Dear JohnPaul Church Family!
As many of you go on holiday, Rich and I are preparing to help lead a Christian camp for young leaders in Keswick called Base Camp. We are the cooks and Rich is providing some leadership training and I am doing some preaching and teaching. We love seeing young people come to faith for the first time and others grow in their faith.
One young man had been coming to our charity’s Kart Camp for years, but only decided to follow Jesus at Base camp last year. His family are not believers, so it was a huge decision for him. However, we know the faithful friendship and witness of leaders on Kart camp over many years had made all the difference.
As many of you are taking holidays, please don’t feel too sorry for us! We took an early holiday cruising round Italy on the ship where our nephew was a member of the dance troupe. It was an amazing 10 days of good food, lovely company and great weather.
Discipleship
I was away at Hyning for a day of prayer this week. The sun shone for the whole day as I prayed and walked round the gardens. I have been praying about the next stages for our churches. We have seen so many changes in recent years: the joining of both churches, a new leadership team, new Connect groups, services for healing of the past, a greater emphasis on prayer and more young families coming regularly to church.
However, as a Ministry team we have been mulling over how to help those who are coming to faith, to truly live it out in every aspect of their lives, not just at church. How does God’s law (written now on our hearts) impact our marriages, the way we bring up our children, the way we spend money, what we watch on television, the work we do?
I talked this over with my diocesan mentor and he says that this is a question facing everyone in the Church of England at this time. Please pray with us as we seek God’s way forward.
The Ups and Downs of the end of term
We are all taking a deep sigh after an unusually stressful end of term. It may have been harder for me because of my 10 days off in June. I returned to lots of end of term events including two workshops, created by Scripture Union, for both my Year 6 children on preparing them for secondary school. The PCC very generously provided me with funds to provide each Year 6 child a copy of the book to take home that went with the workshop. https://content.scriptureunion.org.uk/its-your-move
The end of term also coincided with two sad deaths. The first was a much-loved member of St Paul’s, Gladys Greenwood; we celebrated her life on the final day of term. The second was the son of dear members of our St John’s congregation, who we have been uplifting in our prayers for many months. We continue to pray for both families.
What’s on in August
During the summer things quieten down at church, with many of our regular events taking a month off – Toast Time, Busy Bees, Families@5, Connect groups, Ministry team, the monthly mid-week communion and the Children’s Church at St John’s. So let me give a big shout out for all those team members who have faithfully committed to running these groups throughout the year. We are so grateful for all you do! Not only does your commitment bring glory to God, but did you know that people who volunteer live longer and are happier?
Please continue to pray for the small fundraising team from St John’s as they apply to a new Christian trust over the summer: https://benefacttrust.co.uk
Please do consider joining us at the Vicarage for Cream teas in August on the 3rd and the 6th from 2-4pm. Do let Marion Wilkinson or Kath Jones if you need a lift there or know of someone who does.
Looking Ahead
Please don’t forget to pray about who you might invite to our mini mission on 28th and 29th September. We are having a Harvest Ceilidh at St John’s and Rev Michelle Delves will come and speak during the meal. This will be followed up by a joint service at St John’s at 10.30am the following day. We are considering following this up with an Alpha!
This comes with our love and prayers for rest, recovery and restoration!
Amanda and the team at JohnPaul!