Life at the Margins - New Series Continues

This Sunday we continue our new series for the New Year, ‘Life at the Margins’. This series is about the challenges and the joys of following Jesus in a culture where most people don’t. Last week we should have been left rejoicing that we have been given a wonderful inheritance, guaranteed for all eternity. Even though we might face trials as we follow Jesus, we were reminded of what a privilege it is to know such a glorious salvation.

The big question this week is how we should respond to these truths now? How should they shape our lives lived at the margins of this world? More than that, we are going to be reminded of all that Jesus has done for us in the past, our motivation for living for him in the present. So why not join us as we explore the past, present, and future of our faith?

“Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.” 1 Peter 1:13

Our groups for Children and Young People continue again this week. Refreshments are served both before and after our gathering. In our service, we will also be sharing Holy Communion together.

Growing Youth Work

This Sunday we will be launching a new growth initiative at St Kea and Christ Church. This new initiative is one of our PCC’s 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 more young people. Do come along on Sunday to find out more. 

ENGAGE - New Term

This term we are thinking about how we ENGAGE with the world around us, by spending time in Peter’s first letter to a group of Christians who are scattered across modern day Turkey (1 Peter 1:1).

These Christians were living distinctive lives following Jesus and, as a consequence, they stood out in their culture. Standing out is always uncomfortable; it makes us feel awkward or like we don’t quite belong. In fact, these Christians were facing opposition for following Jesus. Peter says they were suffering grief (1:6) and a fiery ordeal (4:12). People were speaking maliciously against them (3:16), abusing them (4:4) and insulting them (4:14).

In many ways they were facing similar opposition to the kind that Christians in the UK can face today. Even though this opposition is ‘low level’ it can certainly make us feel awkward or uncomfortable, sometimes it even makes us feel unsafe. So Peter wrote this letter to encourage these Christians to stand fast in following Jesus. At the end of the letter, Peter tells us that is why he wrote... “With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.” (1 Peter 5:12).

So, in these sessions, we are going to consider what it looks like to ‘stand fast’ in following Jesus. We are going to explore how we should respond when living in a culture where following Jesus is the exception rather than the norm. Most importantly, we are going to see how we can stand fast. It is going to be a term of growing together, as we reflect on what it looks like to live life at the margins.

New For 2025 - Meals with a Message

Meals with a Message will be starting this year. These sessions are a chance to bring people together on a Sunday afternoon, over food, to explore the Christian faith. They are designed for both adults and those who bring children along.

It will be hosted in the LivingRoom and we are planning to start these new sessions as soon as the building is ready. More information to come.

Thanks from CAP

Dear Church Family

I am writing to say an enormous thank you for your incredibly generous donations for our Christmas Appeal for 2024. I am thrilled to say that the local church raised £1,640 for our Christmas Appeal, so thank you so much for your stunning generosity, which allowed us to bless so many this Christmas. We were also hugely blessed by other donors who supported our Christmas Appeal and running costs for our CAP Centre. 

Our Christmas Event was really well attended and it was such a joy to share the gospel, with some people either expressing an interest to know more about Jesus, some recommitting their lives and other inviting Jesus into their lives for the first time. Perhaps one of the highlights was a young man who invited Jesus into his life on the last appointment of the year.

Last year we saw 10 people invite or recommit their lives to Jesus, 12 households go debt free, plus others supported with independent option. January 2024  is our 16th Year running CAP, 12 years of Lanterns, 2.5 years of Word 1-2-1.

Countless lives have been changed, so a massive thank you for your kindness, prayerfulness and generosity to your CAP Centre, thank you to our wonderful team. Above all praise God who has shown us great and marvelous things.

We cannot wait to see what God will do in 2025.

"I am truly, truly grateful from the bottom of my heart, for  the gifts and vouchers I received this Christmas, I was extremely blessed by this and it  took off, a lot of anxiety especially at this time of year. I was so blessed that God poured out his blessing over us. In 2024 I made a significant recommitment to Jesus. I am a lot more peaceful, my faith has grown and my mental health has improved, I have a new found zest for life and thanks to CAP I am now debt free, which has taken a lot of weight off my shoulders. We are now in church regularly and my family is thriving. I would like to add my thanks to my church friends and family who have supported me throughout the year. I am looking forward to serving in the new year and giving back for all that I have received."

Every Blessing CAP Team

Next Week - PCC Meet

Next week our PCC meets again. As usual, church members can see the agenda for the meeting on Church Suite. Click on the picture above to read the update from November as well as the agenda for the next meeting.

Parenting Evening 4th Feb - ‘A mind of their own’

A Mind of Their Own is a 2-hour session 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.

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.

Michael Tinker Concert 28th Feb

Join Michael and the crew on a madcap adventure full of songs about Jesus! Captain Archibald is hunting through the ship for the mysterious IGASAT… will he find it? What is it? Does anyone else even care? An hour long, Bible-filled show for all the family.

Celebrating 10 years making music for children, Michael is touring a special show that will bring together all the favourite songs from the last decade! Along with his barmy crew, you’ll discover wonderful truths about Jesus in this song-filled, laughter-packed family extravaganza.

Michael J Tinker is a multi-faceted musician. He has recorded multiple folk and children’s albums and can currently be seen touring his 10th Anniversary Family Show. Michael is married to Jo and they have three children.

The concert will be held at St Kea Church with a Kid's tea and refreshments from 4pm, the concert will start at 4.30pm.

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

Key Dates

CC Prayer Evening - 23rd January

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

A mind of their own - 4th February @ St Kea Church Hall - 7-9pm

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

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. Dear Lord, As the new year begins, we look to You for our hope, joy, and peace. Give us the courage to do all that You ask of us. Show us how to walk in grace and embrace the love you have for us even more.

2. Tearfund: The message of the church is hope. Around the world, churches are living out this message and being the hands and feet of Jesus. Praise God for how he works through the local church. We ask You to highlight a way that you could serve in your local church to help someone in need. Pray that churches around the world will be invigorated with hope. 

3. Thank you for our brothers and sisters at St Kea Church. We pray for their upcoming Hope Explored course which is being held this January. We pray for the people who are thinking of coming to it will hear the hope they can have in You.