Are you ready?

Dear church family

Are you ready?

"Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you…" Joshua 3:5

Joshua had been among the 12 people chosen to go and scout the land of Canaan that God was to give to the Israelites (Numbers 13). They went and found a land that was fruitful, flowing with milk and honey - just as God had promised, but they also saw the challenges that lay ahead - the tribes who lived there. Some looked to the future with fear - all they could see were the challenges, and as they looked at them, the challenges appeared bigger than they were - at the end of Numbers 13 they started spreading word - "The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. We saw the Nephilim there… we seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes…"
 
The people around became fearful too as they heard this - fear can be contagious. But others looked to the future with faith - they knew what God had promised. Caleb said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it." When the Israelites were weeping and grumbling, Joshua and Caleb tore their clothes and said: "The land we passed through and explored is exceedingly good. If the Lord is pleased with us, he will lead us into that land, a land flowing with milk and honey, and will give it to us. Only do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land, because we will devour them. Their protection is gone, but the Lord is with us. Do not be afraid of them."

As Numbers 14 continues we see this battle between fear and faith continue. Sometimes this can be a battle within us as we look to the future. Will we look through the eyes of fear or faith? Because of Joshua and Caleb's faith, they could enter into the promises of God, they were able to enter the land while the rest of their generation could not. It is by faith that we become all God has called us to be.

Fast-forward to the book of Joshua, after the death of Moses, and we see God confirm the calling on Joshua's life to lead the people into the promised land. God says to him, "As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous…" In fact, God repeats the command, "Be strong and courageous" three times and says, "The Lord your God will be with you wherever you go" God chose Joshua because of his faith, because he did not shrink back all those years before - he trusted God. And now as Joshua is about to embark on the biggest challenge of his life, God reminds him who he is, who he has been called to be - strong and courageous, and God reminds him that he is with him wherever he goes.
 
As the people are preparing to enter the promised land, Joshua tells them: "Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do great things among you." Prepare yourselves, prepare your hearts, set yourselves apart for God and God alone. This is a significant moment in history, a time where the promises of God are being fulfilled and a new chapter is beginning.

The same feels true for us. God has taken us on a journey, there are things God has spoken over the churches in Willesborough and Brabourne throughout the years, the decades and probably long before any of us can remember, that are beginning to be fulfilled. There is a new chapter in our shared history that is beginning where we want to step into the promises of God and take hold of all he has called us to, looking to the future with faith.

As we prepare we are setting aside time to worship, pray and fast, starting tonight at 7pm and continuing until Saturday at 7pm. We are calling everyone of every age to participate across our church family, whether you have been coming for weeks or decades, whether you can stay for 10minutes or 10hours, we want to do this together. Tonight we will be starting at 7pm with more worship as we begin our time. The space is set up to be comfortable and warm and will be open through the night. In the morning between 9 and 11am we will be having family focussed prayers led by Matt, and then prayer and worship will continue through the day finishing at 7pm.

Please join us as we commit everything and most importantly ourselves to God in prayer ahead of the New Wells launch on Sunday at 10:30am at Willesborough and Brabourne.
 
With much love,

Mark

 
24HRS OF PRAYER & WORSHIP | TONIGHT FRI 3RD 7PM - SAT 4TH 7PM


NEW WELLS LAUNCH | SUNDAY 10:30AM Join us this Sunday morning to celebrate the launch of New Wells Church together with Brabourne as we host a joint service across both locations in Ashford and Brabourne. For those who are unable to attend in person please join us on YouTube: https://youtu.be/yTWvSCVjR2I



GIVAUDAN 10K | SUNDAY 12TH OCT Next Sunday there will be no morning service in Ashford as the 10k run closes the Hythe Road and we gather to support the runners with a hype station. Please come along at 9am before the road closure (c.9:30am) and be ready to support - we will have music playing, sweets and drinks to hand to runners. We will have a 4PM All-age Worship for everyone service so please come and join us in the afternoon.

 
 
PAULA'S ORDINATION | SAT 18TH OCT 2PM Join us as we celebrate Paula's ordination together with a Saturday gathering at 2pm followed by an afternoon tea






Sunday 5th October NEW WELLS LAUNCH | 10:30am
Saturday 18th October Paula Chegwin Ordination | 2pm - save the date!
Tuesday 28th October Reverb | 1:30pm Brabourne


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 at 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.newwells.church/prayer