CHRIST CHURCH
UNITED REFORMED CHURCH
SWANLEY
Today
In our worship we speak of the goodness of God and seek to receive and use gifts of the Spirit.
The church is available for prayer after both services and all church members are invited to pray with others.
The library, bookstall, tape library and Traidcraft stall are open as usual.
After worship this morning, everyone is invited to coffee, tea and cold drinks which are served in the lounge of our centre.
Next Sunday: 13 May – Sixth Sunday of Easter
10.30am Morning Communion: Dave Dodd
6.00pm Evening Worship: Max Homewood
Jean Barber & Margaret Ford write: “We are pleased to have Max Homewood from M.A.F (Mission Air Fellowship) taking the service. If you do not usually attend an evening service we urge you to do so on this evening. You will be surprised at how much M.A.F do and how many countries they are in and the diverse tasks they take on. Please come.”
In two weeks: 20 May – Seventh Sunday of Easter
Please note that we have transferred the Morning Communion from Pentecost Sunday, 27 May, to Sunday, 20 May, and that the Evening Communion is transferred to Pentecost Sunday.
10.30am Morning Communion: Guy Morfett
Guy is a member of St. Paul’s URC, Gravesend and an accredited United Reformed Church Lay Preacher. He works for the Southern Synod as Property Officer.
6.00pm Evening Worship: Richard Wells
Our Giving
We thank God for our giving during April.
General Fund: 1st £2288.48
8th 1861.30
15th 1055.60
22nd 1458.60
29th 377.24
Total £7041.22
Average £1408.24
Communion Fund: £1369.10
Global Care – monthly child sponsorships: £320.00
Crisis: for those homeless £56.00
Links International – ‘Penny House’ project for housing £361.50
in Uganda (that is £222.83 towards another house).
With thanks to God
We give thanks to God for the life and faith of Heather Double, wife of Don, who, we have recently heard, died in March. On behalf of our church Richard has written sending love, sympathy and good wishes to Don. We are glad that Don is continuing in Christian ministry.
Happy Birthday
We send our love and good wishes to Audrey Whitmore on the celebration of her 90th birthday. Some of our church, who are members of the Girl Guiding Trefoil Guild, celebrated the occasion in our centre last week.
Audrey, a member of the Salvation Army who lives in Swanley, shared in our last autumn’s Alpha programme and was often a speaker for our church’s Sisterhood in the 1970’s, 1980’s and early 1990’s.
Our prayer topics for the summer term
Please be following through these prayer topics which are commended by our elders’ meeting for this summer term:
-
-
-
Bedding plants
The 4th Bromley Boys’ and 1st Hextable Girls’ Brigade Parents and Friends Association are selling bedding plants to help Boys’ and Girls’ Brigade activities. A number of young people in our church are members of these Brigades. Please consider supporting this plant sale.
Order forms are available on the unit by the pulpit. Plants will be available on or after 12th May. If you would like further details, please contact Elaine Carpenter (669562) or Jane Ford (669345).
Churches Together in Swanley & District
Party in the Park – run in conjunction with Swanley Town Council
Pentecost Sunday – 27 May.
‘Thank you’ to everyone of Christ Church who has offered help with this event. Around 70 people from our local churches have volunteered so far. More help is needed – especially for cake making.
Child protection forms are now available for all who have offered to help. Please would those of us who are helping receive papers from the unit by the pulpit. There are named copies for all who have volunteered. One copy is due for signing. Then please return signed copy to Margaret Voak – our church representative for Churches Together – and keep the other copy for bringing with you on the day.
In this week – may we have faith and hope with the visionary word of the Book of Revelation.
‘And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is
with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will
be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will
be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed
away." ’ Revelation 21:3-
This is our week with a call to Prayer
All who meet in small groups, prayer cells and with prayer partners or triplets
are encouraged to meet this week. On Tuesday, at 10.00am, and on
Wednesday, at 8.15pm, prayer meetings in the church for everyone of our
church. Thursday, at 8.00pm, housegroup prayer at Tom’s home.
Also this week
Today, at 7.00pm, rtd.
Tuesday, at 7.45pm, Elders’ meeting at the manse.
Wednesday, at 10.30am, Bible study at Francis & Shirley’s home.
Wednesday, at 8.00pm, Badminton club.
Friday, at 10.00am, Bulrushes.
Saturday, at 3.00pm, Wedding Service.
Today, at 4.00pm, the Baptism Service of Aaron, son to Julie McCullie and grandson to Val, takes place at All Souls’ Church, Crockenhill. Richard joins with Linda Green, the priest in charge, in leading this service.
On Wednesday Steve Allott and Richard are at the executive meeting of the Medway District and on Wednesday evening Richard is also at the elders’ meeting of St. Andrew’s, Dartford.
On Friday evening Richard attends the Installation of the Revd. James Mowbray as Vicar of the Parish of St. Mary the Virgin, Swanley. Also on Friday evening we welcome Westview Playgroup to our centre for a Quiz Night.
On Saturday, at 10.00am, there is a Churches Together in Swanley & District prayer meeting for Party in the Park at White Oak School. All worshippers in Swanley Churches are invited.
Welcome to our centre
Make ‘n’ Create – a brand new Saturday morning club.
Their publicity says: “Make ‘n’ Create is a class run by mums who know what children enjoy. Each class will have a theme that your child will love … Pirates – Fairies – Under The Sea – Jungle … to name just a few! Classes are suitable for children aged 3 to 9 years.
Classes are from 10.30am to 11.15am and cost £3.00 per session (including materials). First class: this Saturday (12 May) – half price.” Please see flyers on centre main door and centre noticeboard if you are interested..
Our Vision – We aim to make the love of Jesus Christ clearly visible to one
another and to the world we live in.
Christ Church, High Street, Swanley, Kent BR8 8AN
Minister: the Revd Richard Wells – tel: 663416
Church office: tel 665024 – email: chchswan@xalt.co.uk
Welcome to Christ Church’s
News letter for week beginning Sunday
24 August
Jesus is Alive
“Sing joyfully to the Lord, you righteous;
it is fitting for the upright to praise him.
For the word of the Lord is right and true;
he is faithful in all he does.
The Lord loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of his unfailing love.”
Psalm 33:1, 4-
Welcome also to the group returning from “Soul Survivor”. We trust that God has been doing great things there. We look forward to hearing about them and seeing good things develop from them too.
Our Worship Today
10.30am Morning Communion
For this morning Glow-
Our Bible reading will be Joshua 1:1-
This morning:
-
-
6.00pm Evening Worship
We rejoice in song, Scripture, address and prayers.
This evening Janice Powell gives the address.
The church is available for prayer after both services and all church members are invited to pray with others.
After worship this morning everyone is invited to coffee, tea and cold drinks which are served in the lounge of our centre.
Next Sunday: 31 August
10.30am Morning Worship: Joy Goddard
6.00pm Evening Communion: Phil Goddard
New email address for church office
Sue can now be contacted by email at sue_office.manager@yahoo.co.uk. Please would everyone who has an email address send an email to Sue so that she can put you in her contacts list.
Icebreakers & Kingdom Seekers Autumn Programme
Please would members of Icebreakers and Kingdom Seekers collect a copy of the autumn programme from the leaflet table in the church/centre corridor. Please note that the meeting night for both groups has changed from Tuesday to Wednesday with the first meeting being on 3 September. It is a joint meeting in the church, at 8.00pm.
Marriage Course
Jim and Doreen Hadley-
Churches Together
St. Peter’s, Hextable
Everyone is invited to the licensing of Ray Sammé as the new vicar on Tuesday 2 September, at 7.30pm. Please let Sue know if you would like to go.
Breaking News
There will be a Prayer Walk in Swanley from 9.00am – 10.00pm, on Saturday 6 September. Meet at St. Peter’s, Hextable. Tea and coffee will be available afterwards.
An invitation
Amanda Bishop and Terry Miles invite everyone of our church to join them for the evening of their wedding reception on Saturday 13 September, from 7.30pm, at Parkwood Hall School. A list is available on the unit by the pulpit, please add your name if you would like to accept this invitation by next Sunday.
Concert of Light Music
On Saturday 13 September, at 7.30pm, The Christ Church, Petts Wood, Orchestra Harmony & Friends are holding a concert of light music. Venue: Christ Church, Willet Way, Petts Wood. Tickets: £6.00, including refreshments. Proceeds from this event will be going to the Bromley Branch of Mind. Please see poster on the centre noticeboard for more details.
This week
Tuesday, at 10.00am, Prayer meeting in the church.
Wednesday, at 10.30am, Bible study at Francis and Shirley’s home.
Wednesday, at 8.00pm, Badminton club.
Richard & Elizabeth
Today, Richard and Elizabeth, to celebrate their Ruby Wedding Anniversary, are at Woking United Reformed Church, the church of their wedding day – 24 August 1968.
Our good wishes go to Elizabeth following her retirement last week from her physiotherapist position at Queen Mary’s Hospital, Sidcup, after 32 years.