Here’s a quick look back at last month, as well as a look forward to what’s coming up.
Breathe Young Adults’ Weekend Away (shared by Fay)
Andrew, Alex and I took our young adults to Criccieth for a weekend away in March and I wanted to share some of my reflections on the weekend as I feel a lot happened which matters!
We did a Bible study of 1 Corinthians 15 which was brilliant. There were some amazing thoughts and reflections. I sent them off to reflect afterwards on the beach and decorate crowns with words they felt stood out. It was quite interesting seeing how intensely some of them engaged with it. For a group of mainly young lads they were all there at 9:45 for start of 10am! All with Bibles and journals. They take it very seriously! I loved having such input from them.
Caving was perfect for them, led by Mal and Marion (a brilliant couple who belong to Elim Community Church in Carlisle, who have been leading activities at Criccieth Camp for years). The spiritual connections Marion felt and shared were really relevant to the passage and what had been said in the study. A lot about letting go, not feeling stuck, leaning on others. One of the boys asked another for prayer in the middle of the mine and not just because it was scary.
Worship in the evening on the beach with sandy cold chips, again, was so good.
Andrew spoke a bit about soon it being a new season for them when he and Alex step down from the role and them being ready, and linking it to the passage. He pointed out they’d already started taking ownership by suggesting the worship evening, preparing the songs etc.
We attend Goleudy Community Church on Sunday and I think that was where God was speaking the most during the whole weekend. The sermon was about not looking back, comparing the story of Lot, to Jesus, to living now. There was a call at the end for prayer and most of the group went forward, some literally on their knees bowing before God. A lot of them feel stuck in situations, and many of them feel indecision and concern about the future with lack of opportunity. For some this is hanging really heavy. The words in the sermon, the prayers of the congregation, the worship songs spoke right into that.
Alex and Andrew weren’t at the service and this felt right. It was a real release into the future. It felt like God was letting them know too they are ready for the next season. I was prayed for out the front as the leader (!) and a few of them said afterwards this was good as I represented their wider role in our church, not just as young adults.
There was a lot of prophecy around Criccieth particularly as a place of respite and renewal. That was really strong and it is something we cannot lose in the future. Wales has a historic link with Christian renewal, and the idea of ‘thin places’, and Criccieth fits in with that I think.
The church congregation themselves were talking a lot of revival and pockets of hope in Wales at the moment and its place in that in what essentially is a holiday town.
Anyway, those are my musings. I came away feeling so blessed having spent time with such a great group!
Please continue to pray for our young adults, for Andrew and Alex as their time as Young Adults’ workers draws to a close in summer, for the church in Criccieth, and for the Criccieth Camp which starts again in August.
Watch the video from the weekend here!
Coming Up
Breathe Evening Meeting
Thursday 16th April | 7:30pm-9:00pm | St James Church
Join us for an evening of worship, testimony, discussion and prayer, led by our young adults’ group.
Good Friday Service
Friday 18th April | 10:30am-11:30am | St James Church
A time to reflect on themes from the Good Friday story with our friends at St. James’ Hope Church. We will be using ‘stations’ to guide much of our time together.
Easter Sunday Baptismal Service
Sunday 20th April | 11:30am-1:30pm | St James Church
A time to celebrate the greatest day in history and to witness the baptism of some of our congregation. If have not yet been baptised and would like to discuss it, see Neil, Ian or Sarah.
The Alpha Course
Starts Tuesday 22nd April | 7:30pm-9:00pm | The Vine Community Hub
We believe that everyone should have the chance to explore faith, ask questions, and share their point of view. Alpha is a series of 12 sessions exploring the Christian faith. Each talk looks at a different question around faith and is designed to create conversation. Alpha is run all around the globe, and everyone’s welcome.
We’re offering another chance for you to explore the big questions of life and faith in a friendly and non-judgemental atmosphere, so sign up to let us know you’re planning on coming and we’ll send you all the information you need to join us for Alpha.
We also encourage you to pray about who you might invite. There will be some invitations at the back of church for you to give away as well as posts you can share from our social media channels.
Sign up here.
For reflection: A Good Friday Poem, written by Beth Hubble
“We cannot possibly have too vivid a picture of what Jesus did and suffered for us” – William Barclay
Bent double, hands tied.
Whipped with jagged bone shards that
Lacerate and macerate your skin.
Shamed in your nakedness with nothing to be ashamed of.
Stripped, spat on, striped with blood.
Knowing you will not be blessed
With the weakness of passing out or passing on.
No
You will be fully there, as they force you on
Bearing the wooden weight on your weeping wounds.
Stumbling, aware both of the wailing women
and their future fate.
Dogged, despised, deserted.
And you don’t have to do this.
At any moment (and are you tempted?)
You can step back and say
No.
Turn that tortured back on a worthless world,
(not one single Noah among them worth saving)
That queues up to spit hate in your face,
Laugh ironically at your thorny crown
Or twist power into state-approved murder.
Then, as they lift you up to that darkened sky,
As the nails hammer home that your
Broken hands will heal no more,
As the nails fasten feet that brought only good news,
As you shoulder on that bloody back
The impossible mass of misery through the ages
That man could once have avoided
(No, they could have said No)
Then comes the most awful agony of all:
“My God, why have you forsaken me?”
The loving Father you have never not known,
The loving King, all-knowing and all-powerful
Who called you ’ Beloved Son’
Is now prepared to exchange
Your patient prayerful perfect life
For the lives of those lying low-lifes.
Who watch you now, pierced
Like some holy, exotic insect
Unexpectedly skewered with a pin.
Unsure whether they want you to die
Or entertain. Horridly fascinated.
No pleasure for you that the prophecies came true:
There really is a sword of pain in your mother’s heart.
And you did this for the joy set before you.
Our joy, surely, not yours.
You forgave and it is finished….
No. The best is yet to come.
