January News letter
January 8th 2024
Dear Friends
Before I write anything else, a big thank you to all of you for your Christmas greetings. Sandra joins me in praying that you will know the peace of God as we journey during this year.
An extract from the Address which I gave during yesterday’s morning worship provides, I trust, focus for us all at the beginning of 2024. We wait to adopt our text for the year next Sunday.
‘Today, as God must surely weep over today’s world and as we acknowledge that none of us get everything right and continually need God’s grace and forgiveness, we see the relevance of something stirring on the banks of the Jordan, on the margins rather than at the centre of society. And we reflect that movements blown by the Holy Spirit of God can ripple from the edges to the centre. Friends, in these days of new possibilities and new beginnings in a new year, believe that God is encouraging us, Gillingham United Reformed Church, to daily saturate the people and community of Gillingham in prayer and be ready for movement of the Holy Spirit in this town. Believe that within the denomination of a solid Bible based United Reformed Church and as a local church here that God is longing to hear from us all: Come Holy Spirit. Believe that what might seem impossible humanly speaking is possible because God is at work and needs our co-operation.
Individually and as a community of God’s people which is Gillingham United Reformed Church, we are called to recognise God’s power, strength and peace. Without him we are nothing. With thanksgiving to God for his faithfulness, may we all commit to seeking God and being alert to the movement of the Holy Spirit, daring to believe that God is moving in our lives, in the Church, in the lives of the people of Gillingham and Medway and across the world, shaking things up and beginning new things. May we go from here today thankful that it is God who brings light in the darkness and order from chaos and essentially may we go from here listening for God’s voice and hearing where he is calling us to join in his work.’
Dates for us all to take on board beginning with the notice given by John Ellis and which has been announced during recent weeks. For catering purposes we will soon be seeking to determine who from here will be attending the event in Maidstone when the united Kent and East Sussex Synod Area of which we are part is officially marked with a Celebration Launch.
| Kent & East Sussex Synod Area Meet our General Secretary Our new URC Church family, KESSA to its friends, comes to life from the beginning of 2024. This network will support 38 churches across Kent and in the Hastings and Bexhill areas of East Sussex. You are invited to the Celebration Launch on Saturday 3rd February in the county town of Kent at Maidstone URC. The programme will be: From 1100: light refreshments available as we gather 1200 Address by the General Secretary of the United Reformed Church, the Revd Dr John Bradbury, on revitalising the Church’s mission; John will then take our questions 1300 Free lunch provided as an opportunity to meet new KESSA Christian friends as well as the General Secretary 1400 Celebration Worship with as preacher the Convenor of our Synod Council, the Revd Russell Furley-Smith |
Dates for our calendars and opportunities for prayer during the coming weeks:
Church Meeting on Sunday 14th January following morning worship. Everyone, whether in membership or not, is invited to come to the meeting although voting rights are the privilege of members.
A united hour of prayer under the banner of North Gillingham Churches at the beginning of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: Thursday 18th January at 7 pm at St. Mark’s church.
Friday 19th January from 4.30 pm to 5.45 pm. In house Christian puppet ministry for children accompanied throughout by their responsible adult.
Sunday 21st January. Our service at 11 am will include Holy Communion, renewal of our commitment to Christian discipleship and launch of our Bible text for this year. The service will be followed by a bring and share lunch.
Friday 26th to Sunday 28th January. Five of our Youth Fellowship will be attending the URC Youth Assembly. Please pray for them and all young people from across the United Reformed Church who will be going, pray for the leaders and all the preparation for what we trust will be a fantastic weekend.
Praise and Prayer hour Monday 29th January at 2 pm in the church.
Regular Bible study on Wednesdays at 2 pm.
Sunday 25th February at 5 pm. Production of The Hiding Place at St Augustine’s church endorsed by North Gillingham Churches. Admission by ticket. Details to follow.
World Day of Prayer Service hosted by Gillingham URC on Friday 1st March at 2 pm.
Flowers arranged by Cherrie for Christmas 2023
We are very thankful for the flowers in church Sunday by Sunday. Would you like to arrange them from time to time or give a financial contribution? Please write in the flower book on the table in the church if you are able to support this valuable ministry. Thank you.
Our local appeal for pencils, pencil sharpeners, short rulers and rubbers for children in Malawi supported by Starfish is
in progress, as is the opportunity to knit pencil cases with cotton yarn which has been donated to us. If you would like some yarn to knit into a pencil case please speak to Lorna.
We continue to thank God for all that it means to be part of a local worshipping community and the wider family of the United Reformed Church. We continue to pray for one another and for the community of Gillingham and particularly remember friends within the fellowship for whom life brings particular challenges, not least because of tragedy. Please pray too for those faced with significant change in their daily lives at the moment.
The peace of the Lord be with you all today and always.
God bless you
Pam