Had a great time at church yesterday. The palce was heaving. For some time now we have ran 2 services on a Sunday morning. Our early bird service at 9 am saw over 180 get in early. That's a good 40 up on our usual attendance. Maybe they just wanted to be free to enjoy the rest of the day!
Our most popular service is our 11 am service. Yesterday we had over 300 people crammed in with some extra seat out in the foyer. Add to this 150 in our Kids Church for their own special programme. It was great to see so many people celebrating Easter Sunday.
The exciting part was introducing our 3 rd Service on a Sunday at 5 pm. We want to continue to give people the opportunity to meet Jesus. It was a good start with nearly 90 in attendance.
Our creative team put on a great performance with a drama - Worth it All. With a number of people committing to follow Jesus for the first time.
Happy Easter
Monday, April 17, 2006
New Service
Posted by Billy Ritchie at 8:23 am 0 comments
Thursday, April 06, 2006
The Years Roll By!
Had a long telephone conversation with a Guy I went to college with about 24 years ago - Andrew Georgiou. We don't see each other that often, maybe bump into each other at a meeting or conference from time to time. But of course our conversation drops back into old acquaintances etc. etc. It yet again reminded me how quickly time passes.
It only seems yesterday when I met Andrew for the first time when we both arrived fresh faced at Mattersey Hall - AOG Bible College. In fact we didn't even really get on in our time there. I was in my know it all stage and was very often arguing with someone. (Hopefully I've changed a little but that's for other people to say)
It caused great amusement at the time within the student population when we both announced that we were both going to work in a church in Milton Keynes and even more laughter when it was discovered we were going to share a house together. I'm glad to say that during our time in MK we developed a little better of a friendship. If you have read other parts of this blog you will know that I stayed in Milton Keynes. Andrew moved away but has kept serving God in every church he has been a part.
It was good to talk to him again and to know that although we are not quite as fresh faced as we used to be we are still radically committed to following Jesus and advancing His kingdom.
Posted by Billy Ritchie at 8:32 pm 0 comments
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Why make it simple when we can complicate it?
Over the last two days I feel like I have swung like a pendulmn. From one extreme to another. If you have read other entries in this blog you will know that I have committed my life to a radical devotion to God's kingdom. My motivation is to personally become more like Christ and assist others in that journey.
On Monday night I met with a few guys who share my passion in life. We have been watching a set of DVD's together produced by Willow Creek Community Church entitled A2. The series looks specifically at the church that existed in its infancy immediately after the death and resurrection of its founder Jesus and described in the second chapter of Acts in the Bible.
Bill Hybles simply communicated his take on Evangelism. He took what many of us Christians are sometimes inexplicably afraid of, telling another human being what Jesus has done in our lives, and simplified it to something that was easy and within reach. Being open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, leaving our place of comfort and holding out the hand of friendship and assisting people on their Spiritual journey without bringing judgment.
This was followed today by a seminar on Church government and Charity Law. Of course it is vital that we ensure that everything we do as Charities and Churches is done in the very best of order and to the highest of standards. That is of paramount importance. Sometimes it seems though that the church in Acts 2 had a much more simple outlook. They met together regularly, listened to and applied the teaching of the leaders and met each others needs. No mention of companies limited by guarantees, directors, trustees etc.
Maybe its better to keep a simple life for a simple person and leave the complicated stuff to those God has shaped to understand it. Maybe that way we will be more effective in our quest for the extension of God's family.
Posted by Billy Ritchie at 8:33 pm 0 comments