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JonahRough Edges 

Sunday June 9th 2024 (week 72)
 
Jonah 1: 1-17
 
 
When I was at school, I was never very good at woodwork, or any of the typically male-oriented skills. My wife would say I’m even worse now and as I really can’t saw a straight line she is, once again, probably right! I`ll consider putting up a shelf or two and she will quickly respond by telling me that it would be much better if I stuck to what I`m good at. Let’s get a man who can, she’ll say! But I do recall that I quite enjoyed the act of smoothing edges with sandpaper, even if I took a bit too much off here and not enough there leaving me with a shape that bore no resemblance to what was intended. God clearly equips us all with very different life skills for different kingdom-building tasks.
 
It was a discussion with a friend who, at the time was in training for the leadership of a church plant in Biggleswade that reminded me I had gone through a period of having my own rough edges sanded down by God (those who know me well probably see that he hasn’t quite finished yet!). Sadly, however, I was also struck by the fact that, at that particular time I didn`t really sense the sanding process.
 
That realisation told me that I hadn’t been challenged, nurtured, and generally allowed myself to become the “shape” God wants me to be. Much of that will undoubtedly be down to me. Despite maintaining a long-standing daily quiet time, in prayer and Bible reading it’s possible that I was simply going through the motions and not spending the time necessary to listen and allow God to work in me. It’s also possible that I had avoided putting myself in places and situations that would challenge me sufficiently. It served as a reminder that my Christian mentor, a friend whose example and teaching provided such blessing to me had passed away. Some years later his role in my life hadn’t been filled and I missed his guidance and the accountability the relationship brought.
 
It`s easy to go through the motions of the Christian life without being truly affected by it. But we need to remember that God`s main purpose in our lives is to make us more and more like Jesus. It may take a lifetime but it`s something that He will do lovingly and will accomplish if we are in the place He wants us to be, with the people He wants around us.
 
So, like Jonah, we have a choice. Either it’s off to Nineveh, that place where God really wants us, the place where he has work for us and can work on us to smooth down those rough edges or it`s a boat in the opposite direction. I don`t know about you but the belly of a whale doesn`t seem terribly inviting to me!
 
 
Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us to stay so close to you and your Holy Spirit that we instinctively know where you want us so that you can smooth down all of our rough edges.

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

 

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