1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity

Contact details
ChristChurch Staff
Senior Minister Tel: 07780 993398
Gareth Lewis (day off Friday)
Email: [email protected]
Assistant Minister
Tel: 07793 023758
Phil Vellacott (day off Tuesday)
Email: [email protected]
Pastoral Coordinator
Tel: 07971 730172
Denise Johnson (work days Tue, Wed, Thur)
Email: [email protected]
Youth Leader
Phil Copeland (day off Saturday)
Tel: 01582 769165/07792 818707 Email: [email protected]
Youth Leader
Melinda Sutton (day off Saturday)
Tel: 01582 769165/07912 105186 Email: [email protected]
AdministratorSarah Vickers
Tel: 01582 713031
Email: [email protected]
Placement Ordinands (ministers in training)
Benedict Bird (London Theological Seminary)
ChristChurch Youth Office
Tel: 01582 769165
Taste &
See
Spring
2015
ChristChurch Elders
Colin Brown
Keith Goulding
Fraser Keir
Mark Laughlan
Gareth Lewis
Stephen Pentland
Mark Thornton
Phil Vellacott
Steve Warner
Garry Williams
Haydn Williams
ChristChurch Deacons
Chris Ashurst
Phil Ioannou
Denise Johnson
Paul Mitson
Giuseppe Pasquale
Chris Turner
Sarah Vickers
Janet Wood
ChristChurch Harpenden, 4 Vaughan Road, Harpenden, AL5 4ED
www.christchurchharpenden.org.uk
Reg Charity No 1128660
16
what’s happening at
ChristChurch
Harpenden
A warm welcome
Forthcoming events
New at ChristChurch?
Christianity Explored
If you are new to ChristChurch, a very warm welcome to you. If you have picked
up this booklet because you are attending one of our services, we hope you enjoy
your time with us!
ChristChurch is a community of Christian
believers in Harpenden. We hope this
Taste and See booklet will help you to get
a better idea of who we are, the variety
of activities we are involved in and the
opportunities we provide to grow in our
Christian faith.
A faith-filled community
We run a morning and an evening service
on a Sunday. We also run a number of
groups during the week, each aiming to
encourage our community – whatever
their age – to deepen their faith in Jesus
and live it out in practice.
Go deeper?
If you want to delve a little deeper into
the life of ChristChurch, please visit the
welcome desk at the 10.30am service,
or talk to anyone at any of our services.
Alternatively, email our Minister Gareth
Lewis on [email protected].
Contents
Seasonal message 3
Weekends away and STEP visit 4
ChristChurch services
Sunday Morning Service
5
Sunday Evening Service
6
Weekend meetings
Saturdads
7
Toast and Prayer
7
Coffee Stop
7
Home groups
8
Central Prayer Meetings
9
Youth and Children’s groups
10
Other groups
MaMites (Toddlers)
12
Cutting Edge (Men)
12
Seniors
12
Word Alive (Women)
13
Forthcoming events
10ofthoseBooks
14
For our women
14
Christianity Explored
15
“Open House” Services
15
For our men
15
Contact details16
Membership at ChristChurch
If you are a committed Christian and want
to make ChristChurch your home church, we encourage you to become a member
of the church. Please get in touch with our church administrator, Sarah Vickers, on
01582 713031 or [email protected].
2
8pm on Tuesdays
Five weeks, starting 25 February
11 Aldwickbury Crescent
One Life: What’s it All About? Christianity is
pretty simple – it’s all about one life, the life of Jesus. The Christianity Explored
course gives you time and space to think through who Jesus is and why it matters. Each week includes drinks, nibbles and a short DVD and plenty of opportunity for questions!
Contact: Phil Vellacott on 07793 023758 or [email protected]
“Open House” event
Sunday 1 March @ 10.30am
Roundwood Park School
A Taste of Wales on St David’s Day, with Graham Daniels
This will be a guest (‘open house’ ) service when we will be especially mindful
of guests and visitors in the way we plan the service – so it’s a great opportunity
to invite friends.
For more about evangelism or evangelistic events at ChristChurch contact Phil
Vellacott on 07793 023758 or [email protected]
Cutting Edge Outreach Breakfast
Saturday 21 March @ 8am
Redbourn Golf Club
Special guest speaker: Rhys Iley
Topic: ‘There’s more than just beans in his coffee’
r
For ou
men
ChristChurch Harpenden service times
Run by our men’s group, this is a fantastic
opportunity to invite friends.
10.30am
6pm
Contact: David Reavell on [email protected]
Morning Service
Evening Service
Roundwood Park School
URC Church, Vaughan Road
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Forthcoming events
Seasonal message
Being soul winners
Visit of 10ofthose Books
Sunday 11 January
Jonathan Carswell of 10ofthose books will be bringing
his bookstore (or at least a good range of books for all
ages!) to our Morning Service on Sunday 11 January.
He will give some of his lively book reviews and will
be on hand for information and guidance on all the
books he is offering. There will be the opportunity to
browse and to purchase after the service. Please bring
a method of payment (IOUs not accepted – sorry).
Women’s World Day of Prayer
Friday 6 March
This year’s Women’s World Day of Prayer Services have been
written by the women of The Bahamas. There will be two
services:
• Morning service at St Nicholas’ Church at 10.30am
• Evening service at Southdown Methodist Church at 7.45pm
For o
womeur
n
Contact: Terry Elphick on
[email protected] or
07974 900249
Women’s Conference
Saturday 18 April
Vaughan Road
Advance notice – and a date to put in your diary! In 2015 we are provisionally planning a Women’s Half Day Conference at Vaughan Road on Saturday 18 April.
More details will be available soon, or contact Denise Johnson on
[email protected]
14
Dear Friends,
Recently, I had coffee with a very fine evangelist. He
travels the length and breadth of the country and with
great sadness reported that few churches are seeing
evangelistic growth – people becoming Christians.
Churches can see numerical increase through relocation or transfer, but serious gospel growth is limited.
“Let Harpenden
flourish by the
preaching of Your
Word and the
praising of Your
name”
Our New Year address sees the Apostle Paul’s comment on that matter – he
rejoices and thus prays ‘that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be
honoured’*. We all remember school experiments with water and droplets of oil
and note how quickly a tiny amount can spread and bring great change.
Change and transformation for the good is what we long to see in our world –
but especially for those who are not-yet-Christians, for ‘Not everyone has faith’*,
Paul reminds us.
We all long, in our better moments, to prayerfully share the Good News, and
to be evangelistic, that is warm, faith-sharing Christians. But I think we need to
set our sights a little higher and, in the words of my evangelist friend, become
soul winners – that we would lead friends and family into new life in Jesus, and
have a renewed passion for that to be central to our lives. It was so moving to
see that at least 80 sets of The Word 1-2-1 aids distributed following the visit of
Richard Borgonon. Now we all need to break the packs open and gladly use
them with our friends.
We are called to go into all the world, but that is most likely to go somewhere
that’s on our heart … be that Harpenden or its local villages or nearby towns –
wherever we are found living out lives of love, ministry and serving. To that end
may God fill us with His love, and may we know much perseverance.
With great fondness,
Gareth Lewis
Senior Minister, ChristChurch Harpenden
* From 2 Thessalonians 3 – New Year Address 2015.
3
Coming up in our community
ChristChurch church weekend 2015
16–18 October
Denham Grove, Bucks
Here is advance notice of our next church
weekend, at the De Vere Denham Grove
Hotel again (for the third time).
It’s a great opportunity for fellowship, fun
and teaching, with a full programme for
children and young people and time together for families. Do plan to come
with us — it will be a great weekend.
More details, including a brochure and booking form, will be available in
the New Year, but please do contact Sarah Vickers (01582 713031 or
[email protected]) if you have any questions.
CY Weekend Away for school years 11–13
Friday 27–Sunday 29 March
Frontier Centre, Wellingborough, Northants
Do not miss out on a superb weekend of great fun
and Bible teaching. A great event to bring friends
along to. More details to come.
Contact Phil Copeland on 01582 769165 or
[email protected].
Visit of STEP
Other groups
Women – Word Alive
The groups are studying three different books
at different times this academic year. So this
term you could be studying any one of the
following:
• Isaiah – about trusting God in troubled times;
• Acts – about the power of the Holy Spirit past
and present and how we can apply the riches
of Scripture on this subject to our own lives;
• The Implanted Word – the practical application of
the book of James to modern life.
Day
Venue
Wednesday at 18 Broadfields,
1.30pm
Harpenden
Host
Leader
Susan
Denise
Hammersley Johnson &
Sarah
Laughlan
Thursday
Vaughan Road
at 9.30am
(Pre-schoolers
group)
Dates
Jan – 14, 28
Feb – 11, 25
Mar – 11, 25
Clare Jelfs &
Allison Hilton
Jan – 8, 15, 29
Thursday at
9.30am
39 The Uplands,
Harpenden
Janet Wood
Thursday at
9.30am
8 St James Road, Cilla Lewis
Harpenden
Cilla Lewis
Thursday at
9.30am
1 Orchard
Avenue,
Harpenden
Heather
Brown &
Margaret
Smart
Sarah
Vickers
Janet Ashurst
Feb – 5, 12, 26
Mar – 5, 12, 19, 26
Sunday 15 March
STEP is a Christian schools work charity that is supported by ChristChurch.
The team works in all three Harpenden secondary schools witnessing about
Jesus to the students and staff through lessons, Christianity days, assemblies
and mentoring.
Come and meet the team and find out more, immediately after the morning
service on 15 March.
4
Word Alive groups: all together now!
9.30am, Thursday 22 January
Vaughan Road
At the beginning of each term, all Word Alive groups come together. This term,
we meet together for coffee at 9.30am followed by a talk by Tricia Marnham.
13
Other groups
Sunday Morning Service
Children – MaMites
MaMites is a toddler group for children up to 3½ years of age and their
mums/carers. Separate groups meet on Wednesday and Friday mornings
at Vaughan Road. We aim to provide a safe, happy environment for the
children to play and for their parents/carers to find friendship and support.
Each session includes playtime, refreshments, crafts and singing time.
More information: Gillian Treasure on 01582 712175.
Day and time
Location
Organiser
Dates
Wednesday
10–11.30am
Vaughan Road
Gillian Treasure
Jan – 7, 14, 21, 28
Feb – 4, 11, 25
Mar – 4, 11, 18, 25
Friday
10–11.30am
Vaughan Road
Janet Ashurst
Jan – 9, 16, 23, 30
Feb – 6, 13, 27
Mar – 6, 13, 20, 27
Senior Citizens’ Tea Party
Senior Citizens’ tea parties are held from 2.30–4pm on
Thursdays several times a year at Vaughan Road.
ChristChurch Harpenden
Sunday Morning Service @ 10.30am
Roundwood Park School (AL5 3AE)
Morning Church at Roundwood starts at 10.30am and finishes about
11.45am. Children up to and including school year 10 stay in the service for
the first 15 minutes or so and then go to their own groups. We also run a creche for 0–2½ years, Tiddlers for 2½–3½ years, and Little Fishes for 3½–5 year
olds. Refreshments afterwards.
Date
Passage
4 Jan
11 Jan
C
2 Thess 3:1–5
Title
Speaker
Baptismal Service
Gareth Lewis
New Year address: Millions like us
Gareth Lewis
Studies in 1 Timothy: Doing church the Bible way
18 Jan
1 Tim 1:1–11
Getting our bearings
Phil Copeland
25 Jan
1 Tim 1:12–20
Look who’s coming to church
Phil Vellacott
1 Tim 2:1–8
Authentic prayer
Garry Williams
Enjoy a delicious homemade tea and fellowship, take part
in a quiz or activity, hear words of encouragement from a
guest speaker, and sing some hymns.
8 Feb
1 Tim 2:9–13
God’s high calling
Gareth Lewis
15 Feb
1 Tim 3
The leaders we need
Gareth Lewis
22 Feb
1 Tim 4
When legalism strikes
Benedict Bird
Contact: Lina Davis on [email protected] or 01582 712813
1 Mar
“Open House”
service*
A taste of Wales on St David’s Day
Graham Daniels
1 Tim 5
How to treat the family of God
Gareth Lewis
15 Mar
1 Tim 6:1–10
Money matters
Gareth Lewis
22 Mar
1 Tim 6:11–21
Friends in the fight of faith
Gareth Lewis
29 Mar
Palm Sunday
3 Apr
Good Friday
Good Friday Service, 9.30am at
Vaughan Road
5 Apr
Easter Day
Family service
Meeting dates: 29 Jan • 26 Mar
Men – Cutting Edge
Cutting Edge is a men’s group that meets from 8–9.15am
on the third Saturday of each month at various locations.
Each group meets for breakfast, a Bible study and prayer.
Se
In Gospel Centred Work we will discover how the
e
p
good news about Jesus transforms the way
Ed a
ge ge
we think about our work in surprising and
ou 15
practical ways.
tr fo
ea r
Contact: David Reavell: [email protected]
ch th
e
Meeting dates: 17 Jan • 21 Feb • 21 Mar • 18 Apr
br C
ea ut
kf tin
as g
12
t
1 Feb
8 Mar
C
C
Youth team
Gareth Lewis
C = Communion
* Details on page 15
5
Sunday Evening Service
Midweek meetings
ChristChurch Harpenden
Sunday Evening Service @ 6pm
URC Church, Vaughan Road (AL5 4ED)
Youth and Children’s groups
1:28
Evening Church is a more intimate service, lasting about an hour with
coffee and tea afterwards. The youth (school years 7–13) then have ‘Toast’
from 7.30–9.00pm.
Date
Passage
Title
Speaker
Series Title: Telling the Whole Gospel
4 Jan
Titus 2:11–15
Introduction: What is the Gospel?
Phil Vellacott
11 Jan
Romans 1:18–32
What we are saved from: the wrath of
God at our sin
Gareth Lewis
18 Jan C
Luke 16:19–31
What we are saved from: the punishment Phil Vellacott
of hell for our sin
25 Jan
Hebrews 1:1–4
Who we are saved by: Jesus, God with us
Gareth Lewis
1 Feb
Leviticus 6
Who we are saved by: Jesus, the perfect
sacrifice
Phil Vellacott
8 Feb
1 Corinthians
15:35–58
What we are saved for: the glory of the
resurrection
Phil Vellacott
15 Feb C
John 17:1–5
What we are saved for: the glory of God
Morgan James
22 Feb
Revelation 20
What we are saved for: the glory of
heaven
Gareth Lewis
1 Mar
Habukkuk 1:1–4
Questioning God
Phil Vellacott
8 Mar
Habukkuk 1:5–11 Unbelievable
15 Mar C Habukkuk
1:12–2:1
Day and time
Location
Dates
Wednesday 7.30–9.00pm
39a Coldharbour Lane
Jan – 28
Feb – 4, 25
Mar – 4, 25
Gathering
For all those who are in school years 7–13. Do you have a non-Christian friend who
you would like to come to know Jesus? Why not ask them along to Gathering? We
will put on a great evening of fun and banter so that your mates will feel welcome.
Day and time
Location
Dates
Wednesday 6–8pm
Vaughan Road
Jan – 14
Feb – 11
Mar – 11
Gareth Lewis
Gareth Lewis
Toast
For all those who are in school years 7–13. Sunday evenings: the calm before the
storm of Monday morning! Come along for huge amounts of toast, hilarious games
and learning about the God who will get you through whatever is coming.
22 Mar
Habukkuk 2:5–11 Let the earth be silent
Gareth Lewis
29 Mar
Habukkuk 3:1–19 Palm Sunday: Questioning God
Phil Vellacott
5 Apr
Psalm 22
Easter Day: My Lord, what love is this?
Gareth Lewis
12 Apr
Ephesians 3
Easter: Oh church, arise!
Gareth Lewis
19 Apr C
Acts 9:1–19
A great conversion
Phil Copeland
C = Communion
6
Why do wicked people prosper?
For all those who are in school years 10–13. What is God’s big plan for everything? Why
is being a part of Christ’s Church a big deal? How does God want His people to behave
in this world? This term we will answer all these big questions as we continue to look at
Ephesians 4–6.
Day and time
Location
Dates
Sunday 7.30–9.00pm
Vaughan Road
Jan – 11, 18, 25
Feb – 1, 8, 22
Mar – 1, 8, 15, 22
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Midweek meetings
Weekend meetings
Youth and Children’s groups
Saturdads
It’s on Saturdays ... It’s for dads ... It’s ... SATURDADS!
Whizz Kids
Whizz Kids is for school years 1–6. Come and sing, play games, do
crafts, eat sweets and learn some brilliant stuff about God.
Day and time
Location
Dates
Friday 5.45–7pm
Vaughan Road
Jan – 9, 16, 23, 30
Feb – 6, 27
Mar – 6, 13, 20
9.30–11.00am, first Saturday of the month at
Vaughan Road
This father-orientated toddler group provides a friendly
environment for men to have quality playtime with their
pre-school kids. Featuring a craft activity, refreshments
and a big range of toys – plus a bacon roll and coffee for dad! Uncles and grandads
welcome.
More information: Mark Thornton on 07976 434317.
Dates: 10 & 24 January • 7 & 21 February • 7 March
CY
For all those who are in school years 7–9. “Now this is eternal life: that they may
know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.” (John 17:3)
What a claim! We can know the true, living God only through Jesus Christ! Come
and hear the good news! We also play some classic games!
Day and time
Location
Wednesday 6–7.15pm Vaughan Road
Toast and Pray
We meet and pray from 8–9am on the fourth Saturday
of each month, in Vaughan Road. We start with a light
breakfast (toast and homemade marmalade; fresh
coffee or tea) from 8am and then pray from 8.20–9am
for those we know and love who do not share our faith
in the Lord Jesus. Do come and join us.
Dates
Jan – 28
Feb – 4, 25
Mar – 4, 25
Dates: 24 January • 21 February • 21 March • 25 April
BeThinking
For all in school years 7–9, Wednesdays 6:00–7:15pm @ 4 Vaughan Road.
For all in school years 10–13, Wednesdays 7:30–9:00pm @ 39a Coldharbour Lane.
How does the Bible answer my big questions? Bring your non-Christian friends along
to BeThinking nights. We want to see many people engaging with the Word of God.
10
Date
Subject
Jan 21
Aren’t all religions just the same thing?
Feb 18
Does science disprove God?
Mar 18
Did Jesus really rise from the dead?
Apr 1
What is a successful person?
Coffee Stop
Coffee Stop is an opportunity for us to build bridges into
our community. Our aim is to engage in gospel conversation, be a more visible Christian presence, offer prayer
and make available all that we do at ChristChurch.
Contact Sara Ioannou on 764733 if you would like to
know more or be involved.
Dates: 25 January • 22 February • 22 March • 26 April
7
Midweek meetings
Home groups
Home groups meet three out
of every four weeks during
school term time (see opposite). Usually, the first week
in every month is a Central
Prayer Meeting led by one of
of the groups (see opposite).
Home groups aim to provide
a smaller fellowship group
in which we can learn from
God’s Word, the Bible, and,
through prayer and encouragement, seek to live out
what we learn.
For information on joining a
home group, contact Haydn
Williams on 01438 833329 or
[email protected].
Midweek meetings
Home groups (continued)
Pillars!
What would ChristChurch
look like if is to be an effective
church of the living God in
Harpenden?
Our home groups meet most weeks during term time. However, in the first
week of the month we all meet togther for the Central Prayer Meeting. Also
we do not meet in school holidays.
Paul wrote 1 Timothy to
encourage the Ephesian
Church to live effectively as
God’s household which is ‘the
pillar and foundation of the
truth of the gospel.’
The Ephesians knew about pillars. The temple
pillar (pictured), now in the British Museum, is 2m
in diameter with a 6m circumference. The pagan
temple in Ephesus had 36 of them: impressive!
Hearing 1 Timothy in our home groups will help
ChristChurch to not only be a pillar of the truth,
but become a lighthouse , as we learn how to live
and serve as God’s household.
Our home groups meet on a number of nights during the week at various
locations, as listed below.
8
Date
Meeting
Jan 6 (Tuesday)
Central Prayer Meeting
Jan 13, 15
Home groups
Jan 20, 22
Home groups
Jan 27, 29
Home groups
Feb 5 (Thursday)
Central Prayer Meeting
Feb 10, 12
Home groups
Feb 17, 19
Half-term: no meetings
Feb 24, 26
Home groups
Mar 3
Central Prayer Meeting
Mar 10, 12
Home groups
Mar 17, 19
Home groups
Mar 24, 26
Home groups
Mar 31
Central Prayer Meeting
Day
Venue
Host
Leader(s)
Tuesday
145 Crabtree Lane,
Harpenden
David & Ruth Key
Haydn Williams
Tuesday
26 Overstone Road,
Harpenden
Richard & Lina Davis
Will Treasure &
Richard Davis
Tuesday
36 Chesterton Avenue,
Harpenden
Greg & Sarah Austin
Fraser Keir &
Greg Austin
Tuesday
Wheelwrights, High
Street, Kimpton
Lorry Edwards
Tim Edwards
(07766 014361)
Thursday
26 Sibley Avenue,
Harpenden
Morgan & Polly James
Morgan James
Thursday
30 Aldwick Road,
Harpenden
Aubrey & Cecelia Baker
Stephen Pentland &
Mark Laughlan
Date
Meeting
Leaders
Tuesday 6 January
Prayer Meeting
Gareth Lewis
Thursday
125 Farley Hill, Luton
Garry & Fiona Williams
Denise Johnson &
Laurie Read
Thursday 5 February
Prayer Meeting
Music group
Thursday
(Music Team)
Various locations
Janet Fawcett
Ben Martin &
Janet Fawcett
Tuesday 3 March
Prayer Meeting
Tim and Lorry Edwards’ home group
Tuesday 31 March
Prayer Meeting
Gareth Lewis
Central Prayer Meetings
An opportunity for the whole congregation to gather to pray at Vaughan
Road. The meetings are led by different groups in the church and are varied
in format. Sometimes they are themed and sometimes more general, with
time to pray together and in small groups.
9