Open Meeting

There will be a second “open meeting” this afternoon for anyone who would like to know more about, discuss or make comment on the proposed leadership restructure.  This will take place in the coffee hall at Priory Street at 4:30pm. Tim Stephenson, Operations’ Manager, will lead.

Mission Tea and Partner update

Straight after the open meeting this afternoon there will be tea and cake – any donations of cake will be gratefully received! (contact Wendy).  Afterwards The Gathering will be another mission event  (because it’s the fifth Sunday!). The focus will be on mission organisations that we are supporting such as Tearfund and BMS. Look forward to you joining us.

Men’s Fight Night

This will take place tomorrow night, Monday 1st October, at 8pm.  Please speak to Ian Holmes or another member of the men’s ministry team for further details.

Fabric Deacon

The three-year term of our Fabric Deacon is coming to an end in October. Martin Sheringham has indicated that he is willing to be nominated again. Nomination forms and rules are available on the table at the back. Nominations open on next Sunday 7th October and close on 14th October, 6pm. The election will take place at the Church Meeting on 22nd October, 2018.

Harvest Service Offerings – 7th October 2018

On Sunday 7th October, the offering from the harvest Festival services across all of our congregations will support the work of the Corsham Churches Foodbank and Tearfund.  Non-perishable food items collected will be taken to the Foodbank. Our monetary offering will be sent to Tearfund to support the work of the Living Waters Church in Malawi where their EAGLES project is empowering rural subsistence farming communities to grow crops in a more sustainable way, as they seek to combat the adverse impact of climate change.  Please do pray about how you can contribute towards this offering. If you are able to gift aid your donation, special yellow envelopes for your monetary offering are available on the table at the back of the building.  Please do mark them “HARVEST – TEARFUND”. When the offering is taken on the day, only the contents of the yellow envelopes, and loose cash/cheques will be included in the Harvest offering total.  Blue envelopes will be treated as regular giving to the general work of the church. Please speak to Rob Durant (Rudloe), Michael Prior (Priory Street 9.15) or Roger Hammett (Priory Street 11.15) should you wish to clarify these arrangements.

Church Meeting

Please note our next Church Meeting will take place on Monday 22nd October at 8pm.  Agenda and copies of the previous Church Meeting will be available on the table at the back of church on 21st October.

WEBA Event

A day to inform leaders and members of churches, and to reflect on same sex attraction and how we can best support and reach those who are same sex attracted.  This event will take place at Clevedon Baptist Church on October 25th. Places (which include a sandwich lunch) cost £20 per person. Please visit https://www.webassoc.org.uk/event/welcoming-without-affirming/ for more details.

WEBA Administrator

Looking for a part time job? The WEBA, that CBC is part of, is looking for a part time Office Administrator at their office in Bristol. You can download the advert and application pack on the WEBA website.

Light Party – Wednesday 31st October 5-7pm

Helpers are needed for this event.  Please sign up on the helpers’ sheet at the back of church.  Areas where you can help: pray for the event, team leaders, musicians, registration and sign out, baking, set up, set down.  Please speak to Rhiannon if you would like more information. Thank you.

Tanzania Mission Trip

This is taking place from 9th – 17th October.  The following people will be going: Eddie and Kathy Larkman; Rhiannon and Tom Price; Rob Durant; Tim Stephenson; Megan Say; Julie King; Bex Larkman; Alan Homersley.  Eddie will be delivering talks to the AIM missionaries, Alan will be taking care of the youth work and Rhiannon Price and her team will lead the children’s work. Please pray specifically for the following:     travel arrangements and safety on the roads; activities – preaching, children and youth work; energy to do all this work and that the missionaries & children would be greatly blessed and refreshed by the visiting CBC team.

Newspapers needed!!

Rhiannon needs some newspaper to take to Tanzania for a craft activity. If you have any papers please could you put them in the box marked ‘Tanzania newspapers’ in the church lobby. Thank you.

2019 Africa Missions

A building trip to Sanga Sanga (spring 2019) and an AIM mission trip to Uganda (9-16 August) are in the planning stages; expressions of interest should be made to the office or congregational leaders.

Youth Weekend Away 26th-28th October – Help Needed!

We are looking to take a group of young people on our annual weekend away to a centre near Chepstow. To make this happen, we would really value practical help in the following ways:

(1) Individuals who are willing to help transport young people to and from the centre. We leave the church on Friday 26th at 4pm and leave the centre 3pm on Sunday 28th. If you can help please speak to Dan Ovens.

(2) Please pray for the weekend-that young people will deepen their relationship with God and one another.

Prayer for Unsaved Relatives

There is another opportunity to pray for your unsaved relatives on Wednesday October 3rd from 2.00-3.00pm in the church.  Please speak to Helen Christie for further details.

Church Office

Please note the Church Administrator is away until 12th Oct. Enquiries should be directed to the Operations Manager, Tim Stephenson. Thank you.

This week and beyond

Lesley Grindrod

I haven’t often shared the testimony of my childhood years, but as I read the first chapter of Titus and prayed about what I should write for this blog, memories of those days came flooding back and I felt the Lord urging me to share some of them with you.
My two younger sisters and I were brought up in a God-fearing but extremely legalistic Christian home. My parents came to faith through the ministry of an older couple they met doing ‘street ministry’ in London. This couple didn’t belong to a church and were accountable to no-one. I came to realise many years later they had a very twisted view of what it meant to be a Christian. Unfortunately Mum and Dad believed everything they taught them.
Among other things, my parents were convinced that following the Levitical law as closely as possible would gain them extra ‘brownie points’ with God. My Dad even went to the extreme of being circumcised at 40 years old! We children were forbidden to play games or speak of anything other than scripture on Sundays. We were never allowed to listen to the radio or watch TV. We could not invite school friends to our home, or visit them in theirs.
Mum taught me to play piano, but the lid was often slammed shut on my fingers when my irate father overheard me playing anything he didn’t approve of -anything other than old hymns or choruses!
We kept the Old Testament ‘food laws’ rigidly, couldn’t wear clothing that mixed wool and cotton, weren’t allowed to celebrate Christmas or Easter (these were considered pagan festivals) and were never allowed to go on school trips or join ‘ungodly’ organisations like the Girl Guides.
Just before bed one night, aged seven or eight, my father taught us about Noah’s ark – that God judged the earth by drowning everyone that didn’t accept Christ. In panic, I tearfully prayed ‘the sinner’s prayer’ pleading to be saved from God’s wrath. After all, what child wouldn’t be terrified of drowning?
As you can imagine by the time I was in my teens I completely rebelled against this harsh and vengeful God. I left school and started work as a reporter on my local paper. With my first wage I rented a tiny flat, leaving my family home for good. My parents refused to acknowledge my existence for many years. At 17, I was alone, vulnerable and quickly embraced a completely heathen lifestyle.
But oh, how great is the mercy, kindness and compassion of God! After many years of living outside of his grace, He brought people into my life that would show me a completely different Gospel, one of mercy, forgiveness, redemption and overwhelming, undeserved love.
It’s taken many years to ‘unlearn’ the false teaching I received as a child. I still struggle at times with assurance of my salvation; that I don’t need to earn God’s love. Paul warned Titus about the horrible consequences of false teaching and the havoc it causes.
Sisters, we are so blessed to belong to a church where Bible truth is faithfully taught. Let’s be careful to guard our hearts against what is false, never take our leaders for granted and receive the teaching they bring with great gratitude and respect.

Looking for a part time job? The West of England Baptist Association that CBC is part of is looking for a part time Office Administrator at their office in Bristol.

You can download the advert and application pack here on the WEBA website.

The Ark starts again on Saturday September 29th

The puppets have finished their Summer holidays (and the helpers too) and it’s time to start the Ark again.  Hooray. Do come along if you are 0-7ish (bring an adult to join in the fun too!) on Saturday September 29th at 10.00am at Priory Street.  We will be learning about Noah’s Ark with craft, songs, bible story and of course the puppets.  Finishing at 11.00am with drinks and cakes.  Invite your friends too and above all please pray for this new term.  Thank you.

Women’s Bible Study

The next women’s bible study will take place at Priory Street on Monday 24th September at 7:30pm. Study notes on Titus are on the table at the back of church.  Please take one in preparation of the meeting.

Midweek Service

This will take place on Wednesday 26th September at 2pm.  The text is Psalm 46. Eric Seager will be leading and preaching.

Open Meeting

There will be a second “open meeting” on Sunday, 30th September for anyone who would like to know more about, discuss or make comment on the proposed leadership restructure.  This will take place in the coffee hall at Priory Street at 4:30pm. Tim Stephenson, Operations’ Manager, will lead.

Church Office

Please note the Church Administrator is away until 11th Oct (back in the office 12th October).  Emails should still be sent to the church office and messages may be left on the church phone which will be checked regularly.  All other enquiries should be directed to the Operations Manager, Tim Stephenson, during this period. Thank you.

This week and beyond

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The Littles’ Commissioning last week

Stuart, Lynne and Matthew Little would like to express their grateful thanks for the wonderful send off last Sunday at the tea and Commissioning Service.  We feel truly loved and supported. We are leaving for Dallas this Friday, 21st September (11:25 flight) to start our Mercy Ships training before travelling to Guinea at the end of October.  We are very thankful to Matt and Sue (of COTG) and Julie (of 11:15 service) who have agreed to be our advocates during our Mercy Ships service. [Any volunteers from 9:15? – Tim].  Please pick up one of our bookmarks for more details and how to stay in touch with us. With our love and thanks.

Funeral

Please note, the funeral of Ted Killingback will take place at Priory Street on Friday 21st September at 2pm. Please speak to Eric for more details.

The Ark starts again on Saturday September 29th

The puppets have finished their Summer holidays (and the helpers too) and it’s time to start the Ark again.  Hooray. Do come along if you are 0-7ish (bring an adult to join in the fun too!) on Saturday September 29th at 10.00am at Priory Street.  We will be learning about Noah’s Ark with craft, songs, bible story and of course the puppets.  Finishing at 11.00am with drinks and cakes.  Invite your friends too and above all please pray for this new term.  Thank you.

Missions and the Persecuted Church prayer meeting

This will take place tomorrow evening, Monday 17th September at 7:45pm.  Please chat to Vanessa or Wendy for more details of these monthly meetings.

Women’s Bible Study

The next women’s bible study will take place at Priory Street on Monday 24th September at 7:30pm. Study notes on Titus are on the table at the back of church.  Please take one in preparation of the meeting.

Open Meeting on Leadership Restructuring

There will be a second “open meeting” on the 30th September for anyone who would like to know more about, discuss or make comment on the proposed leadership restructure.  This will take place in the coffee hall at Priory Street at 4:30pm. Tim Stephenson, Operations’ Manager, will lead.

Mission Tea and Partner update

Straight after the open meeting on 30th Sept there will be tea and cake – any donations of cake will be grateful (contact Wendy) – Afterwards The Gathering will be another Mission Event because it’s the fifth Sunday. The focus will be on Mission organisations we are supporting such as Tearfund and BMS. Look forward to you joining us. Wendy – Mission Deacon

Church Office

Please note the Church Administrator is away until 11th Oct (back in the office 12th October).  Emails should still be sent to the church office and messages may be left on the church phone which will be checked regularly.  All other enquiries should be directed to the Operations Manager, Tim Stephenson, during this period. Thank you.

This week

Monday: Mums’ bible study, 10am; Missions and Prayer for the Persecuted church prayer, 7:45pm

Thursday: Toddler Group, 10am; Corsham Money and Debt Advice Centre, 7:30pm

Friday: Corsham Money and Debt Advice Centre, 9:30am; Ted Killingback funeral, 2pm; Encounter, 3.45pm; Engage, 4:30pm; Energize, 5:30pm;

Looking ahead

21st September: The Littles leave for the USA for Mercy Ships’ training

24th September: Women’s bible study, 7:30pm

26th September: Midweek service, 2pm

29th September: The Ark, 10:00am

30th September: Second open meeting to discuss leadership restructure, 4:30pm

30th September: Mission tea followed by Mission presentations and updates, 5:30pm

1st October: Men’s fight night, 8pm

3rd October: Prayer for unsaved relatives 2.00pm to 3.00pm (note earlier date)

6th October: Craft Club, 10:00am

7th October: Harvest services

9th-17th October: Mission trip to Tanzania

10th October: Midweek service, 2pm

22nd October: Church Meeting, 8pm

24th October: Midweek service, 2pm

27th October: The Ark, 10:00am

29th October: Women’s bible study, 7:30pm

31st October: Light Party, 5-7pm

 and I leave (with my parents, Stuart and Lynne) in three weeks, to fly to Texas for the confusedly named  ‘On Boarding’, as we don’t actually get aboard the ship until we fly from Texas  to Conakry, Guinea in November.

St Michael’s Stoke Gifford (200 mtrs from Parkway station) are launching a series of events designed to make full use of our new 500+seater auditorium.  We commence with Stuart Townsend on the 28th September (tickets down to the last 100 and expected to sell out soon so move quickly!).

The aim is to bring ministry and evangelism on a scale we cannot easily provide in our local churches. So why not think about whether you have friends for whom this might be a good introduction? They have placed a Christmas Comedians and Carols event just before Carol Service season for that reason and hopefully it will then be natural to invite them to a carol service afterwards. Other events include; Riding Lights, Steve Legg, John Archer, and Patrick Egan with more on the horizon.

The loction is a 2 minute walk from Parkway Railway station with easy access from the M32, M5 and M4.  Parking is free in the village after 2.00 pm and there is always the Parkway Station car park.

Telephone 0117 9692486, on Tuesday and Friday mornings in September to pay by card or see http://www.stmichaelsbristol.org/smcevents/.

Sharon Durant, lead teacher for this year’s bible study on Titus and today’s blog post contributor

The good life: Colourful cocktails? A deserted beach? Organic food? A TV series?

This year we’re going to be studying how God’s grace helps us to live the real good life – a life full of good works, done with a thankful, rejoicing, hopeful heart, confident of God’s love and walking in his light. This is the best way to live, the ultimate good life.

Why Titus? Because in the letter to Titus, Paul brings together the two essential ingredients of the good life – grace and good works.

These two might sound like opposites. Don’t we spend ages as Christians reminding ourselves that only God’s grace can save us? That all our good works won’t add anything to Jesus’ completed sacrifice on the cross? If grace is so amazing, why do we try to live a good life?

Well, as one preacher put it, “Jesus did what we can not do, so we could do what we can do.”

I’ve been so blessed by this truth. The grace of God poured on through Jesus did what I can’t do – it paid the price for me and freed me from my sin. But the purpose of this grace was so that I could do what I can – freed up to do good works, to live the good life.

We’re not set free so we can run riot like stray dogs; we’re set free to live purposeful lives that glorify God and bless others.

So, be ready, girls! Over the course of the year, it’s going to get painfully practical. In Titus, Paul applies grace thoroughly to our lives at home, church and in the world.

There’s a lot of momentum already, building on last year’s studies in God’s grace and the (now legendary) weekend away.

Plus this year there are going to be new faces and new voices speaking, sharing from God’s Word about grace for living the good life.

I’m excited. More than I usually am! Because this year the Holy Spirit is leading us forward in living the good life; we’re not being complacent and letting God’s grace go to waste.

I’m praying. I’m praying for you and your study buddy (Don’t have one? Talk to Anne Holmes ASAP so you don’t miss out on the full impact of Titus) that God would prepare your hearts and make you teachable by his grace.

I’m praying for our team of speakers this year as they study and prepare God’s Word.

Please pray with me – for each other, for those preparing the studies and talks… but most of all, please pray that more and more women in Corsham and the surrounding areas would be drawn into God’s grace, begin to live the good life, and study God’s Word together with us.

See you on 24th September!

Welcome to our Week of Prayer!

To help you get started, we have some prayer stations set up in the church and I have prepared some prayer points some of which are requests from those involved in the ministries and some of which are suggestions. This is not an exhaustive list, so please don’t be constrained by it but pray as the Spirit leads you. You may like to begin by reading a psalm of praise and praising God for all He is and has done for us in Christ. (Some suggestions – Psalm 8, 96, 103, 145, 146.)

Our vision is to be a “gospel-centred church”, aiming to make disciples, reach out to the local community with the love and truth of God and to play our part in taking the gospel to the “ends of the earth”. (Acts 1:8) With this in mind, let’s lift the ministries of our church to God in prayer!

I’ve split the notes up so there will be a daily update but if you want to get them all now click here.

MISSION AND THE PERSECUTED CHURCH

• Steve and Ruth in Tanzania – with AIM

• Gill and Steve in UK – with WEC

• Praise God for the time Neal and Lesley spent in Austria with Oasis and pray for them as they prepare to return there in February

• Compassion and the children sponsored by church members

• The Bible Society – Sue W, Alan K and Esther K who work there

• Short term mission – trip to Tanzania in October

• The Littles on Mercy Ships

• Persecuted Christians around the world

CORSHAM MONEY & DEBT ADVICE CENTRE

• Pray for those involved in this ministry – Brenda, John G, Colin W, Alan C and Alan S as he leads the ministry

• Keep the ministry rooted in prayer and gospel centred

• Clients – their financial situations and opportunities to speak the gospel to them

COMMUNICATIONS

• For all those involved in assisting our church in proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ and giving God all the glory e.g. those who design and distribute flyers, those who produce banners, those who provide information about our church and our ministries

• Pray for Louise as she processes and uploads the morning sermons at Priory Street and COTG

• Pray for Tim S as he works on the web site

• Pray that God would be glorified and that all our communications would always point to Him, not us!

HEALTH AND SAFETY

• Praise God for a good health and safety record within our congregations

• Thank God for the opportunities that have been taken to improve Health and Safety

• Tim M as he oversees this ministry

• Raise up others with the necessary gifts to serve in this ministry

CRAFT GROUP

• Praise God for His blessing on this group

• Pray that whilst sharing craft ideas and techniques, they would be building deeper relationships with one another

• Pray that the church ladies would be bold in inviting their non-church friends

• Pray for opportunities to speak of Jesus to these friends

• Pray for Pam M and Hazel H as they lead this group

OTHER ACTIVITIES

• Christianity and Discipleship Explored groups, walking groups, one-to-ones etc.

• Pray that in all our activities we would seek to point others to Jesus, to share the gospel with unbelievers, to encourage and disciple one another and to give all the glory to God