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Gatehouse Church

Tough TimesTough Times 

Sunday, January 19th 2025 (week 95)
 
Exodus 14: 1-31
 
It is said that tough times don’t last but tough people do. I can honestly say that I have been through some very tough times. I’ve experienced an array of major life traumas during the last forty years, but the last few days have been some of the most difficult ever.
 
We received some unexpected news that has rocked the foundations of our everyday life and we have no idea what the future holds for us, or where it lies. As a result, emotions have run over with worry, anxiety, tears and frustration all taking over. Thirty or forty years ago we would have coped with this much more easily but now it’s a lot harder.
 
And so, for what I believe is the first time since becoming a Christian, I have found it hard to pray as all sorts of questions come to mind. They are, of course, all the same questions each of us asks in times of crisis. Why Lord? Where are you God? If you really exist then……! And then we reach the point of “What’s the point of praying!” I`m not sure if that’s when the words stopped but they did. I simply couldn’t find them.
 
It's 6am, the morning after the news was received. Outside is still very dark and I`m sat alone in my usual early morning seat when these words pop into my head, “Watch and see what I will do”. That’s just wishful thinking I tell myself as my daily habit takes over and I turn off the news on the TV and open my Bible notes whilst acknowledging inwardly that this is really hard.
 
The reading from Our Daily Bread was titled “Easy and Hard” and immediately got my attention as the word “hard” was repeated in my head. It was about a young pastor whose son died whilst playing football. It referenced the American Christian and Pastor A.W.Tozer who said, “It is doubtful whether God can bless a man greatly until he has hurt him deeply”, and that may be true.
 
The reading talked about the complexity of God’s ways and how he uses both easy and hard paths to grow His people and bring Him glory. In verse 4 of the reading from Exodus God revealed his purpose in the hard path he had chosen for the Egyptians when He promised, “I will gain glory for myself through Pharoah and all his army, and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord”.
 
Sometimes we need to be reminded of God’s power. The Bible reading accompanying my notes was Exodus 14: 5-14 and as I read it I realised that I had already highlighted v 13-14: “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today……..The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.” At the right time, in the right place and in the right way God spoke to me. His words, not mine, and not my wishful thinking, but just Almighty God, the creator of the universe and everything in it choosing to speak to me and reassure me that He is bigger than any problem we might have and He will see us through it.
 
Prayer: Jesus, thank you that you are sufficient for all our needs.

 

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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, 19/01/2025
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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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