23rd June 2019

ASHFORD COMMUNITY CHURCH

NEWSLETTER: 23^rd June 2019

       FROM THE PASTOR’S PEN

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ

Paul has some strong, but sad, words to say in his guidance to his disciple, Timothy:

“There will be terrible times in the last days. ² People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, ³without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, ⁴ treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God” (2 Tim 3: 1-4)

We see extremism, born of religious fury, fuelling atrocities, around the world. But, closer to home there is an equally, if not greater, malaise affecting western society – hardness of heart. As Paul predicted, there are growing numbers of people seeking to satisfy themselves through pleasure and selfishness. The growing rates of depression and suicide are proof of the failure of this mindset.

The Good News is that Jesus is the same today as yesterday. The Good News is that He is the answer to all questions of “now” and the hope for the “future”. The challenge for us is to be the harbingers of this Good News into the “terrible times [of these] last days”.

And so we welcome Danielle Gilbert amongst us today (and also Joy and Mike Loader as well). For she is working amongst those whose hearts are so hardened in a nation that is today known to be one of the most godless and secular on the planet. She is God’s face of hope in that society. We look forward to her being God’s inspiration for us today – that we might take up the “mantle” in our own hardened, godless, society in the UK.

God bless you     Peter

TODAY: We are pleased to welcome Danielle Gilbert along with Mike and Joy Loader.

NEXT WEEK: ALL AGE SERVICE. We continue our series looking at the “I AM’S” of Jesus. We will be looking at “I AM the Light of the World”

CHURCH FAMILY BBQ: Today,  at the Farm. Come and enjoy a BBQ lunch together (please bring your own meat) and a chance to spend time in fellowship with one another and also Danielle Gilbert. Also please bring your own plates and cutlery and a punnet of strawberries.

MARRIAGE MASALA: Saturday July 6^th and led by Rod & Ruthie Gilbert. See Dorothy for further information. This has now been opened up to other churches so places may well be filled now.

EAST KENT CHORUS:  On Thursday 4^th July come and hear the East Kent Chorus who will be giving a performance at 7:30 for us. This is a free event, with refreshments, and is open to everyone in the church along with family and friends and our neighbours in the locality. The flyers for this event are now available and on the prayer table there are bundles ready to be delivered to the streets around the church. Please take a bundle and deliver them in the coming week. Also please take any that you would like to give to family and friends.

BLOSS COFFEE: Thank you to those who have already placed offerings in the coffee donation box on the prayer table, we have been encouraged by your generosity so far so please continue to help in this way if you can. Also, if you haven’t already experienced it, don’t forget you can try it during the week at Kingsmill Granary, well worth it if you have the chance. It is open from Tuesday to Saturday between 10am and 3pm.

LADIES’ FELLOWSHIP: The next meeting will be on 5^th July at Pat’s

BIBLE STUDY: Starting this week on Friday June 28^th from 2:30 – 4pm. It will be led by Brian & Pat Carter at church house. Please let Peter know if you are hoping to attend.

Don’t forget to place any items for Foodbank and stamps for Medical Mission in the appropriate boxes and also please help yourself to any literature that is of interest to you on the Prayer Table.

MENS BREAKFAST: 13^TH JULY AT WILLESBOROUGH B.C. The speaker is Pastor Dani Ispas from Romania

                     WHAT’S ON THIS WEEK

 Tues 25^th                    11:30 – 14:30  Open Arms

                                 19:00 – 20:30  Worship practice

Weds 26^th                 09:30 – 10:30   Weight Watchers

                                 19:30 –  21:00   Home Groups

Thurs 27^th                 19:30 – 21:00    East Kent Chorus in main hall

Fri 28^th                     09:30 – 10:30   Revival Prayer

                                 19:30 – 21:30   Pizza & Hot Topics

Sat 29^th                    09:00 – 10:00   Park Run in Victoria Park

Sun 30^th                     10:30 – 12:00   Celebration Service (Coffee from 10:00)

                                                         Prayer in the Prayer Room from 10:10