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Sunday, February 9th 2025 (week 98)
  
Jeremiah 29:11
 
I had this message all worked out but in the last few minutes, just before I’m due to post to the website and publish it to the whole world something has happened to change my mind!
 
There have been times in my life when I haven`t felt particularly safe. Driving home from southern Spain through the Basque region about thirty-five years ago was one of them. At that time the region was still occupied by ETA, an armed Basque nationalist and far-left separatist organisation with the goal of independence for their homeland. As I drove through the desolate countryside with my wife and our two young boys with one window of the car roughly patched up with sellotaped plastic having been smashed out by car thieves in Marbella I recall distinctly feeling a degree of fear.
 
A good friend of mine has recently gone through a similar time of worry about where his life was leading him along with his own family. Having completed his Curacy in what can only be described as a tough area to minister he has gone through a series of interviews for his next role. Travelling to places far and wide in his search for where he might be headed none of his efforts led to a successful outcome. In a short while he and his family will vacate the home they occupy which is provided by the diocese in which he works and they will have nowhere to live.
 
Throughout the last twelve months or so I have met with my friend to chat and pray about his future, and I know that there have been times when he has seriously considered whether or not his future lies in ministry and doubt has crept in.
 
Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us to “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.” Similarly, the book of Psalms is full of reassurance when we are fearful. Psalm 16, “Protect me O God: I trust in you for safety……you Lord are all I have, and you give me all I need; my future is in your hands……I praise the Lord because he guides me………You will show me the path that leads to life”.
 
I know that my friend placed himself in God’s hands and was secure in God’s absolute knowledge and care. We both knew that because God has already said, “I alone know the plans I have for you, plans to bring you prosperity and not disaster, plans to bring about the future you hope for” Jeremiah 29:11.
 
Within the last half hour, my friend messaged me from the church where he has been speaking this morning, the same church he has gone back to speak in two or three times already. Following his message to them, the whole church voted on whether or not he should be their next Pastor. 100%  of the congregation have voted unanimously that they want him.
 
God has spoken again, and He deserves all our thanks and praise.
Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for your faithfulness and that we can rely on you through testing times.

 

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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, 09/02/2025
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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.
Visitors click here.

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.

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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.

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

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

 
   

Connect With Us

If you have come to this page via the QR code on our Connect form, please fill in your details below:

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