Search

Type your text, and hit enter to search:
Close This site uses cookies. If you continue to use the site you agree to this. For more details please see our cookies policy.

Turning AwayTurned Away 

March 10th 2024 (Week 60)
 
Matthew 27: 45-56
 
One of our sons knows that I have an intense dislike of the habit of smoking – the result of growing up with a parent who smoked – and I hate to see him puffing away. Thankfully, he respects my views and doesn’t do it in my presence. There are some things many of us can’t bear to look at. It could be something small like spiders, or someone being subjected to unnecessary pain. For my wife, however, it’s blood and the injuries that go with it.
 
A few days ago, I underwent a procedure to remove a small lump from an ear and it’s left me with a mildly unsightly mess of stitches and the usual signs of having an incision. When it came to covering my ear to enable me to take a shower my wife couldn`t even approach the affected area, almost fainting as she tried to help. It’s the bloodied site of the removal that she was unable to look at.
 
Jackie’s inability to gaze upon something so small might seem odd to us. It is, after all, a very small spot compared to the size of my body! However, the smallest of things can have very significant effects. As we are told in the book of James, chapter 3, a small bit in the mouth of a horse can control the beast and a very small rudder can direct the largest of ships. A small flame can set a forest alight and the tongue, a very small part of our bodies, can speak out cursing and lies.
 
It might surprise you to know that God also has a problem with looking at some things. It’s not spiders, and it’s not blood either. God’s problem is sin. Yours and mine. Every time that little tongue of ours is out of control; every time we get angry with another motorist; every time we speak a lie or become puffed up with pride, and a host of other failures, we cause God a problem because he simply can’t look at us in our state of sinfulness due to being pure and holy.
 
Thankfully, He made a way for us. He sent His only son to pay the price for our unfaithfulness and to be sin for us. When Jesus hung dying on that cross He bore all of our sins, past, present, and future. In that moment He took our place and endured the pain of His Father in Heaven turning away from Him and cried out, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” The Father turned away from His Son because he saw our sin.
 
That wasn’t the end, but just the beginning for us. As people who have turned to and accepted Christ, we are forgiven. Jesus has provided an opportunity for us to pursue a life completely free of guilt and shame but full of the abundance God has for us.
 
If you haven`t yet accepted Jesus as your personal Saviour, there is no time like now!
 
Prayer: Jesus, thank you for what you have done on the cross. Thank you for freeing us from our sinfulness and giving us an abundant life with you for eternity.

Neil Bromage, 10/03/2024
Glenys
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.

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 team. We typically have two songs followed by a children's slot. The Limitless Kids and Limitless 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.

New to church

 

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.  The Limitless Youth group 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 Limitless 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 Small Groups and see if there’s one that you could join, or we can put you in touch with a small group leader.

Serving and volunteering

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

Other ministries

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

Toddlers & Co 

Food bag provision

Open Doors Team

Church in the Café

Youth Community Outreach

We hope that whoever you are, you will feel at home at the church. You can connect with us using the form below.

Best Wishes
The Gatehouse Leadership Team

 

WATCH OUR CHURCH INTRODUCTION VIDEO

Get in touch with us

 
 First time guest
 Regular attender
 
*Your Name:
 
*Email Address:
 
Phone:
 
I'm interested in

 Small groups
 Salvation
 Membership
 Baptism
 Volunteering
 Limitless Kids
 Other
 
 
 I give consent to Gatehouse to store my information on their database in line with GDPR and data protection laws.