SHALOM!

March 3^rd, 2024 (Week 59)

Col 3:15 (Good News Bible)

Don’t you just envy (oops!....change that to admire!) those people who seem to know the right thing to do in just about everything? A close friend of mine had been grappling with the real problem of appointing a cook at the 100-strong summer kids camp we were both attending. As the leader of the camp, the problem sat uncomfortably on his desk.

He had a very easy solution which many of us would have taken weeks ago. As it was, he had chosen to reach the two-weeks-to-go point and still hadn’t got a cook. With 60-70 kids and 25-30 leaders on camp for the week, this was a really important issue.

His simple solution would have been to go and ask the same person who had done the job for quite a few years, but he had no real sense of peace about doing that, feeling change was needed. Together we`d talked through several scenarios, spoke to different people, and even with just four weeks to go thought we’d got the situation resolved with someone agreeing to do the job. Ten days later this cook pulled out. Ouch! My friend and I were back to square one, with a little over two weeks to go before everyone arrived at the camp.

We spoke about it one evening when he confessed he was about to call the longstanding cook and I confirmed that in my view he had no alternatives left. That was about 5pm. At 7pm he called me. I was expecting him to say that the cook had agreed to do the job and the problem was solved. What he actually said confirmed his feelings throughout the previous weeks and months.

Before making the inevitable call he`d spoken to someone else about other aspects of the camp. One of the first questions this lady asked my friend was “Have you got a cook yet?” It had been a matter of prayer, particularly in the camp team. “No”, my friend replied, “…but I’m about to call……” “I’ll do it,” she said. Just like that, no hesitation. Bearing in mind she was cooking at another camp the week after ours she would have been excused a hesitation.

This situation had been ongoing for months and it was beginning to feel that we were lurching from one crisis to another. But God was always in control, nudging my friend in the right direction. Colossians 3:15 says, “The peace the Christ gives is to guide you in the decisions you make…….” And he clearly didn`t have that until God provided the solution.

My friend went on to say, “I sense God doing things like this so often in my life”. And on that note, I really must say how much I…..uhm……..admire him.

Prayer: Lord thank you that you work so clearly in our lives at times. Please help us to recognise your hand in all things. Draw us so close to you that we can’t fail to see you in everything.

Neil Bromage, 03/03/2024

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.