Market Church – 30 Jan 2010

Market CHURCH

Hello Marketeers

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/8467833.stm

Last week the BBC ran an article on the history of great British confectioners and I was interested to read that many of the firms were started by Quakers.

The article said:

The move into chocolate began with cocoa drinks in the 19th Century as a reaction against the perceived misery and deprivation caused by alcohol, says Quaker historian Helen Rowlands.

“Quakers and other non-conformists at the time were concerned about levels of alcohol misuse in the population at large, they were part of the temperance movement.

“Cocoa was a way of providing cheap and available drink. It was healthy because you had to boil the water to make it when they didn’t have good water supplies.”

As you hand out your next Hot Chocolate at the market – you can think of the legacy Hot Chocolate has in reaching out to the poor!!

Bish’s macbook is poorly this week whilst he is at Ridley – so he has asked me to email out for him this week.

This Saturday at the market we are only doing the morning shift because of Helping Hands and setting up the 24/7 Prayer Room. Bish says one or two volunteers would be very welcome!

A reminder that if you have anything for the Prayer Room – or if you want to help set up our creative boiler room of prayer – we will be in 216 from 10am – 3pm this Saturday.

Thanks for all you are and do,

Ruthx

Oak Tree Youth

This week sees the start of our new Oak Tree Youth Group.

For more information email Lisa at the office.

24-7 Prayer Room

CLICK HERE FOR PRAYER REQUEST FORM

This is a key year for OakTree:

• Moving into 216,
• CAP,
• 3 years of serving on the streets every week,

a 17 year journey now landing OakTree in the middle of Acton – Let’s carry on PRAYING our way onwards.

So, quite a few people have heard of a movement called 24/7 prayer. They have brought together a story that God has been writing, encouraging churches and groups of Christians to pray non-stop 24 hours a day, 7 days a week…

They say about themselves:

“24/7 is an accidental prayer movement that began in September 1999. A bunch of young people who found praying difficult set themselves the challenge of praying non-stop for a month. God turned up and they didn’t stop praying till Christmas! People who wouldn’t walk into a church service came to experience God’s presence in the Prayer Room: some even gave their life to the Lord. The idea of praying night and day spread fast! All it takes is 24 people to pray an hour a day to fill a week. You can use the space to talk to God about anything you wish and try new ways of praying using the arts, music and activities.”

And there are so many testimonies from people who have taken part in this…

“And there are stories of salvation. People who would call themselves Christians are asking for prayer, spontaneous conversations are taking place about God and a girl walked into a prayer room  on her university campus in Surrey said ‘it was like coming home’”

“In a prayer room in Scotland a cancerous tumor disappeared from a woman’s body in answer to prayer. Doctors at Ayr hospital and Glasgow royal infirmary are astounded”.

“An atheist walked into a prayer room and said, ‘you can really feel God in here’”

Last time 24-7 counted there had been over six thousand three hundred 24-7 prayer rooms in over 96 different nations! On every continent but Antarctica! There have been prayer rooms run in place from Catholic Churches in England to brothels in Mexico. This is a contagious movement.

We are going to participate with them and for ACTON from

after our service,

7pm 31^st Jan – midnight of 6^th Feb.

God has called us to pray.

God is calling us to pray.

This is an exciting way to do it!

The danger is that the more mature members think it’s for young people and the young people think it’s for the adults….THIS IS FOR ALL OF US AND IS GOING TO TAKE ALL OF US TO ACHIEVE IT….

Practicalities…

• There will be a sign up sheet on Sundays.
• We would like everyone to pray and consider doing 2 or more shifts during the week.
• We would like a team to get involved in various bits the whole week, from helping keep the prayer room tidy to running some prayer activities.
• If you are interested in this then get in contact with Mark Bishop or Ruth Robinson.

ROTA and PROGRAM… to come?

http://www.oaktree.org.uk/oak_media//2010/01/whatis247prayer.flv

More info about what the 24-7 Prayer Movement is all about can be found here

CLICK HERE FOR PRAYER REQUEST FORM

Shoots

Shoots meeting!

Shoots is our half termly group for children in school years 1,2,3 & 4.

16th February: Movie Morning – Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

Friends welcome.

Email Lisa in the office for venue information.

Acorns Special

Acorns Special Event.

Acorns is our weekly group for children in school years 5,6 & 7

10 February: Monopoly Night.

For more information including venue email Lisa in the office.

Market Church – Saturday 23rd January 2010

Market CHURCH

Hello Marketeers

Mark Bishop

Spring 2010

Download the programme card here.

Prayer is both our deepest longing and sometimes the most discouraging aspect of our walk with God.  I am convinced that prayer should be what brings joy, peace and freedom as we commune with a Heavenly Father.  It was never meant to simply be a duty or even worse be something we associate with drudgery or guilt.

So how can we pray better?

During January and in to February we shall concentrate much of our teaching on how we can grow in deeper relationship with God as we learn to pray.  Every Christian I have ever talked to about this subject has confessed to feeling like a beginner.  We have so few living guides it would seem but we do have the bible and the Holy Spirit.

But it is not enough simply to teach on this subject.  As in most things we learn best by doing.  During the first week of February we are challenging every Oak (a member of Oak Tree) to participate in our 24-7 prayer event.

For an entire week and for 24 hours of each day we want prayer to be rising up from our church family from the prayer room in our new building on Acton High Street.  In the act of prayer we shall learn and what is more God will hear and respond.

“If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”  2 Chronicles 7:14

If you want to learn more about the 24-7 prayer movement look at their website – 24/7 prayer.

I am convinced that nothing is impossible when it comes to what God can do through a people of prayer who follow Christ as Lord.  Lord, let your kingdom come in me, in us and in your wider world.

Mark Aldridge

Market Family

Market Family is an addition to our regular Market Church stall.

On these weeks we put on family friendly activities and encourage the families of Oak Tree to host.

Email Lisa in the office for more details.

Bored? Board! – Women’s Event

An evening of fun and games to lighten up the long winter….

Hosted by Thalie and Ellie, friends welcome!

Email Ruth in the office for venue details.

TKL

TKL (Training Kingdom Leaders)

Training our young people in high school in leadership.

Meeting in Twyford School Basement 2:30pm – 4:00pm

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