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Business plansThe Best Laid Plans 

Sunday June 30th 2024 (week 75)
 
Jeremiah 29:11 (Good News Bible)
 
My wife and I like to plan. Whether it’s evening meals for the week (Jackie’s task) or what time something needs to happen, most things in our home are planned out so that we know what’s happening at any given time. Planning, after all, is an important part of our lives.
 
In my business life, I also have to plan. Over the last forty years, I’ve written a great many business plans for different ventures but the only thing I remember is that none of them ever turned out as planned, despite my belief at the time that I had thought of everything.
 
The Scottish poet Robert (Robbie) Burns wrote, “The best-laid plans of mice and men oft' go awry …and leave us nothing but grief and pain,….”, and I know that to be true. And yet they were good plans. I remember one business plan for which I had meticulously planned every aspect. I had every traffic flow statistic available, had done all the necessary deals to get it going, and was partnered with two of the biggest business names in the travel industry, but the project didn’t even get off the ground!
 
The reason for all those failures was that I had not factored in the most important aspect of all good, successful planning. God. In Jeremiah 29:11 God says He knows the plans He has for us but The Good News Bible has one important distinction from all other translations. It says, “I alone know the plans I have for you”. If He alone knows what’s best for us it’s safe to assume He also gives us the ideas and desire to carry them out because God is the author and finisher of our lives.
 
The next time you have an idea or an impression try this 5 point plan:
 

  1. Pray: “Ask the Lord to bless your plans, and you will be successful in carrying them out.” (Proverbs 16:3),
  2. Plan: “Plan carefully what you do, and whatever you do will turn out right.” (Proverbs 4:26), “Get good advice and you will succeed.” (Proverbs 20:18),
  3. Trust: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know. Remember the Lord in everything you do, and He will show you the right way.” (Proverbs 3:5&6),
  4. Act: “Be determined and confident” and make sure that you obey (God) and His word and you will “be successful wherever you go.” (Joshua 1,6-9),
  5. Repeat all the above.

 
Remember that God is a planner. He planned the whole universe and you and me. He has a plan for all of our lives. Once we align ourselves with His plan He will bless us abundantly.
 
 
Prayer: Lord, thank you that your plans for us are amazing and that you simply want the best possible for each one of us.

Neil Bromage, 30/06/2024
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

 

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