The homegroup blog

Merry Christmas all!

2006-12-22T18:21:00.000Z

Home group girls scrub up alright!

2006-11-06T21:50:00.000Z

Lovely ladies!

Niki and Andy's wedding

2006-11-06T21:46:00.000Z

What a lovely day! Will post a few more piccies. How do you get lots on one post?

Three or four things to do or remember!

2006-11-01T15:22:00.000Z

Good Day home group
sorry it has been such a long time since i posted - I am glad to see the blog is still used though.

THREE THINGS:

1 Please bring your diaries next week - we would like to book in a Homegroup Christmas dinner! With secret santa and roast and all!!!

2. Also, Ant is finding it hard to find time to prepare the studies because of work pressures, (and I am not very good at leading studies - much better at arranging christmas dinners!) so it would be great if when you come next week, you could sign up to prepare one of the studies we will do in the run up to christmas - think we are doing Amos next. The variation in study style is always refreshing, so please dont think you cant do it (guess that means I have no excuse either - I promise to sign up too!). Thanks guys.

3. All Saints Christmas Ball - 2 December - black tie - £25 - money going to raise funds to take the youth to the various camps and conferences on in the summer.

OK, so I actually meant FOUR THINGS!!

4. Christmas Choir - 1st practice 16th November (4 practices in total although you dont have to make them all)

Thats it folks
love Annie xx

A purpose driven life

2006-10-27T20:00:00.000+01:00

Rick Warren wrote "Purpose Driven Life".

In an interview by Paul Bradshaw, Rick said the following:
"People ask me, What is the purpose of life? And I respond: In a nutshell, life is preparation for eternity. We were made to last forever, and God wants us to be with Him in Heaven. One day my heart is going to stop, and that will be the end of my body but not the end of me. I may live 60 to 100 years on earth, but I am going to spend trillions of years in eternity. This is the warm-up act - the dress rehearsal. God wants us to practice on earth what we will do forever in eternity. We were made by God and for God, and until you figure that out, life isn't going to make sense. Life is a series of problems: Either you are in one now, you're just coming out of one, or you're getting ready to go into another one. The reason for this is that God is more interested in your character than your comfort. God is more interested in making your life holy than He is in making your life happy. We can be reasonably happy here on earth, but that's not the goal of life. The goal is to grow in character, in Christ likeness.

This past year has been the greatest year of my life but also the toughest, with my wife, Kay, getting cancer. I used to think that life was hills and valleys - you go through a dark time, then you go to the mountaintop, back and forth. I don't believe that anymore. Rather than life being hills and valleys, I believe that it's kind of like two rails on a railroad track, and at all times you have something good and something bad in your life. No matter how good things are in your life, there is always something bad that needs to be worked on. And no matter how bad things are in your life, there is always something good you can thank God for. You can focus on your purposes, or you can focus on your problems. If you focus on your problems, you're going into self-centeredness, "which is my problem, my issues, my pain." But one of the easiest ways to get rid of pain is to get your focus off yourself and onto God and others. We discovered quickly that in spite of the prayers of hundreds of thousands of people, God was not going to heal Kay or make it easy for her. It has been very difficult for her, and yet God has strengthened her character, given her a ministry of helping other people, given her a testimony, drawn her closer to Him and to people. You have to learn to deal with both the good and the bad of life. Actually, sometimes learning to deal with the good is harder. For instance, this past year, all of a sudden, when the book sold 15 million copies, it made me instantly very wealthy. It also brought a lot of notoriety that I had never had to deal with before. I don't think God gives you money or notoriety for your own ego or for you to live a life of ease. So I began to ask God what He wanted me to do with this money, notoriety and influence. He gave me two different passages that helped me decide what to do, II Corinthians 9 and Psalm 72. First, in spite of all the money coming in, we would not change our lifestyle one bit. We made no major purchases. Second, about midway through last year, I stopped taking a salary from the church. Third, we set up foundations to fund an initiative we call The Peace Plan to plant churches, equip leaders, assist the poor, care for the sick, and educate the next generation. Fourth, I added up all that the church had paid me in the 24 years since I started the church, and I gave it all back. It was liberating to be able to serve God for free.

We need to ask ourselves: Am I going to live for possessions? Popularity? Am I going to be driven by pressures? Guilt? Bitterness? Materialism? Or am I going to be driven by God's purposes (for my life)? When I get up in the morning, I sit on the side of my bed and say, God, if I don't get anything else done today, I want to know You more and love You better. God didn't put me on earth just to fulfill a to-do list. He's more interested in what I am than what I do. That's why we're called human beings not human doings."

Happy moments, PRAISE GOD. Difficult moments, SEEK GOD. Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD. Painful moments, TRUST GOD. Every moment, THANK GOD.

Being Thankful

2006-10-23T17:24:00.000+01:00

In response to last weeks homegroup on Joel 2:1-27, and then following on this sunday (at least for me...)
I re-found this newsletter from Simon Guillebaud, a guy we support as a church out in Burundi.
He wrote:
"Being thankful is not telling God you appreciate the fact that your life's in shambles. If that is the basis of your gratitude, you are on slippery ground. Every day of your life you face the possibility that a blessing in your life may be taken away. But blessings are only signs of God's love. The real blessing, of course, is the love itself. Whenever we get too attached to the sign we lose our grasp on the God who gave it to us. We are not ultimately grateful that we are still holding our blessings. We are grateful that we are held by God even when the blessings are slipping through our fingers."

I hope you find this as affirming as i did (and do, every time i read it!)

House Warming party cancelled, but DINNER PARTY STILL ON!!

2006-10-05T13:17:00.000+01:00

Hi there, hope you dont mind me doing this, Rich, but I just thought I would publish it on the blog that the warming party is off, but you are still having a dinner party - 7.30.
Annie xx

2006-10-05T13:15:00.000+01:00

hold that thought - I think I might like to go and see it this Monday - will be all on my own (except for Jude) because Ant is on a course, and if I can find a sitter then I think monday is preferable for me, but it also depends on who wants to join me and when it suits them - Mon or Thurs. Looking forward to going already!

2006-10-05T13:12:00.000+01:00

Hi there guys! Thanks for being the best home group in the world! Just wanted to say that it would be cool to organise a girls night out to the cinema - I really fancy seeing 'The Devil wears Prada'! If anyone fancies seeing it too then I was planning to go and see it next Thursday night. Let me know!
love Annie xxx

Next Tuesday's homegroup

2006-09-23T11:27:00.000+01:00

...will be a social! We,ve finished Jonah, so before we get into Joel, we decided to have a night of just chatting! ...hold on, Jude has a message he wants to type... Jude?...

560.360 xagtgrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

(looks like the grid reference of a tiger to me?...)

Ant

Posting to the blog

2006-09-19T22:21:00.000+01:00

Hi all. To answer Niki's question, to post to the blog all you need to do is click on the 'I power Blogger' button (at the bottom of the sidebar on the right). I think it might ask you for your password if it doesn't recognise the computer you are using... Then just hit the create post button, type your content and hit the 'publish post' button.

Niki and Andy's wedding site

2006-09-06T20:13:00.000+01:00

I just fixed the link, so it should work now!

Home group tomorrow!

2006-09-04T08:30:00.000+01:00

Hi all. Home group starts tomorrow, 7:30pm at our place. We've got some great studies on the minor prophets, so we've decided to study a bit more than just Amos... We're starting with Jonah. If you want to look at it in advance, we'll be studying Jonah chapters 1 and 2 tomorrow; in your own quiet times you might also like to think about times when you've run from God.
See you tomorrow!
Ant

Homegroup: season two

2006-08-31T21:58:00.000+01:00

Yes, it's back, more addictive than 24, less confusing (?) than LOST: homegroup is starting up again next Tuesday, 7:30pm at our place.
We're hoping to find a study book on Amos (we've heard good things from another homegroup) - so get ready to get into the mind, and faith, of a minor prophet (not to be confused with David Jones, the famous Welsh miner prophet, who foretold the collapse of tunnel L3:A at the Gwent colliery in 1926) (or indeed, £2.63, the minor profit made by aformentioned colliery).
First gold star of the new season goes to Julie for making proper use of this blog...which begs the question, do any of you read this? If so, how about some answers by posting?
Love and biscuits
Ant
(ps that does not mean i am releasing any biscuits without a fight, I simply wish you the joy that I associate with biscuits)

Long summer nights...

2006-08-30T12:10:00.000+01:00

After being criticised by Ant for not using our blog I felt I needed to post something. And the thing that came into my head was just how much I'm missing home group at the moment! I know I'm not the best attender (but now I'm working parttime that should be better -yippee!) but I really can't wait to have that solid presence of home group in my week. The summer is obviously brilliant for many reasons but I have to admit I find it hard spiritually, with a lack of routine making me even more rubbish at spending time with God.
So bring on home group, bring on accountability and bring on pink juice and milk... and the mention of studying a minor prophet got me really bursting with excitment!!

Girl's Night Out-Tuesday

2006-07-24T11:35:00.000+01:00

Sorry to be anti-male here but I thought the girls could do with a night out! 'The Breakup' is showing at Peckham Cinema at 8:50 on Tuesday night and it would be great if any girls could join us. Update: We're meeting at Bar story at 8 for a drink and then going to the cinema from there! Let me know if you're planning on joining us!

2006-07-23T20:47:00.000+01:00

God Loves Peckham - Social Action and 24/7 prayer

Sorry this posting is so late after last Wednesday, but life has been a little hectic for me since then.
Last Wednesday Kate and Sally talked about Social Action and 24/7 prayer. After the talk we prayed together and felt that we should all be asking God to give us the gift of FAITH. So that we would not be afraid, but Bold and Courageous.

In terms of Social Action, if we want to BLESS Peckham and its inhabitants, lets get practical - there are things we can do - painting the rooms in Bradfield building, gardening, building ramps....the list goes on! Speak to Kate or Olly mailto:olly.mears@allsaintspeckham.org.uk if you want to offer services. Speak to Abi mailto:abi.coles@allsaintspeckham.org.uk if you want to get involved in the Pink and fluffy night - or speak to our own lovely Olivia mailto:olivia.brambill@allsaintspeckham.org.uk if you want to do anything else - I am sure she will be able to point you in the right direction.

There were other things which came out of the prayers too, but since I am not as good as Ant and taking notes and I am posting this several days later i cant remember them! Sorry guys, but please feel free to do a posting to update the blog.

BASICALLY - both social action and Prayer are very important. I have signed up for our homegroup to do an hour - although hopefully we can also do other slots too - there are many going! MONDAY 31 JULY (not August as previously posted) 2006 from 6-7pm Please come along.

God Loves Peckham 2

2006-07-12T22:36:00.000+01:00

Today's session covered talking to people about our faith and prayerwalking. As a home group we came up with the following prayer walk to cover the areas that we feel called to serve:

Please can you all pray for the areas highlighted on this route (and any others), particularly in the run up to the God Loves Peckham week. Let us know if there's anything you feel God is particularly saying to you about these areas.

In case you can't read the key to the map, the areas are:

1. Kentish Drovers – pub, alcoholics, staff
2. Peckham Library & Square – people passing through, hanging around, safety
3. Peckham Pulse – staff, gym users, children in play areas
4. Canal Path – safety, direction for kids, claiming ground for God
5. Shops – owners, residents (inc. Hari Krishnas), safety
6. Damilola Taylor Centre
7. Estates
8. Bradfield Club

God Loves Peckham 1

2006-07-12T21:58:00.000+01:00

New growth is focusing on the God Loves Peckham week, which starts on 31 July. There are loads of community/social transformation/other events going on to get involved with.
In the first new growth session, as a homegroup we settled on some key times, locations and events that we feel we should be involved in. If you're about in this week, please think about getting involved in one/some/all of the following (I've put in brackets why we chose these things):

Events:
- BBQ on Pelican Estate, evening, Tues 1 Aug (instead of homegroup)
- Peckham Square event, evening, Wed 2 Aug (we felt Peckham Square was something we need to support close to our homegroup base)
- Peckham Square event, all day, Sat 5 Aug

Times:
- If you are able to help out on any one day, go for Thursday 3 Aug; we decided to adopt this day as far as possible

Locations:
- Bradfield Boys Club - this is a social transformation project on Commercial Way to repaint and clear the club for use

Prayer points:
- whether you can make it or not, please pray for all of the above
- please pray for Olivia as she takes on the unenviable task of central control at church!

New growth - confirmed time

2006-07-04T16:36:00.000+01:00

8pm! see you there...

Personality test

2006-07-02T20:36:00.000+01:00

So, compared to my spiritual gifts assessment, how does a secular personality test come out?
Well, here it is...

My Personal Dna Report
- pretty similar stuff.

Unsurprisingly, Annie's is a lot more interesting - she's classed as a benevolent inventor?!

My Personal Dna Report

Ant

New growth

2006-07-02T18:15:00.000+01:00

Hello all! I completed my spiritual gift assessment. The gifts that came out joint top were Leadership and Teaching; joint second were Administration and Wisdom.

So, to exercise my gift of Administration, I thought I ought to remind everyone that New Growth starts this Wednesday at Church, which means that homegroup will not be on. The start time hasn't been made clear - hopefully there was an announcement in Church this morning, or will be this evening!

See you all soon!

Annies Giftings

2006-06-28T13:20:00.000+01:00

Well, I finally finished my questionaire to find out what my gifts are likely to be based on my interests and the things I am good at or like doing, the three top ones are as follows, and as I had two joint top, two joint second and two joint third I have 6:
1 - Arts/crafts and Creative Communication
2 - Hospitality and Administration
3 - Intercession and Faith
Remember to keep me accountable as to if I am using my gifts.
Time for everyone else to own up!

Sweet Memories...

2006-06-27T12:30:00.000+01:00

Thought you all might like to see this image from last month- encapsulates our home group's love of all things sweet! And gets lovely Phil , Olivia and Graham on the blog as they missed the weekend away- awh...

More pics

2006-06-25T20:21:00.000+01:00

See the sidebar link!

Psalm 46

2006-06-25T20:10:00.000+01:00

Rita read this passage last night, and I think its awesome. So here it is again:

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.
God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.
Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Come and see the works of the LORD, the desolations he has brought on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire.
"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."
The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Weekend away pictures

2006-06-25T19:06:00.000+01:00

What better way to start our new blog than post a picture from the weekend away. Here's us all together:

...will post more later.