Advent: Peace
Dear church family,
I never knew that there are different themes to each week of advent! For this, the second week of advent, the theme is peace. In the Bible the word that is often associated with peace is 'Shalom' which holds an array of meanings. In the Bible it is used to mean, 'make good,' 'make full restitution' or to 'restore.' It also carries meaning of wholeness, wellbeing, completeness and tranquility. When I think of what peace means to me, it is a feeling that everything is at rest in my Spirit. Often that sense of peace is what helps me to discern what is of God and what is not. (e.g. when I walk in obedience to God I have a sense of peace in my Spirit and when I am disobedient that peace is no longer present.)
In Philippians 4 Paul writes, 'Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.'
This passage has three things I'd like to highlight:
1) We are encouraged to rejoice in the Lord always. Always means rejoicing when we feel like it & when we don't; when life is great and when it is falling apart around us. Why? Because God is worthy of our praise. Also, it is also good for us to lift our eyes above our situation and choose to see God at work in all of it and remind ourselves of His goodness - sometimes that can really help us out of a funk.
2) We are told to not be anxious but instead present our requests to God by prayer, petition and with thanksgiving. Sound advise!
3) And the peace of God, which is beyond what we can understand, will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
I love this idea that peace is the thing that guards our hearts. The thing is with peace is that sometimes we can go through times in life that are absolutely nuts but still have peace. When we turn to God with our worries, concerns, heartache and whatever else we have going on and place it in His hands, we can trust that God is Sovereign and work it out for His glory and our good. As a result of trusting God with our worries, peace guards our heart because we know it is in God's hands and have 100% confidence that it will all work out because God is good and He loves us SO much! Life can throw at us a tonne of curveballs but we know God is still good, He loves us and if God is for us what more do we need!
Lots of love,
Katie
SUNDAY GATHERING 10:30AM Join us in person this Sunday for FANCY DRESS CHRISTINGLE! (If you don't want to come in fancy dress we'd still love you there!) or join us online: https://youtu.be/LJZm07zkvQM
YOUNG ADULTS CHRISTMAS PARTY | THIS SATURDAY 4pm | New Wells Ashford
If you are between the ages of 18 and 30ish, you are invited to an evening of festive fun including food, a photo booth and a quiz! Don't miss out!
KIDS CHRISTMAS PARTY | Wednesday 10th December 5:30-7pm | New Wells Ashford
For all children in primary school. Games ? Fun ? Food ? Disco ??and the Christmas story (please note there is no need for parents/carers to stay so enjoy having an hour and a half to yourself!)
MESSY CHRISTMAS | Saturday 13th December | New Wells Ashford
WE WOULD LOVE SOME MORE VOLUNTEERS FOR THIS PLEASE! Even if you can help us with just one session that would be amazing!! If you are happy to help please email katie.moyles@newwells.church or click here to complete a form. ?
We will have our Nativity photo booth, petting zoo, crafts, The Well refreshments, hot dogs and a gift for every child.
We have 3 sessions. Please register below if you want to attend with children:
Session one is fully booked!
Session two | 12:30 - 2pm | Register here
Session three | 2:30pm - 4pm | Register here
Our spaces get filled up super quickly, so make sure you book soon!
*Also, if you enjoy making baked goods we would love you to bring some to Messy Christmas for us to give out at The Well. If you are happy to make some baked goods please contact Elena at TheWell@newwells.church and also make sure to list all the ingredients when you hand it in so we can ensure nobody is given something they can't have
CHRISTMAS FOR EVERYONE | Sunday 21st December
New Wells Ashford 9:15am and 11:30am
Finberry (Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce) 6pm
A modern Christmas service with songs, drama, hot chocolate, mulled wine, mince pies and a gift for every child. Fun for Everyone! The two morning services and the one at Finberry will be the same service and we are doing 3 services to make sure there is loads of space for guests. We would love it if we filled out all the services with people we've invited that aren't normal church goers so extend the invitation to everyone you know!
CAROLS AT BRABOURNE | Sunday 21st December 3pm | New Wells Brabourne
Come along for Christmas Carols, a Christmas message and fun followed by festive snacks! Bring your friends and family!
Saturday 6th December Young Adults Christmas Party | 4pm New Wells Ashford
Sunday 7th December Fancy Dress Christingle | 10:30am New Wells Ashford
Wednesday 10th December Kids Christmas Party | 5:30-7pm New Wells Ashford
Saturday 13th December Messy Christmas | 10:30am-12pm; 12:30-2pm & 2:30-4pm New Wells Ashford
Tuesday 16th December Church Family Christmas Quiz | 7pm New Wells Ashford
Thursday 18th December Carols on the Green | 6pm The Warren, Brabourne
Friday 19th December Youth Christmas Party | 7-9pm New Wells Ashford
Saturday 20th December Christmas at The Well | 9am-12pm
Sunday 21st December Christmas for Everyone | 9:15 and 11:30 am New Wells Ashford & 6pm Finberry (Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce)
Sunday 21st December Carol Service | 3pm New Wells Brabourne
Tuesday 23rd December Reverb Carols | 1:30pm New Wells Brabourne
Wednesday 24th December Carols by Candlelight | 6:30pm New Wells Ashford
Wednesday 24th December Christmas Eve Communion | 11:45pm New Wells Brabourne
Thursday 25th December Christmas Day Service | 10am New Wells Brabourne & 10:30am New Wells Ashford
Sparks / Flames / Firestarters | Sunday mornings | Side Hall & The Well | Age 0-3, 3-6, 7-10
Blaze | Sunday mornings upstairs in The Well | Years 6-8
Ignite | Friday | 7-9pm | Main worship space | Years 7-13
Furnace | Mondays | 7-9pm | Moyles' manse | Years 9-13
The Well | Open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays | 9am-12pm
Tots @ The Well | Mondays 9-10am & 10:30am
Crafty Cuppa | Thursdays every other week | In The Well | 2-4pm
Power Hour | Whole church prayer and worship meeting | Thursdays every other week | 8pm
Brabourne Craft Group | Fourth Thursday of the month | 10am - 1pm | Brabourne Church
Renew Wellbeing | Tuesdays in The Well | 2-4pm
Reverb | midweek service every fourth Tuesday in the month | Brabourne | 1:30pm
Prayer | Before our Sunday service | front of church | 9:45am - all welcome!
Facebook prayers | Mon - Fri 8am | facebook.com/wbc.ashford
Early Morning Prayers | Wednesday mornings | 6:30am | Join here: www.willesboroughbaptist.church/prayer
I never knew that there are different themes to each week of advent! For this, the second week of advent, the theme is peace. In the Bible the word that is often associated with peace is 'Shalom' which holds an array of meanings. In the Bible it is used to mean, 'make good,' 'make full restitution' or to 'restore.' It also carries meaning of wholeness, wellbeing, completeness and tranquility. When I think of what peace means to me, it is a feeling that everything is at rest in my Spirit. Often that sense of peace is what helps me to discern what is of God and what is not. (e.g. when I walk in obedience to God I have a sense of peace in my Spirit and when I am disobedient that peace is no longer present.)
In Philippians 4 Paul writes, 'Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.'
This passage has three things I'd like to highlight:
1) We are encouraged to rejoice in the Lord always. Always means rejoicing when we feel like it & when we don't; when life is great and when it is falling apart around us. Why? Because God is worthy of our praise. Also, it is also good for us to lift our eyes above our situation and choose to see God at work in all of it and remind ourselves of His goodness - sometimes that can really help us out of a funk.
2) We are told to not be anxious but instead present our requests to God by prayer, petition and with thanksgiving. Sound advise!
3) And the peace of God, which is beyond what we can understand, will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
I love this idea that peace is the thing that guards our hearts. The thing is with peace is that sometimes we can go through times in life that are absolutely nuts but still have peace. When we turn to God with our worries, concerns, heartache and whatever else we have going on and place it in His hands, we can trust that God is Sovereign and work it out for His glory and our good. As a result of trusting God with our worries, peace guards our heart because we know it is in God's hands and have 100% confidence that it will all work out because God is good and He loves us SO much! Life can throw at us a tonne of curveballs but we know God is still good, He loves us and if God is for us what more do we need!
Lots of love,
Katie
SUNDAY GATHERING 10:30AM Join us in person this Sunday for FANCY DRESS CHRISTINGLE! (If you don't want to come in fancy dress we'd still love you there!) or join us online: https://youtu.be/LJZm07zkvQM
YOUNG ADULTS CHRISTMAS PARTY | THIS SATURDAY 4pm | New Wells Ashford
If you are between the ages of 18 and 30ish, you are invited to an evening of festive fun including food, a photo booth and a quiz! Don't miss out!
KIDS CHRISTMAS PARTY | Wednesday 10th December 5:30-7pm | New Wells Ashford
For all children in primary school. Games ? Fun ? Food ? Disco ??and the Christmas story (please note there is no need for parents/carers to stay so enjoy having an hour and a half to yourself!)
MESSY CHRISTMAS | Saturday 13th December | New Wells Ashford
WE WOULD LOVE SOME MORE VOLUNTEERS FOR THIS PLEASE! Even if you can help us with just one session that would be amazing!! If you are happy to help please email katie.moyles@newwells.church or click here to complete a form. ?
We will have our Nativity photo booth, petting zoo, crafts, The Well refreshments, hot dogs and a gift for every child.
We have 3 sessions. Please register below if you want to attend with children:
Session one is fully booked!
Session two | 12:30 - 2pm | Register here
Session three | 2:30pm - 4pm | Register here
Our spaces get filled up super quickly, so make sure you book soon!
*Also, if you enjoy making baked goods we would love you to bring some to Messy Christmas for us to give out at The Well. If you are happy to make some baked goods please contact Elena at TheWell@newwells.church and also make sure to list all the ingredients when you hand it in so we can ensure nobody is given something they can't have
CHRISTMAS FOR EVERYONE | Sunday 21st December
New Wells Ashford 9:15am and 11:30am
Finberry (Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce) 6pm
A modern Christmas service with songs, drama, hot chocolate, mulled wine, mince pies and a gift for every child. Fun for Everyone! The two morning services and the one at Finberry will be the same service and we are doing 3 services to make sure there is loads of space for guests. We would love it if we filled out all the services with people we've invited that aren't normal church goers so extend the invitation to everyone you know!
CAROLS AT BRABOURNE | Sunday 21st December 3pm | New Wells Brabourne
Come along for Christmas Carols, a Christmas message and fun followed by festive snacks! Bring your friends and family!
Saturday 6th December Young Adults Christmas Party | 4pm New Wells Ashford
Sunday 7th December Fancy Dress Christingle | 10:30am New Wells Ashford
Wednesday 10th December Kids Christmas Party | 5:30-7pm New Wells Ashford
Saturday 13th December Messy Christmas | 10:30am-12pm; 12:30-2pm & 2:30-4pm New Wells Ashford
Tuesday 16th December Church Family Christmas Quiz | 7pm New Wells Ashford
Thursday 18th December Carols on the Green | 6pm The Warren, Brabourne
Friday 19th December Youth Christmas Party | 7-9pm New Wells Ashford
Saturday 20th December Christmas at The Well | 9am-12pm
Sunday 21st December Christmas for Everyone | 9:15 and 11:30 am New Wells Ashford & 6pm Finberry (Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce)
Sunday 21st December Carol Service | 3pm New Wells Brabourne
Tuesday 23rd December Reverb Carols | 1:30pm New Wells Brabourne
Wednesday 24th December Carols by Candlelight | 6:30pm New Wells Ashford
Wednesday 24th December Christmas Eve Communion | 11:45pm New Wells Brabourne
Thursday 25th December Christmas Day Service | 10am New Wells Brabourne & 10:30am New Wells Ashford
Sparks / Flames / Firestarters | Sunday mornings | Side Hall & The Well | Age 0-3, 3-6, 7-10
Blaze | Sunday mornings upstairs in The Well | Years 6-8
Ignite | Friday | 7-9pm | Main worship space | Years 7-13
Furnace | Mondays | 7-9pm | Moyles' manse | Years 9-13
The Well | Open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays | 9am-12pm
Tots @ The Well | Mondays 9-10am & 10:30am
Crafty Cuppa | Thursdays every other week | In The Well | 2-4pm
Power Hour | Whole church prayer and worship meeting | Thursdays every other week | 8pm
Brabourne Craft Group | Fourth Thursday of the month | 10am - 1pm | Brabourne Church
Renew Wellbeing | Tuesdays in The Well | 2-4pm
Reverb | midweek service every fourth Tuesday in the month | Brabourne | 1:30pm
Prayer | Before our Sunday service | front of church | 9:45am - all welcome!
Facebook prayers | Mon - Fri 8am | facebook.com/wbc.ashford
Early Morning Prayers | Wednesday mornings | 6:30am | Join here: www.willesboroughbaptist.church/prayer
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