Dear Church Family,
I write to you at the end of another strange week in our lives as we all adjust to being in lockdown. Whilst the days we live in are uncertain and ever changing, we know the One who is steadfast and never failing. The Holy Spirit has been speaking to me this week about continuing to praise God no matter how I'm feeling, and I'd love to encourage you to do the same. As the writer to Hebrews exhorts:
"let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1b-2
As we face our current challenges let's continue to keep our eyes firmly fixed on Jesus who is seated on Heaven's throne. I have explored these themes further through a devotional on Psalm 146 which you can see here.
I have been speaking to many of you this week and I'm so encouraged to hear stories of faith, of servant heartedness to our neighbours, and of increased opportunities for witness. It's so fantastic to be part of this church family!
Coming Up
Easter is upon us next week, and whilst it'll be very different from usual, I don't think it could come at a better time. What an opportunity to declare the hope and new life we have in Jesus to the world around us! Next week we will be posting a devotional on Good Friday, along with an Easter playlist of songs for you to use at home, and we will be celebrating Easter Sunday together online.
Media posts
Further to Debbie's email this week, we have created a media page on our website for all the videos and audio we are creating and have moved our videos across to our youtube channel. Subscribing to our youtube channel will give to up to date access to anything we post - so please consider subscribing.
Contact Groups
Thank you to all those who have signed up from a group. I trust that this has already been a benefit and blessing to you. If you haven't signed up yet, you can do that here.
Prayer Request
Over the past few months we have begun to make a connection with David and Kelly Bentley who lead a church plant out in a town near Granada, Spain. As you may know Spain is heavily hit by Coronavirus, please could I ask you to join me in praying for their safety as a family? They have also asked that we pray that they can come up with creative ways of reaching out to those they have begun to gather - many of whom are not Christians yet.
I look forward to joining you again this Sunday as we gather together online.
Every blessing,
Barney
Gateway Church Ashford, is a church in Ashford, Kent, and is part of the New Frontiers movement and within the Catalyst Network sphere.