"ABIDE IN ME AS I ABIDE IN YOU"
This is the time of year when people both look back to the year that is past, and forward to the year that is just beginning - There were the big events of the past year that hit the news headlines, some of which will have affected our lives, just as some of the major events of the year to come will also affect us. But for most of us, our personal experiences of 1998 will be the ones that affect us most deeply. Our triumphs, achievements and times of blessing as well as such things as illness, bereavements and sorrows will come to our mind as we think of the past year.
New year Is also a time for making resolutions, we determine that we will do better, we will be better people in the year to come. The reason we think this way, is because most of us have regrets for the past year. We were not the people we wanted to be, we did not do the good things that we know we should have done.
And so in our new years resolutions we seek to go into the new year as better people achieving where we failed before, hoping to come to the end of next year without the sense of failure that haunts as we think about last year's mistakes and failures. The problem is though, do we really have any better hope of keeping our new resolutions? We know how hard it is to, and how frail we really are.
The good news of the christian gospel, is that there really is hope for us. Christ came not only to take on himself the consequences of our past sins and failures, but also to give us grace and strength to face the future with hope and optimism. The best way for any of us to face the future, is by going into the future with our hand in the hand of God.
Jesus told his followers to abide in him. As christians we are invited to go into the new year, not on our own but in the abiding company of Christ. If we do that, his promise is that our future will not be fruitless, but that our lives will bring blessing to ourselves and others that will count for eternity.
Yours in Christ Peter.
And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year: 'Give me a light that I may tread safely inte the unknown'
And he replied: 'Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known Way.'
Minnie Louise Haskins
JANUARY 1999 - PROGRAMME
All services and meetings will be held on our church premises unless another venue is indicated in the programme below. Rev Peter Neale will be preaching at all services unless an alternative speaker is indicated in the programme.
Sunday 3rd 10.30 am Covenant Service
6.30 pm Covenant Service
Lord's Cupper
Tues 5th 2.00 pm Tuesday Fellowship - speaker - Pastor
Wed 6th 10.00 am Minis and Minders Toddler Group
Thurs 7th 10.00 am Minis and Minders Toddler Group
Fri 8th 7.30 pm Hispanic Bible Study
Sat 9th 10.00 am Prayer Meeting at Margaret's
Sun 10th 10.3O am Cham Kaur-Mann
6.30 pm Cham Kaur-Mann
Mon 11th 5.45 pm Girls Brigade
7.30 pm American Gospel Choir
No Tuesday Fellowship
Weds 13th 10.00 am Minis and Minders Toddler Group
Thurs 14th 10.00 am Minis and Minders Toddler Group
Fri 15th 7.30 pm Hispanic Bible Study
Sat 16th 10.00 am Prayer Meeting at Margaret's
Sun 17th 10.30 am Mr John Troup
Lord's Supper
6.30 pm Dr Terence Crosby
Mon 16th 5.45 pm Girls' Brigade
Tues 19th 2.00 pm Tuesday Fellowship - speaker - Mrs Ward
6.00 pm Alpha Course
Wed 20th 10.00 am Minis and Minders Toddler Group
1.00 pm Week of Prayer meeting
7.30 pm Deacons Meeting
Thur 21st 10.00 am Minis and Minders Toddler Group
Fri 22nd 7.30 pm Hispanic Bible Study
Sat 23rd 10.00 am Church Cleaning
Sun 24th 10.30 am Call of the Fishermen- Luke 5
6.30 pm Sick and Sinful Restored- Luke 5
Mon 25th 6.45 pm Girls' Brigade
Tues 26th 2.00 pm Tuesday Fellowship - speaker Cunnings
8.00 pm Alpha Course
Wed 27th 10.00 am Minis and Minders Toddler Group
7.30 pm Church Meeting
Thur 28th 10.00 am Minis and Minders Toddler
Fri 29th 7.30 pm Hispanic Bible Study
Sat 30th 10.00 am Prayer Meeting at Margarets
Sun 31st 10.30 am David Lasseter from Frimley
6.30 pm Adrian Piper
FEBRUARY
Mon 1st 5.45 pm Girls' Brigade
Tues 2nd 2.00 pm Tuesday Fellowship - to be announced
8.00 pm Alpha Course
Wed 3rd 10.00 am Minis and Minders Toddler Group
Thur 4th 10.00 am Minis and Minders Toddler Group
Fri 5th 7.00 pm Youth Club First Night
7.30 pm Hispanic Bible Study
Sat 6th 10.00 am Prayer Meeting at Margarets
Sun 7th 10.30 am Upside down kingdom - Luke 6
6.30 pm The Kingdom of Love - Luke 6
Lord's Supper
GIVING IN DECEMBER
Offerings and donations to the church last month totalled £1206.67. Thanks to all who have given to the church over the past year, giving has gone up appreciably and for this we are thankful to God.
HOPES FOR 1999
To work together with all to establish the running of a youth group every fortnight. This idea was inspired by the Urban Exposure visit last summer. My hope is, that young people will come to the group - have fun and hopefully come to know more about Jesus. Your prayers, your help in any way, would be greatly appreciated!!!
Love, Cham.
EAST HILL CHURCHES WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY
Lunch time meetings at 1pm will take place in January as follows: Mon 18th St Mary Magdelen, East Hill Tues 19th St Annes, St Annes Hill Weds 20th East Hill Baptist Church Thurs 21st Salvation Army, Ram St Fri 22nd St Faiths, Ebner St. Mon 25th 7.30pm Bring and share meal and service at St. John's Methodist Church
NEW YEAR COVENANT
DECLARATION OF FAITH We acknowledge that God is our creator and Father; Jesus Christ his Son is our Saviour and Lord; The Holy Spirit is our Guide ano Strengthener; The Word Of God is our rule of faith and conduct; Christ died for our sins and was raised again for our salvation; we, His Church are called to proclaim Jesus Christ in the world until He comes.
EXPLANATION OF COVENANT (spoken by Minister)
Beloved in Christ, let us again claim for ourselves this Covenant which God has made with his people, and take the yoke of Christ upon us. To take his yoke upon us means that we are content that he appoint us our place and work, and that he himself be our reward.
Christ has many services to be done; some are easy, others are difficult; some bring honour, others bring reproach; some are suitable to our natural inclinations and material interests, others are contrary to both. In some we may please Christ and please ourselves, in others we cannot please Christ except by denying ourselves. Yet the power to do all these things is given us in Christ, who strengthens us. Therefore let us make this Covenant of God our own. Let us give ourselves anew to him, trusting in his promises and relying on his grace.
COVENANT PRAYER
Lord God, Holy Father, since you have called us through Christ to share in this gracious Covenant; we take upon ourselves with joy the yoke of obedience, and for love of you, engage ourselves to seek and do your perfect will. We are no longer our own, but yours.
I am no longer my own, but yours. Put me to what you will, rank me with whom you will; put me to doing, put me to suffering; let me be employed for you or laid aside for you, exalted for you or brought low for you; let me be full, let me be empty; let me have all things, let me have nothing; I freely and wholeheartedly yield all things to your good pleasure and disposal. And now, glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, you are mine and I am yours. So be it. And the covenant now made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven. Amen.