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Carlos SantanaWho is playing you? 

Sunday, February 23rd 2025 (week 99)
 
1 Chronicles 15: 16-22
 
I am a keen music fan with an eclectic taste and my choice at any given time will be guided by my mood. In my study at home where I write, Classic FM is constantly on the radio. As I write this piece the haunting sound of Rodrigo's famous Concierto de Aranjuez is playing, and my mind is taken off to Spain as I remember it in the 1960s. Catch me on a Friday evening after a long hard week in the office and I`ll be watching videos of Dire Straits and the widely acknowledged talent of Mark Knopfler’s guitar playing.
 
In the life of the church, few things have the power to unite, inspire, and move hearts like music. Whether through the melodies of a hymn, the uplifting chords of a worship song, or the reflective tones of a spiritual ballad, music has been a cornerstone of Christian worship for centuries. 1 Chronicles 15 reminds us of the importance of music and tells how “David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their fellow Levites as musicians to make a joyful sound with musical instruments: lyres, harps and cymbals”.
 
It is easy to forget that everything we have is a gift from God. Our families, our homes, our work, our possessions and our abilities are all gifts from God. We are merely custodians charged with managing, growing and enjoying everything we are given. It’s also easy to forget that this extends to things outside of the church and there are lots of people out there who are clearly gifted by God in certain areas whether or not they recognise it. “But it is one and the same spirit who does all this; as he wishes, he gives a different gift to each person” 1 Cor 12: 11.
 
I was recently watching an episode of the annual Kennedy Center Honors, given to those in the performing arts for their lifetime of contributions to American culture where the legendary guitarist Carlos Santana was receiving an award. The presenter, Harry Belafonte commented that Carlos had once said, “I don’t play the music, the music plays me”. Anyone who has ever seen him play will see that a force other than his own is clearly at work as he becomes entranced in the music. It’s forceful and made me question, who is playing me.
 
As Christians, our “director”, musical or otherwise has to be Jesus Christ because He gave up His life so that we can have everlasting life in eternity with him. Every day of life should be lived for Jesus, doing the things He has for us the way He wants us to do them. Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith, our lives, everything, and everything we do should be for His glory.
 
There is some great Christian worship music available to us and I love lots of it. But let's not forget that we are reminded in 1 Timothy 6:17, that it is, “…….God, who generously gives us everything for our enjoyment”, and some excellent guitar playing is fine with God too.
 
 
Prayer: Lord, thank you for every gift you give so generously to us. Help us to pray for those you have generously gifted but who may not recognise you as the giver.

 

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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, 23/02/2025
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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.
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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

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