Weekly Contact 29 Dececmber 2008

Well I hope you all had a great Christmas and that Santa was good to you (that's if you believe in Santa!) Do you know that Santa is an anagram for Satan? Scary eh!!! No wonder he says "Ho Ho Ho!" Anyway, Santa's not the reason, but Jesus is the reason for the season.

 

Last Sunday of 2008. We only had one service on Sunday morning. There was an excellent turn out and the service was so good. We had a bit of everything that included an awesome time of worship, fun and laughter, interviews with kids and toys and another good message from God's Word entitled "Seeking to be Filled with the Holy Spirit". The basic point of the message was to show that it is not possible to live the life of the Spirit if we are not filled with the Holy Spirit.

 

New Year's Eve: This Wednesday night from 11 pm - 12 midnight. Plan to join us for a time of worship and testimonies. Why not come along prepared to share something - a testimony or a word of encouragement (5 minutes max for each person!).

 

Riddle/Question: The answer to last week's question is "Because lots of people are ringing them!"

 

This Week's Question: If a peacock belonging to 'Farmer A' laid an egg in a field belonging to 'Farmer B' who would own the egg?

 

This week's Bible verse: Proverbs 4:1, 2: Listen, my sons (and daughters), to a father's instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching.

 

Jack's pat in the back: This week's pat in the back goes to Lynn Taylor who has gone through some stuff, as we all do, and although she had let it get to her she has bounced back and has finished the year much stronger and with a smile on her face.

 

Enjoy the last few days of 2008. Hope to see you soon.

 

Stay focused; stay strong; and keep being a God-influence.

 

Pastor Jack 

thank you

Just got this from Johnny Prentice. Maybe you could follow it up with an email to them!

 

----- Original Message -----

From: jh.prentice

To: Jack McKee

Sent: Tuesday, December 23, 2008 5:05 AM

Subject: thank you

Hi Jackie;

 

That was an unexpected and wonderful pat on the back. Whenever we read it Heather cried and we felt both felt loved, especially at this time of year when we are far from home.

 

Thanks again to you the leadership and the church for everything, and we look forward to seeing you in October again (Eric says the 17^th October is a go).

 

Big hug,

 

Johnny

Weekly Contact 22 Dec 08

One father commented on Sunday night while leaving with his wife and their children, "This has been a great weekend for the family". This was typical of the many responses for both Saturday and Sunday nights.

 

Saturday night "New Life's Got Talent": Well done to EVERYONE who took part. Had people not volunteered to participate, even if it meant making a fool of themselves, the night would have been pointless. It truly was an amazing night with much talent on display including, singing, trickery, comedy and dance. While Thomas was crowned winner on the night, although the prize went to Daniel and Mia (work that one out!), everyone was a winner. They all did great. Thanks also to everyone who worked behind the scenes to arrange the programme and to make sure the hall was set up and the food etc was organised.

 

Sunday night: Special Dedication Service: Due to the busyness of the Christmas Holiday Season and the Saturday night event, we decided to have only one service on Sunday. The place was well packed for this special Dedication Service. Once again we had an amazing programme including worship followed by the Kids from the Crèche and the Sunday School who did a Christmas presentation. Well done kids and those who worked with them over the weeks. It all paid off on the night. Then by special request, we had a presentation by our version of "The Three Priests" who made us laugh again even though some of us had seen them the night before. Thanks to Elaine who soon got us back to normality by singing "O Holy Night". Then it was down to the Dedication of 5 Babies after we had enjoyed an audio visual of the babies and after I spoke on Hannah and Samuel. All in all it another great night at New Life.

 

What's Next? Well just in case you don't know, it's Christmas Day on Thursday. Next Sunday we are only having one service at 11 am. It would be great to see another packed church for this special Sunday morning service. Get your kids to bring some toy (noiseless!) with them and we'll get them up on the platform to talk about Christmas.  

 

New Year's Eve: Special Service 11 pm - 12 midnight. This will include worship and testimonies, and perhaps a few other items thrown in! Why not plan to spend one hour with us in church as we embrace another year and pray for God's blessing throughout!

 

Riddle/Question: The answer to last week's question is "All of them have 28 days!"

 

This Week's Question: Why do we hear lots of bells ringing at Christmas time?

 

This week's Bible verse: Proverbs 3:27. "Do not withhold good from those who deserve it, when it is in your power to act." This is a good time of the year to put this verse into practice.

 

Jack's pat in the back: This week's pat in the back goes to Johnny & Heather Prentice in India who continue even over Christmas to represent the Kingdom of God and New Life City Church (they're almost the same!). During this week things are winding down for Christmas and on Christmas Day Johnny & Heather will be very much on their own. Why not send them a "Pat on the back" via email right now and wish them a Happy Christmas jh.prentice@virgin.net You can even put a late card in the post, they might get if for next Christmas! Mine is away, but who knows?

 

Have a great Christmas and a great week. See you soon.

 

Stay focused; stay strong; and keep being a God-influence.

 

Pastor Jack 

 

 

 

Change email

My email has changed to pastorjack@btinternet.com

 

If you have received this more than once it means I really really want to stay in touch with you!

 

Jack

Weekly Contact Mon. 15 Dec 08

Good Monday Morning New Lifer's, plus a few others who have asked to be added or have made it to this list. Christmas is in the air, but stay focused on the reason for the season. We thank God for another excellent day at church yesterday.

 

Sunday Morning: After another excellent time of worship we got right into the Word of God as we continued with what has now become a series of messages. This week's message was 'Seeking the Dimension of the Spirit'; that is, seeking to live in the dimension of the Spirit. To live in the dimension of the Spirit is not just to sing about the Spirit or to sing with or pray with the Spirit, but is to live in the Spirit. 

 

Our Bible text was Eph. 3:16-19 where we saw that Paul prayed for the following:

 

1. That we would have an inner strength through the Spirit

2. That Christ would dwell in our hearts (take central place)

3. That we would be rooted and established in love (Christian Love)

4. That we would have power (power to witness evident in our lifestyle)

5. That we would more fully appreciate how wide, long, high and deep is the love of Christ

6. That we would be filled with the fullness of God

 

Sunday night: We continued with the series "Facing the Giants". This week it was "Facing the Wilderness Giant". This was the giant that confronted the people of Israel when they arrived at the Red Sea, which was the gateway to the wilderness, beyond which was the Jordan and the Promised Land, which was within a few days reach.

 

Our Bible text was Exod. 14:11 where the people turned on Moses, because they listened to the taunts of the Wilderness Giant that they would never make it passed this point; they would never make across the barriers of the Red Sea; the Wilderness and the Jordan. We looked at how we face this same giant that wants us to believe we are never going to make it and that we are failures etc.

 

We saw there are three types of people: 1) Those who are still in Egypt; 2) Those who are stuck in the wilderness (going around in circles); 3) Those who have made it to the purposes of God (fighting the battles and winning the victories).

 

This Week's Events: Due to the Christmas Holiday Season, and the business of the season, the only two things happening in church this week are:

 

Saturday Night Christmas Party "New Life's Got Talent". This starts at 7 pm Sharp!!! Details have been announced in church and were sent via email last week.

 

Sunday Night Special Christmas Celebration: Note the time - 6 pm!!! Bring some food and drinks! We will also be dedicating 5 babies that night. So the place will be totally packed with standing room only when all the seats are taken; so get there early, but please consider our guests. 

 

Riddle/Question: The answer to last week's question is "Your Age". Some suggested it was their mortgage, while someone else suggested it was Craig McCurley's ego!

 

This Week's Question: In 2009 how many months will have 28 days?

 

This week's Bible verse: Proverbs 3:13-14. Blessed is the man (the person) who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she (that is wisdom and understanding) is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.

 

Jack's pat in the back: This week's pat in the back is a double pat in the back and goes to Davy Nesbitt and Billy Potts who stand at the bottom of the stairs in the street and in all weather to greet us as we arrive for church on Sunday mornings. So next Sunday morning, why not give them a Jack's Pat on the Back as well as shake their hand!

 

Have a great week. See you soon.

 

Stay focused; stay strong; and keep being a God-influence.

 

Pastor Jack     

Tickets for Nolan Show

If anyone is interested in the experience of being on TV, the Nolan Show Live, there are 4 free tickets available for this coming Monday night 15 December.

 

Let me know if you're interested.

 

Tickets kindly provided by Elaine Scullion.

 

Jack 

Vote for The Sonflowerz and New Life Church Worship!

These girls 'Sunflowerz' should be with us in June. I have gotten to know them over the past few years and met them again just recently in Colorado. The following was also sent by Mike Clinton, a very good personal friend and a friend of others here at New Life. He will be with us in April with his Pastor from the Vanguard Church in Colorado Springs.

 

Go to the following site and add your vote; especially for Counting on God, New Life Worship, Integrity & the Breakout Artist: Sonflowerz

 

Listen to them first by clicking on their album below: Their email address is below; why not write to them and let them know you voted and tell them you are looking forward to them being with us in June.

 

Go for it!

 

Jack

 

----- Original Message -----

From: Elissa@Sonflowerz.com

To: Becca@Sonflowerz.com

Sent: Friday, December 12, 2008 11:32 PM

Subject: Vote for The Sonflowerz and New Life Church Worship!

Dear Friends,

As a band we've been nominated for Worship Leader Magazine's "Breakout Artist of the Year" - not only that but New Life Church, our home church, is up for "Worship Project of the Year"!  Vote for both at the same time on: www.worshipleader.com/praise-awards  (Scroll down to find "Breakout Artist" as the 4th Category)

This week we were completely astounded at God's goodness as we received word that our 1st Radio single "Edge Of My Seat" has won the Grand Prize for #1 song among the Christian/Spiritual Genre AND ALL GENRES for the month of November at www.ourstage.com!! "Edge Of My Seat" received votes from fans of music more times than any other song in all 56 genres that music lovers can vote on at ourstage.com.  THANK YOU to anyone who voted. 

Did you Download your FREE SONG yet?  Go to: http://www.sonflowerz.com/freedownloaddec2/ to receive our title track, "All Over The World" for free.  It's a gift from us for all of your support!  Please check out the full album at iTunes or your local bookstore this month!

Merry Christmas!

Elissa and Becca
The Sonflowerz
www.sonflowerz.com

 

 

 

 

India Report Attached

Sorry about that!

Report from India

Just got this report from Johnny & Heather in India. It is worth reading and remembering them at this time. Send them an email at jh.prentice@virgin.net

Christmas Party Date!!!

Okay..... some clever clogs pointed out that Saturday is the 20th!!! So please do not turn up on Sunday expecting a party! However, on second thoughts - why not?!!!

Christmas Party

I know this might be almost last minute, but it does make sense. Having been approached to consider putting a small charge to cover catering for the Party I have agreed that this would help make the night go a lot smoother and would release people from serving duties on the night so everyone can enjoy the evening. So here it is:

 

Saturday 21 December 7 pm Sharp (we're not waiting for you if you're late)

 

                        NEW LIFE'S GOT TALENT

 

                                     Cost: £5.00 per person

                   Children from 1 minute to 11 years FREE

 

                    Catering will be provided by Crusty Bap

               That's Catering and Entertainment for £5.00!!!

 

             Tables will be arranged within the main room

In case we run out of space, the early bird gets a seat at the table!

 

We need to start getting numbers in. Email Gareth 'Spud' Murphy on his new iphone if you intend to go Spudmurphy123@btinternet.com

 

    

Weekly Contact 8 December 2008

For those who made it to church yesterday I'm sure you would agree it was another day to remember for all the right reasons; especially Sunday Morning. We had a really good turn out to the morning service, but were down in numbers on Sunday night.

 

Sunday morning: This turned out to be one of the most memorable morning services for 2008. I decided to speak at the start of the service before the worship. I felt such an anointing as I brought the message "Seeking the Reality of the Presence of God". This was a follow on to my previous messages: "Seeking a Fresh Visitation from God"; "Seeking the Creative Power of the Holy Spirit"; and "Seeking the Real Fire of God". 

 

The basic thrust of this message was the belief that many attend church expecting the pastor be in his place; expecting the worship leader to be in his place; expecting others to be in their place; expecting church be much the same this week as it was last week; but not really expecting God to be present. There is no expectation of God because there is no seeking after the reality of God's presence.

 

People have settled for less than the presence of God; they have settled for a "hymn prayer sandwich service" or a more modern service; they have settled for church as it was last week; they have settled for the "same old same old"; rather than seek the reality of God's presence.

 

My final thoughts were to encourage the church to not be content with less than a fresh visitation from God; to not be content with less than the creative power of the Holy Spirit; to not be content with less than the Real Fire of God; and to not be content with less than the reality of the presence of God.

 

Sunday night: Continuing with the series "Facing the Giants" I spoke on "Facing the Giant of Anxiety". Here I showed that David had anxious thoughts (Psalm 139:23); that Solomon knew what it was to have an anxious heart (Proverbs 12:25) especially given the fact that he had 600 wives!; and that Paul understood that even Christians would face this giant anxiety and so he encouraged the church to not be anxious about anything (Phil. 4:6).

  

When Goliath challenged the armies of Israel, David saw what they saw; he heard what they heard; but he did not let the Giant of Anxiety frighten him off, but rather he ran towards the giant and took him out; but he did so in the name of the God of Israel.

 

We saw that David talked to God; he talked to himself; but he also talked to the giant. My final thoughts were to encourage those present to talk with God; talk with self; and even talk to the giant. "Submit yourself to God; resist the devil and he will flee from you"

 

Afterwards we spent time praying for and ministering to several people who came forward for prayer, specifically those who felt they were being oppressed by the giant of anxiety. Thanks also to James Scott who shared about his experience and shared a poem he had written out of that experience. It's great to know that James is now a year on in his commitment to Jesus Christ.

 

Thursday Night Specials: Last Thursday Virtuous Women put on a special event called "Sisterhood". Every report and every comment was nothing short of amazing. Thanks to all of those women who planned and put on this event and for those men who helped prior to and during the event. Well done Virtuous Women.

 

Next Thursday will be our last for 2008. This is the ADVANCE NIGHT and the focus will be on 'Making the most of your time'. It will commence sharp at 7.45 and will finish at 9 pm.

 

Riddle/Question: The answer to last week's question is TIME. Well done to all who got it right.

 

This week's question is: What keeps going up, and although it might stop, it never comes back down?

 

This week's Bible verse:  Proverbs 3:9-10 Honour the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.

 

Jack's pat in the back: This week's pat in the back goes to Adder for simply being there for so many others when asked for help. He should definitely have an 'L' in front of Adder, because he is a Ladder!

 

I am sending a separate email regarding the Saturday Night Christmas Party.

 

Have a great week. See you soon.

 

Stay focused; stay strong; and keep being a God-influence.

 

Pastor Jack     

Weekly Contact 2 Dec 08

Sorry I'm a day behind with this one. Yesterday was such a busy day meeting a few deadlines etc. But anyway, December is here again, and don't we know it! The cold; the frost on the roads; and the snow in them thar hills! In fact it's snowing right now outside my home as I write this! Anyway, we all appreciated the fact that someone made sure the heat was on early for church on Sunday morning. So whoever you are, put your right hand over your left shoulder and give yourself a Jack's pat on the back!

 

Sunday morning: Once again we had a good turn out, regardless of the cold. Thanks to Pastor John for bringing an excellent word on 'The Real Need for the Church Today' which is to know that God is alive and to experience the Fire of God. His main points, based on 1 Kings 18:17-39, were - The Fire of God falls when:

 

1. The Altar is repaired (relating to our hearts)

2. A full sacrifice is made (all the pieces - every part of us)

3. The water is poured on the sacrifice (Word of God applied to our lives)

4. Prayer is made, which is the link between earth and heaven

5. God is put first

 

Sunday night: The place was filled with many of our own people, but also with family and friends of Michelle and Simon for the Dedication of baby Hannah. They also put on a good spread of food. Thanks to them and to those who helped with the tea and coffee afterwards.

 

Jonathan brought a good challenging word entitled 'What is your flight plan?'. Based on Math. 7:14-15 he reminded us that Jesus spoke of a narrow gate and a broad gate, and that we need to be sure that we have chosen the correct path, not only for life, but also for eternity. He challenged the idea that all roads lead to God and made the point that sin needed to be atoned for and that regardless of our ability to be good, the world needed a saviour. He further pointed out that for many, life is the pursuit of fun, but that few think of the consequences of their choices and that most do not consider eternal consequences. Yet the Word of God speaks clearly and often, not only of judgements past, but of one final judgement to come when Christ will judge the world.

 

Thursday Night Specials: Last Thursday night's BREAKOUT was another great night of intimate worship and simply experiencing the presence of God. I believe these nights are proving to be invaluable to the church and would continue to encourage you to get out to these as often as you can. This Thursday is the "Sisterhood" Christmas Special. They initially expected 60, but have almost 100 booked in for this event. We wish them well!

 

Riddle/Question: The answer to last week's question is WARE. Many said Top or Light, but Tophouse is not a word; Tablelight is not a word; but Tableware and Warehouse are proper words! A total of 7 of those who responded got this. Others gave up after several frustrating attempts!

 

This week's riddle is: "Mountains will crumble and temples will fall, and no man can survive its endless call".

What is it?

 

This week's Bible verse: Proverbs 3:5,6: "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight".

 

Jack's pat in the back: This week goes to John Warden for just being John Warden. It seems that no matter what happens to him personally or to those close to him, he never seems to complain. He manages to put on a smile and there he is standing in his place at the door and welcoming people to church. So the next time you see John, give him a little pat on the back and tell him he's doing a great job.

 

Shannon: Some people asked me for Shannon's email. I would suggest that if you have not been in touch with her that it's best to leave it until she is feeling better. I will let her know that people have been enquiring about. If you are in touch, please don't get into any heavy discussion with her. Keep it simple and light.

 

Have a great week. See you soon.

 

Stay focused; stay strong; and keep being a God-influence.

 

Pastor Jack     

 

 

 

 

From Madeleine's McCann's uncle Please forward NEW POSTER !

It can't hurt to follow this request:

Hi All

Please pass this on to all in your address book

Thanks

Bob