"God's sovereignty does not negate our responsibility to pray, but rather makes it possible to pray with confidence" - Jerry Bridges
If you have any questions or want to know more about anything in this newsletter, please get in touch at: admin@kingscc.org.
Treasuring His Presence By Roger Bye
During one of the sessions, at the recent Devoted Leaders Conference in Darlington, we listened to Tope Koleoso speak on God’s transforming presence. It was a powerful reminder of our calling to live for His Glory. Not to be so wrapped up in our own ways of seeing things that we just use God and take Him for granted. We need to be overwhelmed and amazed with God who alone is over all and who is worthy of praise and worship. He is the Lord, and we are called to be people who know and live in the reality of His presence. Others can know His presence through us as we live for His glory. This is remarkable, amazing and humbling. There is no greater calling on our lives than to live for this. It means keeping Jesus as our first love in all ways, cultivating a heart of worship whatever our circumstances. It means living a day by day walk of devotion to Jesus. This is the heart of discipleship. This is the greatest call on our lives. Let’s be hungry for Him, thirsty for His glorious presence and be ready to share His amazing love and grace with those around us.
The talks will be available at some point, and I really encourage you to listen to them over this summer period. They are powerful and can equip us further to live life for His glory!
Small Groups Update By Becca Dunlop and Roger Bye
Over the past few months we have gone through a lengthy process of looking at our small groups, which we have been sharing as we went along. We’re delighted to have 4 new small groups, which will be led by:
Matt and Samantha Aumonier
Martin and Hazel Gow
Rachel and Andrew Stevenson
Dave and Hazel Purfield
Our groups are different shapes, sizes, and have different functions, and we know that any new groups we add will also be unique, because the people in them are unique.
Almost everyone who is joining a new group has been sent an invitation with details of a group that we would like to invite you to. This is an invitation that we have thought incredibly hard about, and for those of you who gave us details of what kind of group you wanted to be in, we have tried really hard to match you with others who were looking for the same kind of thing. However, if it doesn’t work for you, please come and let us know. The way to do this is to speak to Alison and Malcolm Dowler who are our Small Group Coordinators. If you are not in a group, haven’t had a new invitation, and would like to be in a group, please speak to Alison and Malcolm and they will help to find a suitable group for you.
We see that church is a body. The body of Christ. Not just members of a club. But joined to one another. We belong together, we need one another, we’re not solo performers - we’re part of his orchestra, his team, his body. This is where small groups fit in the bigger picture.
We need one another and relationships are vital in our discipleship journey. It’s not a solo trek – we need one another. Small groups are a setting to work these things through.
4 key words to shape and help us as we step into this new season of small groups:
Connect – Small groups give time to being and growing together as family and friends. Small groups can be a place for new people to be invited along to, to connect and build relationships.
Encourage - Small groups have an important part to play in encouraging each other in the race we are called to run - to encourage us in our discipleship journey. Encourage one another…1 Thessalonians 4 v 8.
Care - Small groups provide a context for care to be expressed in ways that can be more difficult in bigger settings. We are called to care for one another.
Grow together - Different small groups will have different emphases but not random activities – they are all different aspects of growing together in Christ and sharing His love with others, but all share common gospel values of love, grace, unity, value – growing in loving Jesus more together. All to help us grow in our discipleship journey. To grow in being like Him, doing the things He has called us to do.
Family Worship Songs
We've recently put together a new Spotify playlist full of family worship songs. They can be listened to at home or on-the-go, to encourage everyone of all ages in worship. We'd love suggestions to add to this playlist and will update it regularly!
You can listen to the playlist here:
D-Day - 80 Years On - A Time for Commemoration By Gail Robins
As we’ve watched the D-Day commemorations, you can’t help but be moved by the humility and bravery of our veterans. Some of our Bridge Cafe guests are in their 80s and 90s and have memories from post war. Even though not old enough to participate, they lived in the shadow of World War II.
With this in mind we hosted a commemorative luncheon at the Bridge Café which 30 people attended. Food was baked and provided by church members (thank you very much). There was a D-Day documentary playing on the big screen (thank you techy people) and we accompanied this with World War II music.
One gentleman wore his Marines beret and another brought a picture of his father-in-law in military uniform. Comments were made such as “what a great morning with a lovely atmosphere”.
A big thank you to all those who supported the event.
Ablaze North By Joelle Raby
Ablaze North took place on the 8th June at the small village of Blencogo, near Wigton. 90 young people from West Cumbria descended to the village hall and field where an inflatable obstacle course, football, samba drumming, ‘God tent’, crafts, nerf wars, hair braiding, uni-hoc and a chill out tent were set-up ready for them to enjoy.There were many answers to prayer for Ablaze North;
Prayers for our young people to want to come were answered with the highest number of people attending this year. We had 5 new young people attend through King’s Church this year and 6 of the young people who came with us weren’t from church families.
Prayers for good weather: The wind levels were extremely high for Ablaze North which could have meant the inflatables couldn’t be put up. There was a miraculous calm on the field and the inflatables went up and stayed up for the 4 hours they were hired for and the sun shone. Whereas on the lane next to the field, there was a cold, high wind which meant the people running the tuck shop across the lane needed jumpers and coats.
Prayer for no rain: Last year, the rain held off until we got the young people inside for the last hour where we had planned to run activities, it took a week to dry out the marquees that were used as they were soaked from a heavy down pour. This year there was no rain, and it was much easier to put away dry marquees at the end of a long day.
Prayers for the use of ‘God’s Tent’: On the field, there was a teepee set up where young people could take time to pray and take part in prayer activities. It was lovely to see this well used throughout the afternoon.
Prayers for great conversations with young people: I spent the afternoon braiding hair next to the crafts table; it was lovely to chat to young people as I did this and get to know the young people better and build relationships with them. It was also great to see how creative they all were.
Thanks to everyone who prayed for this event and praise God that it went well. Thank you also to those who helped us put up and take down the marquees. It was a fantastic event and lovely to see all the young people enjoy it. If your young person missed it, don’t worry, there is another event coming up on the 28th September at Keswick run by Network Youth Church. Our young people will all be invited so save the date!
Newday 2024 By The Newday Team
Please could you pray for this year's Newday Event? For those of you that don’t know, it’s a youth event held on the Norfolk Showground from Monday 29 July - Friday 2 August. If you want to learn more about the event, follow this link: https://www.newdaygeneration.org/
Folks from our church are attending to work on the main teams running the event, so please pray for Tom & Becca Dunlop, Gail Robins and Ali & Cath Clarke as they do this. We have a team of youth leaders: Joelle Raby, Paul Mogford, Nathan Caine and support workers: Dave & Hazel Purfield, Ali Fielden, Katie Beresford from the church, taking care of our 10 youth and 8 Ukrainian guests that are attending.
Please pray:
For a safe journey to and from Newday
For effective preparation, set up and the smooth running of our group.
For our Ukrainian guests (6 children along with their 2 leaders) - that they will feel relaxed with us, that the language barrier will not be a problem for them, and that translation of the meetings will go well.
Finally, and most importantly, for God to work in the lives of all those attending, to equip these young people for the future, to bring healing and wholeness where it is needed, and for those who don’t know Jesus to meet Him and give their lives to Him.
Many thanks,
The Newday Team
Christian Adventure Holidays By Lisa Varey
Christian Adventure Holidays runs 4 weeks of activity holidays for 12-17 year olds each year from Bassenfell Manor. Each week takes about 40 young people (usually a mix of Christians and non Christians) and all weeks are full!
The aim is to share the gospel in a fun-filled setting where the qualified leaders take the young people sailing, kayaking, mountain biking and walking. The young people come from all over the country (and beyond) and often make friends for life whilst discovering Jesus for the first time, or being encouraged in their faith. There are usually small group Bible studies straight after breakfast, before a full day of activities, followed by worship and a talk in the evening.
Martin Varey is responsible for leading the first week (27th July-4th August), along with a number of other leaders, including myself and Dave Dunlop- so King's Church members are well represented!
Prayer Points:
- Thanks for God's faithfulness to the 'camp' over the years
- Thanks for the weeks being full and the leaders giving up their time and giving their skills.
- Pray for the weather - as we are out all day, it can really impact activities.
- Pray for safety and protection from illness/accidents.
- Pray for the Holy Spirit to be present throughout the week, really speaking to everyone.
- Pray for those who are not yet Christians to give their lives during the week.
Cumbria Christian Youth Camp (CCYC) By Cathryn MacPherson
CCYC is a week long, tented, summer camp for 11-16 year olds held in Brathwaite, near Keswick, each year at the end of July. The aims of camp are to provide a holiday for young people in a safe and caring environment, to teach young people the truth of God's word and challenge them with claims of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to encourage and nurture young Christians in their faith. The theme this year is 'Deep Roots', encouraging us to put effort into taking time to get to know God better through his word, to equip us to live our lives for Him.
During the week, there are bible workshops and evening meetings with a bible talk, songs, silly games, a video of the day and a memory verse. There are plenty of fun activities to get involved with from sports, team games and activities, to crafts and off-site activities including: canoeing, paddle boarding, raft building, archery, climbing and ghyll scrambling.
This year we have over 140 young people coming to camp and around 70 leaders, cooks and a support team.
Please pray for God's word to be taught clearly and for young people to come ready to hear God's word and for Him to change their hearts and be saved or encouraged to grow deeper in their relationship with Him. Please pray for the leaders to come ready to serve the young people with energy and lives that glorify God. Please also pray for safety on camp and on the activities, for good weather and good fun!
If you would like to know more, please look at our website ccyc.uk and look out for our prayer letter sent to local churches in a few weeks time.
Devoted 2025
Save the dates! 22nd - 25th August 2025.
To keep up to date with ChristCentral Churches upcoming events and to read their latest newsletter, head to https://www.christcentralchurches.org/news.
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