Thanks for wanting to keep up to date with our news and here are a few extracts from our internal newsletters in September.
See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43:19
We are living in strange times at HGBC. We have had more funerals, difficulties and illness in the fellowship than ever before. Every time Liz and I go away we get a call to say that something has happened.
At the same time, last weekend was a great family service and the evening testimony and communion service was really special. The bereavement group just keeps growing and this week I had the opportunity to pray with one of the people attending. There seems to be a growing sense of community amongst us as a fellowship and a deepening of our love for God.
It’s an absolute joy and privilege to be in this season at HGBC. It is often in the wilderness/difficulties that God draws near to people. So don’t be discouraged, God is good and we are on the verge of something new. Let’s dream and perceive the streams of life that are heading our way.
Baptism
Please pray for Adam, Vicky, Matt and Neil who were baptised this month.
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Matthew 7: 7-8
Coldplay have a new song out called “We Pray”. This is a secular song but two lines of the song are “so we pray for someone to show the way” and “so we pray I know there is somewhere amazing”. Jesus encourages us to ask, seek and knock.
Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2: 9 -11
I hope you are enjoying our series on Jesus. This Sunday we are digging a bit deeper to discover that Jesus is Lord. This passage is one the most moving passage that Paul wrote about Christ. It might actually have been sung or used a creed. Its show how God, through Jesus, reached out to humanity to save us and is now glorified.
Because the gracious hand of our God was on us Ezra 8:18
Every week Liz cleans someone's house and they have a calendar with bible verses on it. Above is the verse from yesterday. She often sends it to me as an encouragement. So this is my word to all of us today. Whatever you are going through God's gracious hand is on you. Be at peace God's hand is on us.
Things to look forward to and to pray for:
- The new Alpha course that has just started
- Our new Prayer course, starting October, which delves deeper into the Lord’s Prayer
- Fun Day on Nov 9
- ‘Forget Thee Not’ service, Nov 10
- Ladies Christmas Pudding Evening, Thursday Nov 28
Please pray for our students as they return or go to Uni for the first time.
And don’t forget you can always view our services on our YouTube channel.
