Fellowship, challenge and Mum's roast

I found myself with a spare weekend and kind friends lent me their car (thank you!) and I was able to join the folks at Kennet Valley Free Church for their morning service.
Graham Cooke (pastor at KV) led the service and Alistair Hornal (previous pastor at KV) preached from Ruth 3.1- 4.13 with lessons about love and family loyalty and lessons about our relationship with God.

I had many encouraging conversations with people after the service, not least with a young girl (who will soon be 8) about how she copes at school with false things that are taught (implicity and directly) about God. If you've not spoken to a child recently about their understanding of Christian things, can I encourage you to do so (sensitively, but do so). You will find yourself challenged! I was encouraged by this girl's ability to reason. She idenitfied one or two other children in her school who are also Christians whom she she would speak to during play time when false teaching, or understanding, about God is voiced. How many of us, when going about our daily lives, and encounter false teaching seek out a fellow Christian to talk about it, and pray for God's help to deal with it. Is this our first course of action?

After church, it was home to mum's for a great roast and lots of fun with the Sheltons and Ivor. There was a little too much hilarity about peas on the table, but least said soonest mended! The Rodulson's came for tea later in the afternoon and in the evening I was able (somehow) to drink more tea with my friends David and Lisa.

It was a great weekend and I truly felt that I had enjoyed fellowship with my family in Christ.
Isn't it amazing that those friendships that we have in Christ, will always be in Christ.
These are friendships that will last for eternity, as we are members of one body.

October Update

As I sit at my study desk, deciding which piece of work to attend to first, I realise that the term is flying past. Spending time looking at models for ministry and the challenging task of formulating a plan for ministry my thoughts inevitably turn to June 2007.
My prayer is that I will be able to serve the Lord diligently here and now and that when January comes I will be able to begin making some bold choices about where I will go, to continue serving the Lord in the service of his gospel.
I am writing to thank you, and the whole family of Kennet Valley Free Church, for making it possible for me to study here at Oak Hill, encouraging me to seek after the Lord’s will and with a generosity of finance, not to mention prayer support.
This term I have begun to meet with a student, Rachel, from Middlesex University for one-to-one Bible studies, she is the President of the CU at Trent Park campus. We have had an encouraging beginning to the term, with fifteen students (and five helpers) at our meeting on Tuesday. Last year we averaged eight students at each meeting. This time two years ago, the CU was new with only four students. We are praying that the students would grow in maturity of faith, that the light of Christ may shine and bring many more students into God’s Kingdom.
Rachel and I were encouraged this week as we read Paul’s prayer for the saints in Ephesians 3:14-21. Paul kneels before the Father, from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. Paul prays that out of his glorious riches God may strengthen the saints with power through his Spirit in our inner being, so that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith. And Paul prays that being rooted and established in love we might have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that we may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
My placement church is Holy Trinity Lyonsdown, in Barnet. I help with the midweek after school club. The club is for primary age children. Games are all played together, and then we split into smaller age specific groups for a half hour teaching session. We have been working through part of Luke’s Gospel, learning about the Kingdom of God. Yesterday I had the privilege of teaching Luke 18:31-34 to 6 and 7 year olds. It is not an easy passage for children who think concretely, as it is such a stark passage. God graciously taught the children, through the power of His Word. Their responses and understanding were amazing. Having covered all the teaching points we had a few minutes to spare, a seven-year-old girl asked if we could use the remaining time to pray. We pray at the end of every teaching session, and the majority of the group pray aloud. It is so encouraging to hear their responses to what they have learnt.
My lectures this semester are stimulating. In Christian Doctrine II, at present we are looking at the doctrine of the Trinity. In New Testament II we are moving rapidly through the Epistles. We have two youth modules this semester where we are considering the Spiritual development of children and young people and looking at working in a church. I am also able to serve the college community as YCM rep on the Student Committee.
Please join with me in pray about all these things.