Autumn 2012

Editorial A word from Rod p3 Upcoming Christianity Explored p5 Bible Training Day p6 Christmas p7 Teaching Sunday Services p8 Teaching Series Preview p10 Spotlight The Rock @ HTG p13 Contacts Staff + Ministry contacts p14 Diary What + When for Oct-Dec p16

contents

2

Welcome to the start of a new year together. As I said at our recent Reload launch dinner I have one great overarching goal this year – I want to know and love Jesus better, and I want to lead you to know and love him better too. That’s the big idea; knowing and loving Jesus is what we’re all about. It’s completely right that we should want to know and love Jesus more when we consider who he is and what he has done for us – Jesus is so awesome and his love for us so amazing that we’ll never get to the bottom of it, and we’ll never love him as much as he has loved us. This year, let’s resolve to grow more and more in love with Jesus, to walk more closely with him, to honour him more truly in our thoughts, in our words and in our actions. Let’s pursue Jesus together this year. (If you want encouragement in that, jump on our website and listen again to the Reload talk or the Commissioning Service or Philippians 3 sermons from July). In terms of our own life together as a church we have lots to thank God for - in the four years since we launched HTG we’ve enjoyed amazing blessings from God: there’s a church here where there was none just five years ago; children have been born; people have got married; people who got married here have had children; children, teenagers and whole families have been baptised; people have become Christians here; people have increasingly shaped their lives around the gospel; we’ve trained and sent people out to Bible College and to short term missions; we’ve developed three young men into very capable preachers and excellent church workers, and seen many step up to leadership roles. God has been incredibly kind to us. God has been at work among us. God deserves great credit for what he has done. So we thank God for four and half incredible years. In the light of God’s amazing blessings we could be tempted to sit back and enjoy God’s goodness for a while. But we started this church because we know that Gateshead needs to hear about Jesus. So we feel the urgent need to press on to bring the gospel home to people in Gateshead, to grow this church, and the Kingdom of God.

3

editorial

for more visit holytrinitygateshead.org.uk/ministersblog

upcoming/editorial

4

So we plan to implement some changes over the next year – to facilitate growth and evangelism. First we’re convinced of the need for at least one more fully-trained minister. Please pray that God would provide the right man for the job and that he would give us wisdom to recognise him. Second we want to be involved in new church-planting initiatives. We have already been able to help local churches with occasional needs, but with our current resources we can’t do anything that might grow into a church plant in the future. Again we ask for prayers for wisdom. There is one particular situation where we’ve been asked to help that might be the opportunity we’ve been praying for. It might be God’s provision that will multiply our effectiveness in reaching out to Gateshead. Please join with me in asking God for wisdom to see the way forward. On a related front please pray too for the new Bishop of Durham, Justin Welby. He has publicly said that his role as the Bishop is entirely about the re-evangelisation of the North of England. Praise God for a Bishop committed to evangelism and please pray for the re-evangelism the North of England. In immediate practical matters please pray too for Tim Davies as he starts out as our new acting Church Warden, for Laura Bowers starting as Parish Assistant on loan from JPC, for TheRock@HTG—a new youth club reaching young teenagers from our local community—and for our financial situation as we continue to carry a small deficit that doesn’t threaten our current programmes, but does threaten our plans for new ministries and new workers to join us in God’s harvest field. In all these things we rejoice that God is at work and pray for increased fruitfulness – that we would know and love Jesus more, and that as we do we would become more and more like him so that we would honour him so that Jesus would be known and loved by more and more people here in Gateshead.

for more visit holytrinitygateshead.org.uk/christianityexplored

This term’s Christianity Explored course starts with a taster session on Thursday 4th October. At the taster session you can enjoy a free meal and watch a short DVD explaining what the course will be like. Christianity Explored is an informal course for those interested in finding out more about the Christian faith or who just want to brush up on the basics. The course lasts for seven weeks and takes a guided tour through Mark’s Gospel; one of the eyewitness accounts of Jesus’ life to find out what was so significant about him. It’s an ideal way to ask questions—and get answers—about Christianity. The course asks the questions at the heart of Christianity: Who is Jesus? Why did he come? What does it mean to follow him? -You don’t need to know anything about the Bible. -You won’t be asked to read aloud, pray or sing. -You can ask any questions you want. The course will run on Thursday nights at 8pm beginning the week after the taster session (October 11th).

5

upcoming

for more visit holytrinitygateshead.org.uk/events

upcoming

6

On Saturday 10th November we’re running a training day specifically designed for those who regularly teach the bible at HTG. Whether it’s preaching from the front, leading small group bible studies in home groups or women’s fellowship or teaching our kids about Jesus week by week, we hope the day will be useful for everyone. Rod and Geoff Brown will be leading sessions designed to help us get a handle on just what we are doing as we teach God’s word as well as giving us practical advice on how to: - Decide what the main teaching point is, - Build a structure for a talk or study, and, - Appropriately communicate God’s Word in different contexts. More details to follow...

for more visit holytrinitygateshead.org.uk/events

Christmas is coming! Here are some highlights of our Christmas programme:

Community Choir All are welcome to sing in our carol service choir. Rehearsals start Tue 6th November.

Christmas Crafts @ Church All women are welcome to this evangelistic craft evening on Fri 23rd November. Bring your friends to enjoy making various Christmas crafts and to hear a gospel talk.

Carol Services On December 16th and 23rd at 4 and 7pm we’ll be holding candlelit, traditional carol services. Come and sing some of your favourite carols and enjoy music from our Christmas choir, followed by hot drinks and mince pies.

Christmas Eve On December 24th we’ll be holding two very different services: a family service at 4pm and a more reflective Holy Communion service at 11.30pm.

Christmas Day Join us at 10.15am for a service for all the family. This is the only service on this day.

December 30th Normal service is resumed with New Year services at 9.15am, 11.15am and 6.30pm.

7

upcoming

9.15 and 11.15 am The Two Kingdoms, Jesus in Luke

Sep 30 The terror of the night Rod Earnshaw 2 Kings 19 Oct 07 Yahweh is all you need Rich Blayney 2 Kings 20 Holy Communion Oct 14 The point of no return Dan Martin 2 Kings 21 Oct 21 Nature obeys Jason Cochrane Family Service with Luke 8.22-25 Baptisms Oct 28 Demons cower Rod Earnshaw Luke 8.26-39 Nov 04 Sickness and death defeated Dan Martin Healthcare Sunday Luke 8.40-56 Holy Communion Nov 11 The Apostles sent Rob Frame Luke 9.1-9 Nov 18 Five thousand men fed Dan Martin Mission Sunday Luke 9.10-17 Family Service Nov 25 You are the Christ Rich Blayney Luke 9.18-27 Dec 02 The Transfiguration Rod Earnshaw Advent Luke 9.28-36 Dec 09 Boy with evil spirit healed Rob Frame Luke 9.37-45 Holy Communion Dec 16 The least is the greatest Matt Lillicrap Luke 9.46-50 Dec 23 The cost of discipleship Rob Frame Luke 9.51-62 Dec 30 New Year Service

The Apostles’ Creed 6.30 pm

Sep 30 God the Father Rich Blayney Oct 07 God the Son Rob Frame Oct 14 Jesus the baby Rod Earnshaw Oct 21 Jesus who died Rob Frame Holy Communion Oct 28 Jesus who rose Dan Martin Nov 04 Jesus who reigns Dave Hewer Nov 11 Jesus who will return Rod Earnshaw Nov 18 God the Holy Spirit Rich Blayney Mission Sunday Nov 25 The Church Dan Martin Holy Communion Dec 02 Forgiveness Matt Lillicrap Dec 09 Eternal Life Rich Blayney Dec 16 Carol Services Rod Earnsahaw (4 and 7pm) Dec 23 Carol Services Rod Earnsahaw (4 and 7pm) Dec 30 New Year Service

In the mornings this term, once we have finished our run in 2 Kings we’ll be back in Luke resuming our ‘Jesus in Luke’ series. Over the next three months or so we’ll cover the second half of chapter 8 and chapter 9 which includes several miraculous healings performed by Jesus as well as the feed-ing of the five thousand, the sending out of the twelve apostles, Peter’s confession of Jesus as the Christ and the transfiguration before finishing up with Jesus’ call to us to count the cost of being his disciples.

We recommend Darrell L. Bock’s shorter commentary ‘Luke’ in the (IVP New Testament Commentary Series, ISBN: 9781844744534). Darrell L. Bock (Ph.D., Aberdeen) is research professor of New Testament studies and Professor of Spiritual Development and Culture at Dallas Theological Seminary in Dallas, Texas. Bock is a former president of the Evangelical Theological Society.

am series

10

The Apostles’ Creed is the oldest and most popular creed of the church, and has greatly influenced the other creeds and confessions written throughout church his-tory. Church historian Philip Schaff writes, “As the Lord’s Prayer is the Prayer of pray-ers, the Decalogue the Law of laws, so the Apostles' Creed is the Creed of Creeds.” We say the Apostles creed together in most of our services at HTG, and this term in the evenings we’re going to delve into the rich meaning of those few short lines. J.I.Packer, Board of Governors’ Professor of Theology at Regent College and author of numerous books, including the classic bestseller Knowing God as well as serving as general editor for the English Standard Version Bible has written a short book on the Apostles’ Creed entitled ‘Affirming the Apostles Creed’ (Crossway, ISBN 9781433502101). Packer explains the meaning and implications of each phrase of this great creed. Each concise chapter serves as an in-vitation to dive further into the creed and as a result, into the essentials of the Christian faith by concluding with discus-sion questions and Bible passages for further study.

11

pm series

for more information email rob.frame@holytrinitygateshead.org.uk

home groups

12

Home groups are a vital component of our life here at HTG and we want everyone to be part of one so that they can grow and be looked after. So if you’re not part of a home group already, or you’ve fallen out of the habit of going and want to make a fresh start, now is the perfect time to get (re)involved. Home Groups meet all over Gateshead (see below!) so there’s bound to be one close to you. To join a group ei-ther get in touch with Rob Frame (details below) or simply tick the appropriate box on your yellow slip during any service.

‘The Rock @ HTG’ is a new ministry designed for children in years 7-9. ‘The Rock’ is being set-up particularly with kids in mind who have come up through our JIGSAW club on a Thursday night but who are now too old to attend. The club will run on Sun-day afternoons. Laurel Nathan, James Laverick and Jon Merton will lead the team and hope to launch ‘The Rock @ HTG’ on Sunday 1st November. Eight children have recently ‘graduated’ from JIGSAW and the hope is that they will form the core of the new group. Please pray for those children as well as others who will be invited as the team continue to visit families in the local area and invite them to ‘The Rock’. Please also pray for wisdom in planning a programme that will meet these children where they are at, dealing with particular issues which they face day to day whilst clearly introducing them to Jesus and the good news of the Gospel. Pray too for local families with kids in JIGSAW and/or The Rock that, as they hear about what their children have been learning about Jesus, they would respond to the Gospel themselves.

13

spotlight

for more information contact Laurel Nathan via the church office

Rev Rod Earnshaw Senior Minister rod.earnshaw@holytrinitygateshead.org.uk

Rob Frame Church Worker rob.frame@holytrinitygateshead.org.uk

Dan Martin Church Worker dan.martin@holytrinitygateshead.org.uk

Rich Blayney Church Worker richard.blayney@holytrinitygateshead.org.uk

Laura Bowers Parish Assistant (Mon, Thurs and Fri) laura.bowers@church.org.uk

contacts

14

Mums, Bumps and Babies Carly Frame babies@holytrinitygateshead.org.uk Mums, Babies and Toddlers Steph Blayney toddlers@holytrinitygateshead.org.uk Women’s Fellowship Sarah Brown women@holytrinitygateshead.org.uk Prayer Link Pat Gray & Janet Nicolls prayer@holytrinitygateshead.org.uk RAK Dan Martin rak@holytrinitygateshead.org.uk Church Office 0191 580 0608 admin@holytrinitygateshead.org.uk

Church Wardens Nic Child & Tim Davies wardens@holytrinitygateshead.org.uk Crèche Becky Brown & Anika Lillicrap crèche@holytrinitygateshead.org.uk Children Geoff Brown children@holytrinitygateshead.org.uk 11-14s Rob Frame pathfinders@holytrinitygateshead.org.uk 14-18s Ewan Spence youth@holytrinitygateshead.org.uk 20s&30s Rich Blayney richard.blayney@holytrinitygateshead.org.uk

15

contacts

holy trinity church marigold avenue, st james village, gateshead, ne10 0dp

0191 477 3370

info@holytrinitygateshead.org.uk www.holytrinitygateshead.org.uk

facebook.com/holytrinitygateshead

Oct 3 Prayer Meeting 8pm Oct 4 Christianity Explored Taster Session 8pm Oct 10 Home Groups Oct 17 Home Groups Oct 19-21 20s&30s Weekend Away Oct 24 Home Groups Oct 31 Prayer Meeting 8pm Nov 6 Choir rehearsals begin 8pm Nov 7 Home Groups Nov 10 Bible Training Day Nov 14 Home Groups Nov 21 Home Groups Nov 23 Christmas Crafts @ Church Nov 28 Prayer Meeting 8pm Dec 1 Family Fun Morning Dec 5 Home Groups Dec 16 Carol Service 4 & 7pm Dec 23 Carol Service 4 & 7pm Dec 24 Christmas Eve Family Service 4pm Christmas Eve Holy Communion 11.30pm Dec 25 Christmas Day Family Service 10.15am

Diary