For such a time as this

Dear church family

'…As the time when the Jews got relief from their enemies, and as the month when their sorrow was turned into joy and their mourning into a day of celebration.' - Esther 9:22a

The book of Esther will always have a special place in my heart. I remember listening to the story retold for kids on a cassette tape we would listen to in the car and thinking how amazing it was to hear about this woman who stood up with boldness and faced potential death to fight for her people. Hearing about this courageous woman where most biblical stories were about men was amazing for me as a little girl and it meant this story in particular stuck with me. One of my favourite bits in this story is in Esther 4:14 where Mordecai (Esther's cousin who had raised her) says to her, 'For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?'

A quick summary of the story for those who haven't read it is because of her great beauty, Esther becomes the queen of Persia after King Xerxes decides to marry her, but she hides the fact that she is a Jew. The bad guy in the story is a man called Haman who plots to destroy all the Jews in King Xerxes empire and manages to get King Xerxes to put an order out to destroy them. Esther risks her life going to Xerxes to ask him to change the order and is successful in convincing him and ultimately the Jewish people in Persia are rescued because of Esther. What a woman!
 
'For such a time as this,'  is a phrase that has always stuck with me. Whatever situation you find yourself in whether good or challenging, and particularly with challenging situations, perhaps God has placed you there for a reason. Jesus calls us to be a light that shines in the darkness, and this is not always an easy calling. However, situations can shift and circumstances can change when we invite Jesus into those situations and sometimes it means we must be bold and courageous and stand for what is right. When we stand for what is Godly and right, God honours us within that, like He honoured Esther and helped her save His chosen people.

'So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.' – Isaiah 41:10

Much love,
 
Katie


SUNDAY SERVICES | 10:30AM
Join us in person this Sunday in Ashford, Brabourne or Finberry
You can also join us online from New Wells Ashford for our sermon series 'Trusting God's Plan': https://youtu.be/WHkK0N45-N8


 

NEWCOMERS MEAL + ALPHA TASTER SESSION ❤️
Mon 6th July | 7:30pm | New Wells Ashford
If you're new to our church family and want to get to know a bit more about us, come along for a meal and a taster Alpha session!
Sign up: https://newwells.churchsuite.com/events/i7frexxo




UPCOMING CHURCH MEETINGS ?
Please note we have two special meetings coming up next month
Brabourne Sun 5th July | 12noon (Straight after the service) | New Wells Brabourne
Ashford Thu 9th July | 7pm for 7:30pm | New Wells Ashford




COMMUNITY CONNECT ???❤️ VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
18th & 19th July - with special guests MAF - aircraft on site!
Please let us know if you can help - sign up here: https://newwells.churchsuite.com/-/forms/9l9oq5nb




H2O ?  NEW KIDS GROUP - NEXT WEEK
Tues 30th June & Tues 7th July | 6:00pm–7:15pm | New Wells Ashford
A midweek discipleship group for children in our church and their friends.
? Games ? Stories ? Songs ? Friends & more... No sign-up required
For children in Years 2–6. Contact Matt for more info: matt.wardley@newwells.church




COMMUNITY CONNECT ???❤️ NEXT WEEKEND
Sat 4th July | 12noon-3pm | New Wells Brabourne
Please let the office know if you would like to help on the day office@newwells.church

BRABOURNE CLOSURE DATES ?
6th-10th July | New Wells Brabourne
Please note our Brabourne site will be closed for maintenance

IMMERSE THIS SUNDAY ???
7pm | New Wells Ashford
Encounter, Engage, Empower! Immerse is our monthly evening service (which is always the last Sunday of the month) where we worship, listen to God and immerse ourselves in His presence


H2O | Kids Discipleship Group | Tue 30th June | New Wells Ashford
Community Connect | Sat 4th July | 12noon-3pm | New Wells Brabourne
H2O | Kids Discipleship Group | Tue 7th July | New Wells Ashford
Community Connect | Sat 18th July | 11am-3pm | New Wells Ashford
Community Connect | Sun 19th July | 12noon-3pm | New Wells Finberry
Immerse | Sun 28th June | 7pm | New Wells Ashford
Brabourne Special Church Meeting (Amalgamation) | Sun 5th July 12noon (Straight after the service) | New Wells Brabourne
Ashford Special Church Meeting  (Amalgamation) | Thu 9th July | 7pm for 7:30pm | New Wells Ashford


Droplets / Ripples / Waves | Sunday mornings | Age 0-1, 1-4, 5-10 | New Wells Ashford & New Wells Finberry
The Source (previously Blaze) | Sunday mornings upstairs in The Well | Years 6-8
The Deep (previously Furnace) | Mondays | 7-9pm | Moyles' manse | Years 9-13
The Base | Wednesdays | 7-9pm | New Wells Brabourne | Years 7-13
Oceans (previously Ignite) | Friday | 7-9pm | Main worship space | Years 7-13
The Well | Open Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays | 9am-12pm
Signing Well | Every second Thu | 10:30am-12noon | The Well
Tots at New Wells | Mondays 9:30-11am | New Wells Ashford
Tots at Oasis | Wednesdays 10-11:30am | New Wells Brabourne
Crafty Cuppa | Thursdays every other week | 2-4pm | The Well
Power Hour | Whole church prayer & worship meeting | Thursdays every other week | 8pm
The Real Meal | Mens meal | First Thursday of the month | 7 for 7:30pm | The Walnut Tree Aldington
Brabourne Craft Group | Fourth Thursday of the month | 10am-1pm | New Wells Brabourne
Renew Wellbeing | Tuesdays in The Well | 2-4pm
Reverb | Midweek service every fourth Tuesday in the month | New Wells Brabourne | 1:30pm
Prayer | Before our Sunday service | front of church | 9:45am - all welcome!
Facebook prayers | Mon-Fri 8am | www.facebook.com/newwellschurch
Early Morning Prayers | Wednesday mornings | 6:30am | Join here on Zoom: www.newwells.church/prayer