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Spring Harvest

Patrick and I went to Spring Harvest recently and would like to share some encouragement. 

Spring Harvest has been running over 30 years and is a convention held at Butlins in Minehead and Skegness.  It is designed as a resource and encouragement to christians and their churches.  It caters for all ages and abilities. The main meeting is held in a circus type 'Big Top' and the celebrations  are relayed to televisions in each accommodation.This year is the third year in a series: One God; One People; One Hope.  This ties in with the HOPE08 initiative.   Each day looked at a different aspect of hope. It was based on the account of the Emmaus Road (Luke 24v13) where Jesus explains how he has fulfilled the Old Testament scriptures. The Old Testament texts were from Isaiah 40 -55.  Over four days a different aspect of hope was explored. We began with:

Hope on a hill, the hope of salvation through Jesus' death and resurrection. The basis for our faith and our hope.

Hope in the garden, looking at the garden of Eden, God's ideals for His creation. How to care for the world selflessly and with a Christian hope.

Hope out of town, Isaiah reminds the nation of Israel who are in exile in Babylon that God has rescued them from Eqypt in the past.  It is a chance to review the church's current position in a post modern society.

Hope in the city Looking to the hope of heaven and eternal life.

Each morning the theme was explored through a Bible reading session then Patrick and I enrolled Samuel in Nursery while we went to an 'Encounter Bible reading'. This helped us use our senses and understand the culture affecting the people in the Biblical accounts. For example the Exile from Eqypt is remembered by Jews who celebrate the passover meal. We tasted horseradish a bitter herb as the Nation of Israel did in remembering the death of the Egyptian firstborn.  We listened to passages from the Bible read from different translations, we were encouraged to draw a picture of our testimony and consider questions such as 'if you were God why would you make you.'One particular thought that was shared was this...Toddlers get much pleasure from watching the same thing over and over and substitute the word 'gen' for 'again.'  Gen to a tickle, gen to another mouthful gen to a story.  Often we adults tire of repetition. But God looks upon what he has created and says, 'Gen to the sunrise, gen to each new flower opening in spring, gen to the tide on the shore,....gen every time we make Him smile, gen every time we please Him, ....gen to our every breath............'

Heather Mballa

 

An Evening With Larry Wilson, Fri 16th May
Imagine What Your Life Would Be Like if You Actually Lived Like Jesus. Jesus showed us a completely new and different way to live and he believes we can do it. Many people live safe, predictable lives because they’re afraid to act on their deepest convictions. Jesus wasn’t. He showed us a completely new way to live—radically devoted to God, selflessly available to others, completely free from fear and doubt. Love your enemies, he told people. Bless those who curse you, and thank God when you are persecuted for being righteous. People thought he was crazy. Were they right?
(Larry Wilson, Author)

Larry is married to Heather Gemmen-Wilson who is the keynote speaker at the Lilies women’s conference,
’Replenish, Renew, Restore’. Larry is an author and publishing executive and says he uses words to make the world a better place, just like Jesus did. He has kindly agreed to make time out of his busy schedule to meet with us and share some of his insights and thoughts. The excerpt from his latest book (above) “A Different Kind of Crazy” will give a flavour for what the evening will be like
Friday 16th May 2008
St Thomas’ Church Extension
7:30 PM Start With Coffee 

 

Staff at St Toms

The Revd Stephen Mourant will be joining the staff team from September 29th as Parish Missioner. This is a special additional post that is anticipated will last for two years. Stephen will be working alongside the current staff team, whose roles remain the same. Stephen will be worshipping with us regularly over the next few months but he will not be undertaking any responsibilities until his commencement date.

 

Kairos trip to black majority church in Walthamstow, North East London.

Click here for more info

 

 Street pastors in the Echo Click here

 

INFO ON GOLDEN COMPASS

If you are looking for info on the "Children's film" The Golden Compass which has been described as 'atheism for kids', based on the first book of the 'His Dark materials" trilogy by Phillip Pullman follow this link.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/compass.asp

 

GLO Burundi

To read the latest report from Simon Guilllebaud click here

 

Street Pastors

Following the visit of Les Isaacs on 5 September, we can now report that Fair Oak & Horton Heath have been validated by the Ascension Trust to begin Training for a commissioning of Street Pastors sometime in early 2008!! Representation from leadership in all the churches in Fair Oak and Horton Heath greatly encouraged us all. Les then spoke clearly and powerfully to the church leadership and then later with Local Authority Representation and senior police officers at Eastleigh Police Station.

 A briefing will take place for all interested persons on 15 September followed by a 'Taste and See' session led by Les Isaacs on Monday 8th October 7.00-10.00pm in the Extension.

 

Street Pastors

Les Issacs of Street Pastors will be visiting the Parish on 5 September 2007 to speak with Church Leaders and then the Police and Local Authority representatives to enable the training for our local Street Pastors to begin mid-September through to Christmas 2007.  It is therefore hoped we will be able to launch Street Pastors upon the streets of Fair Oak and Horton Heath early in 2008....WATCH THIS SPACE!

 

Boot Camp Sunday 22nd - Wednesday 25th

Boot Camp France trip. Ten children are going on a mission trip to France. They will be staying with the Morris family and will be spending time finding out about France but more importantly spending time looking at the plan God has for their lives. We had a fantastic time with the Morris family. More info to follow

 

Volunteers

Over the past few years you will have noticed the incredible amount of work carried out by Ian Yeneralski and Matt Davis. Both are now facing new challenges in 2007 with Ian taking the role of Youth Pastor at Winchester Vineyard and Matt giving some of his time to a University course. To fill the gap we have two new volunteers working with the church full-time from the end of August. To ensure their long-term success we are looking for individuals to support these volunteers by providing accommodation or financial support.  If you could provide accommodation for one of our volunteers or could commit to supporting them financially it would be great to hear from you. As little as £10 per month could mean the difference! If you can help in any way please contact Jono on 02380617423 jono@sttoms.co.uk

 

Quiz Night

Ladies Quiz Night with fish and chip supper. 7.30pm in the Extension.

Over 30 ladies gathered in the church extension to use their brains in various team efforts at our Ladies Quiz Night. They all survived the challenge, (with the help of fish and chips!) The Fab Girls were the deserved winners! We had great fun and made new friends too! Look out for the next one, why not come along and join us?

 

Paul's Priesting

You are invited to Paul’s Priesting at Highfield Church on June 30th at 6.00pm and afterwards @ the Vicarage for a ‘bring and share’ supper.

On June 30th at Highfield Church in Southampton our Curate, Paul Dever, was priested along with three other ministerial colleagues. Appropriately for Paul the service took place in the very church, where he served for six years as a Youth Pastor. It was a privilege to be alongside him at this very public affirmation of his ministry, and we celebrate that in the years to come there will be others from within the life of St. Thomas Church whose ministry will be recognised in this way. Click here for photos

 

Civic Service

Sunday July 1st, Civic Service to welcome the new mayor of Eastleigh Roger Smith. 9am in the church building.

On July 1st we celebrated the annual Civic Service for the Mayor of Eastleigh, Roger Smith, who has lived in the area for many years and is also a local Parish Councillor. It was good to have the opportunity to pray for Roger and his wife, Sheila, as they face a very busy and demanding year. The choir sang a prayer of blessing over them, and it was encouraging to mark and celebrate the ongoing partnership between the church and the local council.

 

Sunday 3rd June

Ladies v Men fund-raising football match at Wyvern Muga at 4pm followed by a bbq in the new garden area at The Lapstone. Don't worry you won't be asked to play! Just come along and give your support!

£2000 raised for Kware from football, auction and BBQ! Ladies team came out victorious 5-4!

 

Wednesday 6th June

Mark Broom of St Thomas' Church, Fair Oak is having his legs completely waxed in front of the children of Stoke Park Junior School, Bishopstoke on Wednesday 6th June 2007 for the charity, St Thomas' Handshake to Kware www.handshaketokware.org.uk .  If you would like to give to Kware through this fundraising event, then please sign a sponsor form that will be going around the congregations of St Thomas' on Sunday 3rd June 2007. £1200 raised for Kware. Click here to see some photos!

 

 

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