Category: Family Services

During 2013 we’ll be having Family Services on the third Sunday of each month. Please see below for recent Family Services

Below are blog entries from recent Family Services:

Family Service – 6th November 2011

Posted on Posted in Family ServicesTagged , , Leave a comment

We had a good turnout of around 45 people at our final Family Service of the year.

This month it was hosted by Phil Bray and began with the singing of Down from His Glory and prayer.

The second chorus was Wonderful Grace which was followed by a Bonfire Night matching pairs quiz.  Mention was also made of the upcoming events in December which we’re calling Step into Christmas.

Halfway through the matching pairs quiz

After the quiz the children enjoyed a number of their favourite choruse from Sunday Club before David Angell came to speak.

David began by asking the question ‘Who moved the stone?’ before linking it in to the story of Jesus appearing to his disciples after the resurrection and Thomas not being with them.

He went on to explain that Thomas was with them when they next met and Jesus appeared again and invited Thomas to touch his hands and feet and to see the wounds.  Thomas simply replied ‘My Lord and My God’.

David went on to talk about the different miracles that we have looked at in the Family Services this year and the fact that they are signs that point us to Jesus.  The greatest sign of all is his resurrection back to heaven and the fact that he has promised that he will return.

He went on, in a powerful message, to point out that death is not the end and one day all on earth will bow their knee to God.

We won’t have a normal Family Service in December but will have our Carols by Candlelight on Christmas Eve following on from our Step into Christmas.

Our next planned Family Service will be on 15th January 2012.

Family Tea – 2nd October 2011

Posted on Posted in Family Services, Family TeaTagged , , Leave a comment

We had around 70 people along for our second Family Tea of the year, following the good turnout at Mother’s Day.

It was good to welcome both old friends along and also to meet those who were joining us for the first time.

Following a filling tea of sandwiches and cakes followed by jelly and ice cream, David Hedges chaired the evening which begun with the singing of a few of the Sunday Club favourites.

Afterwards, we were very pleased that Ken Ward from Cherith, who used to meet with us in Maidenhead, was able to come and speak for a few minutes.

Ken brought his walking boots with him and used them as a visual aid to talk about the two paths mentioned in Matthew 7:14.  He spoke about two different tracks up Snowdon and the fact that there were two paths that we could take in our lives.

In a powerful address, he pointed out that Parkside wasn’t just about coming along to enjoy a nice tea, but that we were keen to point people towards the Lord Jesus and share with them what He had done for us.

Our next Family Service is on November 6th at the usual time of 11.30am.

Family Service and BBQ – 4th September 2011

Posted on Posted in BBQs, Family Services, OutreachTagged , , , , 1 Comment

Some forty people gathered for our latest Family Service and BBQ today.

With the planned speaker being unable to attend at the last minute it fell to Alan Michael to take up the baton in his place.

The service was once again chaired by David Hedges and began with the singing of Come and see followed by prayer.

Those present were tasked with choosing new team names for the Sunday Club teams and decided upon Bangers and Mash.

We then had a number of children’s choruses as usual before the memory verse for the month – Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies”. – John 11:25.

Alan then came to speak on the subject of the raising of Lazarus, taken from John 11, and introduced Lazarus, Mary and Martha.

Lazarus then becomes ill and dies and Alan brought out the question as to why God allows suffering and bad things to happen to people who love him.  Lazarus died that God might be glorified through his death.  The Bible tells us that when Christians die it is like sleep as we have a great hope to look forward to when Jesus returns.

Jesus proves that He is the resurrection and the life by raising Lazarus back to life.  Many believed in Him as a result.

Jesus met the needs of Lazarus, Mary and Martha in different ways.

  • Remember – Look back and know that God loves you.
  • Review – Look at present circumstances.  God is with us.
  • Re-focus – Do we need to change our direction?  Are we disciples?  Remember that Jesus said ‘I am the resurrection and the life’.

We finished the service by singing Low in the grave and prayer.

The planned BBQ and games in the park had to be somewhat scaled back due to monsoon rainfall that fell during and after the Family Service.

Photo by Paul Cogger
Robert and Phil manning the BBQ in monsoon conditions

We had earlier set up a marquee to cook under, but ended up serving food in the back room and putting round tables in the main hall rather than in the park.

Photo by Paul Cogger
Burger or sausage, anyone?

 

Family Service – 7th August 2011

Posted on Posted in Family Services, OutreachTagged , , 1 Comment

We had around 40 people at our August Family Service, which was chaired by Victor Michael.

Victor’s opening hymn was All things bright and beautiful which was followed by prayer.

Victor welcomed those present and highlighted the next Family Service, on 4th September, as well as our upcoming Friends and Neighbours BBQ on 13th August.

It was then over to some of the children’s favourite choruses from Sunday Club before Alan came up with a general knowledge quiz to form this month’s memory verse –

Jesus said ‘I am the light of the world.’ – John 8: 12

Following Alan’s quiz, we sung For the beauty of the earth before Paul Cogger came up to speak, in his own unique style.

Paul spoke, using various visual aids to enhance his talk, on the healing of the blind man from John 9 and focussed on various ‘Ps’ from story finishing with Jesus’ purpose in carrying out the miracle, before closing in prayer.

Click on the image to view or download Paul’s presentation.