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DaksiesWalkies! 

Sunday 2nd June 2024 (Week 71)
 
1 Cor 12: 4-31
 
Anyone who knows me will also know that dogs play a big part in our family life. We`ve never been without a dog for very long and home simply isn`t the same without a four-legged friend padding around, chewing things up! It`s always been Dachshunds and having two of them can be quite interesting and revealing – about our character as well as theirs. I`m not too sure whether they grow to be more like us or we like them but short legs and pot bellies are far too common in our house!
 
Currently, we share our days with Ollie and Rusty but until a few years ago it was Max and Jazz. Despite each pair coming from the same litter, they are always very different. Not so much in appearance but in character and temperament. For instance, when I used to walk Max and Jazz around Stanley Park, one had a long, extendable lead which allowed him to romp off into the long grass, whilst the other had a much shorter lead. That`s because he would generally trot along at my side and only occasionally venture off into the unknown. One, an explorer and adventurer, the other content to watch from a distance. As a result, one often came back dirtier, wetter, and smellier, than the other.
 
Walking each one of our dogs often reminds me of what we are like as Christians. Firstly, there are those of us who simply “need” that longer lead. We want to explore every possible aspect of life, be really involved, and take part in as much as we can. Often, the result can be that we too end up feeling (and sometimes looking) somewhat more ragged as a result of the terrain we`ve explored. And then there are those amongst us who are simply happy to quietly get on with whatever we are doing without any fuss (my wife is one of those).
 
The point is we`re all necessarily different. God made us that way and loves us that way, even though he wants us to change and become more like Jesus. But he made us that way for a reason; the church needs us to be different. If we were all the same, how could we work together to help God build his church? For that reason, He imparted to us different gifts, talents, and abilities for different purposes, and we are not all given every gift.
 
1 Corinthians 12 tells us that there are “different” ways of serving the same Lord. God does not expect us to conform to a one-size-fits-all mould. Whether we are a tax collector or fisherman, stay-at-home mum or high-flying professional we are serving the same Lord, if we are doing what He has called us to do.
 
 
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for making us all different, and thank you for the different gifts you give to each one of us. Please help us to use your gifts to honour and glorify you.

Neil Bromage, 02/06/2024
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

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