Journeys with God – First in New Series

For the next 7 weeks we will look at the theme of Journeys in scripture. What did they mean then and what do they mean now for us as followers of Jesus. In this introduction Caroline Kimber sets the scene.

In Ecclesiastical imagery and symbol, the ship is the picture of the pilgrim church on earth. The best ship example would be the Irish coracle, in which monks set out, letting the wind take them and wherever they landed, they spoke to the people about Jesus.

The church was never intended to be static, but to move according to the wind of the Holy Spirit. The church is founded on the sure foundations of Father, Son and Holy Spirit, revealed in scripture. However, each generation seeks to be authentic to those foundations in the circumstances it finds itself in.

The intention of looking at the topic of journeys is to encourage and inspire ourselves as individuals and community to respond to ‘such a time as this’.

Jesus in the Psalms Small Group Series

During January and February our Zoom based small group on Tuesday evenings will focus on the Psalms that are often linked to or are believed to allude to Jesus. As well as our normal prayer times and song based worship we will reflect together on key passages from the Psalms.

It is one of the most quoted books in the 4 gospels so we expect to find a rich treasure trove of faith building insights. Each week we will let you know the Psalm for that week so you can read ahead.

Need details of our Zoom meetings? – Text Dave Roberts on 07838388128

Jenni Talks – A conversation with refugee activist James Aldred

Many of you will be aware of James – we’ve met with him several times and he was a guest at one of our socially distanced services. Our very own Jenni Osborn talked to him as part of her regular youth work podcast.

James has an extraordinary story of seeing hope, love and trust amidst destruction and oppression in the refugee camps in Calais and Dunkirk. His journey back to faith and realisation that God is at work in even the most humble of circumstances is inspiring and fascinating to listen to. His plea for 2021 to be a year of welcome without fear and with great love is significant and will stay with me in the coming weeks and months.

Creation Care is Mission

Gather Collective is committed to creation care as a core biblical practice. If you want to dig a little deeper yourself here is a conference we commend to you.

A one-day virtual conference to explore the theology and practice of caring for creation

For mission agencies and churches supporting missions

Morning speakers (10-12am)

Rev. Dr. Chris Wright, International Director, Langham Partnership International
Dr. Rosalee V Ewell, Director of Church Relations for the United Bible Societies
Seth Appiah-Kubi, Director, A Rocha Ghana
Sumayya Sajjad, Project Director for Tearfund, Pakistan

Afternoon (2-4pm): case studies, workshops & discussions on topics including

An in-depth look at eco-theology
Practical advice on greening your mission agency
Embedding creation care in policy and practice
Carbon footprints and what to do about them
Engaging with the next generation
Creation care IS mission!
The EcoChurch toolkit around the world
Supporting environmental missions – a UK church perspective

Important information:

This event costs £10 per person

Find out more here

Become – The Patient Path to Spiritual Growth

In this first gathering of 2021 we look at what we might become in this new year. Dave Roberts introduces us to the different uses of the word become in scripture and explores maturity, community and being a disciple. He finishes with the promise that those who are becoming disciples will bring forth new treasures as well as old. What treasure can you bring?

Racial Justice – A resource page

Following the death of George Floyd the issue of racial justice has been at the forefront of our thinking and the public debate in the wider culture.

We wanted to alert you to a variety of resources that will help us all understand the wider issues of human dignity at work.  But also understand the urgency of affirming that ‘Black Lives Matter’ in a local and national culture that is often marked by overt racism and failure to take seriously the reality of racial prejudice – even in our churches.

Latest News


Articles & Interviews

Nicky Gumbel – Six Ways to Respond to Racism

Christine Cain and Anita Phillips – Race + Restoration in the Body of Christ

UK institutions need more black people, says Pentecostal church leader

Agu Irukwu says police, legal system and politics need greater BAME representation

People pay tribute to George Floyd by hanging his photo and his name written on papers on a wall and leaving flowers on his funeral day on the corner of Malcom X Boulevard in Harlem, New York City
The pastor was speaking in response to the death of George Floyd, an unarmed man who died after he was pinned down by a white police officer in Minneapolis. Photograph: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

 

The leader of the UK’s biggest Pentecostal church has urged black people to take an active role in public life, including serving in the police force, legal system and politics, in response to outcry over the killing of George Floyd.

Pastor Agu Irukwu of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, which has about 800 places of worship in the UK, said institutions that affected our everyday lives needed greater BAME representation.

Read More

 

Books

Suggestions from Gas Street Church

Ben Lindsay — We Need to Talk About Race

Reni Eddo-Lodge —  Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race

Latasha Morrison — Be the Bridge – Pursuing God’s Heart for Racial Reconciliation

Layla F Saad — Me and White Supremacy (Includes study points)

David Olusoga — Black and British – A forgotten history

Afua Hirsch — Brit(ish) – on Race, Identity and Belonging

Akala — Native – Race and Class in the Ruins of Empire

Anthony Reddie — Is God Colour-Blind?: Insights From Black Theology For Christian Ministry

Jim Wallis — America’s Original Sin – Racism, White Privilege and the Bridge to a New America

Howard Thurman — Jesus and the Disinherited

Austin Channing Brown —  I’m Still Here – Black Dignity in a world made for whiteness

John M Perkins — One blood – Parting words to the church on race

Dhati Lewis — Advocates – The barrow path to racial reconciliation  

Also check out the resources at Woodland Hills Church in Minneapolis

Films

Just Mercy – Trailer 

Parent Resources 

Yoopies offer some tips from their family-friendly resource guide for parents. More here

Why I Took My Children to a Black Lives Matter event.

Christian author Krish Kandiah was nervous about attending a demonstration in Oxford, but he believes it was the right thing to do. We have been in lockdown for 83 days when my son interrupts all our afternoon routines with the suggestion that we take part in today’s Black Lives Matter protest in Oxford. I am shocked. This is the son who has wanted to become an epidemiologist since he was a teenager. Read more

People to follow on Instagram

Suggestions from Gas Street Church (Tim and Rachel Hughes)

Jo Saxton — @josaxton
Ben Lindsay — @bcwlindsay
Latasha Morrison — @latashamorrison
Dr. Dharius Daniels — @dhariusdaniels
Austin Channing Brown — @austinchanning
Cheryl Nembhard — @cherylnembhard

7 Days of Prayer For Your Neighbourhood

 

Here is a simple prayer plan that will help you pray, especially in these unusual times. There is one subject per day and a short prayer that you can use as part of your praying.

If you would like to have a paper copy you can download a version here.

Blessing the Place Where You Live

Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper (Jeremiah 29:7)

If you pass these places as part of your daily routine pray for them. Do some research of the area you live in. For instance, are any places seeing regular vandalism, domestic disagreements, litter? Are there historic unresolved issues? Has blood been shed in historic situations?. If you can’t be out walking around imagine yourself being there and pray anyway! Take one subject per day.

At a School
We bless this school that it may be a secure and safe place for teachers and pupils. We bless the children’s capacity to learn and play and develop relationships.  We bless them to have an opportunity to hear about Jesus and His love for them. We bless them to grow like a mighty oak tree for the nations to marvel and see. We pray that those who lack hope will find shelter from the storms here.

Your Street
We bless this street that it may be a place of friendship, support and community. We ask for Your wisdom in the conversations that we have with local people.

A Shopping Street Near You
We bless those who work here and ask that You would sustain their businesses. We bless the conversations which take place here. We pray that the sense of community around these streets would grow.

By a Pharmacy
We bless the health of the people in this locality, that they may be strong and well. In Jesus’ name we resist any sickness or disease which seeks to invade this town and to every person here we say, be strong, be healthy. To any who are sick right now we bless you in Jesus’ name with a speedy recovery.

At a Church
We bless all the Christians in the town, that those who are part of the Church here or who meet with other Christians elsewhere, that each one may be like a light shining out for all people to see. We bless the Holy Spirit gifts and fruits of the Christians in this place, that He may flow like a river through each one of them.

By a Police Station, Court, Fire Station, Ambulance Station or Hospital
We bless those who keep watch over the safety, health and integrity of the town. We bless those who also seek to ensure that there is justice for all.  We bless those who seek to restore those who fall and fail. Bless your church to be part of this process.

Council offices or Community Centres
We bless all who live and work here and around the town to ensure that life is well ordered for all who live here and people are helped in the midst of the pandemic. May your Holy Spirit be at work to promote beauty and joy as part of the heritage of the town.

These prayers are part of an idea we have adapted from the ministry of Roy Godwin. Dave Roberts, part of our Gather team has helped Roy write 2 books, The Grace Outpouring and The Way of Blessing. You can find out more here

A people of purpose

As we approach this New Year of 2020, if you’re anything like me, it will be with a mixture of fear, hope and apprehension. It would be great to say that the fear and apprehension are swept away, and our overwhelming emotions are of just one long sense of expectancy and joy at the days to come. (If that is you, maybe you should be writing this 😊.)

I did sense a few days ago, however, that God was reminding me that we are a people of purpose: firstly in knowing him – looking to Jesus and keeping our gaze fixed on him (Hebrews12:2). As we do this, individually and together, I believe that the fear dissipates – it has to – as his love fills us and propels us forward and out into his world.

This is not about perfection (thank goodness). It’s an opportunity to be real and honest with ourselves, God and each other, and in the light of this, resolve to lift up the weary arms amongst us; call to mind what he has already done, and take small steps into the ones he has already prepared for us (Ephesians 2:10).

Amongst my mixed thoughts about this next season, I do have some that dominate. They are ones where we as a community continue to include, welcome and seek out the forgotten, ignored, marginalised and isolated. To be listeners, stereotype breakers; a people who are propelled by God’s love to create, through art, language, cooking, baking, administration, building, healing, serving, hosting, writing, making music, planting, harvesting, add as appropriate, all to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

So, thanks if you’re still reading. I am looking forward to all that’s in store, recognising that some of it will be exciting, and some things may call for our support and gentle, patient understanding through difficult times – this is the nature of life in a fallen world where we live in between the ‘now and the not yet’ of the kingdom. A reminder to myself and all of us as I sign off that: Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12).

Grace and Peace

Sharon

Our Sunday Gathering

You’re so welcome to join us at 10am any Sunday at the Bridgemere Community Centre 100 Bridgemere Road Eastbourne BN22 8TY or at 11.30am for coffee or tea at our Gather Café (also at Bridgemere Community Centre)

There’s a parking area beside the Bridgemere Centre or local buses on the No 5 route run past the centre.

Small Groups

Meet every Tuesday or Wednesday at 7.30pm in various homes or via Zoom. Contact us for more details.

If you would like to know more about The Gather Collective email [email protected] or text 07838388128 or follow us on Facebook , Instagram or Twitter