Sunday 16 March 2025

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Reflections

What's on: key to note

Psalm 91: 1-2. NIV

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord " He is my refuge and my fortress my God in whom I trust".

There are many times and days when we feel tossed about by the things that are happening in our lives and wonder where God is in our current situation. We may have spent lots of time in prayer and are wondering if God is really listening as our situations appear to be unchanged, but throughout the Bible God has promised to be with us to lead and to guide us as we trust in Him.

​Trusting is a decision of our will and learning to give our plans and desires to him can feel very difficult but when we do so we can find peace and rest. Because we are created by God, he knows what we need.

In order to find rest in His presence we need to spend time in His presence, putting to one side those things that can so easily distract us.
In God's presence we can find strength to face each day and to rise above the difficult circumstances that are surrounding us.
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May each of us be changed and transformed by spending time with God

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​This coming week's service...

SUNDAY MORNING 16th March. Doors open at 10.30am, Service starting at 11.

As usual the morning service will be livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube. Please note that all who appear ‘up front’ – i.e. visible to the cameras – are in effect consenting to appear on the livestream.

Today we continue our series foundational – walking through the letter to the Romans. Tim is teaching on Romans Chapter 2.

​SUNDAY EVENING 16th March, Communion Service. Doors open at 6pm, service begins at 6.30pm.

Boiler Room Prayer Meeting in the Gallery for prayer is at 6.00pm leading up to the evening service at 6.30pm.

​Over the five Sunday evenings of March our theme is “Go & Make Disciples” and we’ll be hearing from International Speakers from the recent Lausanne Congress in South Korea. A unique video-teaching series! Tonight, our speaker is Dale Stevenson from Australia, giving a short message on “Mission in the Hands of Ordinary People.”

Church AGM & church members meeting
​10 April 7:30pm
Our church needs you! Please ensure you add the date to your diary - we are ran by our members and so need your input.

Wednesday home groups/small Groups
Everyone welcome. Please speak to Tim if you would like to join one of our Small Groups that meet around the area. There are currently three groups who’d love to welcome new members!

Seaside Treasures - 9-11am Thursdays
20th March. A toddler group for families within the local community. A fun playtime with a short story time to go alongside our singing. Please pray this will be an opportunity to share the gospel through stories. Contact Kate for more information. Please remember this group in your prayers as they start a new term.

WHBC Kids & Youth - Fridays, term times

• Kids: 4-5.30pm (Primary aged) 
• Youth: 6-7.30pm (Year 7 upwards)

Fun and friendship in the community for all!

CONNECT4CRAFT – 2pm
very 1st 3rd & 5th Friday in the Church Hall. £1.50 to include refreshments. All welcome, contact Jenny: 07773300971

POPPIN Our Wellbeing Café - 10.30am 12.30pm.
Every Saturday in the Church Centre. All welcome! For further information please contact Andy and Sarah Rowland.

Monthly breakfasts! Sat 15 March
Ladies Breakfast: 9am, Slice of Life
Join the ladies for Ladies Breakfast at the Slice of Life (back to its normal venue) Contact Susan Fish by email, [email protected] for more information.

Men's Breakfast: 8:15am, church hall
Join us for lively conversation, a hearty breakfast, and speakers with interesting topics, including faith. To help with catering, if possible, please email in advance to Phil Mitchell [email protected]

Kids breakfast: 8:15/8:30 - 10am, main worship space

Primarily open to Church children to allow their parents to attend the woman’s/men’s breakfasts, or to enable a parent some time and space. Places must be booked in advance (cut off noon on the Friday) by emailing [email protected]
(emails must state any dietary requirements)

Lee Abbey Church Weekend Away!
Booking forms are available from Carol Ley and Nic Hopkinson. Sign up today!

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Prayer watch

prayer contacts 

From 17th to 30th March 2025, we are invited to stand with the OM Ships in prayer. The Logos Hope is OM’s largest ship which launched into active service in 2009. Today, Logos Hope visits ports around the world for several weeks at a time.

On average, over one million visitors have been welcomed on board every year. The Doulos Hope launched in 2023, bringing many fresh and exciting advantages to this ministry. This smaller vessel can operate in shallower waters and access ports that have been beyond the reach of her sister ship. Heavenly Father, we pray for the many communities that the ships ministries connect with. We pray for the port communities to respond with excitement and anticipation as the crew shares the love of Christ with them.

We pray too for good partnerships with community leaders and local churches throughout the world. Lord, we ask that more short and long-term crew members are called to go on-board the ships to enable greater outreach. Loving God, we know that there are billions of people in our world today who have limited or no access to the Good News of Jesus and we pray that OM Ships are provided with the resources to encourage churches, groups and individuals to partner with them in prayer and to intercede for the people groups around the world who have little or no access to the gospel - Amen. “Then the disciples left and preached everywhere.

​The Lord was with them, and the miracles they worked proved that their message was true” (Mark 16:20 CEV).

Prayer Chain for immediate and urgent needs:

• Jan Wright Tel 07785 223708
• [email protected]

P.U.S.H. for ongoing prayer needs:

• Phil Mitchell Tel 07989 204 735
• [email protected]

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Find out more: OM Ships

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Notices:

• SIGN UP FOR NEWCOMERS GROUP! An unmissable three-session course, held at the Manse on Thursdays 15th, 22nd and 29th May, from 7.00-9.30pm. Share a meal together over three evenings, make new friends and find out more about life at WHBC! Open to anyone who has been at WHBC 18 months or less. Spaces are limited, so speak to Annemarij, Tim or Cara, to sign up!
• Pray for OM Ships! From 17th - 30th March, we are invited to stand with the Ships in prayer. Please get a prayer guide from Dave Frisby.
• LIFT OFF - Tuesday 18th March 2.30pm This week’s talk is ‘Reaching the 3 billion’ Our speaker Dave Frisby will be talking about how OM seeks to reach the 3 billion people who don't know of Jesus Christ. This will be about the broader work of OM, of which the ships ministry is just one part. Tea and coffee and biscuits will be served after. Contact Susan Fish for more information.
• WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON – SMALL GROUP 2.30pm 19th March. Meeting at the Church Centre every other week. All welcome. Contact Tony for further info.
• SEASIDE TREASURE Today I was reminded of a question that if one person stepped away from a ministry, then would it stop? Well, no ministry should ever rely on few people as God provides a church to do His work! So, I ask you to pray first.... and consider Gods heart for families. I am so grateful for Susan, Graham and Kathy who help weekly at Seaside Treasures and Anne-Marij on a monthly basis, but with so many families to welcome I find myself struggling to get round to chat with everyone. Seaside Treasures toddler group needs YOU! We meet every Thursday 9-11am and we would love to welcome some new volunteers to the team. Do you enjoy talking or listening to people’s life stories? Well, on Thursdays we have an opportunity to share life with many families from the community who come in for a cuppa and a play. It is such a joy and privilege to serve God in the simplest of ways each week! Please consider if you could be part of growing Gods Kingdom by serving in this area. Areas of service include setting up toys and clearing away, making teas and coffees and clearing snack-time, chatting with families and simply smiling and welcoming people! On top of this we have opportunities to pray and see God transform lives! Look forward to hearing from you! Kate. Additional Note from Tim: We are delighted to announce that Kate is having a Sabbatical in July & August this year. However, if no extra volunteers are found to help, Toddlers will close early for the Summer (i.e. in July as well as August). We really do need more folk to be part of this ministry!

Who's on where​: Helping at WHBC

16th March

• Duty Steward: Duncan
• Main door: Paul O & David Kirk
• Sound & Projection: Daniel & Ezra
• Livestream: Nathan
• Refreshments: Jan B & Cara
• Bible reading: Jenny Jessop

Evening

• Duty Steward: Daniel
• Main door: Martin
• Sound & Projection: Daniel & Ezra
• Refreshments: Iana & Rachel
• Bible reading: Phil Mitchell
• Prayers: TBC
• Communion servers: Kate & Iana

23rd March

• Duty Steward: Paul
• Main door: France & Sandie
• Sound & Projection: Daniel & Ezra
• Livestream: Nathan
• Refreshments: Sara & Fran
• Bible reading: David Barter

Evening

• Duty Steward: Laurence
• Main door: Paul O
• Sound & Projection: Daniel & Ezra
• Refreshments: Kathy
• Bible reading: Julie Ousley
• Prayers: TBC