Mirian Thurlow writes

‘For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?’

Isaiah 43:19 (NLT)

This week marks the launch of a number of new things across the network: Love Westhill has begun meeting on Thursdays; the Eco-Summit in partnership with several local groups is on Saturday; and on Sunday at Christ Church we are starting our new pattern of gatherings. And in particular it is the launch of our 10:30 Family Gathering at Christ Church. 

Our vision for the 10:30 Family Gathering is that it is a space where everyone can belong - where we can be like family.  And as in any family everyone has got a role to play.  Everyone has something to bring to the table. (Do check out the video Oli and myself did earlier this week to find out more about the 10:30 Family Gathering and how we want our times together to be times of welcome, of participation, and of encounter - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1siRFPnn3o

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Launch week - 10:30 Family Gathering

Oli and Miriam kick off our launch week videos for info and prayer. They share the outline and values for our new 10:30 Family Gathering at Christ Church. This is a gathering space for all ages - bringing together the Living Room, Well and Emmaus PPOD groups who were meeting through lockdown. Participation, Welcome and Encounter. Please pray ...

I wonder how you feel about new things and new seasons? Are you someone who gets excited by the prospect of what could happen? Or perhaps are you someone who finds lots of new things a bit daunting? In Isaiah we see God tells his people he is about to do a new thing, but that he has already started. And if we look back on the last 18 months, or even just the last couple of months, we see that God certainly hasn’t pressed the pause button. 

And so even though we are marking the start of new things this week, we are building on and giving thanks for all that God has already begun to do in our lives individually and in our joint life as a church community. What are you giving thanks for at the moment? What is you hope our network in the next couple of months?

Miriam