ASHFORD COMMUNITY CHURCH

NEWSLETTER: 23rd December 2018

       FROM THE PASTOR’S PEN

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ

My thanks go to everyone who took part in the Carol Service last Sunday – whether you were helping or just attending. It was a great turn-out, Jesus’ Name was proclaimed, the church was encouraged.

Christmas Day is now almost upon us. What a privilege we have to know the Father, the Creator of all the universe. What a love He has shown us – to send down to earth His Son so that we might be brought back to Him through His death and Resurrection.

I continue to pray that, as you now begin to wind down and relax over this festive season, you might have a dramatic and life-changing encounter with Him. Maybe, like Mary, it will be through an angelic visitation. Maybe, like Joseph, it shall be through visions and dreams. Maybe it will be through worship or the reading of the Word. But, however this encounter comes then, as with the shepherds, you shall be changed forever – for the better.

And now, today, as we look at the visit of the Magi, we look at the encounter from a different angle. When we truly meet with Him, and realise that He has given us everything, then we must ask ourselves what we are willing to give to Him. Just the “Sundays and the dog-ends of your life” (Graham Kendrick) or will you give Him ALL your life? And here’s the good news – if you do this you will find you can NEVER outgive Him!

Wise men sought Jesus – wise men still do!

Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him” (Matthew 2: 2)
God bless you all
Peter

TODAY:  ADVENT SERIES  WEEK 4 – THE WISE MEN

Wise men always seek an encounter with Jesus

 

NEXT SUNDAY: A LOOK BACK ON 2018

Celebrating the Goodness of God

CHRISTMAS EVE MIDNIGHT SERVICE: Please join us between 11:30pm and 12:30am on Christmas Eve and share in the first communion of Christmas.

CHRISTMAS CARDS: Please have a look at all the cards on the notice board and add yours to the board if you have one.

 

“All the Christmas presents in the world are worth nothing               without the presence of Christ” – David Jeremiah

 

CHURCH WEBSITE, APP & CALENDAR: Please remember to check the website and use the app to ensure you stay up to date with everything going on in the church. Also, don’t forget you can put prayer requests on the app which, after approval, will then be sent out to everyone with email addresses and who have submitted their GDPR forms.

AUDIO SERMONS: We now have a number of audio messages on the website from both the Spiritual Disciplines and the Fruits of the Spirit series. Please take the opportunity to listen to any that you missed. From now on these will be added weekly where appropriate. Peter’s sermon notes are also available under the “Sermons” tab on the website. These sermons are also available now on the Church App.

FOODBANK: Please remember the Food Bank when you go shopping. Items particularly needed now are teabags, coffee (200g jars), tinned meat (eg spam, corned beef, chicken curry etc.), sugar (small size bags), tinned fruit, jam & marmalade.

MEDICAL MISSIONARY NEWS: Please remember to save your used postage stamps, thousands of pounds are raised each year from used stamps and the Christmas ones are particularly helpful.

 

 

“Once in our world, a stable had something in it that was bigger than our whole world.” -C.S. Lewis

 

WHATS ON THIS WEEK

Mon 24th          23:30 – 00:30    Midnight Communion

Sat 29th           09:00 – 10:00     Park run in Victoria Park

Sun 30th           10:30 – 12:00     Celebration Service

(Tea & Coffee served from 10:00)