This Sunday - Growing in Salvation 

Over the past two weeks in our new series, we’ve begun exploring what it means to live as God’s people on the margins of this world. We’ve been reminded that we are on a journey—called to fix our minds on the future inheritance that awaits us and to delight in the rescue we’ve already received. 

This Sunday, as we continue exploring Peter’s letter to some of the earliest Christian communities, we’ll discover even more about what life looks like on this journey. We’ll see that the Christian life is one of growth and transformation—a life marked by growing in love. 

Come along as we unpack what it means to grow in faith and deepen our love for one another.

Our groups for children and young people continue and refreshments are served both before and after our gathering. Livestream will be broadcast and prayer ministry will be available after the service.

Lost Property: If you are missing anything please do have a look through our lost property at the back of church this Sunday.

Living in the light of eternity

In our last session we began our journey in our new series in 1 Peter. We are using this letter to explore what it looks like to live as Christians who are engaged in the world around them. Peter was writing to Christians who were facing opposition for following Jesus. He wanted them to be reminded of the reasons they have to be praising God and rejoicing, even in the midst of trials in this life. Wonderfully, we were reminded that we have a glorious and certain inheritance that is being kept safe in heaven for us (1:3-4). We were reminded that we are also being kept safe so we will be able to receive our inheritance when Jesus returns (1:5-9). Finally, Peter reminded us of the unique privileged position we have in all of history. It is indeed a wonderful salvation.

But (having been left praising God and rejoicing), this week Peter’s train of thought continues. This week’s passage starts with the word therefore (1:13). What Peter is about to say is a direct implication of everything he has said so far. It is about to get practical! What does life on the margins actually look like. How are we to live as we wait for Jesus’s return? What is going to keep us going? We are going to see this week the implication of living in the light of eternity.

Growing Youth and Families Work

Last Sunday we launched a new growth initiative for 2025. This initiative is one of our PCC’s main targets for 2025 and aims to capitalise on our currently growing Youth Work. Over the course of the next year, our ambition is to develop the size of our youth team, grow the scale of our youth groups and serve many more young people.

To lead this growth initiative we are asking the church families at St Kea and Christ Church to consider pledging to increasing their regular giving to fund the appointment of a full time dedicated Youth and Families Worker.

To do this we would need to raise more than 20 thousand pounds each year, every year. To achieve this, everyone who currently gives to our work would need to increasing their giving by £20-30 a month. We know not everyone can do that, some can given more, others less.

For more information about why we think this is so important and how you can pledge, click on the link below which takes you to stkea.org.uk/pledge

Fellowship Evening coming up

Next week our Engage activity is meeting as a church to pray together.

The evening will begin at 7pm to share in a hot meal together, with the rest of the evening starting at 7.30pm."

As we have done before, the team who organise our 24/7 prayer events have planned an evening of prayer to enable people to pray together in a variety of styles. As part of the evening there will have opportunities to pray on your own as well as in pairs and small groups (there is no need to pray out loud). Our focus for the evening will be praying about our identify as we start a new year as well as praying for our gospel partners around the world.

Do join us if you can, we’d love to see you there.

Hope Explored - starting tomorrow

Hope Explored will be starting tomorrow evening at St Kea Church. Join us from 7pm for a meal and 7.30pm start.

Here are more details of what to expect:

There are few emotions more powerful than hope. But these days, hope often feels hard to come by. Where can we find a hope that won't disappoint us?

Looking at the life, death and resurrection of Jesus in Luke's Gospel, these three evenings show that Christianity is about real hope: a joyful expectation for the future, based on true events in the past, which changes everything about my present.

It sounds good… but is it true? Whatever you do or don't believe, Hope Explored offers an opportunity to explore, to discuss and to discover the hope, peace and purpose Jesus offers.

This course is a setting where people who are open to talking about the big questions in life can come to discuss, ask questions, and discover what the Bible has to say.

No Service at Old Kea

There wont be a service at Old Kea this week due to the essential building works to repair the church pillars. We will keep you updated when the next service can take place once the work is complete, so watch this space!

Parenting Evening 4th February

A Mind of Their Own is a session written by ‘Care for the Family’ that is made up of film clips and discussion questions. This session aims to provide parents with:

• A realisation that resilience can be learnt, and nurtured in the small, everyday moments of family life.

• Knowledge, confidence and practical ideas on how to help children process setbacks and bounce forward in strength, character and development.

• Insight into children’s brain development.

• An understanding that learning how to experience failure in a safe environment will improve their confidence and problem-solving skills.

• An appreciation of how vital your child’s identity is, and strategies to help them become confident in it.

We’ll be based at St Kea Church Hall from 7.00-8.30pm during the regular Tuesday Night Youth group session – younger siblings are welcome to attend youth group that evening to allow parents to attend if needed.  Refreshments will also be provided.

Click on the image above to book in to this free evening, and please do spread the word to anyone else who might be interested.

Women’s Breakfast 2025

Women at all ages and stages of life, and from all our churches and associated communities, join together each half-term at our Trinity Women's Breakfasts to encourage one another in our Christian lives. There is usually a short talk and a lot of time for discussion and there's always a delicious breakfast and a warm welcome. 

In 2025 our focus is Heart Matters and we'll be looking together at friendship, forgiveness, contentedness, anxiety, heaven and eternity. We welcome all women of all ages and stages of life.

Do join us on February 8th at 8.30am - 10am as we launch our Heart Matters series. We'll be exploring together how the Bible transforms both our minds and our hearts so that we might know and love our God better.

Eco Tips for January

Sign up to the Creation Care scheme

Could one of your new year's resolution be to take steps to better care for God's wonderful creation? The Creation Care scheme can help give you ideas on practical steps to take, and track your progress. Click on the picture above to sign up.

Key Dates

Hope Explored - starts 16th January - 7pm for food

Martin’s Men’s Breakfast - 18th January - 9am

Kea Fellowship Evening - 22nd January - 7pm for food, 7.30pm start

‘A Mind of their own’ parenting evening - 4th February - 7pm- 8.30pm

Trinity Women’s breakfast - 8th February - 8.30am- 10am

Michael J Tinker concert - 28th February - 4 for 4.30pm

All the above dates (and more) can be found on our Churchsuite calendar: https://stkea.churchsuite.com/my/events

Please contact us if you have any problems accessing Churchsuite. Here is a simple video explaining how to use it: quick tour

Weekly Prayer Points

Each week there will be a few things for our church life and church family that we can join in praying for:

1. Sovereign Lord please help us fix our minds on the future inheritance that awaits us and to delight in the rescue we’ve already received.

2. We give thanks for the work of Mercy Rescue Trust in 2024. Thank you that they were able to rescue 36 babies, reunite 8 of them with family, found Forever Families for 20 children, 6 of their Big Kids started Higher Education courses and they raised the money needed to support our 3 children living with complex needs or sickness.

3. This week we pray for St Johns Church. We thank you that many people were able to hear the gospel message over Christmas through the different services that were held, particularly at the Trinity Carol Service and the family Christingle Service. Please pray for their Messy Church resuming this Sunday and for Will Harwood as he starts a new day time house group each Tuesday. Please pray for any new visiting families who come to their Sunday Services. Thank you for Rev Will Harwood and his family. We ask You to sustain them as they start a new year, as well as wisdom and plans for the church in 2025.