ASHFORD COMMUNITY CHURCH

NEWSLETTER: 14th October 2018

        FROM THE PASTOR’S PEN

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ

Our Harvest Festival service and meal last Sunday was such a blessing to me. Your love and joy (fruit of the Spirit) expressed in your offerings, your service and the real “family feel” of it all was wonderful to see and experience.

As we begin to look forward now to Christmas and the New Year (have you seen the shops already full of presents, cards and decorations!) let us remind ourselves of the reality of the spiritual situation around us in the words Jesus spoke to His disciples:

“I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.” (John 4:35)

Our vision motto this year is “Evangelism, Discipleship, Caring”. We worship God together, joining in family life to become His followers. Let us together go out and bring in this harvest that is the Lord’s in Ashford.

So, we turn our eyes now to our Christmas outreach – where we can invite our family, friends and community to join with us in celebrating the birth of the Saviour of the World. We need to build a regular “events team” to begin planning our Christmas Service. Will you consider joining this “team” – to serve joyfully with all the gifting that God has bestowed on you? Trample me in the rush to join this team! This is our opportunity to “bring in the sheaves”.

In addition you will be receiving electronically, or by “hard copy” a form and letter about how you can serve in our Celebration Services in 2019 – we need to get the “church rota” populated soon. Prayerfully consider how you can be a servant of God on a Sunday.

God bless

Peter

 

TODAY: FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT – PEACE:

We continue with our series. Don’t forget the notes for these messages can be found on the church website. We are hopeful that it won’t be long before they are available as audio messages on the website too!

NEXT SUNDAY: FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT – PATIENCE

In this very busy world patience is in increasingly short supply – but not when we have the fruit of the Spirit falling from us onto others!

CHURCH WEBSITE & APP: It been great to see more and more people signing up to the church app. We hope you are finding it helpful. If you still haven’t got around to it please see Gill who will arrange for your user name and password to be created. This is not now only for those with smart phones or pads so if you just want access through the website please see Gill for your user name and password and then you can access extra information via the ‘Members’ area on the website.

MENS EVENTS:

CVM MEN’S TOUR at St Mary Bredin, Canterbury. – Going against the Grain – based on the latest book by Nathan Blackaby.  The event  on Saturday 10th November  runs from 9:15 – 13:00 and costs £10 which includes refreshments

If you are interested in this event please speak to one of the elders.

CHRISTIAN VIEWPOINT FOR MEN; The annual Men’s Conference at Sizewell Hall is from the 15th – 17th March 2019. Please see Dave Proctor for details.

WOMEN’S EVENTS:  Ladies Fellowship: The next meeting will be on Friday 19th October and we will be meeting at Pat’s. All ladies welcome.

CHURCH CALENDAR: Don’t forget to check the calendar, either on the app or the website, to keep up to date with all events. Please speak to Gill if you want to book the hall at any time.

FOODBANK: Please remember the Food Bank when you go shopping.

CHRISTMAS SHOE BOX APPEAL: The children and young people will be packing shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child (part of Samaritan’s Purse) at the end of this month. There will more information in the services but further details can be got from Linda. Start collecting TODAY items that can be placed in boxes by the young people of the church.

 

WHATS ON THIS WEEK

Tues 16th         10:00 – 14:00   “Open Arms” with Ashford Vineyard

19:00 – 20:30    Worship Practice

Weds 17th       09:30 -10:30     Weight Watchers in the main hall

19:30 – 21:00     Home Groups

Thurs 18th       19::30 – 22:00   East Kent Choir in the main hall

Fri 19th           09:30 – 10:30    Revival Prayer

14:00 – 15:30     Ladies Fellowship

19::30 – 21:30     Friday Youth Night

Sat 20th          09:00 – 10:00    Park run in Victoria Park

Sun 21st          10:30 – 12:00     Celebration Service

(Tea & Coffee served from 10:00)