Author: Alastair

Sharing God’s Word – a short course

‘Sharing God’s Word – what can we learn from the early church in Acts?’ Led by Jared Hay

This short course is intended to complement the Sunday studies in the Gospels on ‘Sharing God’s Word,’ and the aim is to try to understand how the Early Church shared the Good News in their cultural context. That means investigating the context in which they lived, what they said and did, who said it and did it, and what intentional strategies they adopted to make sure the message was disseminated as widely as possible.

The course will run on Zoom over four Thursday evenings (7.30 – 9pm) spaced out to allow Link groups to meet between sessions to discuss what they’ve learned and how it might be applied in our cultural context. Some discussion questions are provided to help facilitate exploring and applying what has been learned. Members of the congregation are encouraged to join both the course and also a Link group for the follow-up discussion. Please do contact Caroline Barlee, John or Jared if you need help finding a group to join.

15 October – The world they lived in – honour and shame, money, sex and power in the First Century.
What are the major things that shape our cultures today?
How have they influenced the Church’s relationship with others?

29 October – The Word they shared – what was the message the Early Church took to the world?
What actions accompanied the message?
Does the word and action we share reflect the breadth of the activity of the early church?
Are there special emphases that might be useful to highlight when sharing with different groups and cultures?

12 November – The people who shared the Word – who were they and what were they like?
What qualities are needed to share the good news?

26 November – The strategies they used to share the Word – big pictures and jig-saw pieces.
Thinking of our context, what strategies might we adopt for sharing the good news, and how would we need to change to fulfil them?

Daily Devotions for Tuesday 8th September, 2020

Upper Room day – time out with God

Morning
Look Upward and Pray to hear and receive from Father God

Reading : JOSHUA chapter 6

Meditation : consider all that happens here… at the start of your day.
The Fall of Jericho!
What images or words stay with you?
What is God saying to you from His Word?
Is there a Jericho in your life?

And then Pray in response to what you have read
Taking time to wait before God
Invite the Holy Spirit to knock down walls
In your life
In the lives of others
In our world

Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
I have read these words
And now I pray for you to work them out
as a living reality in my life – even today
Thy Kingdom come
Thy why will be done
On earth as it is in heaven
In Jesus’ name.
Amen.

Midday
Take time to listen for God to speak with you at this time of day
…..and respond to His voice….
Invite Him to point out any Jericho in your life at this time
And ask His help to knock them walls down!
Father God…thank you.

Evening
Reading : read the verses again from JOSHUA 6
Reflect prayerfully on these words…. And then pray as your day closes

LORD God, our great God,
For all of today
I thank You,
Even for those things that have caused me fear and concern.
Help me to rest in Your unfailing love and on Your faithful Word
As I wait for tomorrow.
As I look around at this world
In these days.
Have mercy O Lord!
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Kirkgate Cafe and B Y O C and Macmillan’s

Macmillan Coffee Morning, Wednesday 23rd September.

‘Don’t just sit there, do something!’ ‘Don’t just do something, sit there!’ (From John’s sermon on 23rd August.)

Now’s your opportunity to do both at the same time, and all in the good cause of supporting the Macmillan Coffee Morning. The BYOC and Kirkgate Café teams invite you to join them in (physically distanced) person at the café or online on Zoom in support of Macmillan Cancer Support on Wednesday 23rd September. All we ask is that you make a donation to Macmillan. To help you, there’s a direct weblink below to their ‘donate’ page.

During the pandemic, charities that people count on in the difficult times of life are finding their income falling, and they need our help. Many of us will know families that have benefitted from the support and care that Macmillan nurses have brought in the darkest of hours. Cancer hasn’t stopped during the pandemic and neither has Macmillan. We can help them continue that vital support.

During the BYOC Zoom sessions, there will be a special greeting from the Moderator of the General Assembly, Rt. Rev. Dr. Martin Fair, recorded at our invitation.

Kirkgate Café:
Open from 9am to 2pm
Take away facilities and outside seating available….and donations can also be handed in here on the day.

Zoom BYOC (bring Your Own Cuppa):
Morning: From 10.30am to 12 noon hosted by Alastair and Barbara Cameron

Afternoon: From 2pm to 3.30pm hosted by Jane and Jared Hay

Gary Ross will circulate the usual Zoom links, and please share them with people you know who may be interested in supporting Macmillan. Come when you can and leave when you wish.

Macmillan donation weblink:

https://donation.macmillan.org.uk/wbcm/donate?_ga=2.32301118.1804658475.1598443258-322544099.1597757774&_gac=1.168859795.1598443258.COjd0JPpuOsCFVOChQod2EQJzQ

Thank you.
Jared, Alastair and Norma