News Archive
November 2008
Sunday morning preview
This Sunday I will be speaking on the first half of Ephesians 5, in which God calls us to live as imitators of God, as lights in a dark world. We don't have to look very far to believe we are living a dark world, but how are we doing at seeing ourselves both as individuals and a community, as lights in the darkness? The truth is, it's an impossible task unless we are filled with the Holy Spirit but do we know what that really means? This Sunday I hope to at least scratch the surface of what it looks like for Heaton Baptist to be a community of Spirit-filled life lights. Come on!
Weekend for 'radicals'
What have a crazy Frenchman called Claude, an impromptu rendition of a new worship single and the minor prophets all got in common...?
Hospitality Night
If you'd like a suggestion for what an invite for the Hospitality Night could look like, check out this template.
Hope Oh-Eight
There are still some copies of ‘Twelve’, Write Life’s anthology of
poetry and prose, available at £6 from the church book table.
Alternatively, pay £7.50 to be posted to your door. Contact
fiona@veitchsmith.com. All profits to go to the church building fund. And in the meantime, here's a poem...
Sanctuary refurb proposal
Ahead of this evening's church meeting, you can read below details of the sanctuary refurbishment proposal, responses from the elders and deacons and Mark's answers to some frequently asked questions...
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Opinion versus counsel
In my job, I am on the receiving end of loads of opinion. I was much struck by some recent teaching I heard on the important subject of opinion versus counsel by Brian Houston, leader of Hillsong in Sydney, who says: "The recipe for perpetual ignorance is to be satisfied by your own opinion." I’ve discovered that I prefer counsel, and here’s why...
» moreMy heroes
What makes a hero? I’ve been pondering this over the last few weeks and I’ve discovered my personal heroes come in three tiers...
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Got your copy of Twelve yet?
Twelve, an anthology of poetry, stories and reflections by Write Life, the creative writers of Heaton Baptist Church is available for £6 (+ £1.50 p&p). All profit will go to the church building fund.
In this collection you will read of the incomplete lives, struggles and dreams of ordinary Christians grappling with what it means to live dependently upon God. There is joy, there is sadness, there is confusion and, at times, moments of brilliant clarity.
To order a copy email fiona@thecraftywriter.com
Review: We Cry Out by the Jesus Culture Band
How do you like your worship music? Loud, quiet, polished, professional, raw, amateurish, studio recording, live recording (usually with added overdubs!), instrumental, contemporary, classical? Well personally, I'll listen to any of the above, provided it's passionate...
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From the ashes
News just in from the Jensens in southern California, where wildfires have destroyed hundreds of homes.
We just wanted to let you know that despite the heat this end of the world, we are all alright...
The Stand
Sixteen brave souls spent eight hours on a coach to the NEC in Birmingham last Saturday...
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School mums prayer walk
A few weeks ago, some of the school mums from HBC did a prayer walk around Heaton. And this is one of the prayers we prayed:
We pray for a welcome to all with no barriers, new growth guided by the cross, blending old and new. We pray for our community, at a time of crisis. For our new hall to serve the people of Heaton. And we give thanks for where we are now, and pray for all those who use Chillingham Road Primary School.
Heaton Churches Together: has it a future?
Tonight (November 6th), I’ve been asked by the clergy from our local churches to present to the annual meeting of Heaton Churches Together (HCT) a paper looking at the way ahead for our local ecumenical engagement. It is no easy task...
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Weekly review
"I have a story that will make you believe in God." This sweeping statement comes right at the beginning of Life of Pi by Yann Martel (Cannongate), the 2002 Booker prize-winning novel. You might be forgiven for thinking I'm a very slow reader, but the truth is I don't read much fiction these days. But I'm really glad I picked this book a few weeks ago when I had some time to fill…
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Psalms consequences
During this week's Justice and Mercy meeting, we came up with the following three Psalms through a game of "consequences"... » more