Today some wonderful folk from Gideons International visited St Marks
to tell us about their amazing work!
80 million Bibles across 194 countries in 80 languages in 1 year!
Barbara, Nick and Paul
Welcome to the St Mark's Blog
Sunday 22 July 2012
Tuesday 17 July 2012
Home Group Notes from Sunday 15th July 2012
Colossians 3: 1
- 17
Our Vision - deepening our relationships with one
another.
Read the whole
passage aloud first.
1) Try reading
verses 5 - 10 and 12 - 14 in the Message translation by Eugene Petersen (or
some other really up-to-date version) Do you fine this helpful? Or unhelpful?
Why?
2) At Iona they
seek to "grow community" by being woven together, through working,
worshipping, and sharing their stories together, in openness and trust. They
seek to live out God’s purposes of justice and peace, which involves resolving
friction and conflict. What guidelines in all of this does Paul give us all in
this passage?
3) How does your
experience in your Home Group deepen your relationships with others, both those
in the church and outside the church? How good do you consider we all are at
taking risks together?
Monday 16 July 2012
Sermon from Sunday Morning 15th July
The sermon from Sunday morning 15th July 2012 is available for download here.
Vision into Practice #6
Growing our relationship With One Another
Colossians 3: 1- 17
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Monday 9 July 2012
Prayer breakfast for Eritea
We held a prayer breakfast for Eritrea on Saturday 30th June.
You can also watch this video about one man's true story of life in an Eritrean prison courtesy of Christian Solidarity Worldwide
Messy Church Pictures
Messy Church on Thursday 5th July at Lache Community Centre was a great success. Nearly 50 guests.
Watch out for the next in August!
Home Group Notes from Sunday 8th July 2012
In Colossians
1.3-14 Paul gives thanks for the faith, hope and love of the Colossians in the
spirit – but he also prays for more for them, that their relationship with God
will go deeper.
What are
the things that you have found helpful in helping you engage with prayer,
worship and bible reading –
- In church (either on a Sunday or in other groups)?
- During the week?
Take some
time to share things you have found useful at one time or another in deepening
your relationship with God.
What are
the things you struggle with about prayer, bible reading and worship, both in
church and during the week?
Are there
any specific changes in circumstances or routine that have meant you have had
to change what you do in terms of your own spiritual life?
Some
ideas online
In the
spirit of sharing ideas and experience, a couple of weblinks Simon mentioned on
Sunday that he’s found useful resources for his own ongoing struggle with this
stuff:-
Youversion
– a bible “app” available for all the major mobile and computer platforms, with
various translations and a range of reading schemes and other resources - http://www.youversion.com
Bible
Society “You’ve got the Time” free audio files of the whole of the New
Testament – hear the Bible on the go - http://www.biblesociety.org.uk/products/1359/49/you_ve_got_the_time_audio_files/
The
Church of England Daily Prayer feed (provides all the reading resources from
the daily bible lectionary, along with prayers etc for each day) – http://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-worship/join-us-in-daily-prayer.aspx
The
Northumbria Community website, with links to its Morning/Mid-day/Evening/Night
prayer resources, including bible readings and meditations (you can also buy a
CD of sung or said versions of these services) – http://www.northumbriacommunity.org/index.php/pray-the-daily-office
ReJesus
Daily Prayer – another resource for online daily prayer and meditation - http://www.rejesus.co.uk/site/module/daily_prayer/
Sermon from Sunday Morning 8th July
The sermon from Sunday morning 8th July 2012 is
available for download here.
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Vision into Practice #5
Deepening our relationship with God
Colossians 1:3-14 |
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Recent Sermons on Isaiah
Some recent sermons from our evening series on The Suffering
Servant are online here.
Isaiah - The Suffering Servant #7
The Servant Speaks Isaiah 51:12 - 52:12
Isaiah - The Suffering Servant #8
The Servant Suffers Isaiah 52:13-53
Isaiah - The Suffering Servant #9
The Servant’s offer of peace
Isaiah 54
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Monday 2 July 2012
Hennie's Blog for July/August
Dear All,
Our Vision at St. Mark's, Lache-cum-Saltney, 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.
We have continued in June to look at putting our Vision into Practice through our preaching and teaching on Sundays, and also in our Home Groups during the week. And in July we will be going deeper into the three strands of our Vision - as we look at deepening our relationship with God, growing our relationship with one another, and developing our relationship with the local community and wider world. I hope and pray that, together, we will be inspired by the Holy Spirit, to grow ever more into a Godly community witnessing the welcome, truth, and love of Jesus Christ.
In my June blog I said that I felt 'welcome' had been a prominent part of the church's ministy in May as we offered hospitality to our local community when the Olympic Torch came through Saltney, and in celebration of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, putting into practice what some of us had learnt from the Welcome Course that we attended. This continued into June when on Thursday the 7th our new community Cafe, 'A different Taste @ St. Mark's' was opened by the Mayor of Saltney. Again this was a wonderful occasion, well supported by local councillors, by members of Cath, local community, and church who came together, not only for the opening ceremony, but then to enjoy good food, good company, good news. It is now into it's fourth week drawing young, old and very little ones, from all over the local community, and all are welcomed just as they are. If you haven't tried a 'different taste' why not bring a friend and pop in between 10.00 am and 1.30 pm - you might meet someone you didn't expect to! I pray this cafe will envelop our vision as a church called to serve.
As a church called to be God's people, we must be a people of prayer - and during June the monthly prayer meeting gave those gathered, an opportunity to see a very powerful DVD which I am still reflecting on. I am sure people present took away different messages, challenges and convictions, but for me it was the cry of God desiring 'to have His church back' - His people back, free from idolatry and the subtle seductions/temptations of living in today's society, and culture, that we find ourselves. He is calling for more prophets to stand up and speak out the truth in love and, I believe, that call is for us too at St. Mark's - valuing the Word of God, and desiring the use of God's spiritual gifts to build, and grow, His Kingdom here in this parish, and wherever He calls us to minister during the week. We are all called into full-time ministry, speaking and demonstrating the good news to all people, and all for the glory of God. We need to remember that 'since it is by God's mercy that we are engaged in this ministry we do not lose heart' 2 Cor 4.1.Is God wanting to give you the gift of prophecy?
Wendy and myself attened an excellent day retreat organised by the diocese, and led by the Revd. David Runcorn. It was entitled Under the Mercy as we looked at 2 Cor 4; and we had three reflections on 'The Mercy of our vocation' ( 2 Cor 4.1); 'The mercy of our sustaining' (v.7); and 'The Mercy of our becoming' ( vs, 14, 16 & 18). His challenge to us was go and find out what this (mercy) means for ourselves, and for our churches - I think that will be a life-long pursuit for me. But one thing it certainly is is a gift - living under the mercy of God offers rest, shelter, hospitality and healing.
I pray that over the the next two months with holidays drawing near for some, end of exams in sight for others, that you will experience the mercy of God through rest, relaxation, space, fun, hospitality and welcome. Wherever you are at home, work or on holiday, may you know the 'grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord'. (1 Tim 1:2).
Hennie
Our Vision at St. Mark's, Lache-cum-Saltney, 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.
We have continued in June to look at putting our Vision into Practice through our preaching and teaching on Sundays, and also in our Home Groups during the week. And in July we will be going deeper into the three strands of our Vision - as we look at deepening our relationship with God, growing our relationship with one another, and developing our relationship with the local community and wider world. I hope and pray that, together, we will be inspired by the Holy Spirit, to grow ever more into a Godly community witnessing the welcome, truth, and love of Jesus Christ.
In my June blog I said that I felt 'welcome' had been a prominent part of the church's ministy in May as we offered hospitality to our local community when the Olympic Torch came through Saltney, and in celebration of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, putting into practice what some of us had learnt from the Welcome Course that we attended. This continued into June when on Thursday the 7th our new community Cafe, 'A different Taste @ St. Mark's' was opened by the Mayor of Saltney. Again this was a wonderful occasion, well supported by local councillors, by members of Cath, local community, and church who came together, not only for the opening ceremony, but then to enjoy good food, good company, good news. It is now into it's fourth week drawing young, old and very little ones, from all over the local community, and all are welcomed just as they are. If you haven't tried a 'different taste' why not bring a friend and pop in between 10.00 am and 1.30 pm - you might meet someone you didn't expect to! I pray this cafe will envelop our vision as a church called to serve.
As a church called to be God's people, we must be a people of prayer - and during June the monthly prayer meeting gave those gathered, an opportunity to see a very powerful DVD which I am still reflecting on. I am sure people present took away different messages, challenges and convictions, but for me it was the cry of God desiring 'to have His church back' - His people back, free from idolatry and the subtle seductions/temptations of living in today's society, and culture, that we find ourselves. He is calling for more prophets to stand up and speak out the truth in love and, I believe, that call is for us too at St. Mark's - valuing the Word of God, and desiring the use of God's spiritual gifts to build, and grow, His Kingdom here in this parish, and wherever He calls us to minister during the week. We are all called into full-time ministry, speaking and demonstrating the good news to all people, and all for the glory of God. We need to remember that 'since it is by God's mercy that we are engaged in this ministry we do not lose heart' 2 Cor 4.1.Is God wanting to give you the gift of prophecy?
Wendy and myself attened an excellent day retreat organised by the diocese, and led by the Revd. David Runcorn. It was entitled Under the Mercy as we looked at 2 Cor 4; and we had three reflections on 'The Mercy of our vocation' ( 2 Cor 4.1); 'The mercy of our sustaining' (v.7); and 'The Mercy of our becoming' ( vs, 14, 16 & 18). His challenge to us was go and find out what this (mercy) means for ourselves, and for our churches - I think that will be a life-long pursuit for me. But one thing it certainly is is a gift - living under the mercy of God offers rest, shelter, hospitality and healing.
I pray that over the the next two months with holidays drawing near for some, end of exams in sight for others, that you will experience the mercy of God through rest, relaxation, space, fun, hospitality and welcome. Wherever you are at home, work or on holiday, may you know the 'grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord'. (1 Tim 1:2).
Hennie
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