Sunday Messages

2007-06-23T18:35:00.000+01:00

Sunday 17th June

The speaker was Alison Fox

She told us how we can pray. We can pray

Who can pray
Any time
Anywhere
However we feel
About anything

She had a bag in which these items were hidden, and drawn out at the right time.

She used a small mirror in a picture frame which she took to people and asked, "Who is that a picture of?" As people responded with, "Me!" she pointed out that all of us can pray. No one is excluded

She used various clocks, and her pajamas to show that we can pray at any time and anywhere

She used various cartoons showing expressions, and photos to show - in the case of a wedding - when we are happy

About anything was shown by first Aid kit - when we are will, other cartoons to demonstrate emotions

To show 'about anything' she built on the previous, and added other ideas.

The simple concepts of using everyday items, photos and drawings to make the point, can be built on. This is simple and requires no technology!

2007-04-09T16:02:00.000+01:00

Sunday 8th April - Easter Day

The speaker was Edward Kerr

We talked through the events of Good Friday and Easter Day.

Jesus died on a cross for us voluntarily. He was NOT taken unawares by the Roman and Jewish authorities, but willingly died for us, so that our sins can be forgiven, and we can have peace with God.

The details of what we did and how we did it can be found here: , (follow the link to "Some ideas drawn from our Sunday services") and pictures are here:

2007-03-17T18:57:00.000Z

Sunday 18th February

The speaker was Edward Kerr

Told the story of Adam and Eve and how they disobeyed God. God had wanted to keep a good relationship with mankind. The Devil's aim was to spoil everything - the garden of Eden, Adam and Eve's relationship, and, of course, mankind's relationship with God.

The aim of the talk was to he story of how sin came into the world, and to show that we can choose what we do. We are not victims. At the end I added the fact that although sin had destroyed our relationship with God, this was mended by Jesus' death and resurrection, and we can be forgiven, and have the relationship restored if we choose.

Links to the material I used are here: http://www.fcc.uk.net/sundays/index.htm

2007-01-23T20:11:00.000Z

January 21st

Told the story of how God created the world.

I started with an empty box that I showed everyone to make sure that they knew it was empty.

Then I asked if it was possible to make a cake with what was in the box. Helped them to see that I needed flour, eggs, etc to make a cake. I coudl not make it out of nothing.

I repeated that a few more times.

Then I explained that God made the world and the universe out of nothing!!

The story that I used is here. (pdf)

The accompanying presentation is here. (Powerpoint)

Other resources that you may find useful are here.

2006-12-20T20:35:00.000Z

December 17th - Carol Service

December 17th saw us holding our carol service. 46 people came ranging from parents, carers and those with a disability.

The story of Christmas was told using short stories, drama, overhead pictures and, of course, carols.

As many people as possible joined in, either by reading, doing drama, or a dance. Our people in wheelchairs were the angels this year, and their carers had made some spectacular wings to go on the back!

Some photos of the event can be seen here

2006-11-27T20:31:00.000Z

Date 26th November 2006

The speaker was Julia Matthews

She told us the story of Jesus calming the storm. Mark 6: 36-41, Luke 8:22-25

This was a real storm - huge waves, wind and rain, and even hardened fisherman, used to such storm were afraid.

The disciples also seemed to be annoyed that Jesus was simply asleep! He was not in a panic like they were, nor was he worrying, or being ill!! He was asleep! How on earth could He be sleeping at a time like this?

So they woke Him up, saying, "Don't you care?"

Jesus simply spoke to the storm, and it went quiet, and they carried on with their journey.

What can we learn from this?

Jesus brings protection in this world as we live our daily lives.

One day we will go to heaven to be with Jesus, but meanwhile we live in a real world. Bad things do happen to us now. Unkind things as well. This is part of life.

But the Bible says, in Philippians 4:6, "Don't worry about anything, but in everything with prayer and praise put your requests before God. And the peace of God, which is deeper than all knowledge, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." What this is basically saying, is not to worry about anything, but talk to God about everything.

Picture it like this. Here is a ball of twisted cotton and wool. It is hard and not very attractive. It represents how we can feel all knotted up over things.

And here is a soft ball of wool. This is like the peace that God can give to us if we ask Him. We need to remember that Jesus is always here with us. It may look like He is asleep, but if we ask Him He can and will speak peace into our lives.

But we can also help one another. Galatians 6:22, "Take on yourselves one another's troubles, and so keep the law of Christ."

We were shown a very heavy bag of books. It was hard for one person to carry, but as soon as there were two people, the job became much easier. We need to ask each other for help, and be prepared to help one another. Ask people to pray with you, and for you.

Philippians 4:4-7. "Rejoice in the Lord always: again I will say, Rejoice. 5 Let your forbearance be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus."

We were shown a stone. If we concentrate on the stone, it will take up all our energy and thoughts. If we choose to look away from the stone and look towards Jesus, our stone will shrink to its correct proportion!

We need to thank God for the good things, they will get larger, and our problems will seem to get smaller as we see just how great God is.

Sometimes bad things do happen to us. Let's praise God all the time, and ask Him for peace in our lives.

2006-11-20T19:32:00.000Z

19th November 2006

The speakers were Paul and Paula.

They told the story of Noah, and how God told him to build a boat. The problem was that Noah lived in the middle of a desert, and there was no rainm, and no water. However, Noah, and his wife, obeyed God even though it seemed stupid.

Eventually, of course, the rain came, and Noah and his family and all the animals were saved. This was because Noah had done what God told him to.

We need to learn to do what God tells us even though sometimes it seems stupid. God never asks us to stupid things as far as He is concerned. We need to trust Him in all that He asks us to do.

Some photos of the event are here

2006-11-15T17:34:00.000Z

Date 12th November

The speaker was Marilyn Kerr

Luke 14:15-24
The man held a dinner party. he made all the preparations, and sent out invitations. Initially it seemed that everyone said that they would come.

We asked everyone to say what they might eat for a posh dinner party

Then it was time to invite the guests, but they all gave silly and useless excuses. This meant that none of the original guests came to the dinner party.

So the man sent out his servant to find anyone who could come to the party.

Jesus wants everyone to be a part of the family / party. Everyone is invited - no one is excluded. Anyone can become a Christian - we are all included in the invitation. The sad thing is that many people do not have time for God, they think they have got better things to do, so they give excuses.

If we are already a Christian, we should not give excuses when God asks us to do something.

2006-10-23T20:04:00.000+01:00

22nd October

We had a puppet show consisting of two parts

Part 1 was to demonstrate that you were not a Christian simply by externals. One of the puppets had a cross round his neck, and carried a bible. None of this will make you a Christian, any more that carrying a piece of wood will make you a tree! Despite that, he attacked the other puppet! You need to have Jesus living in you to be a Christian. You need to have asked Him to be in your life.

Part 2 was to encourage us to be obedient. The puppet was told NOT to eat the cake. But he gave in to the pressure to eat the cake. The pressure was represented by the snake! However we were reminded that even when we do mess things up, God will always forgive us if we ask Him. What a great God we have!

A set of pictures can be seen here

2006-10-18T18:19:00.000+01:00

15th October...

The speaker was Nigel Double

As a Christian we face many hard questions such as:

Why is there poverty if we have a God who cares?
Why do very sad things happen to good people
Why do difficult things happen to us even though we love God and try to do what He wants?

Using the story of Joseph from the Bible - Genesis chapters 37 - 50. His brothers wanted to kill Joseph. Joseph too was perhaps unwise in his boasting!! Joseph was sold by his brothers as slave to Egypt. Joseph also ended up in prison due to a false charge by masters wife.

BUT Joseph able to interpret Kings dream, so Joseph became prime minister! As a result Joseph was able to save his whole family from famine.

Bad things are due to evil and sin in world, and the sin is not always our sin. God brings good things out of the bad.

God can help us become stronger and more mature as He helps us through the bad times.

2006-10-14T18:51:00.000+01:00

24th Sept 2006

The speakers were Paul & Paula.

They did a drama in two parts. The players were a couple. Mr was tired and had a headache and was playing cards.

Part 1 was where Mrs was trying to play cards with him, but being a pest (!) and in the end she gives up and turns the radio on full blast, to which she dances, eats chocolates which she does not share - etc.
Part 2 is the same drama, but this time Mr & Mrs work together and are aware of each others needs.

The whole thing is overdone of course to make the point!

The teaching coming out of this is that we need to be sensitive to each other, to help each other, and this can be in simple things as dememonstrated by the drama

2006-07-12T19:17:00.000+01:00

16th July 2006

The speaker was Marilyn Kerr

Using the parable of the sower we were encouraged to listen to God. Not just in the big things, but in the small things of everyday life. How can I help someone? How can I be kind? How can I make life a bit easier for my carers?

God want to talk to us. He may want us to change the way we live and do things!

Let Jesus put His words and actions into your heart. Then His lovliness will grow inside of you

2006-07-12T18:57:00.000+01:00

25th June

The speakers were Paul and Paula Spalding

They taught that we should do the best that we can without cheating or spoiling it for others.
It does not matter how disabled you are. If you can smile, then do that well! If you can help someone pick something up, then do so. As far as you can, do all you can to get better at what you do

There are three photos - one showing a painter at work, 2 - showing an attempt to cheat, and 3 - showing that the quality is not the point, it is doing the best you can!