New Members Class

New Members Class will meet on Sunday Dec 9th - 4pm in the church lounge

This Sunday

This Sunday morning we will be having a guest service. Which in all honesty will not be very different from a normal service.

Rice Tice author of the Christianity Explored course and Curate of All Souls, Langham Place will be preaching on Luke 15.

There will be a pot luck lunch afterwards - invite as many as you can

Session Report

Over the past 6 months God has been kind and gracious to us as a congregation. We have seen many answers to our prayers, have been joined by new people and there have been lots of opportunities to share the gospel with others. It has been a joy to see new ministries started such as the International Hospitality Scheme and the Evening Language Class. We can say with the Psalmist, ‘It is the Lord’s doing and it is wonderful in our eyes.’

The congregation in the morning now averages around the 80 mark while the evening congregation can be anything between 45 and 60. Space on Sunday mornings is becoming more of an issue and we are currently looking into options with the deacons. Please continue to pray for wisdom for both elders and deacons.

As elders we have met less frequently in the past 6 months, however, at the end of September we held a planning retreat which was helpful in thinking, talking and praying together.

We have been glad to welcome Amir and are encouraged by how quickly he has settled in the congregation. Please do pray for Amir as he seeks to develop the Thursday Night Persian Bible Study and a Street Outreach Team based upon the Book Table ministry.

Kicheol and Hristo both started Cornhill in September. They are studying 2 days a week for the next 2 years finishing in June 09. Please pray that these 2 years would be used greatly in their lives.

The International Welcome Party was held once again in September at the YMCA - thank-you to all those who were involved. Although numbers were less than we hoped for Chris Roberts faithfully taught the gospel and we pray for the seed that was sown. As part of publishing the Hospitality Programme each International Student at Thames Valley University was sent an invitation. We had 26 applicants which is very encouraging and we thank-you to those who have volunteered to have students (and their families!) in their homes for meals. We, particularly thank Shan Shan for being willing to co-ordinate this. This is a great opportunity to build relationships. Let us pray for relationships and one another as we show hospitality and kindness to outsiders.

Jennifer Courtney has continued to develop the Language Classes. On Thursday mornings there are around 18 who come each week and Jennifer and Jill are hoping to hold lunches where Bible Stories can be told. There is still a need for more helpers in this work, so if you are able to spare a Thursday morning once a month please speak to Jennifer. The Evening Language Class started at the beginning of October led by Jennifer with Martin. Although numbers may have been less than we would have expected it has still been worthwhile. Tea on the Green will once again take place on December 11th and there will be a Language Class Christmas Party on Friday 14th December to which all the church is invited.

Holiday Bible Club was a great encouragement during the summer with good numbers of children coming along. Both 24:7 and Club 16 have known growth this term with more non-church children bringing friends. On Sundays we have continued to have children in during the sermon and there has been a class for them beforehand. In addition we are pleased to have so many young babies and toddlers. Crèche is bulging and there is the need to re-locate into the lounge shortly.

The plan in the new year is to begin a series on Sunday mornings in the letter to the Ephesians and to continue our studies in Mark’s gospel in the evenings. We have also decided start a Greenford based house-group, if you would be interested in attending this please speak to Graham Weeks.

Please do continue to pray for us. Pray that God would give us wisdom and courage as we seek to lead His church,

Training offering yesterday

Yesterday we had an offering for the training fund which raised over £5,000, if you weren't around yesterday you can still give to the fund, see Terry Seaber

Deacons Report - Nov 07

We have once again reached the time of year to reflect and report on the issues dealt with by the deacons since the Annual General Meeting in June.

It was good to welcome Daphne, Jennifer Courtney and Carlos into our fold, thus lightning the load and injecting new ideas. With Marjie and John Corcoran stepping down, it was necessary to find assistance on the finance issues, such as budget reports. A willing servant was found in John McKirgan who has been meeting on numerous occasions with Margie and Terry.

We have continued to look at the provision of a disabled/friendly toilet/wet room.

Arrangements for a family fun day (originally planned for September) have been set aside with a view to taking place in May 2008.

Having pieced together the details of the Ethiopian visit, it was revealed that contributions exceeded the costs by £35.29 (incorporated in this was a donation of £1,000 for the Aids work).

After many months, the crèche room hopefully provides a more practical and comfortable place for the children and minders. We have also ensured that the baby room is more secure by installing security locks.

For several months we have reviewed the fire safety issue in the church, along with suitable lighting etc.

We are still pursuing the notion of providing a ‘Who’s Who of church members’ bulletin board to assist newcomers.

Our thanks go out to all those who provided assistance for Tea on the Green in September, which attracted many non-Christians. We are also indebted to May for providing us with such a colourful front garden display, and are thankful we have found volunteer replacements in Lesley Barnes, Chris Hosier and Shan Shan.

Our thanks also go out to Jennifer Courtney, Jill Peistrup and Martin Fox for the work put into establishing the English classes which we understand are very well received by those outside the church.

It was a huge relief to see the fire escape (next door) being taken away, so removing the danger of accidents and possible further damage to our property.

An intensive investigation was carried out on the church drainage system (after an overflow problem) which, thankfully, showed the problem to be within the Notting Hill boundaries. We are also endeavouring to keep in close touch with regard to the development next door. Along with this, there continues to be a number of maintenance/building items put on hold.

We have begun, over the past few months, to look into various Health & Safety issues, especially as we grow each month in our numbers for Pot Luck Lunches.

Please continue to pray for us as we strive to be faithful custodians in all things and we bring them to the Lord for guidance and wisdom so we can serve Him and assist in the growth of His word.

Training Fund offering this Sunday

Already this year we have had two special gift offerings for the church planting work in Camden Town and then at the harvest service there was an offering for the work of Kapsowar Hospital in Kenya (where Paul and Alysia Larson are serving) and London City Mission. We plan to have 4 such offerings per year, in trying to support mercy ministries and other ministry opportunities. We are very grateful to God for your generosity in these past 2 offerings.

This coming Sunday we will again hold a special gift offering for a new training fund that we have set up. This last Sunday morning we were looking at 2 Timothy 2 and the need to 'Stay strong' in the gospel and to 'pass it on' to others. Training should be part of every local church. Out of each congregation there should be people who seek further training for gospel ministry. The needs are endless; there is a need for more preachers, evangelists, missionaries. The training of such people is important and although a lot can happen in the context of a local church it is right for some to go to Bible/ Theological Colleges.

The costs of such training is substantial and we would like to set up a fund which can help people from our congregation who wish to go into full time training. Our prayer and desire is that over the coming years we would see many people going into ministry, both full time and part time, and that this fund would be of help to them.

We encourage you to pray and consider giving generously to the start of this fund. If you are not able to be there on Sunday there will still be opportunity to give to it, just speak to Terry Seaber.

Tea on the Green

Tuesday 11th December 2007 - Tea on the Green - for more info contact Jennifer Courtney.

There will also be an early morning prayer meeting that day from 6.30-8am

IPC Church Weekend 08

This years church weekend away at home - June 13-15
All the benefits of a weekend away whilst sleeping in your own bed.

The speaker for this year will be Iver Martin who is the minister of Stornoway Free Church in the Highlands of Scotland.

Please keep this date free

Christianity Explored Group starts Tuesday night

Tuesday night at the Levys home a Christianity Explored group is starting. It will start at 8.30. If you'd like to come let me know.

This Sunday

In the morning we have the second in the series on 2 Timothy - so read chapter 2 if you can. We also celebrate the Lords Supper this Sunday morning. There will also be a crowd of folk coming from Roehampton university who are going to be having their Cu house-party at IPC this weekend - they couldn't find anywhere else!!
In the evening we'll be looking at the final parable in Mark - The Parable of the Mustard Seed

A great quote

'A happy church is one that is giving and going, one that is reaching out, that does not have time to think how it feels today, because it is in the business of sharing the life of Jesus with the world in which Christ has placed it. And that should be the purpose of our fellowship. We do not just gather together as the be all and end all of everything. We gather to scatter. You do not go to church on Sunday morning and night only in order to have a good time together with other Christians. you go in order to prepare to penetrate your world during the week more effectively for Christ. We are not to devote all our resources to pampering ourselves. The church is not a health farm, nor is it a beauty parlour. The church is a battle hospital.'

David Jackman - Understanding the Church, p65,66

An evening with John Newton

The Banner of Truth are putting on 'an evening with John Newton'.

Monday 10th December - 7.30pm - The Church of St Mary Woolnoth, London (opposite Bank Tube Station - exit 6) - This was the church where Newton was the minister.

Brian Edwards will be speaking on 'John Newton, Slave, Slaver and Abolitionist'

George Curry will be speaking on 'John Newton, Evangelical Anglican'

A busy week

I'd value prayer for this week.

Tonight I'm speaking at Royal Holloway CU - Who gets into heaven?
Wednesday I'm at TVU on John 11 - Life and then Friday night I'm at Aberystwyth CU on the Resurrection.

Thankfully all the talks are prepared but pray for energy.

Hristo and Maria's wedding

Hristo and Maria are getting married on 24th May 2008 in Riga, Latvia.
The whole of IPC is invited!
Flights from Stanstead to Riga are about £80 at present. Hristo would like to know numbers so he can book bed and breakfast for folk.

New Monthly Prayer letter

We are putting together a monthly prayer letter for church members. Taking up the items raised at the prayer meeting so we can remember them through the month. If there are things you'd like to add to the letter, please speak to Jennifer Courtney.

Half Yearly Meeting

Half Yearly meeting will take place on Monday 26th 8pm

This Sunday

I'm away this Sunday speaking at London City Presbyterian Church so Pete Harris who is going to be church planting in Camden will be preaching in the morning on Numbers 1, while in the evening Andrew Rae will be taking us through Psalm 25

Church Family Prayer Meeting

This Wednesday night there is the Church Family Prayer meeting @8pm

Presbytery

The next Presbytery is on Saturday 1st December - any offers of beds to put people up would be appreciated.

Footie

Football will be played at the earlier time of 3pm this Saturday on Drayton Green

2 Timothy this Sunday

This Sunday morning we start a new series on 2 Timothy, we're planning to look at it over 4 weeks so read Chapter 1 for this Sunday.


If you wanted a simple commentary to read alongside the series you couldn't do better than Christopher Green's 'Finishing the Race' which should be available on the church bookstall for £6. John Stott's BST is very good but Green probably edges it.

Free Tim Keller Audio

Tim Keller was recently in the UK for the evangelists conference, his subject was smashing false idols. Audio Material is available here.

All 3 sessions are worth listening to, my pick is number 3.