On Saturday 19th January a hardy bunch from Jubilee and Kings Reach spent the morning transforming the area around the lake in Rutland Woods. The first task was to get the campfire lit and burning well. The second job was to get the kettle on!
Then knowing that supplies of teas, coffees and hot chocolate were assured, the workers set about clearing away the undergrowth and many of the young willow trees that had grown up around the shores of the lake blocking the view and shading the waters. While the powerful strimmers tackled the brambles etc around the lake, picnic site and roundhouse, another group raked out all the dead leaves, logs and branches from the stream that runs into the lake and then out the other side down towards the boundary of the woods. Other workers did a great job sawing down the trees and hauling them and the vegetation over to the bonfire which soon reduced it all to a pile of ash and smoked us all out!
It was a morning of hard work interspersed with hot drinks, hot sausage rolls and cool biscuits enjoyed around the campfire sharing stories and drying out feet that got too far into the lake.
We were all amazed by how much we accomplished in such a short time and by what a good time it was.
BeforeAfter
A massive “Thank You” to all those who helped!
Please join us for the next work party (yes it’s work and yes it’s a party) February 23rd.
If you missed us at celebration on Sunday, here are some important dates and events coming up:
For those who have picked up a sleeping bag to wash, please bring them back to the Jubilee Resource Hub (9 Ashford Road, ME14 5BJ) by Thursday 31st January morning the latest.
Young Adults Home Group will be meeting this Thursday 31st January at 7.30pm at The Vine Church. For more information about the Young Adults HG, please contact Josh Pattison (07455 154 955) or Charlie Dyer (07502 202 821).
SOTW Quiz Night is back! Saturday 23rd March at Tree Tops from 6.45pm. Online booking will open in the next couple of weeks. Watch this space!
Church IS Family evenings – As part of the Church IS Family Series, Jubilee Church are holding two evenings of input, discussion and encouragement at different venues. Due to limited space, please book online to secure your spot.
Wed 13th Feb – ‘Tweens and teens’ (11-17) hosted by Neil & Hazel. ‘Parents with young children’ (0-11) is now fully booked.
Wed 27th Feb – ‘Recently Married Couples’ (married around 5 years or less) hosted by Andy and Barbara and Dan and Claire.
Last day to register today (Jan 28th). A 7-week course for new believers or those who want a basics refresher that will run from 7th February to 21st March on Thursday evenings in HG format. For those interested please speak to your HG leader.
Phillipa on her journey in the Health and Fitness Industry
R – Reality
I – Integrity
S – Sincerity
K – Kindness
I have been in the health and fitness industry for over 25 years – quite amazing considering I was the one at school who avoided anything to do with exercise. It was only after I had my third child, Matthew (who is now 27) that I found an aerobics class locally and realised that this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. With a young baby on my hands, I would be up early every morning studying for my ‘Exercise to Music’ qualification, so determined was I to start teaching as soon as I could. I have since acquired many more qualifications.
Soon after starting classes in the community, my dream was to own and manage my own gym. I have never had an athletic build, quite the contrary, but I was determined to encourage people of any shape and size to realise that exercise isn’t just for people who look the part and are comfortable in their bodies. I wanted to demonstrate that the benefits of exercise are available to everyone and if I can do it so can anyone else.
Phillipa leading Aqua Aerobics class at Mote Leisure Club
My life has been all about taking risks. I’ve never been satisfied with going along with the status quo and after my fourth child had started school, I pursued the hard work of making my dream a reality. The time between receiving the dream and it coming to fruition in 2007 when I finally opened my own gym, Curves for women, was around 14 years. It was quite a journey of faith, but as the Lord promises, our faith is always rewarded. I had the privilege of seeing thousands of women achieve their health and fitness goals over the 10 years I worked with Curves.
The exciting thing for me is that I am back in the Maidstone Community working as a Leisure Club Manager at Audley Mote Park, where I continue to have an impact supporting and encouraging the over 55’s in their health and fitness.
As my acronym above shows – these are the four things that I live by while taking risks to step out and trust the Lord with every step I take. You get close to people working in my industry and people soon learn whether you are genuine or not. My heart is to demonstrate the reality of my faith in Jesus whilst keeping it real, being a woman of integrity, being sincere in everything I do and say, and treating all people with kindness.
I am so thankful to the Lord for the doors He continues to open for me to share His love and my faith and love for Him in the industry He has called me to serve in.
If you missed us at celebration on Sunday, here are some important dates and events coming up:
For those who have picked up a sleeping bag to wash, please bring them back to the Jubilee Resource Hub (9 Ashford Road, ME14 5BJ) by Thursday 24th January morning the latest.
Church is family evenings – As part of the Church IS Family Series, Jubilee Church are holding two evenings of input, discussion and encouragement at different venues. Wed 13th Feb – ‘Parents with young children’ hosted by Andy & Barbara and Dan & Claire and ‘Tweens and teens’ hosted by Neil & Hazel. Wed 27th Feb – ‘Young Married Couples’ hosted by Andy and Barbara and Dan and Claire. Due to limited space, please book online to secure your spot.
A 7-week course for new believers or those who want a basics refresher that will run from 7th February to 21st March on Thursday evenings in HG format. For those interested please speak to your HG leader.
Young Adults Home Group will be meeting on the following dates: Thursday 31st January, Thursday 28th February, and Thursday 28th March. More details to follow. For more information about the Young Adults HG, please contact Josh Pattison (07455 154 955) or Charlie Dyer (07502 202 821).
How can we be more Christian in 2019? 1 Corinthians 2:1-2 “And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.” (NAS)
Sometimes we hear politicians or national figures refer to the UK as a Christian country. Are we a Christian Nation? Have we ever been? The Cambridge Dictionary definition of Christian states: “of or belonging to the religion based on the teachings of Jesus Christ”, or “used to describe a person or action that is good, kind, helpful, etc.” I believe that neither of these definitions reflect the heart and power of the world-changing adjective or noun that is ‘Christian’.
Christian is an important term when we are considering how to live Christian lives, or how to operate businesses, schools and organisations on Christian principles or with a Christian ethos. It is much more than just ‘following the teachings of’, or ‘good kind, helpful, moral’ – the foundation of ‘Christian’ needs to include the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I suggest that ‘Christian’ means ‘transformed, informed motivated and empowered by Jesus’ life, death and resurrection.’
An article in The Spectator (28 May 2016) commented, “A landmark in national life has just been passed. For the first time in recorded history, those declaring themselves to have no religion have exceeded the number of Christians in Britain. Some 44 per cent of us regard ourselves as Christian, 8 per cent follow another religion and 48 per cent follow none. The decline of Christianity is perhaps the biggest single change in Britain over the past century. For some time, it has been a stretch to describe Britain as a Christian country. We can more accurately be described now as a secular nation with fading Christian institutions.”
A
report called Europe’s Young Adults and Religion, a collaboration between St
Mary’s University in London and the Catholic University of Paris, found that
70% of young adults in the UK identify with no religion.
Percentage of adults identifying with no religion per country (UK/EU)
Although sobering, it is important that we are realistic about the state of the UK and cry out to the Lord for change. We should also acknowledge this brings opportunities for the gospel. Yinka Oyekan and “The Turning” movement (visit theturning.eu) are demonstrating the opportunities this faith vacuum has created, seeing thousands of people turn to Christ on the streets of the UK and Europe. I am excited about 2019. So far I have spent 33 years as part of Jesus’ church and count it a privilege and a blessing. Let’s build on what Jesus has taught us over the last few years – it will mean taking risks, walking in faith and stepping out of our comfort zones. Are you ready to come on an adventure?
The
heart of Christianity is your heart.
Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”
The message of Christianity is bad news and good news; bad news if we want to do it ourselves – if we are full of pride and want to work things out our way; good news if we realise that, as people, we are morally and spiritually bankrupt and have no ability to save ourselves. The message of the cross and the heart of the term ‘Christian’ declares: it all depends on Him, not on us. Understanding this is the key to becoming ‘more Christian’ in 2019. Do you want to be more of a Christian father, a Christian mother, Christian doctor, a Christian teacher, a Christian midwife, a Christian student, a Christian business man/woman, or a Christian neighbour in your community? This means, whatever vocation we follow, being transformed, informed, motivated and empowered by Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. In practice:
Make ourselves available to our Lord
Jesus – don’t put barriers in the way of ‘I can’t, I’m not good enough, I
haven’t anything to give.’
Constantly and consistently renew our
minds by choosing to believe God’s truth and promises, and not the lies that
cripple us.
Accept His forgiveness and allow
Jesus to remove our self hatred and the shame we feel of past mistakes.
Galatians 6:14 “But may it never be that I would boast, except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”
So, let us start 2019 living more Christian lives, with the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ being the heart of all we do. Ask yourself: do I just do a job? Why am I studying these subjects? What is my part in my community or neighbourhood? Am I just going through the motions in my life? And the key question: How is my life going to be more Christian in 2019?
I look
forward to our Christian adventures together in the coming year.
If you missed us at celebration on Sunday, here are some important dates and events coming up:
For those who have picked up a sleeping bag to wash, please bring them back to the Jubilee Resource Hub (9 Ashford Road, ME14 5BJ) by Thursday 17th January morning the latest.
A 7-week course for new believers or those who want a basics refresher that will run from 7th February to 21st March on Thursday evenings in HG format. For those interested please speak to your HG leader.
Power Hour of Prayer is taking place this Wednesday 16th January at the Jubilee Resource Hub from 7.30-8.30pm.
Rutland Woods – If you have a petrol brushcutter, preferably with a metal blade and safety gear, that you would be willing to lend to the work party in Rutland Woods on January the 19th, please could you let Tim Biddlecombe know. (tim.biddlecombe@cotnjubilee.co.uk /07850 701037)
We’ll be holding more work parties on 23rd February and 30th March. Please email Tim Biddlecombe if you would like to help out.
Young Adults Home Group will be meeting on the following dates: Thursday 31st January, Thursday 28th February, and Thursday 28th March. More details to follow. For more information about the Young Adults HG, please contact Josh Pattison (07455 154 955) or Charlie Dyer (07502 202 821).
If you missed us at celebration on Sunday, here are some important dates and events coming up:
For those who have picked up a sleeping bag to wash, please bring them back to the Jubilee Resource Hub (9 Ashford Road, ME14 5BJ) by Thursday 10th January morning the latest.
A 7-week course for new believers or those who want a basics refresher that will run on Thursday evenings in HG format. For those interested please speak to your HG leader. Start dates to be confirmed.
Jubilee Leadership School term 2 is now fully booked. For those who have signed up term 2 starts tomorrow (Tuesday 8th January) at the Jubilee Resource Hub.
Rutland Woods – Needs some TLC to clear the paths and remove some undergrowth as well as reparing a small bridge and general tidying up. We have enough helpers for the morning of Saturday 19th January. If you are able to loan us a petrol brushcutter we would be grateful.
We’ll be holding more work parties on 23rd February and 30th March. Please email Tim Biddlecombe (tim.biddlecombe@cotnjubilee.co.uk) if you would like to help out.
Young Adults Home Group will be meeting on the following dates: Thursday 31st January, Thursday 28th February, and Thursday 28th March. More details to follow. For more information about the Young Adults HG, please contact Josh Pattison (07455 154 955) or Charlie Dyer (07502 202 821).
