This Sunday Jen kicked off our Autumn series on Philippians. The reading was Phil 1: 1-2, 12-14 and 19-30 although you might find it useful to read the whole chapter. You can download the whole talk here. Or listen on the player below.
I lift my eyes up to the mountains’, says the writer of Psalm 121, ‘where does my help come from?My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. Ps 121: 1+2
I want to encourage you to lift up your eyes! At this time where so much of the news seems troubling, and might drag us down – lift up your eyes. Look to Jesus! This is not to deny the difficulties that are around us but to look at them knowing God watches over, offers help and turns disruption into opportunity. God is at work amongst us doing wonderful things.
How often a problem or difficulty has looked different when I have stopped and looked up, praying about the situation and worshipping God. Sometimes a surprising solution presents itself, sometimes the situation remains the same but the presence of God strengthens me to approach it in a new way. Sometimes in the moment I see God do something brand new. Look Up.
The first of our disciple journey statements, that I shared at The Feast is: ‘I experience God’s presence in prayer and worship’ How true would you say that is of you? This is a time to be seeking God’s presence. Do you have a daily moment when you look up and seek God on you own? If not how could you make one? Many of us use Lectio 365 app to help us fix eyes on Jesus in prayer.
Perhaps you already do that? Could you find another point in the day, or join with others to pray. Within Kairos we have created a new opportunity once a month to seek God together – the worship and prayer evening on the 4th Sunday. Its next week, Sunday 23rd October at 7:30pm, come and give it a try. We also pray at 9:30am at Westcliffe Hall, Monday to Thursday: you would always be welcome.
A couple of simple prayers: “Lord, increase my hunger and thirst for you.” “Lord let me become more aware of your presence today.” Carry them around with you, repeat them a few times today. Don’t let your eyes be dragged down. Look up! God is with us.
On Sunday 18th September Ben shared a word for this new season we find ourselves in. Pay attention to foundations! Ben was speaking from Matthew 7: 24-29.
On Sunday 4th September Ben spoke at our All Age Gathering on Matthew 28: 16-20. As we go to our everyday front-lines of work, school and home we remembered that God sends us and is with us.
We are creating a new opportunity for worship, prayer and encounter with God.
Join us on the 4th Sunday of every month from 7:30pm for our worship and prayer evening. You can expect space and time in a safe relaxed atmosphere with an encouragement to listen, experience God’s presence and pray for our world. This starts Sunday 25th Sept.
Mark Burgess, from our mission giving partner Oikos Peru, will be with us for a workshop evening on Tuesday 27th September at 7:30pm in the Kairos Room.
Mark will be telling stories of how they gave away food to over 2050 families during lockdown in Peru. Come and be inspired about how to respond to God’s prompting in times of need. We’d love you to join us!
Kairos is hosting an Autumn Community Fair on Sunday 24th September from 12-3pm at Westcliffe Hall. This will be an opportunity to have fun together with some of our friends and neighbours.
There will be games, skalextric with a difference, craft and charty stalls, salsa, plants, nearly new books and toys and plenty of cake. We’d love you tojoin us!
Kairos Church will be holding a Confirmation service here at Kairos at 11am on Sunday 20th November with Bishop Helen-Ann Hartley.
Confirmation is an opportunity for adults and young people to make a public declaration of faith and receive prayer to be filled with the Holy Spirit. It is a great thing to do, especially if you are a young person wanting to say that following Jesus is for you or an adult wanting to mark a commitment in your faith.
There will be 4 Confirmation preparation sessions, 7.30pm – 8.30pm: Thursday 29th September, Thursday 6th October, Thursday 13th October and a final session on Thursday 10th November.
Please let Jen know by the 18th September if you’d like to be confirmed on the 20th November or if you’d like to find out a bit more about what will be involved.
One of the things I (Ben) keep hearing again and again, in conversation with many of you and as I read and learn about breakthroughs in mission and disciple-making, is the importance of praying.
‘The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.’ James 5:16
More and more of us are learning that time praying together is essential if we are to see personal renewal or change in our community, our town or our world.
‘To clasp the hands in prayer is the beginning of an uprising against the disorder of the world’. Karl Barth, quoted by Pete Greig in Red Moon Rising.
I want to invite you to start September joining with others in Kairos for 24 hours of prayer. The network team are setting up a prayer room at Westcliffe Hall so that we have a space with ideas, prompts and resources to help us pray as a whole church. All we need is for you to come and join us!
Our prayer room will be running from 5pm Friday to 5pm Saturday. There will be prayer prompts based around the parable of the sower helping us to pray for good soil in this season.
Come for an hour or more at any time of the day or night. Why not book in a slot with 1 or 2 others so you can come together?
We will start our 24 hours of prayer together with 3 hours of Pray – Eat – Pray.
5-6pm Pray: Creative prayer for all ages. This will be a fun way to engage with prayer either on your own or as a family.
6-7pm Eat: We’ll eat together. Come and have Friday tea with friends.
7-8pm. Pray: We’ll continue for another hour of gathered prayer and intercession.
Join us to pray then eat, or eat then pray – or all of it! You can just turn up to pray, but please let us know if you want to eat with us by Tuesday 6th September so we can get enough food. Prayer like this often feels like a sacrifice before we do it but a privilege once we’re there.
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