Dates for your Diary

Jan 08 Prayer meeting Jan 15 Homegroups Jan 20 Prayer Meeting for Mandritsara, Madagascar Jan 22 Homegroups Jan 26 Education prayer meeting Jan 27 Christianity Explored Taster Session Jan 29 Homegroups Feb 05 Prayer Meeting Feb 12 Homegroups Feb 19 Homegroups Feb 26 Homegroups Mar 01 UCCF evangelism training day—City Church Mar 05 Ash Wednesday Mar 12 Homegroups Mar 19 Homegroups Mar 26 Homegroups Apr 02 Prayer meeting Apr 17 Maundy Thursday Apr 18 Good Friday Apr 20 Easter

Holy Trinity Church Marigold Avenue, St James Village, Gateshead, NE10 0DP

0191 580 0608

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

facebook.com/holytrinitygateshead

Winter/Spring 2014

Upcoming

This term’s Christianity Explored course starts with a taster session on Monday 27th January. At the taster session you can enjoy a free meal and watch a short DVD ex-plaining 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 eyewit-ness 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 focuses on 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 in church on Monday nights at 8pm.

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for more information email tom.popplewell@holytrinitygateshead.org.uk

Staff Contacts

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

Dim Alldridge Assistant Minister dim.alldridge@holytrinitygateshead.org.uk

Tom Popplewell Church Worker tom.popplewell@holytrinitygateshead.org.uk

Valentina Paterno Administrative Assistant (Mon, Wed and Fri) admin@holytrinitygateshead.org.uk

Tim Davies Church Warden wardens@holytrinitygateshead.org.uk

Matt Waterfield Church Warden wardens@holytrinitygateshead.org.uk

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Contacts

Crèche Becky Brown crèche@holytrinitygateshead.org.uk Children Geoff Brown children@holytrinitygateshead.org.uk HTG Youth Sarah Brown youth@holytrinitygateshead.org.uk 20s&30s Dim Alldridge dim.alldridge@holytrinitygateshead.org.uk The Rock Laurel Nathan admin@holytrinitygateshead.org.uk

Mums, Bumps and Babies (Fri) Mary Barker babies@holytrinitygateshead.org.uk Mums, Babies and Toddlers (Mon) Felicity Davies toddlers@holytrinitygateshead.org.uk Women’s Fellowship Sarah Brown women@holytrinitygateshead.org.uk Prayer Link Pat Gray & Janet Nicolls prayer@holytrinitygateshead.org.uk Church Office 0191 580 0608 admin@holytrinitygateshead.org.uk

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Focus On: The Rock

We have been running a midweek club for the kids from local estates since the church opened in 2007. Over the years this has transitioned from TNT (Thursday Night Thing), to JIGSAW and now to The Rock. Initially, the club was for children in school years 3-6. In September 2003 we started ‘The Rock’ for youth in years 6-10 so that we could continue to work with the kids we already know and love. We praise God that over the years we have had contact with over 100 different fami-lies from the local estates of the nest, the old fold, Bensham, Deckham and Sunder-land Road. Because of this, many young people have heard the good news of Jesus Christ. Typically, we start off the evening with snacks, then play games, have a talk about the bible, have small group discussions and then play more games. We’ve had challenges, joys and encouragements at ‘The Rock’ as we have got to know the young people better, and seen them learn more about Jesus and how much He loves them. This past term we have been doing an adaptation of the Youth Alpha course which has answered questions such as: ‘Who is Jesus?’; ‘Why did Jesus have to die?’; ‘What is faith?’; ‘Why and how should I pray?’; and ‘Why and how should I read the bible’. Another highlight has been taking the kids away on Bible Adventure holidays with the support of the congregation. Please pray for fruit that lasts in our work with The Rock.

for more information contact Laurel at admin@holytrinitygateshead.org.uk

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Homegroups

This term home groups are going to be studying the first five chapters of Mark’s Gos-pel. Why study Mark’s Gospel? Because God has made himself known through his Son becoming a man. Our faith rests on that great intervention in history 2000 years ago, and therefore on the Gospels’ record. As we look afresh at the start of Mark’s Gospel, our prayer is that our faith will grow as we are challenged by Jesus’ identity and his call on our lives. 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, the new year is the perfect time to get (re)involved. Home Groups meet all over Gateshead so there’s bound to be one close to you. To join a group either get in touch with Tom Popplewell (details below) or simply tick the box on your yellow slip that says ‘I’d like to be invited to a home group’ during any service.

for more information contact tom.popplewell@holytrinitygateshead.org.uk

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PM Series

In the

Lions’

Den “God has allowed the unthinkable to happen. His peo-ple were in exile in Babylon; his promises seemed shattered. Was he really in control? Was he faithful? Did he still care? One young man, Daniel, affirmed that he did, although it was not without a struggle, and it cost him to do so.” (Dale Ralph Davies) In the evening service this term we’re going to be looking at the book of Daniel. Here we’ll find some of the best loved stories in the Bible as well as some of the most misunder-

stood prophesies. And at every step we see God at work in the life of his servant Daniel, and in the history of mankind. Recommended Reading “Dare to Stand Alone” by Stuart Olyott. An excellent, simple and challenging introduction to the book. “The Message of Daniel” by Dale Ralph Davies. A more in-depth guide to Daniel which is both comforting and challenging.

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AM Series

The Building Blocks

of Faith

In our morning services this term we’re going to be looking at some of the founda-tional truths of what we believe at HTG. In the 16th century, leaders of the Anglican Church decided to record exactly what we believe. Above everything else they were determined to be faithful to what is taught in the Bible. They wrote what we call the ‘39 Articles of Faith’. As an Anglican church we still hold to these same truths and we still hold the Bible as our supreme authority. This term we’re going to be exploring the first 10 Articles, cov-ering subjects like ‘Who is God?’, ‘What is the Holy Spirit?’, ‘Can I really trust the Bi-ble?’ and ‘Do we have free-will?’ Come along and find the sure foundations to build your life upon.

Recommended Reading: “Knowing God” by J. I. Packer. A true Christian Classic and a won-derful way to get to know our God better. “The Good News we almost forgot” by Kevin DeYoung. Brief studies on another statement of faith, the Heidelberg Catechism.

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Feedback: 20s and 30s Weekend Away

In November twenty seven of us headed to the lovely County Durham countryside for a weekend of fellowship, friendship and fun. It was a great time to know people better, enjoy the great outdoors and spend time digging deeper into God’s word. Our talks and discussion groups were based on a series of talks called ‘The Hole in our Holiness’ by Kevin DeYoung. He says: “We are too at peace with worldliness in our homes, too at ease with sin in our lives and too content with spiritual immaturity in our churches. God’s mission in the world is to save a people and sanctify his people.” As it says in 1 Peter 1v15 ‘just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do.’ We heard how worldliness is anything that makes righteousness seem strange and sin look normal, and how, when we’re bombarded by counter-biblical culture, living pure and holy lives becomes much harder. We were reminded that to live a life holy and pleasing to God requires Spirit powered, gospel driven, faith fuelled effort. Yes, we are saved and transformed by God’s grace, but we are still part of an ongoing battle against sin in our lives and we need to work hard at living lives worthy of our calling and identity in Christ. A talk on saints and sexu-al immorality looked at this area of sin that that was so prevalent in New Testament times and is still so ‘celebrated’ by the world today. The final talk was on abiding in Jesus and obeying him. And how do we abide? By being nourished by God’s word, enjoying God’s presence in prayer and meeting with God’s family, the church.

- Sarah Piper If you’d like to listen to the talks yourself you’ll find them at http://

www.universityreformedchurch.org/teaching/

sermons.html?series=34 or look at the church bookstall to find out how to get the book. To find out more about the 20s & 30s ministry, including future weekends away, then tick the box on the yellow sheet or contact Dim.

for more infomation contact dim.alldridge@holytrinitygateshead.org.uk

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Sunday Mornings 9.15 and 11.15 am

Building Blocks of The Faith Jan 05 Watch your life and doctrine an 12 The Nature of God Communion Jan 19 The Trinity Jan 26 Jesus, God and Man Family Service Feb 02 Vision and Giving Feb 09 Vision and Giving Feb 16 The Cross Communion Feb 23 The Resurrection Family Service Mar 02 The Holy Spirit Mar 09 The Canon of Scripture Mar 16 The Gospel in the OT and the NT Family Service Mar 23 The Law Communion Mar 30 The Creeds Apr 06 Sin Apr 13 Free-will Apr 18 Good Friday, 10:15 am Family Service Apr 20 Easter Sunday

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Sunday Evenings 6.30pm

In the Lions’ Den Jan 05 Daniel 1 Jan 12 Daniel 2 Jan 19 Daniel 3 Jan 26 Daniel 4 Communion Feb 02 Vision and Giving Feb 09 Vision and Giving Feb 16 Invitation Service Feb 23 Daniel 5 Mar 02 Daniel 6 Communion Mar 05 Ash Wednesday, 8:00 pm Communion Mar 09 Daniel 7 Mar 16 Daniel 8 Mar 23 Daniel 9 Mar 30 Daniel 10:1 - 11:1 Communion Apr 06 Daniel 11 Apr 13 Daniel 12 Apr 17 Maundy Thursday, 8:00 pm Communion Apr 18 Good Friday, 2:00 pm Guided Meditation Apr 20 Easter Sunday Communion