As we near the end of some pretty extensive improvements to the buildings, we are decorating the main sanctuary this week and so we are meeting at the village hall in Fivehead on Sunday 13 May. We hope to be back in our own building for next weekend, but watch this space for any change to that.
If you are handy with a paint brush and would like to help with painting the woodwork, we are going to be doing that this coming week on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings from 7pm. Bring a brush and join the fun!!
We are really excited to be starting a course called Christianity Explored next Wednesday. This will give an opportunity to look at what it means to be a Christian and discuss in a relaxed environment, aided by good cakes and tea & coffee. The evenings will run from 8.00pm ’til 9.30pm in Ilminster. For more details, please call Andy on 01460 281122 or click here to email us.
Good news! We are edging closer to the work on the outbuilding being completed, which means that excellent coffee, tea, cakes etc are closer to coming to The Stable at Fivehead Baptist Church. The coffee machine has been ordered, the furnishing is being sourced and we are building a team of volunteers to serve, so watch this space!
With all that has been written in recent days about the place of faith in the public sphere (Bideford Council ruling), the subject for a series of evenings that are taking place through Lent seems to be even more pertinent.
Over five Wednesday evenings (between 29 February & 29 March) 7.30pm-9.00pm, five speakers from differing Christian traditions will give perspectives on the place of the Christian church in the 21st century. Among them, they have written many books and spoken across the world and so will bring a depth of experience, passion and thinking to us. These should be really excellent evenings, open to all at St Gilda’s Christian Centre, The Hill, Langport, TA10 9QF.
The series has been organised by Langport Area Christians Together. If you would like more information please call St Gilda’s on 01458 250496, or contact us.
We are delighted to be welcoming Malcolm to speak this coming Sunday, 5 February at 10.30am. He is a gifted and passionate communicator with a passion for the gospel of Jesus being lived out in our communities. You would be so welcome to join with us – be there if you can!
He is following up on a day spent with the leadership on the Saturday, so all round, it should be a great weekend.
Sunday evening we will be holding our more contemplative Prayer & Praise service at 6.00pm. A great opportunity to launch into the week ahead with time and space for God’s still quiet voice to be heard.
In speaking on James 1:19-27 yesterday (you can listen to this on the sermon page), I used the following quote from Alec Motyer’s book on James and promised I would post it for folk to read it because it was quite long. So here it is.
‘True freedom is the opportunity and the ability to give expression to what we truly are. We are truly free when we live the life appropriate to those who are created in the image of God. The law of God safeguards that liberty for us. But it does even more, for obedience brings life and power (see Leviticus 18:5, Deuteronomy 4:1a & Acts 5:32). The law of God is the law of liberty because it safeguards, expresses and enables the life of true freedom into which Christ has brought us. This is the blessing of which James speak (James 1:25), the blessing of a full life, a true humanity. Obedience is the key factor in our enjoyment of it.*
These are challenging, but exciting words and I would encourage you to take them to heart and ask God’s help in working them out in your life.
As a rather old chorus goes ‘Trust and obey, for there’s’ no other way…’
As the new year gets under way we want to give another opportunity to focus on prayer. Throughout the week, there will be encouragements to pray wherever you are and together with others. We will have Prayer Areas in church where you can take time & space to be with God, to listen and to express your self through different media.
Here’s a couple of the ways you might like to join in…
Wednesday 25 January – 7.30pm-9.00pm - ‘Prayer Appointment’. Meet at the church to pray with others. You may wish to be quiet in the Prayer Area or be together with others in the main church building…
Saturday 28 January 10.00am to Sunday 29 January 10.00am . ‘Prayer Wall’. What is this? An opportunity to be involved in a chain of prayer throughout the 24 hours. Sign up in the church or email us and tell us when you would like to pray (half hour slots) and know that you are part of a praying body that builds a wall of prayer over that time.
On the Saturday, we would encourage you to fast too and stand alongside others in bringing yourself before God in a very ‘tangible way’. If you are not sure what this involves – get in touch…
Come and join us on New Years Day to welcome the new year and reflect on the old – an all age, informal service lasting under the hour! Normal time of 10.30am – don’t worry of you are a bit bleary eyed!
We were delighted to host a Craft Morning this morning at the church – all manner of messy stuff going on and some lovely things made by children and young people for the festive season! Great fun – thanks to all who came, helpers, ‘crafty’ kids and parents too!
Looking forward to celebrating Jesus’ birth this Sunday. We’ll be meeting for a family friendly celebration at 10.30 for about 50 minutes.
Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas and may you encounter the peace of God in 2012…