This Sunday is Woodlands Bible School during our 7pm service. We will be joined by Phil Thomas and Claire Fenner-Crawley as they take an in depth look at 2 John. All are welcome.
16th of January 2022
Listen to the session below:
The Spirit & Prayer | Tim & Ella | 9th January at 7pm
As we go into the New Year this January, on Sunday evenings we are having a ‘Holy Spirit intensive’. We know that we need the Spirit’s help to lead a discipleship life. It’s not about trying harder but leaning on God and letting His Spirit work in our lives in everything, including the very prayers we pray.
9th of January - 7pm Service
Celebration of Discipline: Devotions | Hazel Askew | 9th January at 11am
As we go into the New Year this January, and begin our prayer week, do join our morning series on Spiritual Disciplines. Discipline can sound heavy, but it’s best to think of disciplines as tools for discipleship making. If you want to be a disciple, here’s some tools for you
9th of January - 11am Service
Prayer Week: 9-16 January 2022
It’s Prayer Week from 9th - 16th January 2022 - let’s get praying and fasting!
You are invited to join the Woodlands Group of Churches for a dedicated week of prayer and fasting for our city, nation and the world. We have felt strongly impressed for us the words from Matthew 6 v 33:
'Seek first His Kingdom'.
As we start 2022 with the pandemic continuing to be a big part of all our lives, if feels wholly appropriate to gather together in one spirit to fast and and cry out to God for his kingdom to come here, as it is in heaven. It is a brilliant way to start the New Year, surrendering ourselves to God's goodness and power and his will for ourselves, our church and our world, which so desperately needs it.
There are a few key ways you can get involved throughout Prayer Week and we’d love everyone to take part.
A Week of Prayer & Fasting
There are lots of ways to join in at home and in person. We’d love it if everyone in our church community got involved…
Book a slot in the 24/7 Prayer Room
You can sign up to pray in hour long slots in our creative Prayer Room space in Woodlands Central. Bookings start on Sunday, 9th January at 7pm.Logon to the Woodlands Group of Churches Prayer Evening on Zoom
Join us on Monday, 10th January from 8pm - 9.00pm for an evening of prayer as we hear each of our congregational leaders share what’s on their hearts so we can pray for the year ahead. The Zoom code is 879 5882 3538 passcode 925374Come to Morning Prayer Watch on Zoom from 7.30am - 8.15am
Join us online from Monday to Thursday for daily sessions hosted and led by different members of our staff team and church community as we pray for ourselves, Church, our City and the World each morning. Zoom code is 790410830 (no password needed).Join us for a Southside prayer walking event in Bedminster
Come along on Tuesday, 11th January to Bedminster Methodist (British Road, Bedminster, BS3 3BW) at 8pm for a prayer walking event in the local area.Watch our Daily Devotionals on Facebook Live at 9.05
Our daily devotions will inspire and challenge us to pray and fast. So be sure to tune in! You don’t have to be a Facebook member, as they appear on our public page.Come along to an Evening of Worship & Prayer
On Thursday, 13th January from 8pm - 9.30pm we’re having a special prayer and worship event in the Main Hall at Woodlands Central. (COVID restrictions dependant).Come to Prayer Watch in person on Friday Morning
We will be meeting in foyer to pray 7.30am - 8.30am (COVID restrictions dependant).Fast during Prayer Week
The Bible teaches the value of fasting in order to focus on prayer and seek God’s will. We would like for our church family to think about fasting and make a plan for this could fit into your routine during Prayer Week. It could be that you decide to fast a single meal, or fast for a day or even longer. To learn about fasting, watch this preach from Tim Dobson on Spiritual Disciplines: Fasting & Feasting.Download our Families Prayer Guide for helpful ways to pray each day with your children.
Praying for Our Churches
To help us pray for across the Woodlands Group of Churches during Prayer Week, we asked the leaders of each church to share their prayer requests so that we can pray specifically for each of their needs. We’ll be posting these on Facebook once a day from Monday through Saturday.
Please take some time this week to be praying for:
WOODLANDS
HIGHGROVE
METRO
COMMUNITY CHURCH
BRANCH
SOUTHSIDE
Dave Mitchel | 2nd January at 8.30am
2nd January 2022 - 8.30am Service
Holy Spirit Intensive Series
As we go into the New Year this January, on Sunday evenings we are having a ‘Holy Spirit intensive’. We know that we need the Spirit’s help to lead a discipleship life. It’s not about trying harder but leaning on God and letting His Spirit work in our lives in everything, including the very prayers we pray.
Talks in this series will cover:
2nd January: Covenant & Renewal
9th January: The Spirit & Prayer
16th January: The Spirit & Annointing
23th January: The Spirit & Witness
30th January: The Spirit & Worship
6th February: Firebreak
Join us for church on Sundays
You no longer need to book to come to church in person. We are asking for parents to book children into their groups at the 9.15am and 11am services. We hope to see you soon!
TALKS FROM THIS SERIES
Featured
Welcome to the New Year: Promise keeping | Dave Mitchell | 2nd January at 11am
As we go into the New Year this January, and begin our prayer week, do join our morning series on Spiritual Disciplines. Discipline can sound heavy, but it’s best to think of disciplines as tools for discipleship making. If you want to be a disciple, here’s some tools for you.
2nd January - 11am Service
Holy Spirit Intensive: Covenant & Renewal | Clare Thompson | 2nd January at 7pm
As we go into the New Year this January, on Sunday evenings we are having a ‘Holy Spirit intensive’. We know that we need the Spirit’s help to lead a discipleship life. It’s not about trying harder but leaning on God and letting His Spirit work in our lives in everything, including the very prayers we pray.
2nd of January - 7pm Service
Celebration of Discipline Series
As we go into the New Year this January, and begin our Prayer Week, do join our morning series on Spiritual Disciplines. Discipline can sound heavy, but it’s best to think of disciplines as tools for discipleship making. If you want to be a disciple, here’s some tools for you.
Talks in this series will cover:
2nd January: Welcome to the New Year
9th January: Discipline of Making Space for God
16th January: Healing Disciplines
23th January: Discipline of Holiness
30th January: Discipline of Celebration
Join us for church on Sundays
You no longer need to book to come to church in person. We are asking for parents to book children into their groups at the 9.15am and 11am services. We hope to see you soon!
TALKS FROM THIS SERIES
Featured
January EcoChallenge: Be more eco friendly in 2022
For our January EcoChallenge, Woodlands People & Planet are sharing some helpful ways for us to be more eco friendly in 2022. Some of us are overcome with anxiety by our planet’s future, others are simply wondering what we could do more of to live more sustainably.
There is a huge disparity between the impact you as an individual consumer can have vs that of large corporations and it often fills us with a sense of “why bother”. It may seem pointless to try when all you hear in the media are horror stories about rising sea levels, droughts and coral reefs dying. But it is so much more damaging to bury your head in the proverbial sand and do nothing than to change at least one thing that will lead to a more sustainable lifestyle.
Mindy Chung argues that “being eco-friendly isn’t a competition or standard – there’s no need to approach it from a perfectionist standpoint. It’s just about doing what you can to lessen your carbon footprint – both as an individual and as a consumer.”
So what can you do in 2022?
Start small
No one can change everything all at once, think/pray about one thing you would like to change and do it.
Avoid single-use waste when possible
Buy loose fruit and vegetables where you can – most shops offer this – and buy from places that allow you to use your own bags or jars (this may mean that you pay more for your goods, I consider this as an investment into the producers, the earth and my children’s future).
Buy second-hand when possible
You can buy most things second hand these days – from clothing to furniture to electrical goods – charity shops and online platforms like ebay or gumtree offer a wealth of items that are cheaper to buy than if you buy them new and mean that you are making use of an item that would otherwise be put into landfill.
Become a conscientious consumer
We are all tempted by cheap offers and like to think we are virtuous because we are saving money. But the reality is that there is usually someone/something in the production chain that suffers because our need for a bargain. Educating yourself about the companies you buy from and the products that are particularly harmful to the environment is an important step to become a more conscientious consumer.
Advocate for change
Never underestimate that your voice can make a difference when you demand change. Be vocal on social media, vote for environmental matters, support figures who are passionate about the environment and lobby your MP when and where you can. This takes energy to do but it is so worthwhile!
We can’t do everything all at once but one step at a time will make a big difference. Wishing you a happy start to 2022!
For more information, check out Mindy Chung’s essay that this blog was based on:
GET INVOLVED WITH PEOPLE + PLANET
If you’d be interested in finding out more about the Woodlands People + Planet group, or have some feedback about the challenges, connect with us:
Folky Christmas | 19th December 2021 at 7pm
Our sermon series, Emmanuel, God with Us, reminds us that the One who was born at Christmas to share our lives is with us today in all the facets of our lives, our pains and sorrows as well as our hopes and dreams.
19th December 2021 - 7pm Service
Carols by Candlelight | Rachel Riddall | 12th December 2021 at 7pm
Our sermon series, Emmanuel, God with Us, reminds us that the One who was born at Christmas to share our lives is with us today in all the facets of our lives, our pains and sorrows as well as our hopes and dreams.
12th December 2021 - 7pm Service
God with Us: In Hopes & Fears | Hazel Askew | 12th December 2021 at 11am
Our sermon series, Emmanuel, God with Us, reminds us that the One who was born at Christmas to share our lives is with us today in all the facets of our lives, our pains and sorrows as well as our hopes and dreams.
12th December 2021 - 11am Service
God with Us: In Hopes & Fears
Our sermon series, Emmanuel, God with Us, reminds us that the One who was born at Christmas to share our lives is with us today in all the facets of our lives, our pains and sorrows as well as our hopes and dreams.
DISCUSSION NOTES
God With Us: In Hopes and Dreams | Philip Jinadu at 11am | 5th December 2021
Our sermon series, Emmanuel, God with Us, reminds us that the One who was born at Christmas to share our lives is with us today in all the facets of our lives, our pains and sorrows as well as our hopes and dreams.
5th December 2021 - 11am Service
God With Us: In Hopes and Dreams
Our sermon series, Emmanuel, God with Us, reminds us that the One who was born at Christmas to share our lives is with us today in all the facets of our lives, our pains and sorrows as well as our hopes and dreams.
DISCUSSION NOTES
GOD WITH US: Emmanuel | Dave Mitchell at 7pm | 5th December 2021
Our sermon series, Emmanuel, God with Us, reminds us that the One who was born at Christmas to share our lives is with us today in all the facets of our lives, our pains and sorrows as well as our hopes and dreams.
5th December 2021 - 7pm Service
Our sermon series, Emmanuel, God with Us, reminds us that the One who was born at Christmas to share our lives is with us today in all the facets of our lives, our pains and sorrows as well as our hopes and dreams.
DISCUSSION NOTES
God with Us Series
During December, our messages will look at the Christmas story in a fresh light.
Emmanuel, God with Us
Our sermon series, Emmanuel, God with Us, reminds us that the One who was born at Christmas to share our lives is with us today in all the facets of our lives, our pains and sorrows as well as our hopes and dreams.
Talks in this series will cover:
5th December: Hopes & Dreams
12th December: Fears & Trials
19th December: In the Unexpected
24th & 25th December: Forever
26th December: NO CHURCH SERVICES
Join us for church on Sundays
You no longer need to book to come to church in person. We are asking for parents to book children into their groups at the 9.15am and 11am services to help things run smoothly for the time being. We hope to see you soon!
TALKS FROM THIS SERIES
Featured
In the Beginning God: The Father Heart of God | David Flanders at 11am | 28 November 2021
At our morning services in November, we’re looking at God with a fresh perspective.
28 November 2021 - 11am Service
In the Beginning God Series
“In the beginning God…” These are the first words of the bible. God is the foundation of everything, the ground of our being. But do we really know God or have a right view of Him? And is a journey of faith a journey towards a greater understanding and deeper relationship with Him?
Jesus came to reveal God as Father to the people on earth who thought they knew God best. Jesus reveals a God of surprises to us, and this series aims to help us examine our view of God and maybe look with fresh eyes at a God who is greater, more loving and merciful than we ever expected.
You can go deeper with this topic on your own or in your small group using the discussion notes below.
DISCUSSION NOTES
November 28th. ‘the Father heart of God’. Romans 8:14-17 Luke 11:1-11 Luke 15:11-32
Abba is Jesus’ special name for God. It is not a profound sacred mystery YHWH, but the first words an infant might say. To know God is to become like a little child, and acknowledge our need but also God’s compassion and heart for us.
If God is our father his fathering involves
• Intimacy
Provision and nurture
Discipline and challenge.
Celebration and pleasure
Perhaps the key story about the father heart of God is ‘the prodigal son’ (Luke 15). How is God revealed as father there? How have we seen him Father us whether we have been in a ‘prodigal’ phase of life, or in legalistic religiosity? Are we able to respond to Him as children, or do we take the posture of ‘servants’ at the expense of intimacy and grace?
How comfy would you be calling God ‘daddy’? Can you explain your reaction to that?
Does God love us unconditionally? What does that mean in terms of obedience and
discipleship? Does God love us more if we are more obedient to Him?
What is the connection between love and discipline? Does God discipline us? If so how?
Grace isn’t opposed to effort, it’s opposed to earning. (Dallas Willard)
Apocalypse Now: God’s Story & Human History | Dave Mitchell at 7pm | 28 November 2021
During November at our 7pm services, we’re looking the big challenges facing us in today’s world.
28 November 2021 - 7pm Service
Apocalypse Now Series
The word apocalypse means ‘revelation’, things revealed. The word apocalypse is often used to describe climactic and terrifying events. The 21st Century is a period of time where there is definitely a sense of dystopian doom over the planet. It’s also a time of tremendous innovation, reconstruction and possibility.
This series will help us look at some of the big challenges facing us today and the window of God’s revelation on those challenges and what is truth for humans today.
You can go deeper with this topic on your own or in your small group using the discussion notes below.
DISCUSSION NOTES
November 28th Revelation. God’s story in human history. Matthew 24.
Mathew 24:14 says the gospel will be preached to all nations ‘and then the end will come’. Is there a time line for history?
Are we living in ‘the last days’ and if so what does that mean?
What does the Bible say clearly about these things and what we should expect?
What are the priorities of a Christian living with the end in mind? How should we interpret the book of Revelation??
Apocalypse Now: A Post-Truth Age | Luke Addison at 7pm | 21 November 2021
During November at our 7pm services, we’re looking the big challenges facing us in today’s world.
21 November 2021 - 7pm Service
Apocalypse Now Series
The word apocalypse means ‘revelation’, things revealed. The word apocalypse is often used to describe climactic and terrifying events. The 21st Century is a period of time where there is definitely a sense of dystopian doom over the planet. It’s also a time of tremendous innovation, reconstruction and possibility.
This series will help us look at some of the big challenges facing us today and the window of God’s revelation on those challenges and what is truth for humans today.
You can go deeper with this topic on your own or in your small group using the discussion notes below.
DISCUSSION NOTES
Coming soon!
In the Beginning God: Long Suffering | Dave Mitchell at 11am | 21 November 2021
At our morning services in November, we’re looking at God with a fresh perspective.
21 November 2021 - 11am Service
In the Beginning God Series
“In the beginning God…” These are the first words of the bible. God is the foundation of everything, the ground of our being. But do we really know God or have a right view of Him? And is a journey of faith a journey towards a greater understanding and deeper relationship with Him?
Jesus came to reveal God as Father to the people on earth who thought they knew God best. Jesus reveals a God of surprises to us, and this series aims to help us examine our view of God and maybe look with fresh eyes at a God who is greater, more loving and merciful than we ever expected.
You can go deeper with this topic on your own or in your small group using the discussion notes below.
DISCUSSION NOTES
Read 1 Corinthians 13, Genesis 6:6 and Romans 8:26.
The idea that God in perfection, can’t be changed or affected (or limited) by the events of creation is a fundamentally Greek idea that is a philosophical abstraction or deduction, not biblical revelation. God in scripture is passionately engaged with his creation and his people and the prophets reveal that heart of God (e.g. Hosea 11).
In fact the truest thing to say about God is that God is love. And the nature of love involves intrinsically suffering. The more you love the more you have capacity to suffer; vicariously over the sufferings of those you love, and in your own suffering either in intervention in those sufferings or by rejection from the beloved. To love is to risk.
Read 1 Corinthians 13, substituting the word God for ‘love’ and adding yourself as the object of God’s love (e.g. God is patient with me, God is kind to me). Does that match up with how you feel about God’s love?
Is it true that love and suffering go together? Why?
What is the link between loving someone and giving them freedom? (Sting sang ‘If you love
someone , set them free’) If love always protects doesn’t that imply control? If God loves us
why doesn’t He control things more?
The idea of a ‘suffering supreme God’ was a challenge to the thinking of the ancient world. How does it challenge our thinking and faith today?
How willing are we to follow a way of love that includes suffering?