When we then consider that right in the middle we have Christmas and the difference that it makes to our season we have purpose, an excitement and a vision that causes the cold and dark to fade in our minds.  The lights are more visible because of the dark and they brighten this time of year in a very special way.

This again illustrates something for us to think about in preparation for our experience of those harsh times!

When we allow Christ to take the focus in those times, He lights the way and gives us purpose and reason, bringing us through the Winter seasons of our lives and into the seasons of Spring where the beautiful shoots of new life begin to show.  This Winter consider what shoots of beauty and new life God is wanting to develop in you and ponder how some of the challenges you are facing may just be the seasonal conditions that are allowing them to shoot!

SELAH—Think about it?

  

 

 

Jesus foretells the future (Part 1) - Matt  24:1-51.

“Do you see all these buildings? I assure you, they will be so completely demolished that not one stone will be left on top of another!”

Matthew 24:2.  [NLT]

At the end of Matt 23, Jesus speaks of the desolation of the house of Jerusalem. As they walk away, some of the disciples seem to say ‘but look at the greatness and beauty of the temple’.  Jesus knowing the future says it will all be completely destroyed. Jesus knew the state of the heart of Jerusalem and where that would lead.  He knew that things of this earth cannot be depended on.  They may have had a beautiful temple but it was going to be destroyed.  We cannot place any confidence in the things of this earth!

Our confidence and value must come from God!

Our nation has in its time taken great pride and security in the number of churches.  However, we have seen many churches closed and broken down and being turned into flats. There is no security in the strengths of yester-year! Only in the strength of our relationship with God today.

Many would express sadness to the closed and vandalised church buildings and yet the sad occurrence happened in the hearts of the congregation way before the closing of the building!

Let us take warning from such events and these words of Jesus and keep our hope and trust in the right place. Not our history or traditions but in Christ Alone!!!


 

 

> For Margaret who is still in hospital

> For Lydia and Kris as they continue to recover in terms of their physical injuries, the flash backs and nightmares that they are experiencing.

> For all the events over the next few months, with Children in Need and Christmas.

 

 

 

This international Christian organisation diagnoses, treats and offers specialist care, including reconstructive surgery to leprosy patients. Their aim is to transform and empower the lives of people affected by leprosy.

Leprosy is a disease of poverty and is widely believed to be the world's oldest disease. Age-old stigma surrounding leprosy sees entire families robbed of their job opportunities, education, marriage prospects and their dreams shattered. Leprosy occurs where there is dirty water, bad nutrition and poor standards of living,

World Health Organisation figures reveal there are around a quarter of a million new cases of leprosy diagnosed globally each year. Globally, there are more than three million people living with irreversible disabilities, including

blindness, as a result of the late treatment of leprosy.

As a global charity, The Leprosy Mission (TLM) works in around 30 leprosy-endemic countries.

 

REMEMBER TO PRAY FOR OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS AROUND THE WORLD

Please pray for:

1.      TLM – Nepal in the wake of the earthquakes. Pray that the Social Mapping Team mobilised by TLM will identify locations of people affected by leprosy and their needs in 11 earthquake ravaged districts.

2.      The implementation of the peace accord for South Sudan, signed in August – that all sides will respect it and that peace and stability will prevail.

3.      Pray for the needs of people affected by leprosy in Sri Lanka and for the deeper needs of people in Jaffna district relating to conflict.

 

 

If you would like to give to Missions just put your Missions gift in an envelope marked Missions and drop it in collection any time along with your offerings. Each month, you can read a little more about Christian Mission organisations and what they do.

 

 

NOVEMBER SPECIAL EVENTS

SYRIA REFUGEE APPEAL OFFERING

Thank you for your

generosity! We are able to send over £400 to help the Syrian refugees.

 

JOINT SERVICE WITH SPRING TERRACE AT SPRING TERRACE CHURCH

We’re having a special joint service 11am Sunday 8th Nov at Spring Terrace Church.  The speaker will be Andrew Smith from Scotland.  Andrew is the AOG Area leader for

Scotland.  Don’t miss it!!!

 

 CHILDREN IN NEED FUNDRAISING NIGHT

 

6pm-8pm FRIDAY 13th NOV.at LIFEWELL CHURCH

 

 

NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS

1st Jasmine Jones

13th Gaynor Hopkins

21st Trystan Thomas

25th Nathan Screen

27th Aaron Benjamin

   

 

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

20th Peter & Ruth

22nd David & Marjorie

 CONGRATULATIONS!

 

ADVANCE DECEMBER NOTICE

 

Silent Night at the Liberty

Christmas Carols at the Stadium 7pm Tues 1st Dec 2015

Tickets: £3 each, available from the liberty stadium.

 

 

 

Sunday

10:30am - Morning Service

3:30pm - O-Zone Family Service

Monday

7:30pm - 16/11/15 - Life Lounge (18+)

Wednesday

7:00pm - Prayer Meeting

11/11/15 - Mission Focus

28/11/15 - Kids/Youth Focus

Thursday

9:15am - 11:15am - Coffee Morning

Friday

7pm-8pm- R-GEN (11+)

8pm-9pm- R-GEN After Hours