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Pomegranates and FigsPomegranates and Figs 

Sunday, December 8th 2024 (week 91)
 
1 Corinthians 12: 4 – 11 & 27 -30
 
In our family, I am not known for my practical skills. I sometimes struggle even to knock a nail in straight and it bends as the head of the hammer strikes it. I can draw a straight line with a ruler but sawing along that line is a different matter and I often end up with an imperfect edge. I remember needing to put a can opener on the kitchen wall of our first home using an old-fashioned bit and brace hand drill and the resulting hole was three times larger than needed for the plug and screw which meant the utensil didn’t hold to the wall – until my new Father-in-Law did the job properly!
 
Similarly, I don’t often volunteer for upfront presentation-type roles as I don’t feel suited to them. However, put me in front of a class of Creative Writing students and I come alive. I’m in my comfort zone and everything just feels completely natural.
 
We are all very different. We are all unique. Even identical twins are different because God doesn’t do clones. Each of us has a purpose and God has equipped us especially for that purpose. Ephesians 4: 11-13 tells us that “It was he who gave gifts; he appointed some to be apostles, others to be prophets, others to be evangelists, others to be pastors and teachers”, clearly showing us that we all have different roles and callings.
 
Our lives are all about purpose and using our time and energy on the wrong purpose will rob us of peace and power. I love the way the evangelist Steven Furtick puts it in this message:
 
https://www.facebook.com/StevenFurtick/videos/963905370641350
 
To quote him, “You don’t have any peace, you don’t have any power because you keep trying to put out pomegranates when God planted you to put out figs”. In other words, you are wasting your potential.
 
In John 14:6 Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life……” When we accept Jesus as our saviour, acknowledging that He died on the cross to save us from our sins, He brings freedom that leads us onto the path that God has chosen for us. It is the only path that will lead to the fully satisfied life God has already planned for us as promised in Ephesians 2:10, “God has made us what we are, and in our union with Christ Jesus he has created us for a life of good deeds, which he has already prepared for us to do.”
 
Sometimes it can take a while to find our real purpose - It took me twenty-five years to get to grips with writing these devotionals – but the sooner we step out into doing what God created us for the sooner we will begin to enjoy life the way He wants us to and has designed us for.
 
Prayer: Father, thank you for loving us so much, giving each of us a special role here on earth, and creating and equipping us especially for that assignment. Please help us see what you want us to do in our lives so that we are prepared for our eternal life with you.

 


16

Neil has been a Christian for nearly thirty years and prior to joining Gatehouse Church spent all his Christian life at Christ Church with All Saints Blackpool, where amongst other things he was a leader in their Campaigner Ministries children and youth work.

Neil is an award-winning and widely published writer. Over twenty-five years he has written for a range of mainstream media including The Times, Sunday Times, Telegraph, Daily Mail, and Financial Mail on Sunday as well as Reuters and numerous magazines. How To Books published his first non-fiction title 100 Ways to Make Your Business a Success and he has recently added The Great British Property Scam.

He has also taught Creative Writing extensively for Blackpool and the Fylde College, The WEA, and Lancaster University and launched www.seasiderswrite.com a community-based creative writing project funded by Arts Council England. Writing as C.J.Neill he is also a published novelist.

You can find out more at www.neilbromage.com or drop him an email at neil@neilbromage.com


 

Neil Bromage, 08/12/2024
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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