The Art of Communication

Week 47

1 Samuel 3:1-10

I haven’t always been a good listener. If I had been it may well have saved me from failures and heartaches. But when as a writer I was sent out by an editor to interview high profile entrepreneurs and to write about their businesses I learned very quickly the importance of listening carefully. If I got things wrong, it could easily backfire on me and the publication I was writing for. Now, after thirty years or so, I realise that the most important part of communicating is listening.

Imagine then my frustration when I was recently involved in a video meeting with six other people from around the world as we gathered to plot the course of a part of our business. It was an important meeting and time is of the essence in this particular matter. Unfortunately, one individual took over most of the ninety-minute meeting as he rambled on and on about unconnected issues and interrupted when anyone else tried to speak. The result was that I had to reconvene the meeting with two of the team in order to discuss matters that we were unable to raise earlier.

Communication is all about listening. There is never a more important time to remember this than when we are talking to our Heavenly Father. Prayer is a privilege, and the Bible is riddled with God’s instructions to listen to Him. In fact, the word “listen” appears 278 times throughout the Bible. All too often, however, we come with our own list of requests but fail to listen carefully to what God has to say – I know this because I have been guilty of it.

As our Heavenly Father, God wants us to go to him in prayer. He longs to hear from us. He longs also to direct our steps (Proverbs 16:9) and to enable us to stay on the path he has planned for us. He can`t do that if we are not listening to Him. We may have a long list of requests but He already knows our needs (Matthew 6:8) and we also have an advocate in heaven praying for us in the form of Jesus, God’s only son (1 John 2:1-2).

If you were invited to an audience with a high-ranking member of our earthly society like a Prime Minister or The King of a country, neither of whom knows you or loves you, you would probably say very little but simply listen. How much more then, should we listen to the creator of the universe, our Heavenly Father who loves us so much that he sent His only son to die for us.

There are times when I need to remind myself that it’s not all about me and to “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10) and to heed what He says, “I myself will call to account anyone who does not listen to my words” (Deuteronomy 18:19).

Prayer: Father, thank you that you want us to talk to you. Listening to you sometimes doesn’t come easily to us when we are distracted by things going on around us. Please help us to set aside time to be still and really listen carefully to what you want to say to each one of us.

Neil Bromage, 12/11/2023

Hello and welcome to our church. If you are a new visitor, we have a page for you to get to know us and learn more about planning a visit.
Click here to see more.

Visitors click here.

Planning your Visit

A Warm Hello

The following information is specifically for those planning a visit, so that you know, beforehand, what to expect on a Sunday morning.

Where and when

We meet at the Church Building (details here) for our Sunday Service starting at 10:30am. For your first visit, we recommend arriving 10-15 minutes early to ensure you get a parking space and find somewhere to sit before the service begins. When you arrive, you should be greeted by someone on our Welcome Team.

Accessibility: There is wheelchair access for anyone who needs it. Please let one of the Welcome Team know on your arrival and they will help you to get set up. There are disabled toilets in the main foyer.

Our service

The main service begins at 10.30am with a warm welcome from one of our team members. Then follows a time of sung worship, led by our worship leader. We typically have two songs followed by a children's slot. The children and youth will then normally go off to their respective groups. If you have children you will be able to spot and speak to one of the leaders - they will be wearing a bright yellow t-shirt! There will usually be a time of prayer and communion. We normally have another time of sung worship followed by a sermon that is bible based and that we can apply to our everyday life. We then finish with a final worship song. Sometimes there is an opportunity to receive prayer at the end of the service.

When our team is available we serve tea, coffee and biscuits from 12pm, after the service. It is a great way to meet people, or simply take time to find your bearings. All refreshments are free.

sunday services

What about my kids?

We have a great programme lined up for kids/teens:

Creche - from approx. 6 months to 5 years (decided on a child by child basis)
Limitless Kids (4/5 - 11/12 years)
Limitless Youth (school years 7-11)

Children stay with their parent or grown-up at the start of the service for two worship songs and the “Kids slot” and then go to creche or Limitless Kids. Limitless Youth may go out at the same time as the children but sometimes stay in the service to take communion before going to their class. Children can be picked up by parents after the service ends (but not before 12pm).

The kids group activities vary depending on the age but usually there is a friendly welcome, bible stories, testimonies, praying, music, craft, drama, fun games and free play. Please pick your children up as soon as the service finishes.

Getting Connected

Small Groups

While Sundays are a great way to meet new people, it is often in smaller gatherings that you can really get to know someone. Being part of one of our small groups allows you to make new friends, share together and support each other. We have a couple of groups that meet every week, some afternoons and some evenings. Check out Small Groups and see if there’s one that you could join, or we can put you in touch with a small group leader who will be more than happy to invite you along to their group.

Serving and Volunteering

If you want to get involved in the life of the church and help us make Sundays run smoothly, you can sign up to Join a team.

Other Ministries

We also run the following ministries and regularly support various missionaries who are part of the Elim Missions work:

Toddlers & Co weekly group
Foodbag provision
Open Doors Team
Church in the Cafe
Youth Community Outreach

We hope that whoever you are, you will feel at home at the church.

Best Wishes
The Gatehouse Church Team

About us

Get in touch with us to plan your visit

If you would like to come and visit the church beforehand you are more than welcome! Get in touch and we can arrange a time that suits you. (*Mandatory Fields)

*Name:

Telephone:

*Email Address:
*Comments / Questions or anything you would like to say?

Next, we will contact you by email to say hello and help arrange anything necessary for your visit.