Vision Meal Update

Thanks for your prayers and especially for last week. I had two major events that we needed prayer for:

Churches Together In Plymouth. I was so warmly received last Wednesday morning by the group. I shared for about 10 mins then I fielded questions for about another 20 mins or so. In fact we had to stop to move onto prayer before we ran out of time. I stopped for breakfast afterwards and sensed a real warmth and encouragement to what we are doing. One fellow leader remarked 'its just church from first principles.' And in a sense, he is spot on.

Vision Meal. We had our first vision meal last Thursday and apologies for not updating sooner but I have been distracted by preparation for my project management qualification (APMP). However, Clare did a marvellous job getting everything ready and the house was spotless, food cooked (chilli and vegetable curry) and the kids squared away to bed. We didn't know how many would come as nobody had responded. Still come 7.30pm we prayed that Jesus would send the right people, and if no one was suitable at this stage no one would come. At 7.45pm, the door bell rang and young Oli came to join us. So we had one guest and had a very pleasant meal and chats about mission, resources, Jesus and films. I sense Oli is not going to come and join us, but he knows some people who might be very interested. We really liked the format and will do this again in the Autumn.

Of course, I would have liked more people, in fact I would like us to be a group larger than just my family by now. But I have to remember that this is God's 'train set' and not mine. He is the one to be feared and not the numbers. Actually we need specific people with specific values at present. I do waiver occasionally about whether we are doing the 'right thing' but when I do, Jesus quickly reminds us that we are in the right place. We were called and led by the Holy Spirit to bring glory to God here. We function as a small church, preaching the word, administering sacraments and exercising discipline.

So we are enjoying the sunshine and I'm off to surf school tomorrow...

Enjoy grace

Phil came to play...

Phil Ford a great old friend from Scotland and Hope Church Glasgow came to stay.

Phil came with me to Dwell, Grace for the City, a conference about urban church planting, where we got to listen to Mark Driscoll and Steve Timmis, representing the Porterbrook Network.

After that we retreated to the West Country, as you can see. This is him and the kids on the approach to the Hoe from the city centre.

Please Pray

Please pray for 2 important things this week:

• CHURCHES TOGETHER PLYMOUTH. I am sharing about EP and our vision tomorrow morning 0700 - 0800 with Churches Together in Plymouth. Please pray that I will, with all humility, share and challenge others with the call to missional church.
• VISION MEAL. On Thursday evening we are having our first vision meal where we are inviting friends and others to come and unpack our vision and values. We are starting around 7.30pm at our house with dinner followed by a talk by me and then questions and prayer afterwards. anyone in the Plymouth area and beyond is welcome to come. Please pray that God stirs the right people to come and join us.

Many thanks guys...

The White Horse Inn

No I'm not asking you to the pub!

This is a great resource, which I was directed to by Nathan Fisher of Devonport Baptist Church, which he planted some 10 years ago.

The White Horse Inn is about understanding what you believe, and the podcast is very good (on my itunes list already), reformed and informed. All you have to do is put up with the Americanisms. Follow the link below:

http://whitehorseinn.org/

Ecclesia Plymouth - A Vision Meal

We are having a vision meal on 17 Jul 08, 7.30pm at our house 62 Amherst Road Plymouth PL3 4HJ.


'What's that?' you ask; well we will share a meal together and I will talk about the vision and values of Ecclesia Plymouth, our church planting adventure. I'll also talk about the Crowded House network, an international missional church initiative. Please come along and find out about what we are up to and ask any questions you might have.



If you are local and just want want to support us in prayer, this event is without commitment except that you wish to be better informed about us. The food will be great, as will the wine and coffee.

If you have any queries email me on jason@eponline.co.uk or ring me on 07725501511.

Mike and Sara came to stay

Mike and Sara came to play in Plymouth and we had great fun. Mike used to live with us when we last lived in Plymouth and is just like one of the family. When he married Sara it was just like adding someone else to the gang. Anyway, we ate lots, chatted, gathered for church and of course went to Wembury beach and enjoyed a Reid favorite hot chicken pittas (yum, yum). Mike and Sara now live in Canterbury, Kent and are adding loads of value to The City Church Canterbury, one of New Frontier's best churches (actually I would say the best - but that might get me in trouble). We miss them, but really enjoyed the weekend together.

Just while I remember, the boys and I rescued a real live adder on the beach a few weeks back. Here's proof via the wonders of mobile phone technology.

Jesus is the answer...