When I was about five years old I had a two week stay in hospital during which some national celebration took place and we all received a present. My present was an autograph book that was signed by the surgeon, doctors and nursing staff. My pastor, Angus McNaughton, also visited me and wrote in it "Whenever you are in a fix, look up Philippians 4 verse 6". Long ago I lost the autograph book but never the memory of what Angus wrote in it. To save you rushing for your Bible, here is what that verse says: "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." But the bit that often gets forgotten are the words "with thanksgiving".
Last Sunday I was encouraged when at the end of a pre-baptism session with Catherine last Sunday she indicated that she was willing to be baptised by immersion (Congregational churches historically baptise the infants of believers but Catherine - now in her twenties had not been baptised). It had been a good session held before the morning meeting at Yelvertoft. This will be the first such event (as far as I am aware) in this village. The problem is finding a portable pool. Hiring one would cost the church over £200 and that is not on. Doing it somewhere else is not in my opinion an option.
Emails circulated through our local inter-church network produced an offer - rejoicing! This was followed by a subsequent email apologising that it was already promised to another church on the same day - frustration! Time is very short and this is important. One possibility is changing the date but that is not ideal. So first item for praise and prayer: give thanks for Catherine's progress and please pray for wisdom and guidance as we seek another source of pool.
Give thanks for the interest shown in the Bible Study series starting this week at Yelvertoft. These are run on an open basis in the village and not just for our members. We are looking at Philippians and my hope is that it will prove valuable both to mature Christians and for those still at the exploratory stage. Please pray for a good attendance. We are running two in parallel - one in a morning and one in an afternoon.
Give thanks for a busy month of exciting activities at Yelvertoft but please pray as I must get studies back on track and time seems limited! Pray for wisdom in prioritising the use of my time.
Give thanks for the invitation from Market Harborough Congregation al Church to develop a series of home group material on 'Friendship Evangelism'. This series will run on Thursday afternoons through October and I will also lead one group. Session 1 is complete and the outline for sessions 2 and 3 are ready but need writing up very soon and certainly by the end of Monday! Please pray as the minister of the church and I prepare these, and that they will have great benefit in the life of this church.
Give thanks for an excellent time with the choir last Tuesday and the continued cooperation of 'C'. Please pray for our final rehearsal on Tuesday and the concert on Wednesday. We expect perhaps 30 people from outside the prison and perhaps 20 from inside to attend. If you have seen 'Sister Act' you will have some idea of how big a deal this is for these men.
Give thanks for an excellent issue of Country Way now sent out. Please pray (a) as we gather articles for the next issue, and (b) for growth in readership of this inspiring and helpful magazine.
Give thanks as I was able to set up a new prayer group using Facebook. Please pray for some who limit communications because they are somewhat facebook-phobic! This social networking facility offers much potential that Christians can use for good and we should grasp the opportunity rather than retreating.
Give thanks for an encouraging planning meeting in London last Thursday as we look forward to a major international conference in 2013. Please pray as we seek to book the right speakers at this time.
This week's key activities
Sunday 2nd 10.45 Yelvertoft Congregational Church.
3.00 Area Assembly at Oakham, Rutland where I will be speaking.
Monday 3rd School Assembly at Lubenham, Leics.
Tuesday 4th Gartree Prison...
immediately followed by participation in the Leicester Diocese Rural Group meeting in Leicester.
Wednesday 5th Early evening concert at Gartree Prison.
Thursday 6th Morning Bible Study group at Yelvertoft ...
and afternoon Home Group on Friendship Evangelism in Market Harborough.
Friday 7th Afternoon meeting with Canon Glyn Evans in preparation for an event in Oxford in November where I am speaking on discipleship in a rural context...
and in the evening I will be chairing the Congregational Federation East Midlands Executive.
Sunday 9th Harvest Thanksgiving at Yelvertoft.
As you will see it will be a busy week needing your prayers, but let's not forget to give thanks.
Barry
Last Sunday I was encouraged when at the end of a pre-baptism session with Catherine last Sunday she indicated that she was willing to be baptised by immersion (Congregational churches historically baptise the infants of believers but Catherine - now in her twenties had not been baptised). It had been a good session held before the morning meeting at Yelvertoft. This will be the first such event (as far as I am aware) in this village. The problem is finding a portable pool. Hiring one would cost the church over £200 and that is not on. Doing it somewhere else is not in my opinion an option.
Emails circulated through our local inter-church network produced an offer - rejoicing! This was followed by a subsequent email apologising that it was already promised to another church on the same day - frustration! Time is very short and this is important. One possibility is changing the date but that is not ideal. So first item for praise and prayer: give thanks for Catherine's progress and please pray for wisdom and guidance as we seek another source of pool.
Give thanks for the interest shown in the Bible Study series starting this week at Yelvertoft. These are run on an open basis in the village and not just for our members. We are looking at Philippians and my hope is that it will prove valuable both to mature Christians and for those still at the exploratory stage. Please pray for a good attendance. We are running two in parallel - one in a morning and one in an afternoon.
Give thanks for a busy month of exciting activities at Yelvertoft but please pray as I must get studies back on track and time seems limited! Pray for wisdom in prioritising the use of my time.
Give thanks for the invitation from Market Harborough Congregation al Church to develop a series of home group material on 'Friendship Evangelism'. This series will run on Thursday afternoons through October and I will also lead one group. Session 1 is complete and the outline for sessions 2 and 3 are ready but need writing up very soon and certainly by the end of Monday! Please pray as the minister of the church and I prepare these, and that they will have great benefit in the life of this church.
Give thanks for an excellent time with the choir last Tuesday and the continued cooperation of 'C'. Please pray for our final rehearsal on Tuesday and the concert on Wednesday. We expect perhaps 30 people from outside the prison and perhaps 20 from inside to attend. If you have seen 'Sister Act' you will have some idea of how big a deal this is for these men.
Give thanks for an excellent issue of Country Way now sent out. Please pray (a) as we gather articles for the next issue, and (b) for growth in readership of this inspiring and helpful magazine.
Give thanks as I was able to set up a new prayer group using Facebook. Please pray for some who limit communications because they are somewhat facebook-phobic! This social networking facility offers much potential that Christians can use for good and we should grasp the opportunity rather than retreating.
Give thanks for an encouraging planning meeting in London last Thursday as we look forward to a major international conference in 2013. Please pray as we seek to book the right speakers at this time.
This week's key activities
Sunday 2nd 10.45 Yelvertoft Congregational Church.
3.00 Area Assembly at Oakham, Rutland where I will be speaking.
Monday 3rd School Assembly at Lubenham, Leics.
Tuesday 4th Gartree Prison...
immediately followed by participation in the Leicester Diocese Rural Group meeting in Leicester.
Wednesday 5th Early evening concert at Gartree Prison.
Thursday 6th Morning Bible Study group at Yelvertoft ...
and afternoon Home Group on Friendship Evangelism in Market Harborough.
Friday 7th Afternoon meeting with Canon Glyn Evans in preparation for an event in Oxford in November where I am speaking on discipleship in a rural context...
and in the evening I will be chairing the Congregational Federation East Midlands Executive.
Sunday 9th Harvest Thanksgiving at Yelvertoft.
As you will see it will be a busy week needing your prayers, but let's not forget to give thanks.
Barry
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