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January Prayer Calendar
January Prayer Calendar
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Prayer is the Key
Prayer is the Key
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Kingsized
Kingsized
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December Prayer Calendar
December Prayer Calendar
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Disciplines of the Disciple
Disciplines of the Disciple

Windows on Worship (7PM Series)

A small but perfectly formed short series looking at worship.

WINDOWS ON WORSHIP: Tent, Dave Mitchell

Throughout Church history there have been many different ways people have worshipped. In the Church I was brought up in I think the emphasis was on things done ‘decently and in order’ (1 Corinthians 14:40). Perhaps there was less of an emphasis on the ‘all things’ part of 1 Corinthians 14! The abiding impression most unchurched people in the UK would have of worship however is of solemnity and dignity, and churches like ours are sometimes mockingly described as ‘happy clappy’ with the implication we are shallow and trivial. Download discussion notes.

WINDOWS ON WORSHIP: Altar, Nigel Savage & Hannah Mitchell. Genesis 8:20; Leviticus 7; 2 Samuel 24:18-21. Download discussion notes.

Finding Freedom, Dave Mitchell (7PM)

This week David Mitchell ditches his preach and talks about freedom and Matt Legg-Bagg gives away a guitar!?

Like what you've seen? Find more talks and videos on the Woodlands Church sermons & talks page.

So that twas Children's Church Holiday Club!

As ever the Children's Church Holiday Club was the perfect blend of madness, fun and faith. Check out these pictures!

Last week saw Woodlands Church transformed into a Medieval kingdom, complete with an encampment, a full castle with throne room and even a banqueting hall.

Over 120 children joined us for the week to meet a rather bossy and mean princess and her servants as she searched for the next knight of the rectangular table. There were messy challenges, pies in the face, sumo suits, inflatable jousting sessions and a lot of gunge! 
 
We spend time in worship, learning from the Bible and also had games and crafts – and in amongst all that we were able to talk about ways we can all build our shields of faith; use our swords of the Spirit, and stand tall in the truths God has told us. On the final day, the children were invited to come forward and all be knighted into Gods kingdom.

We have had lots of positive feedback both from parents and children, saying how they are now more excited to read their Bibles, wanting to be part of God’s Kingdom, teaching the dance routines and worship songs that they learnt during the week.

We pray that the children, as our vision says, “Know God, Grow in their Faith and Love the world” more and more each day and continue the journey many of them started this holiday club.

- Ruth Morgans, Children's Minister

Student Welcome Week BBQ 18th-21st Sept

Every year we put on a huge free BBQ to welcome students to Bristol. Freshers' Week is lots of fun, but it can also be a bit stressful and disorienting, especially if you're new...

With this in mind, we figure a tasty burger and a warm welcome might help Bristol feel a little friendlier for folk who are just settling in. So tell your friends, get involved - and don't buy lunch in freshers' week! #BurgerChurch.

SAVE THE DATE: PrayerWeek 10th - 17th Sept

We pray all the time but a few times a year we dedicate a special week to consciously and intentionally devote ourselves to prayer as a whole church. So this term's PrayerWeek will be from 10th-17th Sept so look out for more details about our 24/7 prayer room and prayer events coming up soon! 

When Jesus taught his disciples to pray he said, "when you pray..." there's an assumption  that just as he communicated with his Father, they would too. Prayer week is a chance for us to dedicate time to pray for our world, city, church and lives.  As we pray and fast we're expectant, because our Father God loves to respond to his children.  


24/7 PRAYER ROOM OPENS AT 7pm on 10th - 7pm 17th
It's an inspiring place to be. Book yourself or your small group in for an hour via the website to pray for the world, the city, our church and those you know. They'll be lots of visual pointers to help you pray creatively and draw near to God. Book in for the Woodlands Church 24/7 Prayer Room here. This is an exclusive booking for yourself or you and your group The Lower Prayer Room is a drop-in prayer space but you will still need to register here, in order to get the code for access. Got some spare time? Come in and pray. 
 

NEED SOME INSPIRATION?

Redeem the gaps. Waiting, for a bus, a kettle to boil, doctors appointment, are great moments to pray in. Rather than scroll through your phone, pray instead.

Learn to listen.  Prayer is about relationship, ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you and practise listening to his still, small voice. It takes practice and time, keep going.

Prayer Walking. Go for a walk deliberately to pray. The rhythm of one foot in front of the other can be really helpful.

Extended time in prayer. Most of us find it really hard to slow down. Plan in some time when you can take a couple of hours for you and God. Take a Bible, notebook and turn your phone off.  

Pray with a friend.  Consider finding a prayer partner or triplet, ask God to show you who. Try something different this prayer week and join in! 

 

#WoodiesPrayerWeek

Windows On Worship: Tent, Dave Mitchell (7PM)

Throughout Church history there have been many different ways people have worshipped. In the Church I was brought up in I think the emphasis was on things done ‘decently and in order’ (1 Corinthians 14:40). Perhaps there was less of an emphasis on the ‘all things’ part of 1 Corinthians 14! The abiding impression most unchurched people in the UK would have of worship however is of solemnity and dignity, and churches like ours are sometimes mockingly described as ‘happy clappy’ with the implication we are shallow and trivial. Download discussion notes.

Everyone gets to play (7PM Series)

'Everyone gets to play' is our philosophy that seeing God's Kingdom coming will very much take all of us being led by God working together.

EVERYONE GETS TO PLAY: Each one the manifestation of the Spirit, Dave Mitchell

In the era before Christ, the Holy Spirit was certainly present, but working sovereignly in creation or in anointing those few that God raised up for the purposes of his Kingdom plan. The prophets of old looked forward to a new age when everyone would be given the Spirit in the messianic kingdom. That is what the prophet Joel wrote, quoted by Peter in Acts 2 on the day of Pentecost. The early Church was so convinced that the Spirit was for everyone that if the gift of the Spirit didn’t appear to happen they sent the apostles to pray (e.g. Acts 8, Acts 19) Download discussion notes

EVERYONE GETS TO PLAY: Each one heard them speak in their own language, Dave Roderick

When the Spirit fell on the first believers on the day of Pentecost, the most striking evidence of this new age of the Spirit was that they all spoke in other languages, reversing the curse of Babel (Genesis 11:7) and providing a vivid demonstration of God’s heart and commission for the Church to go to ‘all nations’(Matthew 28:19). Download discussion notes

 

EVERYONE GETS TO PLAY: Each one grace, Rob Scott Cook

In the New Testament lists of Spiritual Gifts, the language is always inclusive, they are for everyone. There is always a reference to grace, the freely given favour and mercy of the Kingdom. This is the ‘charis’ or freely given love that makes spiritual gifts ‘gracelets’ (as John Wimber called them) available to the Church.
Download discussion notes

EVERYONE GETS TO PLAY: Each one will give an account, Dave Mitchell

The bible talks often about a ‘day of judgement’. This can be a scary idea. For Christians we believe that in some sense (now and not yet) the day of judgement happened in advance when Jesus died on the cross, and now we don’t have the fear of future judgement in terms of punishment. Yet there still is a day when we will give an account of our lives before God, and the bible implies how we live can have an effect on that day. Download discussion notes.

EVERYONE GETS TO PLAY: Each one should use whatever gift, Tim Dobson

In the New Testament lists of Spiritual Gifts the language is always inclusive, they are for everyone. There is always a reference to grace, the freely given favour and mercy of the Kingdom, the ‘charis’ or freely given love that makes spiritual gifts ‘gracelets’ as John Wimber called them. Gifts however fall into two main categories ‘Natural’ gifts that we are created with, and supernatural gifts which God bestows sovereignly and as we seek them. Download discussion notes.

 

Like what you've seen? Find more talks and videos on the Woodlands Church sermons & talks page.

Woodlands Church, Belgrave Road, Bristol BS8 2AA