Come Join Us........

Our church is about to undertake the '40 days of community' study. Last year we looked at the '40 days purpose driven life' study and were challenged about our lives and why on earth we are here. Now its time to find out what we need to be doing together as God's family. None of us can live out God's purposes for our lives alone.

Youth Plus is one of the small groups at Elim, which meets on Thursday nights round people's homes to share together by reading the Bible, praying and supporting each other and eating lots of cake and drinking lots of coffee! We also have social events and its just great to be apart of God's family in a small group. Come get to know others within the church in a friendly and chilled out group!

If you want to join us for the 6 week 40 days of community study, please do! If you've been to youth plus before or not...feel free to join us.

God bless
Lisa

P.s Maybe we'll even keep this blogg up to date!

Let's get together yeah yeah yeah......

Youth Plus was great tonight..looking at Solomon in the Old Testament. Looking at another king next time.....

WEDNESDAY 25TH MAY (Robyn's Birthday!) Social (for details of the venue, get in touch!)

BANK HOL MON 30TH MAY -BBQ in evening at Caroline's

THURSDAY JUNE 2ND -Youth Plus back at Alison B's

THURSDAY JUNE 16TH -Youth Plus at Caroline's

THURSDAY JUNE 30TH -Youth plus at Robyn's

Hope to see you there!
Lisa

Random thought: It's not the years in your life, but the life in your years!

Bowling..

Social on Thursday 7th is Bowling. Please contact Robyn if you want to come.

I went bowling last night...thought I'd get in the practice! ha ha

I played 3 games and got 6 strikes! Not bad! hahaahahaha

130 to beat!

Cultivating Youth Plus..

After reading Day 19 of the Purpose Driven Life Book the other week, I was challenged about our group and how important it really is. I quote from the book..

"Relationships take time. The Bible tells us, " Let us not give up the habit of meeting together, as some are doing. Instead, let us encourage one another". We are to develop the habit of meeting together.

Community is built not on convenience (we'll get together when I feel like it) but on the conviction that I need it for spiritual health. If you want to cultivate real fellowship, it will mean meeting together even when you don't feel like it, because you believe it is important. The first Christians met together everyday! Fellowship requires an investment of time".

In the chapter, it mentions nine characteristics of biblical fellowship, which small groups should adopt! These are:

Sharing our true feelings (authenticity)
encouraging each other (mutuality)
supporting each other (sympathy)
forgiving each other (mercy)
speaking the truth in love (honesty)
admitting our weaknesses (humility)
respecting our differences (courtesy)
not gossiping (confidentiality)
making the group a priority (frequency)

I have to say that meeting every week instead of every other week recently has been tough at times to commit to. There has many the occasion that I've almost stayed at home, as it would have been easier than driving out in the snow etc, but God has really used the group sessions to build upon the teachings from the book, building each other up etc. One of the most successful schemes the devil has, is to keep Christians busy. Keep them so busy that they've no time to develop relationships and grow spiritually.

"Thank you God for our group and for meeting with us. Please continue to teach us and develop our characters so we can become more like you. Amen"

Hope to see you on Thurs 17th @ Carolines, Thurs 24th at Robyn's and April 7th is a Social!

More dates for ya diaries!

FEBRUARY

THURS 10TH YOUTH+ SOCIAL PANCAKES @ RANDOLPH'S 7.30PM

THURS 17TH YOUTH+ 40 DAYS PURPOSE @ ROBYN'S 7.45PM

THURS 24TH YOUTH+ 40 DAYS CONTINUED @ CAROLINE'S 7.45PM

SAT 26TH YOUTH+ SOCIAL (DETAILS TBC)

MARCH

THURS 3RD YOUTH+ 40 DAYS CONTINUED @ ROBYN'S 7.45PM

THURS 10TH YOUTH+ 40 DAYS CONTINUED @ RANDOLPH'S 7.45PM

THURS 17TH YOUTH+ 40 DAYS CONTINUED @ CAROLINE'S 7.45PM

THURS 24TH YOUTH+ 40 DYAS CONTINUED @ ROBYN'S 7.45PM

APRIL

THURS 7TH -YOUTH+ SOCIAL (DETAILS TBC)

If anyone wants contact numbers or addresses, please e-mail Robyn or request them in the chat box and we'll e-mail them to you!

HAND IN HAND QUIZ -SAT JAN 29TH

The Hand in Hand Quiz Night draws near...

SAT 29TH JAN 7.45PM -10.15PM

The venue has changed to Broomfield Road Evangelical Church (email if you need directions) but the format will remain the same. Due to licensing restrictions Alcohol is not permitted but we will litter your table with juice and nibbles to make up for it (and of course you can bring your favourites if you'd rather). We will of course be running one of our infamous raffles, and the ongoing rounds will have you scratching your heads for hours.

Tickets are £5 each with all proceeds going to Hand in Hand's projects in South America and Africa.

Tables are already being booked so if you'd like to come and bring a team please email or call 01245 236561 to make sure you can come.

Hand in Hand
Springfield Lyons House
Chelmsford Business Park
Chelmsford
Essex
CM2 5TH
Tel: +44 (0)1245 236561
Web: www.hihand.co.uk

Dates for diaries!

Next Youth Plus is on Jan 27th @ Caroline's house

Social night at Randolph's on Friday 18th Feb 7.30pm -bring fillings for pancakes!

Keep Feb 26th Free.....

Also -Hand in Hand Quiz night on Sat Jan 29th! Lisa will e-mail details.