Dear Friends,

As the holiday season approaches and many of us prepare for our holidays, I trust and hope that you all will have a refreshing and resful time. Please let me or one of the elders know if you're going away, so that we can pray for you and your safe return to us.

Don't forget that as much as holidays are good,  there's no such thing as a spiritual holiday. Holidays are a good time to relax generally, but also a good time to refersh your spiritual life. So when you're away, don't forget to read your Bible as much as you can. Read some sound Christian books, and take time to have prayer times with your families.

When it comes to Sunday, don't neglect Church. Find the nearest Church of like-minded persuasion and attend it.

I hope you all have a good, refreshing break.

Yours,

Pastor

 Dear Friends, 
 
On the 6th February this year, the Queen became the first British Monarch to celebrate a platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years of service to the people of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth.  As a result of this, there have been 4 days of celebration, including public events and activities.
 
This is a remarkable achievement. Especially as she has been through an awful lot. She has faced national crisis, threats to the Monarchy, personal trials, as well as family problems. On top of that, problems with the media, people who oppose her, and yet she has always been dedicated to her role, taking her vows with a great deal of seriousness. She has always remained dignified and true to her role as Queen.
 
I personally thank God for her because she has taken her responsibility to the highest
level. Whether you hold that view or not, we as Christians have a responsibility to her. The Bible makes it very clear that we are to pray for all our leaders who are in authority over us.
 
1 Timothy 2. v1-2: “I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people — 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”
 
What do we pray for when we pray for our leaders? Well, first, we pray that all
leaders will have their eyes opened, and that they will receive salvation. This is not just for the good of their souls, or for the glory of God, but it’s then that they will see that it’s righteous ness that exalts a nation. I am told that the Queen is a Christian, whether this is true or not, we should continue to pray for her soul.
 
Secondly, when we pray for our leaders, think of the burdens they must go through.
Some may argue that they are privileged people. And while this maybe, they still must
go through burdens.
 
Thirdly, pray for their protection, that God will guide them and help them to see, that their role is to uphold and maintain justice, that we may continue to live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.
 
God save the Queen.
 
Yours in Christ,
 
Pastor

Dear friends,

Promises can mean very little these days. We
hear promises by our politicians and advertising
companies that might sound appealing, yet
they all amount to nothing.

The promises given to us in the Bible are
concrete, reliable and trustworthy. Never once
does God make a promise and let us down. He
makes promises of predictions, provisions and
personal promises that give to us the blessing
of assurance.

The believer’s assurance does not depend upon
outward circumstances nor inward feelings. It
depends on the concrete foundation of His
Word.

One of the greatest passages of assurance is
the Apostle Paul’s words in Romans 8:31 ‘If
God is for us, who can be against us?’ How
right Martin Luther is when he says “One with
God is a majority”.

Is there an enemy that can defeat us? No,
because God is for us.

Evidence for this is seen in the way God gave
us His Son. With such promises God has given
to us in His Word, we need to take heart and
be uplifted because there is nothing in this
world that can take us away from the
assurance that we are His children.

Yours in Christ
Pastor Tim

Dear Friends,
 
As usual, the week of prayer has been a great encouragement and blessing. Given how central prayer is to our lives as Christians, it makes sense that prayer is a vital part of building unity in our Church.
I love the way Luke puts it in Acts 4. 24; “They raised their voices together in prayer to God.”
 
Corporate prayer draws us together. When we pray we are leaving behind our desires and are focusing on God and others. And coming together maintains the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace (Eph. 4. 3)
 
For the early Christian Church, praying together was a priority. It started immediately after Jesus left his disciples at the ascension, where they met in the upper room. What happened after? Pentecost.
Then, we are told in Acts 2 v42 that they devoted themselves to prayer. What happened? The Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved. Just after Peter and John had been threatened not to preach Christ, the early Christians met for prayer. And what happened? The place where they met shook. When Peter was thrown into prison, what was the Church doing? They were meeting for prayer. And what happened? The cell doors were flung open, and the chains fell off Peter and he was guided by an angel out of Jail. Always, when God’s people met for prayer, God blessed them.
 
That’s a great encouragement for us as Christians, if we want to be blessed, we need to adopt the habit of meeting together for prayer. Of course, it’s only out of God’s graciousness that we are blessed, as Daniel says in Daniel 9 v18: “We do not make request of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy.” And it’s on that basis that we make this plea to God.
 
Let’s never forget the importance of the place of prayer. Prayer was central to the early church, and it must be for us now.
 
Yours, In Christ,
 
Pastor