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September MoonSeptember Moon 

Sunday, September 22nd 2024 (week 80)
 
Genesis 1: 14-19 
 
It’s a little-known secret that I used to test-drive cars for motor manufacturers and then write about them. Every Monday morning a brand new car would be delivered to my driveway to use for a whole week. As a result, I have driven just about everything from the sublime to the ridiculous, from the sporty and seriously rapid rally car to a Postman Pat-like miniature van. One of the most important lessons I learned was to understand “control”. I got to know very quickly when a car would go precisely where I pointed it so that I knew exactly how fast I could or could not drive it into a corner. Understanding “control” was vital.
 
In our everyday lives, we are often not in control and that can be disturbing. We may hear bad news about a family member or friend. We may not get that new job or promotion and question why we were not good enough. Our finances may have taken a hit or a friend may have let us down badly. We may be caught up in some motorway madness that will cause us to miss something important or maybe really enjoyable, a favourite concert or performance perhaps. All these things and more are capable of causing us a wobble because we’re not in control.
 
I was reminded of this during the last few days when I received news that has the potential to rock my family life. It was late one evening and my wife and I were watching television as I pondered the news I had received. It’s September of course and the darkness is drawing in quickly. In a month or so, we will start drawing the curtains to keep in the warmth, but for now, they remain open because I like to peer out until the blackness of night blocks out everything.
 
It was just then that a full moon began to rise slowly from the east and I watched for about an hour until it took its place high in the cloudless sky. I was suddenly reminded that God put it there. It has been there for thousands of years and continues to do its job because God is still in control.
 
Genesis 1 tells us that God commanded, “Let lights appear in the sky to separate day from night. So God made “the sun to rule over the day and the moon to rule over the night…….”. With God in control of the universe in this way, we need not worry about whether he can control the circumstances of our lives to bring about His perfect will.
 
If we are committed to following Jesus and living out God’s plan for our lives we can be sure that whatever we go through God will provide a way through it and His grace and mercy will deliver us. The circumstance will pass one way or another and we will look back and see that God’s hand was at work guiding and providing for us.
 
God can do anything, we simply need to trust him.
 
And btw, it might seem like a throw-away comment but, “…he also made the stars”.
 
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for showing us so clearly that you are in control and that we can trust you in any circumstance.

Neil Bromage, 22/09/2024
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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