Tomorrow

Tomorrow I'm preaching in the morning on 1 Cor 10:1-13. Tomorrow evening is our annual Carol service so do be bringing along to that.
In the afternoon David Barnes is speaking at the Downhurst home and Jono Willcox is speaking at the Shaftsbury home.

English Class Party

Many thanks for everyone who helped out last night at the English Class Party it was a great night and good to see so many there.

New Life Masih Ghar Report

We have been teaching a class on the church this autumn and it has been encouraging for all to say “We are not alone here at Masih Ghar! We are a connected church – you have brothers and sisters praying and supporting you.” This class during our “College of the Bible” time at Sunday’s at 4pm is also functioning as our new members class this autumn. We are praying that we can take in about 10 new members on Dec 14 and have one lady from a Muslim background who is considering membership and therefore baptism.

We are currently preaching through the book of Mark one chapter at a time. Obviously this has been from the “10,000 foot level” so the challenge has been where to place the focus each week as we quickly work through the book. We started this series to coordinate with Christianity Explored, which we ran in September and October at the Asha Charity Shop. Each Wednesday evening, we have had a group of committed Christians, nominal Christians and those exploring the faith from a Muslim, Hindu and Sikh background meet for curry and then Bible study. After CE finished, the momentum of the group “forced” us to continue so Bob Heppe has led a study from Philippians using Discipleship Explored as a guide.

On Halloween evening, we hosted an “Autumn Mela” at the church building we rent. With games for the kids and lots of sweets, this has become an annual favorite for about 250 children and parents in our community. Included in the goody bag, was a leaflet explaining Jesus’ power over the forces of darkness – a real concern of people in our neighborhood. We see this as one of the steps in our outreach to the South Asian community in which results may come years down the line.

Several other items:
· We hosted a “Walk through the Bible” seminary with about 30 in attendance
· Our oldest member, a Sikh man who came to Christ in his 80’s, is in the hospital and ready to meet Jesus – this will be an emotional time for Papa J’s family as well as the NLMG family
· There are 3 other weekly Bible studies this autumn
· Our worship team has been joined by a young guitar/bass player from India – a real blessing
· The couple behind the development of Glory TV, the first Asian TV station on Sky, are regular attendees and we continue to have visitors each week who here about NLMG from the station
· Sunil Raheja has taken a sabbatical from leadership for one year – our prayer is that he will return next autumn to the session with one or two others
We continue to struggle through our sin as we seek to be the body of Christ in the Southall/Heston communities. Thank you for your prayers and concern – may God be glorified through it all.

Early morning prayer

Early morning prayer meeting will meet this Tuesday from 6.30 - 8. Come for as long or short time as you can.

Tea on the Green

Tea of the Green will be on this Tuesday from 3-4pm. The more there the merrier

Iain at the Free Church

Iain was preaching at London City Presbyterian Church today, they put their sermons online (which I'm not a great fan of) but you can listen to Iain's sermons here. I'm sure they were good.

Presbytery Dates for 2009

Saturday 7 March - at Ealing IPC, joint with EPCEW
Synod Friday 5 June- at Ealing IPC
Saturday 6 June - at Ealing IPC
Friday 4 Sept- at New Life Masih Ghar, Southall
Friday 4/ Saturday 5 Dec - at Belgium

Camden Town Report

The brief summary of our morale would be that we are both full of hope and very conscious of our need of grace. In the last few weeks, we have outgrown our sitting-room, so that the church all but demanded that we find somewhere else to meet; we have met in two public venues; I am about to start meeting weekly with a non-Christian who is very involved in what we are doing; and even this week several more people have expressed an interest in joining us.

Sundays
Our services are settling into a pattern. People still enjoy brunch at 10.30, and the formal meeting starts at 11am. We are working hard at the preaching and the rest of the service, and Bruce Benedict has been invaluable in bringing his theological acumen, his musical gifts, and his experience in this area to bear. He has a great gift for helping people to understand the ways in which different parts of the service function for us as a group before God. We have also started celebrating the Lord's supper fortnightly, taking the opportunity to explain one aspect of it each time. It has been a great blessing to me to share it with this group of people who have committed themselves so strongly to what we are doing. We currently number around sixteen regulars. A non-Christian friend felt that five or so more people would mean that she could come without feeling exposed, and we are praying that we will soon reach a stage where we feel comfortable enough with our meetings to advertise them publicly.

Other Meetings
The men meet early every Tuesday morning for a time of teaching and prayer. I am keen that it should be seen as integral to male leadership in the church that the men are first committed to praying for the church. The great encouragement here has been to see how quickly the prayers have developed from being personal requests to being focused on our involvement with Camden. The prayer for these men is that out of them will come a group of godly servant leaders. Meanwhile, the women are meeting on a Thursday evening to study the Bible, pray, and enjoy
fellowship. Inevitably, time feels short to fulfil all of these goals and the reality is that different aspects get more attention on different weeks. They are also in the process of working out how best to use the Bible-study part of the evening. We have a number of people meeting one on one, with Christians that we hope to see become leaders, with young Christians, and with one non-believer. This is, perhaps, the unseen heart of the work.

Outreach
The men head weekly to a couple of pubs in Camden, where we are becoming part of the local scene and getting to know people. While fruit from this process is inevitably slow, it sets an agenda for the church that we are here for the people of Camden who would never set foot in a church, and members of the church are starting to develop other avenues to meet people.
Our hope is always that a group of Christians will be with a group of non-Christians, so that the
Christians have support and so that the pressure is not always on one individual to be the inviter, the witness, the apologist, and so on. I was very encouraged on fireworks night that one of our number got a group of us to climb Primrose Hill to meet a group of non-Christian friends. (One of these has since joined us at church on a Sunday.) All of our outreach feels at the very embryonic stage, though it is exciting to see how committed to it people are.

Finances
As things stand, we estimate that we have £18,000 left to raise for the year, out of a budget of over £110,000. To meet that, we have a number of applications that are in process. My hope is that we will not need to touch the ambassador fund in order to meet our commitments, which would enable all of the ambassador fund to go towards projects that are just starting up. Of the applications that we have in process, a number could cover the shortfall individually. Please pray both for the shortfall and also that money that has been promised will not be delayed in coming in.

Tirgiu Jui Report

Dear Elders

We praise God for His faithfulness and grace toward us. He is not changing even the circumstances of our life and ministry change.

We continue to meet in our house on Sunday for worship, prayer and fellowship. We are 8 people that come regularly. We meet with the men for prayer 2 times a week.

Offering an English class is one of the ways we try to develop new relationships, and this is a very encouraging ministry for our group.

Also we are volunteering for Campus Crusade trying to reach the Students from our city, over 5000 students. We distributed a Christian magazine for students and we are in contact with a few new students.

We have the blessing of having a missionary family that works with MTW in Romania, ministering with us, Kim and Carol Watne. They moved in Targu Jiu 3 weeks ago. We meet every day and we study a book of Piper, What to do when we don't desire God – How to fight for joy. Our goal is to restore our spiritual life and grow in our faith and love for our Lord.

I assist one of the men from our group, Samuel, who is studying different Bible courses, searching in prayer God's will for a call to ministry. He's desire is to be a pastor.

Another very encouraging thing for our ministry is that we are in the process of receiving a land donation, and more help to develop a ministry center. We are working on the plans for a multifunctional building to be uses for meetings, café house type ministry and for a day care center for the children in that neighborhood of Targu Jiu. Also the complex will have a sport base and land for growing vegetables. This is developed in partnership with a wonderful Christian family from England, Dave and Chris Townsend, and with the help of a charity mission, "Project Rachel" started in England.

Our relationship as Romanian IPC pastors id developing very well. We had good meetings face to face or via Skipe communicating on different aspects of our ministry. One of our important goals is to see a Romanian Presbytery developed in the next years.

We are also working on developing the partnership with MTW Romania. Our relationship is developing well, and we had the chance to meet and communicate, learning how to grow in love and unity, with the goal of working together in developing a church planting movement in Romania.

Some of our prayer needs are:
- That God's grace will be abundant as we are searching spiritual revitalization for our lives.
- Power, wisdom and courage to keep sharing the Gospel through which God can change our nation.
- Direction regarding finances in the context of the world wide economic crises.
We praise God for all His work in our lives and others, and we give Him all the glory. Thank you for your prayers and support.

Timisoara Report

We would like to briefly give you an update concerning the Lord’s ministry in Timisoara, Romania. We are so grateful to God for His faithfulness and abundant grace in sustaining the church plant ministry here and for all those of you who have faithfully prayed for us!
After almost six years of church plant laboring we are still praying and continuing to prepare in great expectancy to become a local church. For this purpose we keep preaching the Gospel first to ourselves and then to our community.
- We continue to have our weekly meeting for Bible study and prayer with our team members – at present our material for Bible study is Gospel Transformation.
- In the process of leadership training we are going to complete the study of the foundational doctrines based on A Faith to Live By [Temelia credintei] by Donald MacLeod. The biblical formation of future elders is quite challenging for us and we need to be faithful and patient, waiting for God’s timing.
- The weekly ladies’ Bible study and prayer time is going well and we are so grateful to see their growth in faith.
We have already started to plan and prepare for the Christmas event and would like to approach it as a great evangelistic opportunity for our community, being able to share the Good News of Christ’salvation with our friends and neighbors.
Prayer requests:
1) Please pray for us as a church plant team to be faithful and Christ-minded in our relationships and ministry approach.
2) Please continue to pray for our potential elders (Gabi, Adi and Marius) that they may become Spirit-convicted and empowered in regard to God’s ministry calling in their lives.
3) Please pray for Silvia Ficiu (one of our sisters in the Lord) who was diagnosed with breast cancer. She needs our prayer and encouragement support. May the Lord be glorified in the midst of her suffering and use it to have a Kingdom impact for her family and others.
4) Please pray for our national election on the 30th of November. May the Lord raise new political leaders in our parliament, men who are God-fearing, just, and trustworthy.
5) Please pray for the Christmas time to be a great spiritual refreshing time for our church and a grand Gospel proclamation occasion.
6) Please pray for our kids who are now at school and they have made new friends. May the Lord use them as little missionaries and Christ witnesses in the midst of their school context. Also the Lord may grant us the opportunity that through them we would be able to build relationships with the parents of their friends.

Again our gratitude in the Lord for your partnership in the Gospel with us through your prayers. May the Lord receive all glory and praise!

Verona Report

This last quarter has seen a lot of changes for us here in Verona. You will remember that Gilda pulled out of Bible studies and left us searching for a new location for Bible studies. We have rented a room above a bar for a small fee and have been meeting there for the past few months. Attendance is sporadic with a few non-believers attending. We have a few new people coming, a woman Virginia and a young lady, Rebeca.
The reason Gilda cancelled Bible studies at her house has to do with the tensions between her and her daughter Maria. An unfortunate outcome of these tensions is that I have lost contact with some of the non-believers who attended the study at Gilda’s house. Please pray that I will be able to make contact with these people again. And pray that Gilda and Maria would forgive each other and build a new relationship together.
We are beginning to build more relationships with the people who live around us, something which is not easy in the Veneto area. People here tend to be quite suspicious of outsiders, especially if they are not RC. Last year Jessica was the class rep for Emeline and so a lot of the mothers have had interaction with her. There are some tensions in Emi’s class as two of the teachers have trouble keeping the class in line without yelling. Even though she is not the class rep this year, a lot of the mothers have been calling her asking what they should do in this situation. Jessica has been helping them deal with the conflict, has gone to speak to the teacher, and done a lot of listening. Please pray that the Lord will use these occasions to speak peace and bring the gospel to bear on the situation.
I have volunteered to be a parents’ rep in Nico’s school. Already this has given us the chance to interact with several of the parents in the area. Ana has started kindergarten, and this has also put us in contact with more people. Jessica is getting to know more of the mothers. Just last week one of them stopped her and asked what I did for a job. This led to a conversation about the differences between Protestants and Catholics, i.e. a discussion about Christ.
I have also had some good witnessing opportunities. Just the week before last, two different people asked me how I became “religious” and if I always felt about God the way I do now. One of the people who asked was Emanuele’s brother Alessandro. Alessandro has come off and on to our Bible studies. Pray that he will come to faith. Pray also for Emanuele’s father, Efisio. Efisio has a lot of Bible knowledge and has done Bible studies with just about every group you can imagine. Most of the other people with whom he has studied have given him the boot when he asked too many questions. We have a good relationship of mutual respect. When Efisio first came to our Bible studies he was indoctrinated with the doctrine of the JWs. He quickly accepted the truth of Christ’s deity. Since then he has struggled to see the personhood and deity of the Holy Spirit. Friday, 21st November I stopped by to see Emanuele and they asked me to stay for dinner. Afterwards Efisio and I had a long conversation about the Holy Spirit and other biblical topics. Emanuele also contributed. Efisio has heard the gospel several times and in several ways. At least part of it he believes, but I cannot tell if he has true faith. Please pray for him, that he would become a follower of Christ. The other person who asked about my faith was the owner of the vegetable shop in town. He has continued to ask more questions and repeatedly stated that he will come to services once we start.
Speaking of services, we have found a worship location. They have told us that we can begin renting from 1st January. It is not cheap, €900 per month. Please pray that we will get the money for this. Someone has given us the funds to fix the place up and the first few months of rent, but we need to find the funds for rental after that.
At this stage we really need some people who will come to bible studies regularly. Attendance with most is sporadic. We could also use a few mature Christians who would join with us in planting a church in Verona. Please pray that others will catch a vision for this work.

Grace Fellowship, Culcheth report

Grace Fellowship is relatively settled following the departure of Alan Waldecker. We have managed to fill the holes in our preaching rota and other areas in which Alan was helping. We are grateful for the time Alan spent with us. It was a great blessing.

The church continues to thrive. Recently, we have had three new families join us. This is a great encouragement to us. We have recently started one-on-one mentoring with almost everyone in the congregation. The purpose is to move people along in their spiritual growth so that in a year’s time they can become mentors to others. Our mid-week group that is studying the book of Romans has expanded considerably with about 16 to 20 people attending regularly. We have restarted our monthly congregational prayer time that lapsed over the summer. The attendance is much better than in the past. Two potential leaders in Grace Fellowship have been identified and we are in the process of deciding the best course of action for training.

We are preparing for our Christmas activities which this year will include a Christmas concert and a special carol service.

Work continues at the River. We are presently running a course developed by Drew “A reason for God” based on a book of the same name by Tim Keller. This is intended for non-Christians. It is a forum that is held in a pub in the town centre where anyone can attend to discuss interesting questions like “Creation and evolution”, “Why does a loving God permit suffering or hell” etc. We are also running another course called “Release- freedom from addiction”. We took the 12 step AA and NA courses and modified them to be more gospel focussed. This work is led by Neil Roddy (a Grace Fellowship church member and a part time employee for the River) who was a drug addict and now a great Christian and who knows and experienced the power of the gospel. Both courses are well attended.

We are encouraged by God’s faithfulness and His blessings both at the River and at Grace Fellowship.

Church Report from Ghent

Thank you for all your prayers. The church keep going growing with your prayer and by our Lord's blessing. Now we are more organizes and have an average attendance of about 50 people. Our Lord Jesus Christ has provided lots of things to us in very short time.

We have started an other membership class last month in preperation for our baptismal service on December 5th. We have 14-16 peoples who ready for baptism and 3 persons ready for deacon ordinations.

We have done our first wedding of our church this month.
We have very good musicians and worship group.
We have started children ministry for our kids.
Now we are praying for organize to our youths.
We are planning to do something special for christmas services.

5th of December we will do baptism and deacon ordination services together. İt will be big worship services . Ipc presbytery will be in Belgium. We are inviting all other churches in Belgium and abroad for worshiping together on that day. You can join us with your praying or personally.

By the way my family is growing. As you know we have an 18 years old daughter. After she was born we wanted some more children but God didn't give us all these years. Two years ago we lost a baby very early in Nahide's pregnancy. We kept praying asking God to bless us with another child. And now Nahide is three months pregnant and everything looks very good. The due date is around the 23-25 of May 2009. We really thankful to our Lord for this wonderful present to us.

Please pray for;

5th December Baptism and ordination services.
Christmas services preparations.
Our youth group organizations.
Nahide and baby's health.

Liss Report

I thought I'd post a few reports from Presbytery yesterday, hopefully there's nothing confidential in them.



These past 3 months have been a time of transition for us as a church, a time of restoration and regrouping. We have seen God's steadying hand in our midst and we feel blessed and encouraged. I feel that I have been able to settle into my position as pastor and as a session we are working well together. I have inherited a solid and sea worthy vessel that has weathered well the rough water of this past year. While I wouldn't say that it has been exactly smooth sailing I believe that we have been able to hold to our course and have kept the faith.

Of particular note; the pilgrimage toward the restoration of St Peter's has passed a significant point of no return. With an 80%+ congregational vote in favour we purchased the building in early November with the help of an 11th hour gift which came almost straight from heaven. Last Sunday we held our first service as owner/stewards. My installation/induction service in the morning and our Advent Carol Service in the afternoon saw our beautiful set of bells ring out over the village for the first time in years. We want to be a church that is 'Helping to bring the sacred back in to the heart of our village'. We now begin the task of raising the money needed to restore and repair the main building as well as the construction of the Annex.

In our Sunday service I have been working through a series on 1 Timothy and we have been blessed by a number of guest preachers. Paul Miners has proved a solid support in this time of transition and we want to thank him and the presbytery for his wise and steadying hand. On most fronts it has been 'steady as it goes' as I have sought to understand and appreciate the strengths and weakness of this congregation and likewise they have gotten to know me. We had a wonderful group of youngsters confirmed and Mark Harvey's Sunday School class has been a highlight. We also had two of our young people baptised, which was a great encouragement to us all. Much to be thankful for.

Matters of concern and ongoing prayer are first and foremost Mark's return to full health. His initial surgery went well and he has radio therapy scheduled for January. We also have a number of folk who have lost their jobs and are in times of transition. A couple of families have left the church and we may have dropped below a critical mass when it comes to young families. This is an area that we are going to need to focus on in the New Year. We are in the process of appointing more deacons and I would love to see some younger men on the session. We need to see more people equipped and enabled to step up into leadership. Too few are carrying too much. There has been some progress made in reconnecting with our sister churches, Trinity and Hope, but there is still much to be done.

God's goodness shines out and his faithfulness gives us hope. Blessings on you

Session Report - Nov 08

Over the past 6 months there have been many encouragements in our church life. As a session we continue to meet twice a month, once to discuss church business and once to pray for the work of the church. As a session we have been talking about extending the eldership. At present Iain has joined us in our meetings and Graham is in the middle of a 4 month sabbatical, while he serves as Moderator of the Presbytery.

We as a church have looked at various Psalms, Obadiah, Jonah, Mark and 1 Corinthians. Over the next 6 months we plan to continue to look at Mark and 1 Corinthians. 1 Corinthians raises issues of living out the gospel in a pagan culture. It’s a letter which at first reading is not easy but gets under the skin and addresses issues that every church has to deal with – marriage, divorce, how to you relate to the world around you, caring for your brothers and sisters welfare and so on. It’s so relevant to a church like ours.

We are conscious of the need to be praying for the congregation at this time of economic uncertainty, we know that some of our congregation have lost their jobs and others face uncertainty. It is a great comfort to know that our God is sovereign over all these things, He is not rocked by the credit crunch and we can rest in him and in his purposes. We are hoping to put in place practical help for people in the church who are in need with the deacons. We are commanded in the Bible to do good to everyone especially the household of faith (Gal 6:10).

As a session and a church we have been much in prayer for Mark and Su, Emily Charlotte and May. Although we are thrilled to have them back with us, they are still in need of our prayers and care as a church.

3 new members have joined in the last 6 months - Iain Clements, John Silva and William Patterson. There are a number of new people in the congregation which is very encouraging and we hope to welcome them into church membership soon. We will be having a new members class in the new year.

We have seen Iain Clements join us as the Assistant to the Pastor with a view to becoming the Assistant Pastor. Iain has been involved in various areas of church life - leading services, preaching, leading house-groups, bible handling sessions, helping out with 24:7. It has been a joy for us to work with him.

The 3 bible handling sessions went very well and people who came enjoyed it. We hope they enabled people to understand and interpret the bible better. We are hoping that Iain might be able to run this course in the Liss IPC congregation. We plan to run more short training courses in the future. We’d value your prayers for continued wisdom in planning such activities. Book of the term is a new venture, started this term. The first - ‘The shadow of the Cross’ was bought, (and hopefully read!), by lots of people. The discussion evening will have taken place by the time of the church meeting. It is a great privilege to have so many good Christian books.

Our 2 Cornhill students Hristo and Kicheol have started their second year. This has involved more study for both of them. They finish the course in June and in the longer term both plan to head home.

The Church Weekend in June was a great time. Iver Martin, from Stornoway, spoke powerfully from John 17. It was a good to be able to spend more time together as a church family. It was another opportunity to build the church community, be involved with one another and encourage each other to godliness.

We made the decision to start a new house-group as one of the groups was full. It has made a very good start. We hope to present a vision for house-groups at the church meeting.

Amir and Chuck continue with the Thursday night bible study, a number of their regular attendees have moved out of London so do pray that there would be new people that would come. The book table in Greenford, and monthly street outreach team have been encouraging. It’s also been good to read David’s regular reports. If you would like to help out with either of these please speak to Amir or David.

The Children’s Clubs continue to go well with good numbers attending Club 16 and 24:7. 24:7 leaders particularly would appreciate prayer for discipline issues. Holiday Bible Club this year focused on the life of the Apostle Paul. It was a joy to see so many children coming and also to work together as a church family. As well as these formal church activities it has been very encouraging to see so many in the church take an interest in the local children. Each Saturday afternoon a group play football with on the Green and have built good relationships with both children who come to our clubs and others who would otherwise have no contact with the church. It has been encouraging to see some of these children and young people come regularly to Sunday services. Let’s make a special effort to pray for these children their families.

The Language Class started up again at the end of September and although Jill Peistrup has moved to East London, the class has continued and we are very grateful to all the helpers involved, particularly Jennifer Courtney. On Thursday mornings there is now a bible study meeting at the Lefroys’ home for women from the language class. So far there have been 3 women who have come. The book club continues to meet once a month over lunch on Wednesdays. The 3 other women’s bible studies continue to be a blessing to those who attend.

We are grateful for all those who have volunteered for the hospitality scheme, do be praying there would be many that sign up to come to it.

A Christianity Explored Course took place at the end of the summer/ early autumn. It has been encouraging to see some people who were on the course join a house-group, continue to pray for the seed that was sown. All those who lead were very grateful for your prayers.

Regular services have been held at the Shaftsbury Home with Martin Fox and Chris Roberts speaking. We plan to have a Christmas Carol service there on Monday 16th December. David Barnes has visited the Downhurst home each month to speak. If you would like to be involved with either of these ministries please speak to Paul L. We continue to seek to develop closer links with the South Ealing London City Mission centre. Steve Frost and Tom Button, their two workers, attend IPC on a Sunday evenings. Martin Fox, Paul Meiners and Graham Weeks have all preached there this term. We hope that we can continue to help by sending preachers.

As we look to the coming months we are excited at the prospect of being able to reach out into the community this Christmas time we have quite a packed schedule:

Tuesday 9th December - Early Morning Prayer Meeting – (6.30-8am)
Tuesday 9th December - Tea on the Green – (3-4pm)
Thursady 11th December – Club 16/24:7 Christmas End of term parties
Friday 12th December - English Class Christmas Party
Saturday 13th December - Street Outreach Team at Ealing (B'way 12-2pm)
Sunday 14th December - Church Carol service 6pm
Monday 15th December - Shaftesbury Home Carol Service 7pm
Tuesday 16th December - Carol singing - 2-5pm

Please do be praying for these events. Pray that there would be much fruit as a result of this outreach.

A walk is planned with the IPC Liss congregation at some point during the New Year.

Please continue to pray for the work here, we’re conscious that unless the Lord builds the house we labour in vain.

This Sunday

This Sunday, I'll be preaching in the morning from 1 Corinthians 9:1-18 and Andrew Rae will be preaching in the evening on Acts 2. Amir Arian is also preaching in Nottingham at the Persian church there.

Half Yearly Church Meeting

Agenda for the Half Yearly Church Meeting - Monday 24th November 2008 @ 8pm

1. Apologies

2. Minutes of last meeting

3. Session Report

4. House-groups

5. Mercy ministry
We will hear from representatives of:
- CAP (Anna Weaver)
- Besom (speaker tbc)
- Choices (Lesley Barnes)

6. Deacons Report

7. Building Committee Report

8. Child Protection Video

This Sunday

This Sunday I'm preaching from Psalm 139 in the morning and Mark 10 in the evening.

Church Cleaning Day

This Saturday is the Church Cleaning Day, come for whenever you want from 9am. The more the merrier.

Bring and buy sale this Saturday

Naomi and Hannah Lefroy have organised to have a bring and buy sale in the Church on Saturday while we clean. They would like the money raised to be shared between The Bible Society and the Blue Peter Mission Nutrition appeal - both very good causes. Please do bring any unwanted good quality items with you (marked with a suggested sale price) and your money to buy. You may also like to bring some home baking that can be sold. This will be a great way to start your Christmas shopping!

This Sunday

This Sunday Iain will be preaching on Jonah 3 & 4.
We'll be celebrating the Lords Supper on Sunday morning.
I'm away speaking in Glasgow. Martin Fox is speaking at South Ealing Mission.

Pilgrims Progress

330 years ago the Pilgrims Progress was first published.

It is my favourite book apart from the bible.

The one book every Christian should read.

The BBC have an audio version of the work here.

Episode One

Episode Two

Episode Three

The first episode is only available until Monday so get listening

Book of the Term

The Shadow of the Cross is back on the bookstall for £3.50

This Sunday

Pray for preachers on Sunday, Iain is on at IPC, Paul Meiners is at Liss, I'm at Immanuel, CAerau in Cardiff and Jono Willcox is speaking at the Shaftesbury home in the afternoon. Graham is also praying at the Ealing Council Remembrance Day service!

Prayer Meeting on Wednesday

Church Prayer Meeting meets on Wednesday 8pm.
The local Uccf worker will be joingin us to share about student work in West London.
Miss it miss out

Shoeboxes

Blythswood shoebox appeal.

I think last year we donated 24 shoeboxes for children and families in Romania, it would be great to beat that total. It's a terrific work and we should be supporting it.

the deadline for the shoeboxes is Sunday 9th November

This Sunday

This Sunday I'm preaching from 1 Corinthians 8 in the morning and then Mark 10 on Divorce in the evening.

Pot Luck lunch this Sunday

Pot Luck is where we bring enough food for ourselves and for some others. It's a great opportunity to spend more time together.

Theological Journals don't come much better than Themelios.

Don Carsons editorial on Mercy ministry is masterful.

Truemans article as always is worth reading.

It's now run by the Gospel Coalition which seems to have no end of good stuff on their site.

This Sunday

This Sunday we continue in 1 Corinthians 7 in the morning and start Mark 10 in the evening.
Graham Weeks is speaking at South Ealing Mission this Sunday morning, Iain is preaching at Belmont Chapel in Exeter and Martin Fox will be speaking at the Shaftesbury home on Sunday afternoon. Pray for preachers!!

Bible Handling week 2

Last night was the second of the Bible Handling course and was a very helpful evening, Iain led us through 10 dangers to avoid. Hopefully he'll blog them on here. Thank-you to those who bared a cold and wet night to come along. I hope you were as encouraged as I was to be a better steward of the truth.
The next session is November 10th

Clocks go back this Sunday

For those of us at the early morning prayer meeting this morning, the great news is another hour in bed on Sunday morning.
Bets are on for who will be an hour early on Sunday morning

A Conversation: Tim Keller, John Piper, D.A. Carson (1 of 6)

On Mercy and Justice ministries from the Gospel Coalition

CAP & BESOM

Last week I went to the Ealing Church Leaders meeting where representatives spoke from CAP - Christians Against Poverty and Besom. Both these charities are doing a terrific work and are worthy of our support. I hope IPC will be able to partner with them in the future.

This Sunday

This Sunday we're continuing in 1 Cor 7 in the morning and hopefully finishing off Mark 9 in the evening where we'll also celebrate the Lords Supper. David Barnes is speaking at the Downhurst home in the afternoon.

Free Church Part Time Theology Course

The Free Church of Scotland run a part time theological training course which meets on Saturdays but you can download the videos live or later. It looks worth subscribing just if you were going to listen to Donald Macleod on the Cross.

If there were a few of us it might be a great thing to watch them together and discuss? Any takers?

Street Outreach Team

Next Saturday 18th October from 12-2pm - there will be a street outreach on Ealing Broadway. This is a great opportunity to have a book table and give out leaflets and tracts giving information on the gospel and our church. Do consider coming along, for more info see Amir

Book Review

Graham Weeks writes:-

This is the best short book I have ever read. I fist heard two of the chapters in a tape of the author at the banner of truth Leicester ministers' conference. Chantry teaches that to deny self is of the essence of becoming and being a Christian. "Self is the idol to which all men naturally bow." In five short chapters he teaches what it is to deny self following Christ and taking up the cross. He teaches on Christian liberty, marriage, ministry and pray, all linked to self denial. This is an important neglected subject in our hedonistic culture. read it and grow in grace.

There will be a discussion evening on this book Saturday November 15th

This Sunday

On Sunday morning I'll be preaching from 1 Cor 7:1-16 and Mark 9 in the evening.
Martin Fox is speaking at the Shaftesbury home in the afternoon and Paul Meiners is speaking in Ukraine.

Reading Retreat

Just a note to say again if you are planning to come on the reading retreat do let me or Iain know soon.
The cost will be £25 but could be a bit more if we eat extravagantly!!

Church Email Loop

If you'd like to be on the church loop, where people share, prayer requests, news etc.
Send an email to Graham gweeks@btinternet.com

Church Prayer Meeting

Our monthly Church Family Prayer Meeting is this Wednesday 8pm

Pot Luck is back

This Sunday there is a Pot Luck lunch, where we bring food for ourselves and enough for others. There are some new rules about the food being chilled when it is brought. Speak to Jennifer R or Daphne for more information.

Iain on Obadiah

Iain Clements is going to be preaching this Sunday on the prophet Obadiah. This weekend I am preaching in Whitefield Presbyterian Church, Abergavenny at a church's centenary, I'd value your prayers.
Paul Meiners is also preaching at South Ealing Mission

Pray for preachers this Sunday

Graham is preaching tomorrow for Solihull EPCEW and Paul Meiners is preaching for the Ealing Korean Church at their anniversary services.

Book of the Term

We have decided to start a book of the term and to have a discussion evening on the book. Our first one is the above. It's 80 pages long, there are 5 chapters. it normally costs you £4.50 but at IPC it costs you only £3.50.

We're going to get together to discuss the book on Saturday 15th November. We might even experiment in reading a chapter a week and commenting on it on here.

Reading Retreat

Reading Retreat - the plan is to go to the Pines in Pulborough, WEst Sussex.
We'll be leaving first thing on Tues 21 and coming back Thur 23 arriving early evening.
Iain Clements will be leading some bible studies and we'll be reading various chapters of books.
The cost for the accomodation is £5 per night and we all cook a meal.

Language Class

The English Language Classes for women start up again this Wednesday 10am

Presbytery News

IPC English Presbytery met on Saturday in Ealing.

Graham Weeks is the new moderator and Joel Rinn is the new clerk. John Scott was visiting us as a representative from EPCEW.
These are some of the decisions that were made

• Doug Curry was examined by Presbytery for him to be installed as the minister of Liss IPC. The previous day he had been examined by the Candidates and Credentials committee and they recommended him. A vote was taken on the day and Doug was approved.
• There was some musical chairs on the committees. Paul Meiners is now chairman of the Candidates and Credentials committee which examines people who become elders/ church planters/ ministers. With Alan Waldecker being back in the US Tom Nachtergaele was nominated to be chair of the committee and Pete Harris was also appointed to the committee. Paul Levy is now the church relations co-ordinator, it was decided at present there was no need for a committee.
• There will be a conference of European Reformed Churches in Holland in 4-7 November run by ICRC and John Scott extended a welcome for us to attend.
• Doug Curry was appointed Prayer secretary to gather in and send out prayer requests for the presbytery once a month.
• There was some debate over who actually is a voting member of Presbytery and so the BCO committee (Book of Church Order) are going to report back with a list!!

Pray for Graham's Travels

This Sunday Graham Weeks is preaching at Kingston Korean Church and then next weekend he is attending EPCEW presbytery and preaching at their church in Solihull

Street Outreach this Saturday

This Saturday from 12-2 at Ealing Broadway we will be having booktable and giving out tracts. The more people that can come the better, for more info contact Amir

Presbytery Dates08-09

1 Dec - Belgium
7 March - Ealing - possibly joint Presbytery with EPCEW
5-6 June - Ealing - Synod and Presbytery
4 Sept
4-5 Dec

Handling the Bible Training Evenings

On Monday 13th, 20th Oct & Monday 10th Nov We are going to be having 3 training evenings for the church on how to handle the Bible.
It will be ideal for all who already lead or would like to start leading bible studies but everyone is welcome - for more info see Iain Clements

Early Morning Prayer Meeting

We have our monthly early morning prayer meeting this Tuesday morning 6.30 - 8am, come and go as you please

Martyn Lloyd Jones lecture

This Monday 7.45
The John Owen Centre
The Martyn Lloyd-Jones Memorial Lecture: The Gospel and Creation - the significance of a theology of creation for preaching - Rev. Philip Eveson
@ Kensit Evangelical Church

IPC website has had a makeover

Bed going for free!!

If you'd like a new single bed speak to Jennifer Courtney

Why two Sunday services?

‘Why do you go to church twice on a Sunday? Isn’t once enough?’ In many churches the Sunday evening service is disappearing.
There are two main reasons for this. First, demands from employers have increased enormously over the last 30 years. Weekends have become precious. Two Sunday services are seen as taking up too much of the weekend. Second, back in 1994, the Tory government legalised Sunday trading. This secularised the day, giving people many more options with regard to how we spend it. Simultaneously it put extra pressure on many to work on Sundays.

Scripture tells us to ‘not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another — and all the more as you see the Day approaching’ (Hebrews 10.25). While many Christians are faithful to meet once for worship on the Lord’s Day, they leave it at that. There are those who through age, ill health or other circumstances really can’t make it out twice on a Sunday. So is there any sense in the tradition of two services? I believe there is.

1. Because two services are helpful practically
For example, I know of a Christian couple, a nurse and a policeman, who often have to work shifts over the weekend. They started going to a new church which met in a school and just had a morning service. But their shifts clashed with the morning service. Suddenly it hit them that they had not been able to attend a Sunday service for weeks. They concluded they would have to leave and find a church which met both morning and evening to give them an option.

Two services are helpful evangelistically also. Many non-Christians have to work on Sundays. I had a conversation like this recently. ‘Come to church,’ I said. ‘Well, I have to work through the night on Saturdays, so it’s a bit difficult for Sunday morning.’ ‘How about Sunday night?’ ‘Well, yes, I suppose I could come on Sunday night.’ So, two services make sense practically.

2. Because two services are a pattern in Scripture
While there is no explicit command in the NT, this is evident in the OT. We find this ‘morning and evening’ pattern explicitly in Psalm 92: ‘It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High, to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night.’ As Christians, we meet on Sundays as the day of Christ’s resurrection. It is suggestive that the gospels record resurrection appearances in the morning and the evening (John 20.1,19).

3. Because two services match the fourth commandment
The commandment tells us to ‘Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy’. With the change from the Old Covenant to the New, the Sabbath is changed into the blessing of the Lord’s Day. According to Genesis 1, a day has both a morning and an evening. And despite what has become popular in our evangelical culture, it is still the Lord’s Day, not the Lord’s Morning, which we are to celebrate.

4. Because two services are the tradition of the church
As we look back over history, we find that morning and evening worship on Sunday was the norm. In the early fourth century (by the time persecution had receded and the church had a chance to settle), we find the church historian Eusebius describing church practice as follows: ‘It is surely no small sign of God’s power that throughout the whole world in the churches of God at the morning rising of the sun and at evening hours, hymns, praises… are offered to God’ (Commentary on Psalm 64).*

During the Middle Ages, morning worship became known as ‘matins’ and evening worship as ‘vespers’. At the time of the Reformation the custom of morning and evening worship was continued in Cranmer’s Book of Common Prayer with its rubrics for Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer. So churches that have dropped the evening service have sharply departed from the normal practice of Christ’s church. Now I’m not mad on tradition, but the question is this: ‘Are we wiser and better Christians than all those who have gone before us or is it because actually we are succumbing to the secular spirit of our age which marginalises God?’ Have we fallen into just doing the minimum?

And bear in mind that as we think about the pressures of modern life, it is only in the last 100 years or so that Saturday has become generally a non-working day. We actually have more leisure time and time for our families than many of our forebears.

5. Because two enthusiastic services rebuke secularism
The meetings of Christians, especially on the Lord’s Day, point forward to the coming Day of the LORD (Hebrews 10.25). The special day, one in seven, always did point forward to God’s kingdom. That is why the Lord Jesus did so many of his miracles on the Sabbath. He didn’t do it simply to upset the Pharisees. He performed those miracles on the Sabbath because it was appropriate. Those miracles were redolent of the power and joy of the coming kingdom. With the resurrection of Jesus on the first day of the week, Sunday speaks of the same thing. It looks forward to the rest and release and joy and fellowship of the world to come, when Jesus returns.

Now secularism sees everything just in terms of this life. But by coming to church on Sunday we are making a statement. We are saying ‘No’ to the view that this life is all. We are saying we are looking forward to Christ’s coming kingdom. And, by having two services on a Sunday, we are saying, ‘This is not a mere duty, we are enthusiastic about this!’

6. Because two services offer you two opportunities to be encouraged
Hebrews 10.25 says that the purpose of meeting together is to build one another up. We are encouraged as we meet with God’s people, pray for one another, share our lives. In particular, our faith is helped under the preaching of the Word. ‘Oh, I can listen to a sermon tape, or do a Bible study at home.’ That is true. But, as Christopher Ash pointed out so ably at this year’s EMA, that is not the same as being together under the Word of God all knowing what we have all heard and therefore looking to help one another obey. How can members of Christ’s body say by their actions ‘I have no need of you’?

And in a society where we have so many ungodly ideas fired at us from the media to lead us astray, we need a double dose of God’s Word to feed our souls and keep us straight. Christians go back into the world, marriages fail and, not always but often, neglecting the evening service is the first sign that something is wrong. Let me say also, some of you are desperate to see your children saved. But if you neglect the evening service you are hardly setting them an example of enthusiasm for the things of Christ. Then you wonder why they are not interested.
But, of course, there is the flip side to encouragement.

7. Because two services offer you two opportunities to encourage others
Staying at home and listening to a sermon tape is very ‘me’-centred. Sunday is not just about you being encouraged but about you encouraging others. So Sunday nights give you a second opportunity to do that. Perhaps in the morning you have the children with you. It is not very easy for you to talk to others and keep an eye on them. But if husband and wife take it in turns to put the children to bed so the other can come out in the evening, now you have the chance to be free to talk and pray with others and actually encourage them.
And even your very presence is an encouragement. When Sunday school teachers. or those who can only get out in the evening, come to an evening service where the congregation is sparse and the singing a bit weak, they won’t be as encouraged as they could be by a big congregation and seeing all their friends.

So, can you see, that although there is no explicit command in Scripture that churches must have a morning and an evening service, and it is not a sin to only have one service, nevertheless it makes a lot of practical sense. And this is quite serious. Our needy nation is not going to be turned around and saved by seeing a lot of empty churches on Sunday nights. People are going to be challenged by seeing full churches, and hearing enthusiastic singing and thinking, ‘What’s going on there?’
* I am indebted to The Banner of Truth Magazine for this quote.

John Benton
© Evangelicals Now - September 2008

Club 16 is for kids in years 1-6 and runs in term times from 6-7 on Thursdays.

It starts this Thursday.

24:7 is for years 6-9 and runs in term times from 7-8.15. It starts this Thursday

House-groups

House-groups kick off this week. If you want to join a group speak to me or just turn up at one of the various locations

Walk to church!!

We are going to conduct 2 travel surveys on the 14th and 28th of September. We would encourage people to bear this in mind, when choosing their mode of transport to Church on those Sundays!

Any spare bibles??

If you have any spare bibles lying round the house there's a need for bibles in Zambian prisons. Please give them to Gordon & Carolyn Figgett

London Women's Convention 08

If you're planning on going, please speak to Lesley Barnes ASAP she needs to book in

Church Lunch this Sunday

There will be a BBQ this Sunday after church. If you could make a contribution towards cost of £3 that would be appreciated.

This Sunday

This Sunday Willie Philip will be preaching for us.

Willie is the minister of St Georges Tron in Glasgow. A city centre congregation.

In the evening I'll be preaching from Mark 9

New Word Alive 09

Debbie Weeks is organising a group to go to Word Alive in April 09. Please speak to her if you'd like to go.
Below is the promo video

Need for beds

If you can put someone up over Presbytery weekend which is on 12/13 September, please speak to Graham Weeks

Prayer Meeting

This Wednesday is our monthly prayer meeting, kick off is at 8pm.
It would be great to have as many as possible there.

This Sunday

This Sunday is a double bill of Levy, in the morning on 1 Cor and in the evening Mark 8.

Iain Clements is preaching in Grace Warrington this Sunday morning

Fancy Dress Leaving Party

I'm moving to Inverness on the 11 of September and

on Friday 5 September I will like to have at LST a Fancy Dress Leaving Party from 7.00 pm onwards.

If you want to come, please let me know. If you can bring some drinks and some cold food that will be great!

The fancy dress is not compulsory, but will be appreciated. ;)

God Bless You!

Carlo

Sunday

This coming Sunday I will be preaching on Sunday morning and Iain Clements will be preaching Sunday evening

BBQ

John Silva is having a BBQ and bonfire at his place on Saturday evening starting at 6pm

Holiday Bible Club prayer meeting

This Sunday night after the evening service

This Sunday

Paul Meiners will be preaching in the morning and Graham Weeks in the evening.

Canada Water Church

This Sunday evening Canada Water Church which has been planted by London City Presbyterian Church and the Reformed Churches of South Africa will become a church in its own right.
The pastor of the church is Kruger Du Cock who some of us know.
At the moment there is an Afrikaans service but the plan in the next year is to start an English speaking work

Do thank God for this work and pray that it would grow and prosper.

This Sunday

This Sunday I'll be preaching in the morning on Mark 8 'Who do you say that I am?' and in the evening Martin Fox will be preaching on Psalm 29. We plan to go through to Psalm 32 this summer.

New Bible Commentary

The best one volume bible commentary I know of is the New Bible Commentary published by IVP. The editors Don Carson, Alec Motyer, R.T France and Gordon Wenham I find it very helpful in preparing and I would say it's essential study for those who are leading Bible studies, it can also be used for quiet times as it's just a few comments on each verse. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

normally it goes for £34.99 but I can get them for £22.50.

Because it's quite expensive for the bookstall. I will make an order over the next couple of weeks. If you would like one please speak to me.

Christianity Explored

Christianity Explored is beginning tomorrow night for a couple of weeks and will resume after the summer. It'll take place at 52 starting at 8pm.

HBC meeting

Holiday Bible Club planning and prayer meeting this Thursday night at 8pm in the church lounge

M & M's wedding

Here are links to some photos - here and here

Preachers in July and August

July 13th - AM - Paul Levy, PM - Martin Fox
July 20th - AM - Iain Clements, PM - Iain Clements
July 27th - AM - Graham Weeks, PM - Iain Clements
Aug 3rd - AM - Graham Weeks, PM - Iain Clements
Aug 10th - AM - Paul Meiners, PM -
Aug 17th - AM - Paul Levy, PM - Iain Clements
Aug 24th - AM - Paul Levy, PM - Carl Trueman
Aug 31st - AM - Paul Levy, PM - Paul Levy
Sept 6th - AM - Willie Philip, PM - Paul Levy

Brian Maiden's preaching

Quite a few folk said how much they enjoyed Brian Maiden's preaching the other Sunday, there is more of his recorded sermons at Parr Street Evangelical Church, Kendal

Summer camps

Quite a few of our folk will be doing camps this summer. Try to remember them in your prayers.

Daphne Colpman - The head chef at the Free Church of Scotland camp in Italy
Martin Fox - Lymington Rushmore camp
Rupert Embleton Smith - St Helens Partnership and Scripture union camp
Hristo and Maria Voynikov - camps in Latvia and Bulgaria
Chris Roberts - CPAS camp in Sevenoaks
Paul Levy - St Nicks Sevenoaks camp at Bredon school
Iain Clements - speaking at Oak Hall holiday in Greece

Evangelicals Now

News and views about the church in the UK and abroa, regular contributors to articles, reader's letters, book reviews and more. Contact Hazel if you would like to subscribe.

Church Meal

There will be no church Meals in July and August

Early Morning Prayer Meetings

next one tues 15 July 6.30-8.00 am

AGM meeting tomorrow postponed

The Annual General Meeting has been postponed from tomorrow night and will now take place on Sunday 6th July after the evening service

Welcome even for the new residents of Coleridge square

Saturday June 28 from 4-7 pm. All invited to attend, and offers of help will be appreciated. There is a sign up sheet in the lounge for people who are willing to help with catering.
Do be praying for this event. Please see David B., Froukje or Daphne for details

Tea on the Green

Friday 27 June 3-4 pm on the Green. There is a sign up sheet in the lounge. For more details speak to Jennifer C.

Evening with Mark and Su Larson

Wednesday 25 june - 8pm @ IPC

Synod and Presbytery - June 08

Last weekend was Synod with the Korean Presbytery on the Friday night and on Saturday the IPC European Presbytery met. I thought it would be good to update you on some decisions that were made

Synod
New Moderator - Tae Yoon Ahn - pastor of Ealing Korean Church
New Clerk - Paul Meiners

The Theological committee was asked to consider what it would mean for us to adopt the 3 forms of unity (The Heidelburg Catechism, The Belgic Confession and The Synods of Dort) as our confessional standards in addition to the Westminster Confession. They will report back in the next 6 months and a decision will be made at the next Synod.

Neal Williams was ordained to the work of Church Planting, Bill Nikides preached the charge.

Next meeting - Friday evening June 12 2009

Presbytery
New Moderator - Graham Weeks
New Clerk - Joel Rinn

A commission was appointed to investigate how we can move forward with a Romanian proto Presbytery. Alan Waldecker and the Moderator were appointed to this.

Presbytery agreed to start a Church Relations committee to further links with other reformed denominations. I will be the chairman of this.

For Missionaries who hold their ordination in another body Presytery has provided the possibility of them being Co-opted onto Presbytery. This would mean they are members of Presbytery but would not have a vote.

The Finances of Presbytery are still not in great shape. There is a need for churches and individuals if they saw fit to contribute more.

Next meetings -
September 12th - meeting in Ealing - beginning at 9am
December 4/5 - meeting in Belgium
March 6 - meeting in Ealing

AGM

This Monday night is our Church AGM kicking off at 8pm.
Reports will follow

Church Weekend Schedule

Speaker - Iver Martin - John 17 - The other Lords Prayer

Friday
8:00pm Session 1
9:00pm Tea & Toast

Saturday
9:30am Tea/Coffee & Croissants
10:00am Session 2
11:00am Tea/Coffee & Pastries
11:30am Seminars
1:00pm Lunch
FREE AFTERNOON
4:30pm Session 3
6:00pm Evening Meal
7:30pm Evening Entertainment

Sunday
10:30am Morning Service
1:00pm Lunch
6:00pm Evening Service

Early morning prayer meeting next Tuesday

6.30-8am - Come and go as you please. It would be great to have as many there as possible

Pete Harris' ordination

Pete Harris is being ordained at the evening serive on 22nd June. Garry Williams from Oak Hill will be preaching

Club 16 open night

There's a club 16 open night on 26th June beginning at 6.30 you'd be very welcome to come along

Chelmsford Hog Roast

We've been invited by Chelmsford Presbyterian Church to a hog roast starting at 4pm on 21st June

Sat 21st June

Anybody who wants to help with doing some work in the garden on the 21st June in the morning and afternoon for Mark and Mays wedding, let Claire Levy

Saturday night live

Saturday night at the church weekend we will be having an evening of entertainment and anyone can contribute, it would be great to have an international flavour if there were any offers.

Loads of books

There are going to be stacks of books at the church weekend so bring your money with you

Chelmsford BBQ

Chelmsford Presbyterian Church have invited us to their annual BBQ on 21st June kicking off at 4pm.

Church Weekend at home

June 13-15 - please book in ASAP

Iver Martin from Stornoway will be speaking on 'The other Lords Prayer'

The cost is only £20 -

New IPC website

New IPC Belgium website in Turkish!!!

Hospitality for English class student

Would you be able to host a group of 3 or 4 women from the English Class in your home for coffee/lunch/dinner?
Please speak to Marianne and give her a general time frame that would be convenient for you so she can coordinate with those from the class who would like an invitation

Welcome Event for the new resident of Coleridge Square

This event has been postponed until the end of june - more information to follow.
Please see David Barnes, Froukje or Daphne for further details.

Church Weekend

13-15 June - forms available on table in corridor. Please return to Jill Piestrup no later than the 1st June.

On the Bookstall

- Let's Study 1 Corinthians by David Jackman £. 6.50 only!
- Dynamic Diversity by Bruce Mine. A brilliant book on the church. £. 5.50 only!

Holiday Bible Club

Tues 26th - Sat30th August.
If you can help either the whole week or part please speak to Claire Levy ASAP.

Loads of good biographies

'A world and a church which is hooked on novelty like some cultural equivalent of crack cocaine needs the cold, clinical eye of the historian to stand as a prophetic witness against it.' Carl Trueman, Minority Report, p26

2 weeks ago I said in a sermon we should all be readers of church history. We've ordered a stack of books so bring your cheque books on Sunday and get reading.

Dick Keyes

Last night Dick Keyes gave an excellent lecture on 'the crucified God'. I googled it and found that he'd preached it at a church in Southborough, so if you missed it you can listen here.

Also Donald Macleod has an excellent article under the same title

Pics of the walk with Chelmsford EPC

Church Meal

On Sunday 4th of May we will enjoy a meal together after the morning service.
This will not be "pot luck": Carlos and some friends will be cooking for all those, members, regulars and visitors who wish to stay and eat together.
There will be no charge for this, but members who participate are invited to contribute additional funds to cover the costs via the collection bag.

Church Bookings

Rachel Little is now in charge of Church Bookings.

Dick Keyes

Dick Keyes will be speaking on Tuesday April 29th - 8pm @ IPC Lounge.

All welcome

Why we need the creed

This is a good article by my old boss Mark Johnston from Grove Chapel on why we need the Apostles Creed

Vote!

Don't forget to vote.
If you are a member and have not had a ballot paper please contact me ASAP.

Eph 6 sermon

I am but a two fingered untaught typist and this doesnot do justice to an excellent sermon but it is betterthan no notes!
Ephesians 6 IPC 13 Apr 2008 P Levy

v10 begin "Finally". 3 chapters told of blessing inChrist then 3 chapters on how to live differently.Some say when you become a Christian your problems areover, but the Christian life is a battle. Paul wrotefrom prison and could see Roman soldiers. Perhaps hewas chained to one, his visual aid. Any soldierchained to him would have heard about Christian troopsand armour. Others have taught this at length. LloydJones did 28 sermons on this. Puritan William Gurnallwrote over 1000 pages.

1. We are soldiers at war.A friend took part as an army cadet and trained buthis was not the real dangerous thing. Soldiers at warknow their whole effort must be for the war. All hislife is involved in conflict. That is Paul's pictureof Christian life. Some Christians are only playingcadets. Bur Christian life is war. Uses militarylanguage of effort and hardship, of a subtle enemy, afight. Stop misleading people about Christian life. Itis hard. There is a cost to discipleship and we mustspeak of it in our witness. This is no hobby. It iswar.

2. A spiritual warfare.What is war for? Paul would say it is to hold ourground and take the enemy's ground.We must hold ground in what we believe. The mediararely attends to Bible Believing Christians. It isRC, charismatic or soap opera stuff. In the 19thcentury, General Booth, founder of the Salvation Armysaid, "I consider that the chief dangers whichconfront the coming century will be religion withoutthe Holy Ghost, Christianity without Christ,forgiveness without repentance, salvation withoutregeneration, politics without God, and heaven withouthell." Booth's description of the 20th century. Inpopular Christianity, man is at the centre. Hell andheadship are not taught. Atonement and biblical sexethics are not popular. Some think we should standwith all who take the name of Christian but thisincludes all sorts of strange views.We must hold our ground in our ethics despite theworld accepting promiscuity, abortion, euthanasia. Wemust hold our ground.Bur these people teaching error are not our realenemies. Not Muslims, homosexuals, RCs , JWs orDawkins.These people are led astray by the devil's schemes.H:e has countless agents. Ranks of wicked spirits inhigh places. People do not believe; because theirminds are controlled by these spirits. Doe God controlyour mind?We try to hold our ground and bring people to thisground in Christ. All day long we battle. Look at theChristian. The devil tries to claim her mind, to leadher to wrong behaviour. This battle is to be our totalconcern and passion.

3. No need for us to be conquered.We are told we have a FULL armour. All we have to dois put it on. We do not need to fear any enemy only totrust in God's provision.If you are a soldier who is not minded to fight, thenno armour is any use. So we are told to be strong andfight.5 pieces of armour vss 14-17 and put on in the orderhere described. First lower body armour, belt oftruth. God provides this protection. It is the truthof the Bible.Next, breastplate often front and sometimes back too.Essential armour for survival. It is righteousness.Could be right living or, better to be imputedrighteousness of Christ. Remember Christ'srighteousness protects.Hob nailed sandals for firm footing. peace with God.Remember in the fight I am at peace with God. No enemycan discourage. Remember each day you are at peacewith God.Shield of faith. not a little round thing but a bighuge one protecting whole body. Could make aprotective tortoise of shields. So do not fear theenemy arrows. Faith shields us. Believe His promisesand you are protected.The helmet is the last item to be put on. Salvation.You are saved, being saved and will be saved. Here itis mainly future. Next day the victors' song. Keep thehope of victory in mind.Here are obeying and believing rites. Fill your mindwith what God has done for you in Christ. Feed yourmind on God's promises. Every day, every hour do this.

4. We should think in terms of advance.Aussies play attacking cricket. Reformed people defendlike Englishmen. We should attack like Warne'2 weapons. First, the sword of the spirit. Christiansmust hold the sword of the Word. the Bible and wieldit by Holy Spirit. All advance is by the Word. Not byenthusiasm but by the Bible.Now the soldier illustration breaks down because thereis no earthly no equivalent to prayer. All sorts ofprayer needed. Must be at centre of church life. Wemust not separate Word from prayer. All kinds. Prayfor all Christians especially for gospel preachers, sothey speak boldly. Preachers have no magic power.Every preacher needs prayer from Christians. Pray forthe preacher every day. Prayer thrives on informationv21-22. Conversion comes when people pray. Do you prayfor those here who proclaim the gospel? Real soldiersuse their weapons . Fake soldiers only play and talk.What do we do? Holding ground not enough. We mustadvance.Do you love the Christ unveiled in this letter? Willyou live for him despite the battle?

This Sunday

This Sunday Iain Clements from Grove Chapel Camberwell will be preaching.
In the morning from Joshua Chapter 2 and in the evening from Genesis 22:1-19

Pot Luck Lunch this Sunday

Special Church Meeting

There will be a special church meeting on Sunday 13th April after the evening service

Movers needed

Volunteers to help Kicheol move in to the church flat are needed on Friday afternoon for a couple of hours.

London Mens Convention

We have some spare tickets for the London Mens Convention this Saturday. If you'd like to come let Terry Seaber know

Good Friday Service

This Friday at 10.30am will be our Good Friday service

Easter Preaching Services

This week there are some preaching services in Middlesex
Tomorrow night at Stanwell Congregational - Ken Brownell is speaking and he is worth hearing.
Thursday night at Hounslow West Evangelical Church Alan Macnab was supposed to be speaking but has pulled out last minute and I'm taking his place, so I'd appreciate your prayers for that.
Then on Friday night at Hayes Town Chapel Gareth Crossley who used to be a minister in Wolverhampton is speaking.
They all kick off at 7.30

Thank-you

Big to thanks to all those who helped with tea on the green and with the church cleaning day over the weekend

Church Cleaning Day

Is this Saturday morning, turn up anytime but bring your own cleaning equipment

Divinity and Dawkins - Debating Delusions

On Wednesday 19th 7pm in the Borders flagship store in Oxford Street (3rd floor). David Robertson the author of the Dawkins letters will be holding a Q & A session on Richard Dawkins the God delusion

The content of The Dawkins Letters brought about the largest ever response on Richard Dawkins’ official website. In it David Robertson counters the popular myths about Christianity
commonly quoted by atheists.

David is the minister of St Peters Free Church in Dundee and editor of the Monthly Record

Furniture needed

Furniture is going to be needed for the church flat - see the deacons if you can help

Church Weekend at home

Just a reminder that our church weekend at home will be happening this year from June 13-15. Iver Martin will be the guest speaker, do put the date in the diary

Saturday 15th March

Church Cleaning Morning - Everybody is welcome

Street Outreach Team

Tomorrow is the first street outreach team on Ealing Broadway, meet at the church 12pm if you'd like to go along

Sunday night

This Sunday evening Richard Bewes will be preaching.

A good article

What can we learn from Francis Schaeffer? by Ranald Macauley, taken from the Christian Heritage

This Sunday

This Sunday we're in Ephesians 4 in the morning and in the evening we're taking a break from Mark and are in Luke 2 on Jesus at the temple

Grahams notes 2

Mark 6. Feeding of 5000 only miracle in all 4 gospels. Why this miracle? Influenced many, enormous power. Shows us Jesus the true Shepherd feeds his sheep through hid disciples.
1. The Shepherd's flock.12 just back excited from preaching tour and Jesus knows they need rest and refreshment. So cross in boat to Galilean wilderness but they were persued.Large crowd awaits. Jesus has compassion on them sheep without a shepherd.
Why seen as sheep? In wilderness the place of freedom from Egypt. Place they had to depend on God to provide. Guided them. God met with them. looked forward to promised land. Liberty. Privilege. Hope. But no shepherd. Herod was king. Ignored people's needs. Religious leaders do not feed them either. Jesus sees their need as sheep without shepherd. People are like that around us today in helpless confusion, not caring for their souls. Do not know where they are going. Political leaders and religious fail us too. Confusion surrounds us and among this confusion are the elect flock of God.2.Shepherd's feedingMoses prayed for a shepherd after him. Ezek 34 promised God would search for and look after the sheep placing one shepherd over them. God will be their shepherd. This is the context of Mark 6. Initiative here is entirely with Jesus. he sits them in groups as Ex18:21 just as Israel in wilderness. Gives thanks to God who makes bread to come forth from the earth. Seated on green grass 6:39, an eyewitness account. Ez 35 the shepherd turns the wilderness into green grass. Lord is shepherd so they will not want but lie in green pastures. Does it today for us in the wilderness of this world. He can meet all our needs. Living Christ will feed you. You will like them be satisfied by the good shepherd.3, Shepherd's followersDisciples unusually involved in this miracle. Jesus usually does it all himself but here works through disciples who are asked about food, make people be seated, distribute food. Involved reluctantly and disbelievingly. Think they can do nothing yet the Lord does not bypass them. Deliberately uses these men s they understand their future pattern of ministry. He will be soon gone. His followers are to distribute his blessings to the needy around. Are we moved with compassion for the lost around us? We feel overwhelmed by the need as did these panicking disciples. They has 5 rolls and 3 little fish for 5000. Jesus says inadequate resources do not matter because only the good Shepherd maters. Today we are told to give the people something to eat. We feel inadequate. Look at this miracle. Christ can multiply blessings for us. He can use our small efforts in witness. He can do immeasurably more than we ask or imagine. No limits to what Christ can do through us.