† Langley Free Church Telephone: 01753 540771 e-mail [email protected] Web-site www.langleyfree.org.uk May 2010 Now for the UPWARD Look Our church motto card for this year was: OUTWARD and UPWARD. At the start of the year, on the OUTWARD front we have set in hand a letter distribution to the homes of our neighbours in this part of Langley. The purpose being to let folk know that God cares about them and that we care too. Our intention is to include them in our thinking and our prayers as we search for a new minister for our church. This initiative will continue during the remainder of the year; a quarterly letter to the neighbourhood. The last one went out in Holy week with the Cross as the theme, with the upcoming Election in view. Another will come their way in the summer and autumn. We want them to know we include them in our thoughts and prayers. As a church, we have now completed the PROFILE stage and submitted the material we have gathered to our Regional minister, Grenville Overton. We have done all we can with a detailed description of our fellowship here. The national Regional ministers, who meet almost monthly, will be looking at the picture they now have of us and suggesting those who might likely fit in with our fellowship. We need now to prepare ourselves for the one who will come our way as the Lord guides. Soon our church Selection Team will receive the details of those who may be approached with a view to serving God here. We need to pray for those we have asked to be on that team. We need to pray for ourselves too. We are entering now, as a church, the UPWARD phase in a new journey together. It has been said by a number of you, that we are open to change. The person God has for us will not be in Simon’s mould. There was only one `Simon King’; as there is only one unique - you and me. It is by prayer now that we will best get ourselves ready for the one who is to come. The Holy Spirit comes to us as The God of Surprise. Pentecost made that plain to those first disciples. “Who would have thought… ” was the cry that went up on that wondrous day. They first gave themselves to prayer in preparation for the coming of the Spirit. Let us too; “Humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God” who will `lift us up’ in expectation of new surprising days ahead. In your prayers and in your heart are you really ready for this? The honest answer must surely be; No”. It is not possible to be ready for all that God plans to do for us and in us. We need to think `outside the box’ as they say. Have our hopes and dreams; recognise our personal preferences, but be ready for whoever it is that the Spirit of Surprise will bring to us. “That’s why we have this text: No one has ever seen or heard anything like this, never so much imagined anything quite like it – what God has arranged for those who love him” (1 Cor: 2:9) Jesus was that big and best surprise. Some special `Prayer Event’ times are being are planned. Lets be together in prayer for ourselves as well as for the one who is being prepared to join us here in Langley Church- we need your Prayers during the new Pastor selection process. Following the morning service on Sunday 9th May and Sunday 30th May 1230 till 3pm The Church will pray in two sessions with a break for lunch in between. Please bring a packed lunch, tea and coffee will be provided. Stay as long as you can but please make the effort to stay and pray with the Church. We want God to guide us in the process and send us the Pastor he has chosen for us Mat 7:7 Ask and it shall be given to you; seek and you shall find; knock and it shall be opened to you. Mat 7:8 For each one who asks receives; and he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, it shall be opened Future Dates May 9th Prayer after the service 12th Deacons meeting 15th Craft afternoon ( Bazaar) 16th Wexham Park Hospital 16th Sunday school anniversary 27th members meeting 28th Theatre Trip - Mama Mia 30th Prayer after the service 31st Trip to Swalecliffe June 6th r:generation youth event Church picnic 9th Deacons meeting 12th Deacons Retreat 19th Craft Afternoon 19th BB sports day July 7th Deacons meeting 10th Langley Carnival 17th Craft Afternnon 22nd members meeting Prayer: Heavenly Father We thank and praise you, Lord, that you are all we need, our rock and our refuge. Thank you too that you are Jehovah Jireh, our provider, that you meet all our needs. Father, we lift before you all those who need prayer, who are in need: those who lack food and shelter, those who need your comfort, those who are desperate for your healing. We thank you that you know them all by name and they are your dear children. Lord, we ask you to restore life and healing and joy and your shalom into shattered lives. Lord, help us to be part of the answer to our prayers. Amen. Daytime Bible Studythis will run on Thursdays at 10:00 a.m. in the Church Contact Ingrid Khan for details Tel 07939 562412 Subject Date 6th May No study (local elections held on premises) 13th May Prayer Time Langley Community Coffee Sunday School Anniversary 16th May Speaker David Randall Time passes when your having fun..the Sunday school have lots of fun. They will be celebrating their anniversary again on 16th May, Please show your support for the teachers and the children by attending their special day. Shop - Volunteers Wanted! The Coffee Shop has run well for more than two years now, staffed by faithful volunteers, many of whom are members of our churches. But we are in need of fresh faces to keep the project going. Are you free for a few hours on a Tuesday morning, about once a month? Would you enjoy serving refreshments and chatting to visitors? Call Ann Portsmouth 585845 or just turn up at the Library in Trelawney Avenue, to find out more or to offer your help. Prayer Requests 20th May Tackling temptation 27th May The Power and Glory 4th June Prayer Time the Craft ladies and the youth group Bazaar Saturday 15th May from 2pm until 4pm Womens Own Dates Meetings on Wednesday at 2:00 p.m May 5 Alexander Devine Hospice May 12 Rev Bruce Russell May 19 Rev Nick Lowe May 26 Tony Randall Cards LFC have an assortment of cards for numerous occasions at affordable prices.The cards can be found in the entrance hall every Sunday. You can give the money to Andy or any Deacon to pass on to him. Second hand items, Bric a brac, Cake stall, Plant stall, Craft items and we will be serving refreshments. If anyone wishes to donate items, they are very welcome to do so and can leave them with the youth group on the Tuesday the 4th May, or on the morning of the 15th. someone will be at the Church from around 12pm. The money will be used towards the new floor and a youth trip being organised by Belinda. Thank you for your Craft and Hobby Afternoon Future dates for the Craft/Hobby afternoons 3rd Saturday of every month, 2-5pm Chris Wheatley is holding a series of craft and hobby afternoon. Langley Community Coffee shop The Langley Neighbourhood Forum, together with all the churches in Langley has a coffee shop every Tuesday from 10am to 12 noon. in theLangley library . This is well attended. If you want to come along for a friendly chat and hear some useful information join us, we would love to see you there. Previous afternoons have been very enjoyable, with people showing others how to knit and crochet, cross stitching, card making, and gift boxes. A very relaxing few hours, and of course a lot of chatting. Come along with your craft or hobby, and don't forget to bring along anything you have made in the past - we would love to see it. All The LFC Fellowship. Dave Diane Strugeon Rita Wymark Amy Pope Cravene Glenis Randall The New Pastor ( pray during this selection process) The Nation Our Leaders The Body of Christ The people of Slough and Langley Children everywhere Prisoners of faith All people in every country and especially... Haiti-Pray for all the people and the reconstruction Egypt- pray for all the Christians who face persecution Nigeria -pray for the Christians who are being attacked, houses destroyed and subjected to sharia law India, especially pray for persecuted Christians Burma, Iraq, Lebanon, Democratic Republic of Congo Dafur, China, North Korea, Pakistan, pray for all persecuted Christians Indonesia, Israel, Eritrea, especially pray for Christians in Jail Somalia, Ethiopia. Vietnam, Zimbabwe Afganhistan Iran kenya The persecuted Church in any country Baptist Churches everywhere ROPE The House of Grace Flying for Life MAF Orphans and widows everywhere (Jam 1:27) Rotas Sunday PA & Multimedia Bible Class Music Stewards Tea &Coffee Creche Sun 02 AM PA Daniel May AM MM Jeanette PM PA Cliff PM MM Morag Family Service Band AM Chris Wheatley& Margaret Flashman Diane Sturgeon & Keri Driver Kerry Driver & Laurie Wade Sun 09 AM PA Kevin May AM MM Heidi PM PA Cliff PM MM Morag (L)Ann Portsmouth & (H)Belinda Band Chris Wheatley & Margaret Fleischman Cliff Brown & Tina Noyce Sun 16 AM PA Kerri May AM MM John PM PA Cliff PM MM Morag No Bible Class Alex Allette Maynard & Tina Noyce Chris Wheatley & Amy Pope Sun 23 AM PA Jenna May AM MM David PM PA Cliff PM MM Morag (L)Diane Sturgeon & (H)Rhys Evans Alex Amy Pope & Tess Cahalin Kevin Schaffer & Kerry Driver Sun 30 AM PA John May AM MM Diane PM PA Cliff PM MM Morag (L)Paul Noyce & (H)Heather Brown Alex Ingrid Khan & Robert Jacobsen Laurie Wade & Cliff Brown Family Service Band Kevin Schaffer & Jean Schaffer Tina Noyce & Chris Wheatley Janette Lashbrook & Joan Preedy Amy Pope & Kevin Schaffer Keri Driver & Laurie Wade Kerry Driver & Laurie Wade Cliff Brown & Morag Brown Cliff Brown & Tina Noyce Sun 6th AM PA David June AM MM Kerri PM Chris M AM Chris M & Peter Wade PMPeter Wade AM Amy Pope & David Wild PM Amy Pope AM Daniel Cantore & Heidi Johnston PM Cliff Brown AMJanice Clark & Kevin Schaffer PM Chris M AM Ingrid & Tess PM Peter Wade PM PA Cliff PM MM Morag (L) Chris Mallah & (H) Krutika Shah Band Sun 20th AM PA Kerri June AM MM Jenna PM PA Cliff PM MM Morag (L) John Sturgeon & (H) David Wild Alex Sun 27th AM PA John June AM MM Kevin PM PA Cliff PM MM Morag (L) Belinda Collett & (H) Paul Noyce Alex PM PA Cliff PM MM Morag Birthdays in May 3rd Mark Portsmouth 6th Keri Driver 12th Monique Wade 16th Jonathan Schaffer 16th Shermil Ganippa 16th Christine Mallah 16th George Abebrese 16th Jay Rees Farr 17th Kevin Schaffer AM Allette Maynard & Colin Portsmouth PM Amy Pope AM Jean Schaffer & Diane PM Cliff Brown AM Robert & Cliff Brown PM Chris M February 2010 Housegroup Studies in May at Cliff & Morag’s Every Thursday evening 19:45. Please ask for directions if you are unsure of the location or ask for a lift if you need transport to attend . 5,000.00 4,500.00 4,000.00 Offering 3,500.00 offering Sun 13th AM PA Andrew June AM MM Heidi 3,000.00 Target 2,500.00 2,000.00 1,500.00 1,000.00 500.00 - date Details of services for May 2010 at Langley Free Church May 2nd am: Preacher – Stan Bevan; Leader – Ann Portsmouth; Children’s talk – Aileen Cantore 5 pm: opportunity to go to WEC (Bulstrode) where George Verwe (OM founder) is speaking and other local churches joining in worship May 9th am: Speaker & Leader – John Perry; Children’s talk – Gillian Harris pm (Communion service): Rob Hughes May 16th am: Sunday School Anniversary (David Randall speaking) May 23 pm: Sunday School Anniversary rd am: Speaker - Jim Mitchell; Leader – Colin Hynd 6.30 pm: opportunity to go to Datchet to hear Hospital Chaplain Peter Blackshire speak on Spiritual Needs in Hospital May 30th am: Speaker: Rev Colin Hartley (Christ the Worker); Leader – Tony Randall; Children’s talk – Dawn Johnson 6 – 9 pm: United churches Youth Cluster event – r:generation June 6th am: Speaker and Leader – Rob Hughes pm: Rob Hughes Pakistan—capital: Islamabad- population:173 Million -Government: Federal Republic– Religion: Muslim 96%, Christian 2.5% Hindu 1.3%. Pakistan was born out of the partition of the Indian sub continent in 1947 and Muslims’ deman for their own homeland. Its present day borders were established in 1971 when former East Pakistan, which was mainly Bengali– speaking , broke away broke away to become Bangladesh. Neither military nor civilian regimes have brought political stability to a country crippled by poverty and violence. The founder of Pakistan Mohammed Ali Jinnar, promised equal rights to religious minorities. Yet, Christians are among the poorest and most marginalised in Pakistani society. In court, a Christian man’s testimony is worth half that of a Muslim man: A Christian women’s is worth only a quarter. So the violation of Christian women is common– and justice for them elusive. Pakistan’s blasphemy laws– especially the notorious Section295(c) of the Penal Code– are often used against religious minorities to settle personal scores. So the number of Christians charged is disproportionally high . The law offers little protection to Christians, given their low social status. So attacks on believers and their churches are not uncommon. Theartre Trips - Whats Next:Wednesday 19th May Lion King a few tickets left no more available once these have gone £39.00 Wednesday 16th June served £39.00 Phantom of the Opera only 40 tickets left no more available once these have gone 1st come 1st Friday 7th January 2011 Peter Pan @ Wycombe swan head inc 7pm performance coach leaves 6pm prompt £15 per Seaside trips Monday 31st May to Swalcliffe Optional lunch and Tea will be bookable on the coach on the way down £15 per head Saturday 14th August Clacton on Sea details later £15 per head [email protected] Paul Noyce 07831 428013