Sunday 25 December 2011

Advent Candle 5

The Fifth Candle (The Christ Candle)

Advent candle #5

And so the die is cast
in form of child
the God has come.
Earth cradles the King
in poverty
misplaced, misunderstood.
The sacrifice of confinement
clothing for a while
outside eternity
the covenant
signature.

Keith Wallis        

Saturday 24 December 2011

Sunday - Christmas Day

Have a really great celebration and if you can join us for worship at 10:30am.
If you're away visiting friends or family travel safely and give our greetings to them.
May the Saviour bless you and keep you in His care.

Thursday 22 December 2011

Part of the record attempt







Well the latest is that ...........................
IT’S A RECORD 18,414 
carol singers
Or rather it will be IF it is ratified by the Guinness people.  
And WE supplied 100 to that total.

 

Monday 19 December 2011

note from the pastor

 
I wanted to write and thank everyone who contributed in any way to enable what happened last night.
 
*        From Ruth’s amazing decoration of the church to Jonathan’s brilliant leading of our musicians..... 
*        from the team of those who prepared the church and the candle light to Keith’s careful oversight of the world record attempt...
  *        from Jill and her team who sorted out the refreshments afterwards to the welcomers and greeters....
  *        and Sharon and the children’s leaders who set up the lantern factory in the hall beforehand.
 
Thank you all for making our Christmas celebration so special for everyone who came.
I guess we were all delighted by just how many people came to fill our church last night. So
*        thank you also to all who prayed for our carol service and ...
*        thank you to all who invited others to come and who delivered leaflets...
*        and prayer walked as MAD did delivering leaflets last Sunday evening.
 
As a minister I am often privileged to hear conversations that others do not.
*        So I was encouraged to find quite a number of people in church simply because they had received a leaflet through their door.
*        There were others who were with us because they were coming with someone from church.
*        Some were joining in the fun of our Christmas celebrations and our record attempt...
*        And others who were looking to connect with a local Christian community where their faith might be nurtured.
*        Others were there because their group meets in our church and they had responded to our invitation to take part.
*        No doubt there are many others who received an invitation or a leaflet and felt drawn to come but for many reasons, some simply practical, couldn’t respond by coming but will probably do so in another way this Christmas time.
 
Paul writes to the Ephesians ‘From Christ the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.’ I am so conscious this morning of God’s blessing of ‘our offering of our gifts’ to him in the lives of others who were touched as they shared last night with us.
 
We will gather on Christmas Day next Sunday at 10.30am for a family service. 
If Santa ‘brings you a gift you would like to bring to church to show’ then that would be great.
 
In the meantime, I pray that you would know Christ alongside you and his ‘light’ shining on you this Christmas time.
 
*       Happy Christmas!
David

Sunday 18 December 2011

Advent Candle 4

The Fourth Candle (The Candle of Peace)

Advent candle #4

The dove is loosed
from eternity’s door
bringing the olive branch
warm with love.
Waters of darkness recede
before the dove-light
love-light
peace.
So even now
men of peace stride wars
in alien wisdom,
their pace of hope
shines promise

Keith Wallis

Sunday 11 December 2011

Advent Candle 3

The Third Candle (The Candle of Joy)


Advent candle #3

Heaven’s voice is ringing early
its seasonal chorale
cascading through the well shopped streets
with the waterfall of glory.
And the tills sing out their victory
as the bankrupt bleed
on the battleground of greed.
Yet joy is to be found
in shopping mall and marketplace
when quiet voices
with shepherds’ hearts
respond to heaven’s greater tone.


Keith Wallis


Tuesday 6 December 2011

Sunday 18th December

Come and be a RECORD BREAKER with us

 

We've got loads of fliers to deliver, please sign up on Sunday for a road you can deliver to during the week.

Monday 5 December 2011

Sunday 4 December 2011

Advent Candle 2

The Second Candle (The Candle of the Way)


Advent candle #2

The star begins its journey
and eternity spills
upon the lost.
A lesser light beacons
the greater light
and feeble footsteps
find the way
to eternity.
   
Keith Wallis         

Friday 2 December 2011

Stop press - new book out

Keith has some of his work in this new book published by the Baptist Union.


Alongside the Biblefresh initiative in 2011, the Mission Department launched a project for Baptist churches, encouraging Christians to write new psalms and parables for the 21st century. A selection of these have now been compiled into a booklet, which gives a thought-provoking, uplifting, and inspiring snapshot of God’s presence in people’s lives today.