– give what you feel called to give.
The Foyer will be closed from 30th May and reopens on 6th June
Midweek Communion: 
Same time
same place
but the date and day is changing from May.
Starting in May Midweek Communion will now be on the third Wednesday of the month. The change is so that parking will be easier for those who wish to attend. There will still be the wonderful optional meal after the service in Philippi.
https://www.24-7prayer.com/a-prayer-for-the-crisis-in-ukraine/
NEW SERMON SERIES…
This Sunday we begin a new sermon series, Shaping worship that is pleasing to God.
How often might we ask “How was the service?”
Our answer will usually be “good sermon”, “love the sung worship” or “intercessions were very powerful” or even “preacher went on a bit long”….(surely not!)
We can give our opinion about what worked for us.
Francis Chan in Letters to the Church would suggest that we are asking the wrong question. The key question is “Did it please God?”
Worship is an offering to an audience of one and we all bring something to give to him and to serve one another.
Using the elements of the Holy Communion service (i.e. the one with the most bits!) we will be exploring the shape of worship (which is the technical meaning of the word liturgy) and how we can shape our worship to be as pleasing to God as we can. Running from now until Pentecost we will be seeking his honour and pleasure through our sacrifice of praise and that he sends us out in the power of his Spirit to live and work for his praise and glory.
Amen!
2022 A FRESH START…
Early in 2022 please look out for and be praying about….
Christ Church Courses – Witness Workshop and Prayer Ministry courses;
feedback on the Living in Love and Faith course
Foyer Café opening – further plans with an expanded team meeting early January to plan re-opening the café
(speak to Doug for details if you would like to know more).
Strategic Planning Team – meeting for the first time, heads of Care, Worship & Discipleship,
Evangelism and Community Engagement and Lead Pastor to take an overview of where we are,
future opportunities and how we could fill any gaps
– reporting to PCC to help develop the plans for next 5 years
Evening services – a new programme of evening gatherings including Exploring Prayer, 14:26 worship,
Wholeness and Healing, Living with Loss.
Alpha courses – daytime and evening courses starting January
Men’s ministry – a new group, Courageous; exploring how to build one another up
and go out to make new disciples for Christ.
New sermon series – Shaping worship that is pleasing to God;
based on the elements of the Holy Communion service and asking the questions,
What do we do? Why do we do it? What will make it pleasing to God?
Mission Partner focus – one Sunday a month will be set aside to focus on
one of our Mission Partners each month; usually including a visiting speaker
and / or update from the Mission Partner advocates
(Christ Church members who act as links to that Mission Partner)
Diversity – continuing to focus on diversity, starting with racial justice,
the PCC will be led in Diversity training by Archdeacon Rosemarie in February
and we will mark Racial Justice Sunday the following week.
Eco-church – we will celebrate our Bronze Award for Eco-church by an unveiling of the plaque
and a visit from a representative from Arocha…
…and many more! (see below)
Everything we do directed towards our Vision of MAKING PASSIONATE DISCIPLES FOR CHRIST….
EVENING SERVICES: A FRESH START…
IN 2022 we will be doing things a bit differently on Sunday evenings.
SECOND SUNDAY: Monthly Prayer Gatherings –
beginning in February all are invited to a monthly Prayer Gathering
to pray for our Mission Partners, for the nominated ministries of
Christ Church, for ourselves and to listen to God.
To help us all focus and grow in this area we will be following
The Prayer Course (see https://prayercourse.org/ )
which has been updated and renewed and is a great way to
renew your own prayer life and commitment to corporate and personal prayer.
THIRD SUNDAY: Every other month a 14:26 evening of worship,
where all are invited to bring themselves, a song, a hymn, a prayer,
a word and to share for the building up of the body of Christ.
FIFTH SUNDAY: a service of wholeness and healing (four times a year).
Look out also for another Living with Loss service (date TBC)
Worship Night will continue online on the FOURTH SUNDAY.
Daily devotionals or a sermon on the go?
Now you can! Find our podcasts on CHRIST CHURCH PURLEY PODCAST on Spotify, Apple and Google.
