If you would like details of the job please contact Fiona Lockwood on 0114 230 1911 or at fionalockwood@fulwoodchurch.co.uk

Time was spent looking at some of the Judges; I chatted about our families being set up to model God’s good rule to a world that doesn’t think God’s rule is good; and fathers and sons discussed, in pairs, about what they had been learning. All this was great, and I hope helpful, but I was struck and reminded about how important just spending time being together is vital, particularly being daft and building happy memories.

When I turned up on Friday night everyone was wide awake and excited about a weekend together, but as I arrived for tea on Saturday there was a noticeable age split. The boys were bouncing around, no doubt aided by the odd E number from tuck shop, while the Dads were beginning to look a little the worse for wear. This I learnt was a combination of getting muddy on the ropes course, competing on the climbing wall and at archery and an epic football game won by the Dad’s who “cheated”. Needless to say all this information was gladly divulged by sons who had just had a brilliant time with their fathers.

After tea we played “hunt the Dads” in the dark with torches, followed by “hunt the sons” in a similar fashion. The sight of Paul Williams running, and shouting “I got you” repeatedly, in the pitch black after a small, but very fast, figure who didn’t want to be found will be a lasting memory. This was followed by a camp fire and songs with silly actions with which everyone joined in.

I tell you all this just to remind us Dads to make time and do daft things occasionally. Memories of that sort of friendship build security and approachability for when times get tough.

I think this Youtube link makes the point beautifully!

National Fatherhood Initiative: ‘Dance’

Play

A festschrift (literally a “feast of writing”) is a book honoring a respected person and presented during his or her lifetime.  Recent years have seen these presented to John Piper, Dick Lucas and Don Carson and others.

Could a festschrift contribute to the dilemma of the “celebrity pastor”? That’s a real danger, but in this case, the truth is that the focus is firmly centred on the gospel. These writings are not about Philip but about the role of the pastor that he so valued and to which he gave himself unstintingly.

However, the purpose of this review is not to contribute to the festschrift but to encourage you to read these essays. Personally, this is a form of writing I really enjoy. Too many books have a good idea at heart but run out of steam well before the last page. However, the contributors here use their skill and knowledge to concisely and clearly address “all the major aspects of pastoral ministry”.

Each of the contributors knows Philip personally and wisely use the various contexts of his ministry to introduce their subject. There are 12 essays in total, preceded by a four-page foreword by Hugh Palmer that sets the scene well.

This book might well be “a major resource for all pastors” but I think it is far more valuable than that. This is a book for all of us. Here we have an insight into the role and ministry of the pastor that will help us, not just as those who are “pastored”, but also as those who must pastor “one another”.

It is not just pastors who need to learn valuable lessons on renewal, prayer, worship and the church. We can all learn from this helpful book so that we might be hearers of the word, doers of the word and messengers of the word, “a people that are God’s very own, eager to do what is good”.

Peter Collier

The book is available from the church bookstall for £8.

I’ve been a Christian for 28 years now - 28 Christmases have amazed me, as I’ve thought about the wonder of God’s remarkable intervention in the incarnation.  But this year I have been grabbed afresh by the wonder of the truth that God became a baby.  The Almighty God, the creator of the universe, the one who flung stars into space (as the hymn writer puts it) became a baby - a gargantuan gift in very small packaging.  There was my justification for wrestling with the remains of the roll of Christmas paper.  Except what was impossible for me, was possible for God.

Happy Christmas

What are they? 

A time which Christians set aside to spend reading the Bible and praying every day.  

Why do them? 

A person who becomes a Christian goes from knowing about God to knowing God. 

“Now this is eternal life; that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.”           --John 17:3 

Being a Christian is all about knowing who God is and what He has done.

But if we don’t spend any time with Him we can’t get to know Him! After all if you are getting to know a friend you spend time hanging out, chatting, asking questions.  

^"1In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, ²but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe." Hebrews 1v1 

The main way we get to know God is by reading the Bible.  Jesus is described in the Bible as being the word of God.  

 "¹In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." John 1v1 

So we can know God by reading the Bible-His word written down.

But often we don’t read the Bible or spend any time with God. 

Why not? 

Prayer often does not happen because Christians don’t take the time to plan to pray and we then decide we are too busy-watching TV, checking facebook etc.

Some Christians plan to pray but then are defeated by their mind drifting off topic.

Other people feel like they are too far away from God to pray.

Some feel that they are too ashamed to pray.

And lots are happy to just be mediocre. 

So Top tips to combat these issues (drawn from a selection of  ex-youth who’ve just gone to Uni) 

Find some time when you can be alone.

Find a time to timetable it every day.

This doesn’t mean it becomes a religious habit it means you do it whatever you’re feeling. (preferably in the morning as it focuses you for the day)

Write prayers down, or think of creative ways of praying if you aren’t in a routine or habit of doing it at all because it makes it more fun-like a prayer map or timetable. 

Use ‘Search the Scriptures’.

Explore Bible notes.

Remember that God loves you and has written it down so how He feels about you doesn’t change even if you don’t feel close to Him.

Remember you can always ask for forgiveness.

Please post your own top tips in the comments section below! 

by Emma Graham

Click to download the November-December edition of our Church Family News magazine to find out a little more about who we are and what’s going on at Fulwood Church.

The verse on the back of the tshirt reads: ‘For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “yes” in Christ’ 2 Corinthians 1:20