Rachel's Ministry Moments...

2011-10-26T15:19:00.000+01:00

it's been a while... times flown again!

Just to let you know some of the things I've been up to:

Organised & lead Summer Holiday Bible club
Extra Toddler Groups at community event
Leading All-Age services both at Gold Hill and one of our partner churches

Started New after School club

Gained my Food Safety & Hygiene Certificate

Led Assemblies and delivered RE lessons at local School

I'm sure there was much more, but hopefully that's given you a flavour of what's been a busy summer.
Autumn is now here and it's proving to be just as busy, so I guess I better get back to it.
till next time, God Bless x

So many boxes...

2011-02-18T20:03:00.000Z

I'm surrounded by packing boxes. the big move is tomorrow and I'm praying the rain will hold off long enough for us to get the furniture in! Promise I'll take some photo's so I can share them with you next time...
OK so must go pack yet another box...!!!!

Moving out...

2011-02-16T10:54:00.000Z

So this is the final load of my stuff moving out of the old home. Thanks to the Dixon's for the loan of the 'Cow' trailer!

On the move...

2011-02-12T21:39:00.000Z

For those of you who know me well, you'll know I've been trying to sell my house to enable me to buy a place here...
Well it's finally come together and by the end of this week I should be in my new home, a flat right in the heart of the village. God is amazing

Watch this space for pictures...

Christmas 2010

2011-01-12T15:45:00.000Z

I know Christmas has been and gone but I just wanted you to see the giant cracker I made for our Christmas Unwrapped event on Christmas Eve. Needless to say when it came to the pull it took all the children to crack it open to find their gifts inside...

2010-11-23T16:01:00.000Z

2010-05-25T15:52:00.000+01:00

Half term is nearly here so that means the weekly youth groups take a break. however our Thursday 'Plunge' group rounded off this part of the term in style with...

I have to say they were brilliant and well rewarded with a Curly Wurly for everyone who took part. I was happy to be taking the photos and not performing on stage!

So now I get a little more time to concentrate on preparing for other events coming up. We have an All-Age service in June, a family day in July and of cause the big Timebreaker event at the end of August, if we get enough volunteers! For now though I should get back to the organised chaos that is my desk!

2010-03-17T10:15:00.000Z

Crumbs its March and I've not written recently...must mean I've been busy - I guess I have. The weeks seem to be going by pretting quick especially when Thursday eve comes around and its time to think what's on the menu for cooking with the Thurs PLUNGE youth group, have I got all the craft stuff I need and most important is the God Spot chat ready to go... This group has about 30 come each week and I guess 80-90% come from non-church families - what a great opportunity to tell them and show them how much God loves them.

2010-01-19T17:35:00.000Z

I'm just getting ready to go to a new House Group this evening. I've been invited to share my story so I thought I'd do a 'show and tell' using some of my favourite photo's. Hope my laptop behaves or they'll just have to listen...!

2010-01-12T18:13:00.001Z

This is the Christmas Unwrapped Event

Here's what Chalfont St Peter looked like in January's winter weather...

2010-01-12T09:45:00.000Z

Here we are in January... I've enjoyed looking at the snow but walking through it to work was a little tricky, mind you I did get some lovely photo's which I'll post next time. I'm busy trying to get to grips with the churches database to update all the groups rotas etc. I hope you've all had a great start to the year... I'll write more next time... must get on with inputting data...!

2009-12-17T20:36:00.000Z

Oh my goodness Christmas is just next week and I've still got lots to do work wise. I've already done a stint of face painting at the village late night shopping evening. It was great to be able to tell people a little of the Chrsitmas story while painting a star or present on their face! This weekend is the All-Age service and I'm speaking...!!! This is a bit scary as it will be my first serious upfront thing at Goldhill but I'm sure God will guide my words. Then there's the family 'Christmas Unwrapped' Event on Christmas eve - we're having crafts and games so the whole family can have fun and then come together to hear a short Christmas presentation (which will be me again!) to focus our thoughts on the real reason for the season. After that I'll be heading north to join family in Leicester for Christmas, which I'm looking forward to. I do pray you all have a peaceful and blessed time this Christmas.

2009-11-20T12:22:00.000Z

The weeks are flying by at the moment. Last Sunday was my official welcome to Gold Hill, it was so lovely to have family and friends there. I feel like I'm starting to get to grips with life at Gold Hill - mind you there are so many names to remember! My flat too is starting to feel like home especially as I was able to host my guests last Sunday for lunch, there was 7 of us for a sit down lunch and then 2 more friends popped in for coffee after. I was very excited to have a room full of my favourite people. So things that I'm working on at the moment are: planning for Christmas - yes I know but it is coming up. We have an All-Age service in early Dec and a family 'Messy Church' style service on Christmas Eve. This along with all the usual weekly groups and starting to put rotas together for next term. I'm really enjoying being a part of the team here. I'm so grateful for answered prayers... More later... but till then God Bless x.

2009-10-20T12:41:00.003+01:00

I'm here in my new place in Chalfont St Peter and its lovely. The move went really well and I've only got a few boxes still to unpack! Thanks to my folks for coming down to help. I start my new job at the beginning of November so I've got a couple of weeks to settle in and get to know my new surroundings. This week however I'm back at Moorlands collage delivering a session to the Level 2 students on the role of a Family Minister; I'm really pleased to be able to keep up the contact with the collage. So the unpacking is on hold for a bit while I prep for my session!

2009-10-12T18:36:00.000+01:00

The big move happens this week... so please forgive me if I don't write for a while. I'm getting excited about moving - getting to know a new area and meeting new people and starting my new job. So I'm sure I 'll have lots to post in a few weeks time.

2009-10-06T15:45:00.000+01:00

I'm starting to say goodbye to folk here in Dorchester... The Junior Church team gave me a lovely a send off last Sunday, here's the photo's which show the amazing cake they made for me. The Church family also presented me with some beatuiful flowers, a lovely photo of the town amongst other things... they have been very kind.

2009-09-29T08:31:00.002+01:00

The 'What next...' is now coming together. God has really been answering prayer. I've accepted the position of Children's Worker with Gold Hill Baptist Church, starting very soon, and I've found a new place to live. So things are changing... its an exciting time with a little bit of 'scary' mixed in. I'm so looking forward to working with the team at Gold Hill and discovering a new area of the country. I'm sure its going to be a big change of pace for me but one that will challenge and stretch me and use my gifting. But for now I've lots to organise...!

2009-09-05T13:29:00.004+01:00

Summer's been busy but fun. The Holiday Club week at the end of July was great. Entitled 'The Master Plan' it was a week of crazy, messy, loud fun all helping the young people to discover more about Gods Master Plan for their lives.

So now its the start of a new term and next week will see the regular groups starting up again. So I've been busy putting rota's and flyers together in the hope things will get off to a smooth start. Then there's the Harvest All-Age service to prep for... In it all I'm praying God will guide me to what's next...!

2009-07-11T19:42:00.002+01:00

Goodness just seen its been couple of months since I've posted anything! let me just check back in the diary to remind myself what I've done...! June started with the joint Church community event IMPACT which was a great success. A first for me was joining the worship team, singing in front of people - hopefully in tune! The 3 days finished with about1000 people attending the free family fun day.

Since then there has been ongoing planning for a holiday Bible Club coming up at the end of July amongst the preparation for my regular groups. I did take a week off mid month to visit family and friends which was well needed.

The beginning of July I helped lead a retreat day for the year 8's of a local school. The day focused on choices, consequences and change. These guys are about to move schools after the holidays so the aim of the retreat is to get them to think about the choices they make and how to best handle change.This is done within a structure of Christian values without actually 'preaching' at them as this wouldn't be acceptable in a school situation.

So bit of an update for now... I'll try not to leave it so long next time. God Bless x

2009-05-12T09:42:00.003+01:00

So last Sunday evening my youth bible study group was just great. I was so encouraged to hear the some of them giving great advice to those younger than themselves. It really revealed just how much God has and is growing their faith. The advice... keep talking to God whenever and about whatever, just keep talking to Him. Good advice for us all. For me, at the moment I'm talking to Him about future stuff and asking for clear guidance. Coming up in June we have a joint church community event called IMPACT, then in July a Holiday Bible Club, but before that at the end of May I'm planning and leading a service on Pentecost and of course there's all the usual day to day stuff. Oh and the picture... well you'll need your imagination... this is a Junior Church class trying to spell out the word PEACE...squint and you might get it...!

2009-04-20T18:58:00.008+01:00

My Easter was just lovely... with a visit to Leiden, Holland, The Netherlands (I'm still not sure what the correct term is!) I time spent with good friends who made me feel so at home, it was just what I needed. After the business of previous weeks, that included fighting a bad head cold (yuk!)

The Lent study course finished well. I hope it helped people to remember what Christ has done for us. At the end of the Easter break (& after my Holiday) we had our first Family FUN Fest event at church. I'd written to over 40 families to invite them to join in with fun, games and craft. the idea being the church family spend time getting to know other families that perhaps they've not met before. it was a bit of an unknown and I was nervous that no one would come & that it would just be the volunteer's taking advantage of the bouncy castle! But prayer was answered, people came and we made new contacts with possibly 2 new families looking to join our regular Toddler group. So thank you Lord, great stuff.

2009-03-09T15:10:00.002Z

the Sun's shinning in through my lounge windows and its lovely. I'm at home catching up on some reading and prep for the coming week. Wednesday eve will be the 2nd of our Lent study series. We're using the BBC's The Passion, so this morning I've watched episode 2 and now need to get to grips with the questions set by the Bible Society. Hopefully this way I'll sound like I know a little something when I come to facilitate discussion. I was really pleased last week when 3 of my youth group joined us. It's not often the generations of this church mix like this, so I'm hoping it'll be a blessing all round.

2009-02-16T18:32:00.002Z

I know someone who can put an exact day & year to events (scarily!). My brain just doesn't work that way so I was amazed to find that it's 25 years this year that I committed my life to Christ... cool huh. I happened to catch BBC Songs of Praise this week which was focusing on the Anniversary of Mission England when Dr Billy Graham was on tour in the UK telling the Good News of Jesus. To cut a long story short I was at the Ipswich football ground event when God clearly spoke to me and I went forward to publicly show I had decided to follow Jesus. I have to say as I look back I realise that God has always been with me through great times and the not so great and I know and trust him for whatever comes next... for he's promised he has a plan for me, one to prosper me, not to harm me and to give me hope and a future. This is my prayer for you all, that you too will know that same assurance.

2009-01-21T15:18:00.002Z

So this morning I've been typing up an idea for a holiday club event. I've got the idea and the place to hold it what I just need is the volunteers... I've written to folk asking if they can help, so guess I'll just have to wait and see... and pray of cause! One answer to prayer lately is our 'Story Tots' group which finally got off the ground last week with 5 little ones turning up. i guess the next test is to see if they come again this week...?

I'm reading a great book at the moment 'IT' How churches and church leaders can get it and keep it, by Craig Groeschel. I've been thinking alot lately about church and how some feel like they 'work' really well and others don't, well this guy is way ahead of me and has some great insights.

Well on with the rest of my day... tonight is the Youth Worship event MADE to Worship and one of my youth group tells me they're hoping a mate of theirs is coming for the first time, which'd be great. hope you have fun evening too. God Bless

2009-01-05T14:54:00.003Z

It's January already how did that happen...? There I was enjoying some quality time with my family, meeting up with friends for coffee & a natter, opening pressies etc and whoosh... I find myself back at my desk. It was great (while it lasted) my break over Christmas & New Year, just what I needed. I hope you all had a great time too. I'll write more soon when I've finished compiling my first 'to do' list of 2009...

2008-12-05T16:56:00.004Z

You should see the state of my dinning room table... lets just say its Christmas in progress... mind you I do like the wrapping bit and curling of the ribbons. With Christmas in mind I'm currently thinking about the family service I'm to lead on Christmas eve - the traditional Christingle Service (that's the one with the oranges & candles). I'm praying I'll be able to remind people that Christmas is not about the wrapping & ribbons but rather about God loving us so much he sent his Son Jesus to be with us. So your prayers for my preparation would be great. Before that I've got 2 more sessions of our youth study group, the all-Age service which the Junior Church team are doing a great job putting together and stuff to prep for 2009 but we'll save those details for next time. Oh and the picture is one I took on a recent visit to Chesil Beach.

2008-11-28T13:15:00.002Z

Tonight is talent night at youth group, the final one of the term. this type of thing always gets me a little nervous as you can never be sure just exactly what the guys are going to come up with. i do know we have a kick boxing demo, piano piece and maybe some magic - so hopefully it'll be fun for all. i've been encouraged lately with the offer from someone to come onboard as a leader. this is always a challengue having enough folk to safely run what you want to. So to have an offer of help without my pleading or nagging is great. Another positive to tell you about is the plans for re-launching our mid week toddler Group 'Story Tots'. At the meeting yesterday there were 10 of us. We set the format for the sessions, chatted through details and even manged to sort the rota. So we've got till January to get the message out there to the families. Perhaps you could pray for a good response to our first session come January, thanks.

2008-11-21T17:54:00.002Z

Things don't always turn out how you'd like even when you've been patiently waiting. I was very disappointed this week and on chatting about it with some of my wonderfully wise friends, i think I realise that God does use you and me for his purposes and that those purposes are not necessarily about you at that time. I was hoping for the next chapter of his plan for me but I think these last 6 months have been about him using me to help others realise that they need to get back on track with Gods plan for them. So I guess I need to remember it's not about me - its ultimately about Gods amazing plan for us all, a plan that is revealed and realised in JESUS. Hope you get my drift....

2008-11-06T12:32:00.005Z

Sorry I missed October, not sure where it went. but I do know the end of September was much fun. My visit to Cairo was great. What a city... the best way to describe it is perpetual motion with lots of noise and so hot 38 degrees in the shade! lovely to catch up my friends some very Godly people who are doing a fantastic job for Cairo's Cathedral. Oh that's me and my camel moses - well you have to do the touristy stuff huh!

So now its back to work and I'm thinking about Christmas (eek!) youth groups are starting up again after half term and the Youth bible study group starts again this Sunday - it'll be interesting to see what they want to study for this last bit of term having just done Paul's letter to the Philippians, under the title of 'Jesus Our Joy'. Then there's planning to be done towards the Christmas All-Age service (if you know of a better name for this type of service do share!)

I could list a whole lot of other events but just to say things are ticking over but there is rumour of change on the horizon... do pray it'll be the right sort of change for the church here and for me! God Bless :-)

2008-09-15T15:52:00.002+01:00

Why do desk's suddenly become so laden with paper!!! I'm currently trying to collate all my recent notes from various meetings to put everything in one place. It's a job I don't mind doing only it takes time and time is short this week. I have lots to sort, for example planning for the first of our new style Junior Church Worship sessions this coming Sunday, preparation for the Youth bible study group. Oh and amongst other things looking at plans for a youth weekend away. Plans that I thought were coming along nicely until I find out half the leaders now can't make the planned date... arr! Also I have a key meeting this coming Friday and Saturday which will need some careful preparation, do pray for Gods clear guidance for the future in that meeting.

And after this week... well I have a holiday booked. I fly to Cairo to visit some NZ friends who are currently working out there. It's just for a week but very exciting as it will include my Birthday. But before all that I've got to clear this paper covered desk...!

2008-09-03T15:09:00.002+01:00

This week started much as usual including Junior church members getting all covered in glue and glitter. They were making an origami star displaying a scripture verse from Philippians 2 'you must shine among them like stars... as you offer the message of life.' It's my prayer that they remember the life giving message of Jesus. My prayer became much more poignant after hearing news of the death of a childhood friend. My emotion, I'm sure, is only a fraction of what the family must be experiencing. My Prayer for them, that God be ever close and that they lean on his understanding and Love. So for us all, keep your eyes fixed on Jesus.

2008-08-23T14:14:00.005+01:00

I'm just about sorted for my Junior Church group tomorrow. We're looking at Saul meeting with Jesus and becoming Paul. Great story, I'm hoping to link it with my family time talk in the service ; asking how we meet with God. Makes you think how often do we stop and see God where we are, to meet with him, give him glory. This week I got to see the Red Arrows, wow amazing stuff, the skill, the speed, the design of the planes - all put together by people but people who are made in Gods image, was I seeing a little of God, meeting with him in appreciating that awesome aerial display, I think so. OK so its not the same kind of meeting with God that Paul had, it didn't change my life radically (actually Gods already done that) but it did make me stop and think and give God glory for his superb creativity.

2008-08-04T15:39:00.003+01:00

Tonight is book club night. once a month I get together with a few neighbours and we chat through what we thought of the book we've just read. This month was The Memory Keepers Daughter by Kim Edwards. A good read even though you may find the decision made in the opening chapter rather far fetched but without it there wouldn't be the story. I'll be interested to hear what the others thought. I did ask my fellow book readers not to choose anything too substantial to read as I have a certain amount of reading to do for my job. So we're known as the Inch Thick Book Club (i.e Books chosen not to more than an inch thick!) So what am I reading work wise? I've been looking for something to recommend for anyone new to the Christian Faith or who's just looking. So I'm reading 'If you could ask God One Question' by Paul Williams and Barry Cooper. So far its great, easy to read and addresses those questions we've all asked at some point, like 'why do you allow suffering?'. I'm off home now to put my feet up and read a couple more chapters...

2008-07-29T16:52:00.002+01:00

Tuesday already...! The weekend was great. I had a visit from my fellow trustee's of 'Friends of Bishopdale Theological College Trust' (want to know about the Trust & College then email me) the last time we met for a trustee's meeting was in Nelson NZ last Feb, so it was a little surreal to be meeting in Dorset. I did take time to show them a little of this beautiful county, Hardy's Monument & Chesil Beach and we were blessed with sunshine. They stayed for Sunday morning service at United Church where I hope they received a good welcome. I didn't get much time with them as I was in junior church mode. Last week we had 11 children, this week only 3! Having said that we had a good session learning all about choice's from the story of Cain & Able. Its a challenge planning sessions when you really don't know how many will be there; but how ever many it is its still so important to teach them Gods truth from the bible. So back to today, I've been looking at plans for our proposed youth weekend away in the autumn and it could be great... my main prayer is that enough leaders will be available to go... you could join me in that... In fact there are a couple of key things that won't happen unless we can find volunteer's. Perhaps more on that next time! God Bless :-)

2008-07-17T12:17:00.001+01:00

Oh to be back at Tahuna beach...!

2008-07-16T00:10:00.000+01:00

oh and just to say... if you're not in a church Home group... why not? Joining one here has been such a blessing, meeting new folk, worshipping, bible study, prayer and just getting to be 'me' without the job label (I do still miss my old group in Leicester), till the next time God Bless :-)

2008-07-15T14:28:00.000+01:00

Summer holidays are fast approaching which means stuff at church will change a little. Junior church leaders are taking a well earned rest while new volunteers are taking the sessions. this means I've got to prep the resource material for them to use and make sure they get it in time. Stuff to do this week also includes an report for church meeting, which I can't go to as I'm going to the de-brief for the recent IMPACT event-we had 2 days of free BBQ and a free family fun day put on by all the churches to show the people of Dorchester Gods love. I'm looking forward to hearing the feedback.

You know I always try and write myself a 'to do' list to keep me on track but this morning i didn't get on with any of it. there's good reason, people kept popping into the office for a chat, which i like. its such a great way to find out how things are and what people are thinking about re church. so I guess that sort of stuff should always take priority over the list!

Stuff to pray for a the moment. Some of you will know one key thing so please keep praying for clear direction. other things...

Junior Church team over the Summer

Church Meeting

IMPACT de-brief

for me & how best to serve this church

Planning for Autumn-crazy i know!

thanks - I'll try and make this a regular thing.

God Bless

2008-07-15T14:10:00.000+01:00

Welcome... this is a first for me.
I'll try and keep you upto date with what I'm doing and maybe even include photo's from time to time.