Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

Accepting Defeat!

Philippians 4v11 “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.”

Frank Sinatra sang “I did it my way”, but the reality is that not everything goes our way. How do we react when things do not go our way? We may mock Donald Trump for being unwilling to accept defeat, but what about ourselves – how do we react when we meet defeat, when we lose what we once had against our wishes? It hurts – and we respond out of that hurt.

Real life includes defeats and adverse circumstances. Our reaction is a question of where we are putting our hope and dreams; a question of where we find our identity and how we define ourselves; a question of what we consider most important in our lives. If these are wrapped up in the power, influence, security, status, comfort or other benefits of what I currently have, then I am going to struggle with losing it.

Real victory is to admit defeat or loss and move on. It takes strength of character, a resolve, an admission of our own weakness, a determination to try differently. Your character is of greater value than your achievements.

Real followers of Jesus put their hope in God their heavenly Father. They rest in the assurance that he has everything in his hands. They bend the knee before him as the one who is greater and submit to his ways. They do it “God’s way.”

May God so set your heart on fire for Him that it is His honour that you seek in every situation and you remain content in Him.

With love and blessing,

Roland

News

• This Sunday
  • We will be broadcasting from Admaston House with a live worship band which will alternate week to week. If you are not involved in this, please stay home and watch on the links below.
  • It is the International Day of Prayer for the persecuted church and Cindy will be leading us in this as part of both our broadcast and Zoom.
  • Facebook live https://www.facebook.com/HopeCommunityChurchAdmaston/live
  • Youtube on Hope Community Church Admaston channel. https://youtu.be/om36aPJQpQY
• Tear Fund Big Quiz – 14^th November
  • I am looking forward to seeing you at 7.30pm on our normal Zoom number for this enjoyable evening together.
  • Do help the world’s poor by giving to Tearfund (see poster).
  • You can book on eventbrite here.
• Magazines
  • These are now with the printers and will be available for distribution in a 2-3 weeks.
• “Real Advent Calendars”
  • A reminder to let Sue know if you would like a Real Advent Calendar for your own children or for others.

Programme – Please contact roland@hopeadmaston.org.uk if you would like to join any of our meetings via Zoom.

Sunday morning worship is now live-streamed on both Youtube and Facebook from Admaston House at 10.30am.

Prayer

• • Give thanks
    • For the wonderful time that the NHS Alpha had last weekend with their Holy Spirit sessions as people responded in faith and the Spirit worked “on-line”.
  • Prayer
    • Pray for the Holy Spirit day for the ladies group this Saturday. Pray for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit and a willingness to receive.
    • Let’s pray for spiritual breakthrough in our neighbourhoods and particularly pray for those around you.
    • For those who are unwell at the present time.

Other general information

Pastoral Care – If you are in isolation and need support (eg shopping), please contact natalie@hopeadmaston.org.uk who will arrange with the team of helpers.

Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

2 Peter – Productive Christians!

2 Peter 1v5-8 “faith .. goodness .. knowledge .. self-control .. perseverance … godliness .. brotherly kindness … love. If your possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive”

In business, productivity and effectiveness are important. God wants us to be productive as Christians too. Such productivity is based on the character qualities listed above. As we head into lockdown again today, these qualities are going to be more vital than ever. It is going to take all the perseverance and self-control we can muster!

For Peter, these qualities begin with faith – a simple trust in Jesus – and progress from there through to the ultimate quality of love. In what way do you need to trust God right now?

A list of such qualities may make us feel like failures. Remember the previous verses from the last couple of weeks: “His divine power has given us everything we need to life and godliness”. You are not pursuing these qualities on your own. It is God developing them in you. What qualities might God be going to develop in you during this time? What does it require of you to allow him to do it?

With love and blessing,

Roland

News

• This Sunday
  • Please do not attend the service at Admaston House this Sunday – it is against the law!!
  • We are permitted and will be broadcasting the service from Admaston House in the same way as we have in recent weeks as below:
  • Facebook live https://www.facebook.com/HopeCommunityChurchAdmaston/live
  • Youtube https://youtu.be/om36aPJQpQY
• Sundays going forward
  • From Sunday 15^th, we are planning to broadcast from Admaston House using a live worship band. We have a great team who can operate between them on different Sundays. Please note that only those participating can attend.
• Tear Fund Big Quiz – Saturday 14^th November at 7.30pm
  • On our normal Zoom number. Why not invite your friends?
  • Help the world’s poor by giving to Tearfund and have a fun evening together.
  • You can book on eventbrite here.
• Magazines
  • We are still permitted to deliver magazines and are therefore going to the printers with the latest edition.
  • We have a Covid-19 delivery protocol in place for deliverers, though we appreciate that some of you who usually deliver may not feel able to do so this time.
• “Real Advent Calendars”
  • We have some ‘Real Advent Calendars’ available containing Fairtrade chocolate and a booklet telling the Christmas story. We will be giving one to the children in the church but if you would like one to give to a friend, relative or neighbour please let Sue know and we will deliver one to you. We are going to put them into plastic bags so that they can be passed on in a safe way.
• Christmas Community Carol Event – Sunday 20^th December
  • We continue to work on the basis that the national guidelines will allow this by then.

Programme – Please contact roland@hopeadmaston.org.uk if you would like to join any of our meetings on Zoom.

Sunday morning worship is now live-streamed on both YouTube and Facebook from Admaston House at 10.30am.

Prayer

Give thanks:

• For those who are participating on Alpha courses at present & particularly the Holy Spirit sessions.

Prayer:

• For one another in these days of lockdown, Remember your Hope prayer diary.
• Let’s pray for spiritual breakthrough in our neighbourhoods and particularly pray for those around you.

Other general information

Pastoral Care – If you are in isolation and need support (eg shopping), please contact natalie@hopeadmaston.org.uk who will arrange with the team of helpers.

Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

2 Peter – Participating in the divine nature!

2 Peter 1v4 “he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.”

As we head back into increasing restrictions and our news channels focus on the rising figures, it is vital that we focus on God’s plan.

God’s plan is this – for us to “participate in the divine nature”! That is quite a purpose. That is the reason behind the promises he has given us.

So what does it mean to participate in the divine nature? It is (obviously) not saying that we are God, but let me suggest the following from the passage:

• To have true life based on a knowledge of God and godliness (v3)
• To escape the corruption caused by evil desires (v4)
• To possess the qualities of faith, goodness, knowledge of the truth, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love. (v5-8)

The divine nature comprises all these things. This is what God has saved us for.

This is vital news for today, because we can so easily define ourselves and the quality of our lives by external measures of what we can or cannot do. But God is moving us to define our purpose in the same way he does – by the measures listed above. And the more our goal for ourselves is defined in that way, the more we will find that we can live through the circumstances. It’s not too late to change direction!

May our purpose in life be in line with God’s purpose for us.

With love and blessing,

Roland

News

• This Sunday
  • We will meet as normal in Admaston House and online.
  • Please note the latest update from Tony as Telford enters “Tier 2” and follow Covid-19 procedures when on site.
  • We will be celebrating communion together on Sunday in a Covid-safe way.
• Prayer Day & Live worship evening
  • Thank you to all who led and participated in different aspects of the day and evening.
• Monday Prayer Evening 7.30pm
  • There will be 1 hour of prayer on Zoom on Monday 2^nd We will be joined by other Christ Central Shropshire churches praying for us at Admaston.
• Christmas Community Carol Event – Sunday 20^th December
  • Thank you to all who joined our meeting on Monday and have picked up different roles, please pray for the development of this event which is not impacted by Tier 2 status.
• Youth Activities
  • Note that youth activities are exempted from the Tier 2 regulations and are still able to meet, while other groups will be purely on-line (or outdoors!).

Programme – Please contact roland@hopeadmaston.org.uk if you would like to join any of our meetings via Zoom.

Sunday morning worship is now live-streamed on both YouTube and Facebook from Admaston House at 10.30am.

Prayer

Give thanks:

• For those who are participating on Alpha courses at present – and particularly those wo have only been able to meet in person.

Prayer:

• For one another in the spiritual battle – especially as several have been unwell recently.
• Let’s pray for spiritual breakthrough in our neighbourhoods.

Other general information

Pastoral Care – If you are in isolation and need support (eg shopping), please contact natalie@hopeadmaston.org.uk who will arrange with the team of helpers.

Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

2 Peter – Everything we need!

2 Peter 1v3 “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us.”

What do you most lack? What are you most wanting?

The Psalmist wrote “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.” That is a phenomenal expression of trust and contentment.

Peter is expressing a very similar trust – God has given us everything we need. Peter suffered persecution and hardship, abuse and finally martyrdom, so how could he say such a thing? Because he knew that God’s purpose for him was far greater than safety, security, comfort or even success in this life. God’s purpose was that Peter would know God – not just know about God – but to actually experience him and appreciate him. And to know God is the heart of life in all its fullness – it really is!

Are you feeling that you have to strive for something in your Christian life? We come to Christ empty handed – and anything that is in our hands is pretty useless. He takes those empty hands in his own and fills them with his deepest treasures – his hands! You do not need to strive, simply reach and receive.

So this verse reminds us to be content and to depend totally on our Father in heaven.

With love and blessing,

Roland

News

• This Sunday
  • As normal in Admaston House and online.
  • Please follow Covid-19 procedures when on site.
• Prayer Day
  • On Wednesday 28^th October, we will have a prayer day comprising several short bursts during the day. Please see attached programme which indicates what is on Zoom and what is on Facebook. Note that a URL will be provided so that those without a Facebook account can participate.
• Live Worship evening
  • As part of our prayer day on Wednesday 28^th October, we are going to broadcast live worship at 7.30pm in the evening.
• Tearfund Big Quiz night
  • Come and join the national Tearfund Big Quiz night on 14^th November from 7.30pm. Invite your friends. It will be on Zoom. All monies raised are to Tearfund.
• Christmas Community Carol Event – Sunday 20^th December
  • Are you ready to help put on this event? There are many different tasks to pull off the event. You are welcome to join a Zoom planning meeting on Monday 26^th October at 7.30pm.

Programme – Please contact roland@hopeadmaston.org.uk if you would like to join any of our meetings on Zoom.

Sunday morning worship is now live-streamed on both Youtube and Facebook from Admaston House at 10.30am.

Prayer

Give thanks:

• For those who are participating on Alpha courses at present.

Prayer:

• For one another in the spiritual battle – especially as several have been unwell recently.
• Let’s pray for spiritual breakthrough in our neighbourhoods.
• For the Live Worship Evening and the Christmas Carol event outlined above.

Other general information

Pastoral Care – If you are in isolation and need support (eg shopping), please contact natalie@hopeadmaston.org.uk who will arrange with the team of helpers.

Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

Beatitude 6 – Happy are the Pure in Heart

Matthew 5v7 “Blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God.”

Do you want to see God? Is it on your “bucket-list”, or is it an aspiration that gets ignored? We get excited to see all sorts of things – whether a celebrity we admire, a remarkable landmark, or our team win… But God?

Jesus says, “Seek me and you will find me”. It is my responsibility to seek, it is God’s responsibility to reveal himself. What is the thing in your life that you are prepared to sacrifice everything else for? Have you used Amazon lately? If so, do you treat God as an “add on item” to get free delivery? Or is God what you are here for in the first place?

David asks the question in Psalm 24 “Who may ascend the hill of the Lord?” High places were frequently a place for encounter with God: for example, Moses met God on Mount Sinai and the temple was built on Mount Zion. So David’s question is about who can enter God’s presence. The answer he gives is, “He who has clean hands and a pure heart.” We can only have clean hands by having them washed – and forgiveness is available through Jesus Christ. But a pure heart?

Something that is pure is not contaminated. We want things to be pure – pure water, pure salt … . Our heart is the centre of our being; it is where our loves, desires and fundamental trust reside. A pure heart only loves one thing, only desires one thing, only fundamentally trusts one thing – God. The opposite is a divided heart where there are competing loves and loyalties, and the Psalmist says elsewhere “give me an undivided heart” (Psalm 86v11). The first of the Ten Commandment is like it; “you shall have no other gods before me”.

This is a challenging beatitude – do I seek God more than anything else and before anything else (whether family, possessions, career, education, health, wealth …)? If so, then you can be among the happiest on earth; you will find Him and He will satisfy your heart and soul – both now and in the future.

“Lord give me an individed heart” which seeks you above anything and everything else – and I greatly look forward to seeing you!

With love and blessing,

Roland

News

• Alpha
  • It has been lovely to have both new and returning people on the Alpha Courses. Let’s both give thanks and pray for all involved.
  • It has been wonderful to have the Twenties Alpha/Christianity Explored group. This is ceasing for the present time, but a big thank you to Dave and Emily for leading this.
• Sunday mornings
  • As previous with regards to precautions
• This Sunday
  • We will be celebrating communion this Sunday during the Zoom time.

Programme – Please contact roland@hopadmaston.org.uk if you would like to join any of our meetings on Zoom.

Sunday morning worship is now live-streamed on both Youtube and Facebook from Admaston House at 10.30am.

Prayer

Give thanks:

• For those who are participating on Alpha courses at present.

Prayer:

• Those who are suffering with ill-health at present.
• Let’s use our daily prayer diaries to pray for one another.
• For our students at Universities.

Other general information

Pastoral Care – If you are in isolation and need support (eg shopping), please contact natalie@hopeadmaston.org.uk who will arrange with the team of helpers.

Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

Beatitude 5 – Happy are the Merciful

Matthew 5v7 “Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy.”

A legalistic and judgmental spirit is the cause of much unhappiness. We are unhappy with those around us, they wind up unhappy with us and we end up unhappy with ourselves too.

To show mercy is to give others some slack, to forgive what they do wrong, to be generous to them despite their actions.

How can we do this when we are not naturally so inclined? When we truly receive God’s mercy, we are so filled with gratitude that his mercy changes us to become merciful. Feed on God’s mercy, allow yourself to be transformed by his mercy into someone who is merciful. And then you showing mercy is the demonstration of God’s mercy in you – and in that you can be sure of his mercy to come too.

The funny thing too, is that as we go out of our way to be merciful to others, we somehow also experience more of God’s mercy towards us now.

This attitude towards others is the secret of both being a light in the world (v14) and of following the interpretations Jesus gives to the Old Testament law (v17-48).

May you and I both fully experience God’s mercy, and be people of mercy.

With love and blessing,

Roland

News

• Alpha
  • The NHS Alpha has gone well with several participants.
  • There are a couple of new participants for the Ladies Alpha starting this evening and the Men’s Alpha on Tuesday.
  • The Christianity Explored with the Twenties Group restarted last week too.
• Sunday mornings
  • Covid-19 precautions – As circulated earlier, we have a specific QR code for Hope Community Church. If you have a new enough smart phone and have downloaded the app, you can use this to help support the track and trace system.
• Zoom meetings
  • There are now occasions when between Hope and St Christophers there are more than one Zoom meeting at a time. St Christophers have therefore also bought a Zoom licence. Some small group meetings are now using a different Zoom number. Sunday morning and most Hope meetings remain the same. Please contact roland@hopeadmaston.org.uk if you would like to join any of our meetings on Zoom.
• Food bank drive-through – Sunday 27^th September 2-5pm.
  • We have been able to regularly support the drive through collections for the foodbanks. This time the collection is at All Saints. The collection is for the two Telford foodbanks and the Wrekin Community fridge.
• Prayer Day – Wednesday 28^th October
  • We are planning a prayer day for the 28^th For obvious reasons this will not be the same format as previous ones. We plan to have a series of bursts during the day with some time on Zoom, some in person for those who are able and some as prayer walk too.

Programme – Please contact roland@hopeadmaston.org.uk if you would like to join any of our meetings on Zoom.

Sunday morning worship is now live-streamed on both YouTube and Facebook from Admaston House at 10.30am.

Prayer

• For those of use who are suffering with ill-health at present.
• The Alpha Courses (see above)
• For our students at Universities.
• For our school children for whom life is very different to last year. Some are currently in isolation due to other members of the school testing positive for Covid19.

Other general information

Pastoral Care – If you are in isolation and need support (eg shopping), please contact natalie@hopeadmaston.org.uk who will arrange with the team of helpers.

Praying for Schools week – This starts Monday 28^th September and I have attached a flyer for details.

Care for the Family Events – Care for the family offer resources for men, women, mums, dads, parenting and so on. This link gives a selection of their upcoming events – why not register? https://www.careforthefamily.org.uk/events/events-online

Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

Beatitude 4 – Happy are the Hungry

Matthew 5v6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”

Have you hungered and thirsted for something and not been able to satisfy the desire? Maybe it has been as simple as your need for a drink in hot weather, but you are away from any supply. Maybe it is something deeper you have sought such as achievement or success; maybe it is for a relationship or friendship; maybe it is for aspects of character or looks; maybe for finances or security. Whatever it is has proved either elusive or transitory – just as you think it is in your grasp, it escapes or fades away.

Jesus is saying that, as one who belongs to the kingdom of God,  you will hunger and thirst for righteousness – you will seek what is right and good. And this deep desire of your heart will be rewarded – you will be filled. Fulfilment in the Christian life is not about having everything you desire, but about desiring everything God is promising. This comes back again to repentance and a change of heart.

How can we be so filled?

• Firstly, by Christ’s death on the cross, we are declared righteous – our guilt is dealt with and gone. Have you had a nagging guilt which you have wanted to be rid of? The truth is that Jesus has dealt with it and he pronounces you not guilty. You are now righteous in God’s sight, and knowing you are righteous in God’s sight satisfies the soul.
• Secondly, God gives the Holy Spirit to those who are his children, and his Spirit has the power to overcome sin in our lives and bring righteousness. Imagine being filled with the Holy Spirit! I mean really filled – do you want it? Do you seek it?

Our problem is that we want righteousness, but when it comes to it, there are other things we find we want more. I think there are two things we can do to train our hearts to seek righteousness. Firstly, we can control what our heart sees and let it see more of God’s righteousness; secondly, we can pray and earnestly ask God to create in us a heart which craves righteousness and the filling of his Holy Spirit.

With love and blessing,

Roland

News

• Alpha
  • We have had people signing up for the Alpha courses. Are there people you can invite – either for online or in person? The St Christopher’s courses start on 24^th and 29^th September and the NHS one on 21^st.
• Sunday mornings
  • Covid-19 precautions – There is no change to the instructions issued previously.

Programme – Please contact roland@hopeadmaston.org.uk if you would like to join any of our meetings on Zoom.

Sunday morning worship is now live-streamed on both YouTube and Facebook from Admaston House at 10.30am.

Prayer

Give thanks:

• For what God has already done in you – including changing your heart (see “Thought”).

Prayer:

• The Holy Spirit’s anointing on our gathering together.
• The Alpha Courses starting up on 21st, 24th and 29th September (see previous email news).
• For students starting at university this month.

Other general information

Pastoral Care – If you are in isolation and need support (eg shopping), please contact natalie@hopeadmaston.org.uk who will arrange with the team of helpers.