Archive for the ‘General News’ Category

Christmas brings lots and lots of opportunities. Today it was good to play Father Christmas at Noah’s Ark Carer & Toddler Group. Great to see the building full to overflowing with parents and babies!

There are of course 3 stages in life! When you believe in Father Christmas. When you play Father Christmas and when you look like Father Christmas!

Christmas also provides many preaching opportunities in Residential Homes, Children & Youth Clubs and of course Churches.
Please pray for the many Christmas (gospel) booklets that have been taken at the end of services.

The sun shone, the people sang and the good news was shared!

Carol singing at Locks Heath Centre Fareham organised by the Western Wards Church Network

It was good to lead the time together and to be able to link the various carols with stories, poems, monologues and of course good news from the Bible!

Third of kids don’t know Christmas is about Jesus

The Christian Institute reports:

A third of children aged between ten and 13 do not know that Christmas marks the birth of Jesus Christ, a survey of 2,000 families has found.

The poll also found that only ten per cent of adults can correctly state four facts about Jesus’ birth and half of those surveyed say it is not relevant to their Christmas celebrations.

Christmas Starts With Christ, the group which commissioned the survey, said one problem was how schools discussed the festival.

Misguided

Francis Goodwin, from the group, said: “Britain is fast becoming one of the world’s most secular countries.

“As nations get richer, they think they no longer need God”.

He also said there is a “problem with political correctness in schools” which think “they should not focus on the Christian roots of Christmas because of inclusivity”.

“But it is misguided. People of other faiths are not offended”, he commented.

Values

Last year a survey of 2,000 people showed that 12 per cent of Londoners think the Bible features Father Christmas.

It also showed that seven per cent of the public think Christmas trees are in the Bible, a proportion which nearly doubles among 18 to 35-year-olds.

Colin Hart, Director of The Christian Institute, said at the time: “This poll shows a worrying lack of knowledge about our country’s Christian heritage that has shaped our history, institutions and laws, even who we are and our values.”

Praise God for many opportunities to share the real message of Jesus in Hampshire schools this Christmas!

Great night at ‘The Net’ (outreach to men) where a room full of hungry men enjoyed £120 worth of fish & chips! Good company and plenty to think about!

(photo shows some of the 24 men squashed into the home of Mike & Alison Peach)

Peter Brind was our invited speaker and the groups attention to what he shared was excellent. The topic for the evening was ‘Creation/Evolution’ and following his talk Peter was on the ‘hotspot’ for a variety of questions.
Good food, good company and a lot of good things for those who attended to ponder on the way home!

The FirstServers have now finished the 2nd part of their programme and did a brilliant job at their UK churches. Please continue to pray for them as they prepare to go overseas and see what other adventures God has in store for them! Anna & Hazel will be travelling to different areas in Zambia and Abi will be flying all the way to Peru!

FirstServe is a unique discipleship and missions programme, primarily for 18-25 year-olds on a gap year, or those with a shorter time available.

Gordon is part of the FistServe Steering Group.

Hawthorn Court is a purpose built nursing home accommodating up to 80 older persons, including people with dementia. The ministers in the Fareham Western Wards take it in turn to visit the home and lead a monthly service. It was a real privilege this morning to go into the home and share a Christian service with some of the residents.

This morning about sixteen residents gathered in the lounge for a short get together. They enjoyed and participated in a hymn, some prayers and listened to two solos sung by my wife Penny before hearing a short gospel talk.
For those residents suffering with sever dementia it is hard to know how much they take in, but we trust and pray they find some comfort and encouragement in the things of God.

Praise God for 75 parents & toddlers squeezed into Duncan Road Church on Thursday for ‘Noah’s Ark’ Career & Toddler Group. I am told there were arms & legs everywhere and amid the chaos everyone seemed to have a very good time!

It was really encouraging that some of the mums came along to Penny’s recent Ladies Christmas Craft Evening. As well as on a Thursday morning, we hope to see them again at our ‘Carols by Candlelight’ Christmas Service.

“We must be global Christians with a global vision because our God is a global God.”
– John Stott

What? FirstServe Mission Weekend
When? 13-15 FEB 2015
Why? Explore more about evangelism, mission & God’s plan for you.
What else? Abseiling, Archery, Camp Fire & much more!
How much? £59
Where can I sign up? www.first-serve.org.uk

The FirstServe girls have done incredibly over the past few weeks and God has taken them on a number of new adventures!
Anna is now onto her final week at Bethany City Church, please pray for her remaining time there and as she begins to prepare for her overseas placement to Zambia…
Abbie & Hazel have two weeks to go at their UK Church placements, please pray that their remaining time will be both encouraging and challenging.

All of the FirstServers are now half way through their UK Church Placements! Anna is due to finish her placement in just over 2 weeks, while Abbie & Hazel have just over 3 weeks to go. Please remember them all in prayer over the coming weeks and as they begin to plan for their overseas placements. Check out the FirstServe homepage to have a read of their blogs and find out what they’ve been up to!

Gordon is part of the FirstServe Steering Group.

FirstServe is a unique discipleship and missions programme, primarily for 18-25 year-olds on a gap year, or those with a shorter time available.

Week 8 of GSUS LIVE in Hants and this week it is at Perins School School – Alresford

Please pray for the team; Tim (Church of the Good Shepherd), Dave (New Farm Chapel) & Myself as we run the unit in what will be a busy & full week of lessons!