Tag: Alan Michael

discover: Week 1 – 5 January 2014

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We had a good number in for our first week of the new discover service at Parkside.

This was the first week that we had served coffee (and other drinks) in the main hall and it seemed to work well, with those arriving, happy to partake and mingle ahead of the main service.

Discover Week 1

The opening week was chaired by Phil and began with an a capella version of I do not know what lies ahead and prayer.

Phil explained about the new format for discover and that the children would be going out for their activities at 12:00pm, at which point Alan Michael would begin a six week series using content from the well-known Christianity Explored course.

After a number of children’s choices, it was time for the children to adjourn to the back rooms, along with Lesley, Sarah and Brian.

Phil read from Mark 1:1-15, before handing over to Alan.

Alan’s title for the first week of the course was ‘Good News: What are we doing here?’ and worked through the first few verses of Mark 1, explaining them one verse at a time.

At the end of the service, Alan offered some handouts with questions on, based on the Questions Week 1passage covered, as well as inviting questions either via pen and paper or making use of Twitter.

We were very pleased with how the first week went and look forward to hearing David Angell next week, who will be taking the second week of the course, with the subject Identity: Who is Jesus?

You can download a copy of Alan’s slides from Week 1 of discover here – discover-week-1-05012014.pdf or download the talk by right-clicking on the link below and selecting ‘Save link as…’.  Alternatively, press the play button to listen directly from the website.

Discover Week 1

We hope you’ll be able to join us next week.

November 2013 Monthly Conference – 9 November 2013

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We had the first of our winter series of conference this evening and began with Alan Michael taking the subject of Daniel: a teenager’s obedience.

You can see tweets from the evening below, as well as listen to the conference:

You can download Alan’s talk by right-clicking on the link below and selecting ‘Save link as…’.  Alternatively, press the play button to listen directly from the website.

November 2013 Conference – Daniel

Thanksgiving Service for Mike Wells – 5 August 2013

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There was standing room only at the back, as some 150 people filled Parkside at the Thanksgiving Service for the life of Mike Wells.  These included business colleagues as well as family and many friends who had come to pay tribute to a much-missed man.

The service followed on from a committal in the sunshine at Braywick Cemetery which was taken by Mike’s good friend, Ken Rudge.

The Thanksgiving Service was led by Alan Michael and began with him welcoming the large number of people who had come along.

Pilgrim's Progress

The opening hymn was It is well with my soul and afterwards Alan opened in prayer.

He then gave a brief synopsis of Mike’s life and explained that it would be covered in much greater detail later in the service.

Phil Bray then came up to read some lines from Pilgrim’s Progress.  These were found written in most of Mike’s Bibles, and were clearly words close to him.

The second chorus was Here is love, vast as the ocean, before Andrew Rice came up to read out a series of tributes, firstly from Mike’s business associates and then from friends and family.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
Mike Wells (1951 to 2013)

This was followed by a photo montage, arranged by Mike’s son, Phil and set to Matt Redman’s song ‘Never Once‘.

The third song at the service was I stand amazed in the presence and afterwards Paul Cogger came up to speak.

He opened with a few memories of Mike and also brought out Mike’s personal faith in the Lord Jesus which led to his work in organising both Christian camps and holidays for young people – something he genuinely loved.

Paul mentioned about how Mike’s life was changed forever after he accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour and that, if we do likewise, as Christians, we can look forward to seeing him again one day.

He closed with the words of Jim Hill’s ‘What a day that will be‘.

Our final hymn was one of Mike’s favourites – The day Thou gavest and afterwards Victor Michael closed the service with prayer.

It was an uplifting service, full of memories both of Mike and especially of the importance of his personal faith.

A number then adjourned to the Holiday Inn in Maidenhead for refreshments, including some of Mike’s favourite cheese and biscuits.

You can listen to the Thanksgiving Service by clicking on the link below.  Please note that due to a technical issue, the recording begins with the singing of Here is love.

Click to download

April Family Service – 21st April 2013

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We had an excellent time, with around 40 people at our April Family Service which was chaired by Jon Cox, with Alan Michael speaking.

April 2013 Family Service

Jon was beset with various problems at the beginning of the service, including broken guitar strings and faulty batteries on his amplifier, but battled through heroically, with his customary good humour.

It was great to see old friends back again, as well as those who normally join us at our Family Service.

Jon took the opportunity to choose some choruses which we haven’t sung recently and accompanied Kerry’s piano playing with his guitar.

Beginning with Jesus is the name we honour, we also sang We want to see Jesus lifted high, Jesus put this song into our hearts and When I feel the touch, as well as a selection of children’s favourites.

Jon had arranged a Bible-based light-hearted quiz, which again proved entertaining and ended in a draw.

Alan came up to speak and followed on from the developing theme of ‘People Jesus met’ by talking through the conversion of Saul, found in Acts 9, particularly referring to Saul’s Challenge, Conversion and Change.

After the service, the majority of people were able to stay for refreshments, again arranged by Lesley.

Our next Family Service is on 19th May at 11.45am.

Good Friday Special – 29th March 2013

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We had a enjoyable time when some of the children who normally come along to Friday Club joined up with a few of those from Sunday Club for some Easter-themed games at Parkside, organised by Alan.

With sunshine and the prospect of a dry morning, we met up around 11am and the children were split into teams to hunt out Easter eggs in the park.

We then returned inside for more hunting of eggs – this time the location was given using Bible verses.

More egg-based games continued including one where eggs were balanced on various wooden animals.

The time together finished with the children watching a short video about the Easter story and a short quiz before enjoying a lunch including such delights as frankfurters, crisps, marshmallows and chocolate fingers!