Sermons from 20th May

The sermons from Sunday 13th May is available to download here.

Vision into Practice #2
Our purpose > to love
1 John 3 v11-24

Isaiah - The Suffering Servant #3
God’s Promise of Restoration and ProtectionIsaiah 43







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Home Group Notes from Sunday 20th May 2012

Vision into Practice


Sermon theme: Our purpose > to love
1 John 3:11-24


This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. (1 John 3: 16)



1 – What it does mean to you to say that “God is love” – and what do you make of the idea that God loves you?


2 -  What are your own experiences of a loving community? This might be church, it might be family, it might be some other group. Can you share examples of a community you have been part of or you have seen that have made you say “look at how these people love each other” or “I really feel loved here”?


3 – 1 John 3.16 says that because Jesus laid down his life for us, we should lay down our lives for each other – and the John goes on to give a very practical example. What implications might that have for how we “do church”? How could our church become a more loving community?

Maesai Grace Mission Trip Video

My identity - in Christ

I am accepted...
John 1:12		I am God's child.
John 15:15		As a disciple, I am a friend of Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:1		I have been justified.
1 Corinthians 6:17		I am united with the Lord, and I am one with Him in spirit.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20		I have been bought with a price and I belong to God.
1 Corinthians 12:27		I am a member of Christ's body.
Ephesians 1:3-8		I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child.
Colossians 1:13-14		I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins.
Colossians 2:9-10		I am complete in Christ.
Hebrews 4:14-16		I have direct access to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ.
I am secure...
Romans 8:1-2	I am free from condemnation.
Romans 8:28	I am assured that God works for my good in all circumstances.
Romans 8:31-39	I am free from any condemnation brought against me and I cannot be separated from the love of God.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22	I have been established, anointed and sealed by God.
Colossians 3:1-4	I am hidden with Christ in God.
Philippians 1:6	I am confident that God will complete the good work He started in me.
Philippians 3:20	I am a citizen of heaven.
2 Timothy 1:7	I have not been given a spirit of fear but of power, love and a sound mind.
1 John 5:18	I am born of God and the evil one cannot touch me.
I am significant...
John 15:5	I am a branch of Jesus Christ, the true vine, and a channel of His life.
John 15:16	I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit.
1 Corinthians 3:16	I am God's temple.
2 Corinthians 5:17-21	I am a minister of reconciliation for God.
Ephesians 2:6	I am seated with Jesus Christ in the heavenly realm.
Ephesians 2:10	I am God's workmanship.
Ephesians 3:12	I may approach God with freedom and confidence.
Philippians 4:13	I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.

 

St Mark's Vision

‘Loving God and making His love known’

Our identity: is in Jesus Christ: St Mark’s is a lively, Bible-based Anglican church, inspired by the Holy Spirit, serving the parish of Lache and Saltney, where all are very welcome just as they are.

Our purpose: is to grow in our loving relationship with God, and with one another, so that we are equipped to share the truth and love of Jesus Christ.

Our values: as the Body of Christ we value the Word of God, and the use of God’s spiritual gifts; and so we seek to become a more open, prayerful, loving, thankful, forgiving, generous and encouraging community for the glory of God.

Our vision: is to be a church called to be God’s people, to worship, serve, and grow, and to see lives of all ages continually transformed through the power of the Holy Spirit:

• by a deepening relationship with God through worship, Biblical teaching & prayer
• by a growing relationship with one another through discipleship and fellowship
• by developing our relationship with the local community & wider world through evangelism, mission and service

Home Group Notes from Sunday 13th May 2012

Vision into Practice


Sermon Theme: Our identity > in Christ
1 John 3 v1-10

Many people find their identity security and significance in their job, their wealth and other such things.

If someone asked you to describe yourself how would you reply?

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! (1 John 3v1)

What does it mean to you to be a child of God?

Our vision statement at St Marks states that our identity is in Jesus Christ.

Our identity: is in Jesus Christ: St.Mark’s is a lively, Bible-based Anglican church, inspired by the Holy Spirit, serving the parish of Lache and Saltney, where all are very welcome just as they are.

Discuss how this identity should and will affect the way we behave and act toward God, each other and those we meet.

Sermons from 13th May

The sermons from Sunday 13th May is available to download here.

Vision into Practice #1
Our identity > in Christ
1 John 3 v1-10

Isaiah - The Suffering Servant #2
The Servant, a Light to the Nations
Isaiah 42














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ST Mark’s Online Statistics

I thought it would be interesting to publish some stats about our online presence from the last year.

	St Marks Website The website has been visited over 5,500 times by 2,280 different people from 37 different countries all across the world including Thailand, USA, India, Russia, Australia and most of Europe. www.stmarkssaltney.org.uk
	St Marks Blog There have been a total of 125 posts on the blog with nearly 4000 page views. http://stmarkssaltney.blogspot.co.uk/
	Twitter On Twitter we have tweeted 140 times to our 38 followers. https://twitter.com/#!/StMarksSaltney
	Facebook We have posted 30 times on Facebook and there are 23 people who like our page. https://www.facebook.com/stmarkssaltney
	Online sermons We have published over 60 sermons which have been downloaded nearly 500 times. http://www.stmarkssaltney.org.uk/Sermons.htm

The Queen's Diamond Jubilee

You are invited to our Queen's Diamond Jubilee Church and Community Lunch and Mini Funday after the 11am service on Sunday 3rd June.

The Lunch will be a Bring and Share/ BBQ.
We would welcome donations from church members of food and drink for the Bring and Share part, but the church will provide the BBQ food.
We would also be very grateful of your assistance on the day. If you might be able to help on the BBQ, do face-painting, help with setting up/ clearing away, input of any kind (blowing up balloons, putting up bunting, setting out tables, etc) that would really be appreciated. We will have 2 Bouncy Castles to man as well. If you are able to help out please let Adam know.

Hennie's blog for May 2012

Dear All,

Alleluia, Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia!

Four weeks since we celebrated Easter Day, and I pray we are all still rejoicing in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, as we await another great celebration, Pentecost in three week's time!

Looking back on the month it has been one where I do feel that my personal ministry has been 'stretched out', which can be challenging, and yet God says 'do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes', so that His Kingdom may grow in this parish, and further afield.

I hope and pray that you were able to walk with Jesus during Holy Week, managing to attend some of the acts of worship that took place at St. Mark's. For the first time we had an All Age Service on Good Friday morning to bring together families that had been involved in the Easter Holiday Club (which was a great week for the children), as well as regular members of St. Mark's. A number of us then went on the Walk of Witness through the parish offering easter eggs and invitations to the Easter services, having first been refreshed with drinks and hot cross buns. This was then followed by an Hour at the Cross in the afternoon.  I felt Good Friday this year offered more to the community, and to those who might not necessarily worship on such a day, and helped us to prepare for a great Easter Day.  Thank you to all who were involved in all the different services during Holy Week and Easter, and pray that some of you found some time to rest the following week?!

Since then, much has been going on.  A great Curry Evening was had on Saturday 14th to raise funds for our new Cafe - 'A different taste@St. Mark's', which opens on Thursday 7th June - please pray for Denise Baxtersmallwood as she oversees the running of the cafe, and new team. A powerful Prayer Breakfast for Burma on the morning of Saturday 21st April where a good number of the congregation gathered to have a delicious breakfast; learn more about our Connected Church - Maesai Grace; and to pray through interactive prayer stations in the church.  Beth Gibbons and Rose Johnson put a huge amount of hard work into it, and God blessed and touched all those who came, and who set aside time to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ in other parts of the world.  We thank God, the MST, and all who came and supported the Prayer Breakfast.

Mike Gilbertson, the Archdeacon of Chester, came to preach and preside on Sunday April 22nd, and challenged us with the 'Call to Generosity' as part of our sermon series on looking at the call and cost of discipleship.  If you were unable to be with us on that Sunday may I encourage you to listen to his sermon on our website.  Sacrificial and generous giving is part of being 'stretched out and not holding back',  and God is calling us all to sacrificial giving, as He does to all who declare that He is their Lord & Saviour.  If we are to spread out to the right and to the left in our community with the good news of Jesus Christ, it is going to call for financial resources - so please pray, listening to God, and be obedient to His call on our lives!

I am excited about our Summer Preaching series looking at putting our'Vision into Practice' in the morning services, and Isaiah - 'The Suffering Servant' in the evening. I hope and pray that as we look at what it means to serve and suffer as a disciple of Christ, it will equip us to put our vision into action as we worship, serve and grow, and see lives of all ages transformed and healed through the power of the Holy Spirit.

'Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he'.  (Proverbs 29:18)

Love & prayers Hennie

The Olympic Torch in Saltney

On Tuesday the 29th May the Olympic torch will be passing St. Marks and to celebrate we are opening the church as a focal point for the community to get together from 3.30pm till 5.30pm, when the torch is due to pass. We will be serving sandwiches, tea and cakes and we would like as many members of the church to be around to enjoy and help at this great opportunity.




Please see Jo Lucas if you can help.




The torch will be accompanied by a ‘prayer relay of blessing’ throughout the country – see www.morethangold.org.uk/torchrelay.


On Tuesday 29th Chester Christians will receive this ‘prayer baton’ from Christians from Bangor, and we will take the baton to Stoke on Trent on Wednesday 30th.


In preparation there is an evening of prayer at Hoole Baptist on 28th of May. We are also all invited to write prayers of blessing for Stoke – some of which will be handed over with the baton. You are all invited to join in.

Sermon from 6th May 2012

The sermon from Sunday 6th May is available to download here

Isaiah - The Suffering Servant - #1
Isaiah 40 - "God is our comforter"












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Messy Church Video

Here is a copy of the video we watched at our service on Sunday!

Messy Church

On the 1st Thursday of every month starting in July we will be holding Messy Church at the Lache Community Centre and we are looking for people who may be able to help us. Helen Ellis from All Saints Hoole is going to come and give us some training between 10 am and 12 noon on the 26th May in Church. If you would like to be involved or think God is pushing you in that direction then please do try to come along and find out more.

New sermon series for the summer

Morning Series - ‘Vision into practice’

We believe that, having had time over the past year to listen to God, and discern His voice, He has given us a new vision; ‘to be a church called to be His people, to worship, service and grow, and to see lives of all ages continually transformed through the power of the Holy Spirit’. We now need to put God’s vision for His people into practice.  We need to learn how to live out this vision every day, everywhere!

For this reason I believe it is vital to work out together how, in partnership, we activate God’s vision into action; and so over the next few months we will be taking each strand of the vision, and learning how each one of us is being called to play our part.

I have been reading an excellent book on ‘all member ministry’ called ‘The Trellis and the Vine’, and it emphasises and reminds the reader that partnership in the Gospel is the normal Christian life! The authors suggest that the ‘Gospel itself demands that we stand with our leaders in profound unity, teamwork and solidarity – not because of their personalities or gifts, but because of our common partnership in the gospel of Jesus Christ. There aren’t two classes of Christians – the partners and the spectators. We are all in it together’. 

This means that, as committed Christians, we are signing up for active involvement – for being partners together in a great enterprise: going out to share the good news of Jesus Christ in our local community and wider world!

Evening Series – Isaiah – The Suffering Servant

In the past few months, in the evenings, we have been looking at ‘Living in the world but not of the world’ as we have journeyed through 1 Peter - a letter of exhortation, and encouragement, written to Christians in Asia Minor who were suffering for their faith.

As we look at how God may be calling us to put our Vision into practice in the morning sermon series – it has been suggested that we focus on some chapters of Isaiah in the evening.  I believe that this will complement our teaching in the morning, and continue to help us work out how we live in the world, but not of the world.  

That is exactly what the work and call of a prophet was, and still is today. Their role was, and is, to speak for God, confronting the people and their leaders with God’s commands and promises.  Because of their confrontational stance and the continuing tendency of people then, and still today, to disobey God’s will and way, prophets can find themselves alienated by others who prefer to conform to the way of the world, rather than to submit to God’s rule and reign.

I hope and pray that as we look at what it means to serve and suffer as a disciple of Christ – looking at the Suffering servant in Isaiah, it will equip us also to put our vision into action as we worship, serve and grow, and see lives of all ages transformed and healed through the power of the Holy Spirit.

You can download the pdf with all the details here.

New sermons online

The final sermons from "A call to discipleship" and "Living in the world but not of the world" are now available for download from our website here.

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