Tilehouse Street Baptist Church,
Hitchin Tilehouse Street Baptist Church,
Hitchin
OUTLOOK
Even though spring is supposed to be here we are all feeling that winter has returned as the cold weather seems to linger longer than normal. Thankfully we have a warm church and a welcoming congregation where we can meet together. Meeting together, not only on Sundays but at open church, bible study and the online prayer meetings is important as we need to support each other in any way we can as we search for a new minister. Our ‘Buddy’ system is a good way to achieve this, because we all, individually, have a friend who is looking out for us. So if you are aware that the person you are responsible for is not well or not there please check that everything is ok and also if you need prayers for someone, whoever it is, John Maguire is happy to be contacted and will circulate your request
May be too, this is the time when we need to stop and think; Can I do anything more to help with the practicalities of the day to day running of the church? It is with sadness we need to mark the death of Mary Brown who died on 16th May in Autumn Vale care home in Welwyn. We give thanks for her life and pray for her friends who will miss her and those in Autumn Vale who looked after her.
We remember other friends who are adjusting to health changes and challenges.
Loving God, we lift our friends before you, with others about whom we care for and ask that all may know your peace and comfort We pray too, for that person who is possibly looking for a new church and that Tilehouse Street maybe the one, for trust in God and the plans he has for us.
Congratulations and a very happy birthday to Sue Apthorpe as she celebrates a significant birthday on 7th June, and best wishes to those who also have birthdays in June and July.
Finally, many thanks to Carol and Lilian, for all their hard work in providing the church with preachers every Sunday for this coming year.
Meg
It was a joy to share the recent Songs of Praise service and our church-wide pray- er meeting on 25 April. As we navigate this "Holy Pause," here are the key themes and scriptures that are guiding us.
We reflected on what the "Baptist way" means for us during a vacancy, using these responsive prayers:
"In seasons of change and years of transition, Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever."
Using Hebrews 13:5–8 as our guide, fifteen of us gathered to pray and used the following in the first session:
The deacons plan to hold these quarterly prayer meetings throughout the vacancy as we wait on the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Feedback was a later time would help more people attend
Saturday 18 July Time: 10:30–11:30 (Tea and coffee served from 10:15) Note: The session on Saturday 4 July is now cancelled.
We look forward to seeing you there as we pray and wait in anticipation together.
John Maguire
A message from John Richardson, Secretary to Churches Together in Hitchin
Dear Friends
I write following a meeting of the Churches Together in Hitchin (CTH) Executive when we gave thought to the results of the recent survey about how CTH should move forward.
First a word of thanks to the 107 people who completed the survey and made helpful comments. It was good to know that CTH's activities have been appreciated over the years and that it continues to be valued. At the same time, it was important to hear the realistic message that the number of people actively involved n CTH is small,that those of us who keep it going are not as young as we used to be (very true!), and that there are few new people volunteering to take our place.
The broad conclusion we reached in the Executive was that we should aim to continue, but less as a full-on organisation with a heavy structure and lots of Council meetings, and more as an informal network, encouraging connections through the sharing of news, prayers and requests from individuals and congregations. We also felt we should keep arranging the activities which still work well - Ash Wednesday lunch, World Day of Prayer, Lent groups, Good Friday United Service, Christian Aid Week and General Election hustings are particular examples. We will have just one Council a year, in the autumn alongside the Phase Annual Update, but we will be open to suggestions about other get-togethers on relevant themes. The website, Prayer Link and Facebook page will continue to keep us in touch with each other.
The Executive will act as the CTH co-ordinating/planning group and I need to say that, having just lost valuable members through retirement and illness, we need new people to join it. It meets three times a year with a simple meal at the end and I warmly commend it as an enjoyable event! Do let me know if you are interested.
I hope this is clear. We give thanks for our 60 plus years history, we recognise that we work in a context that has changed over the years, we believe we still have a good purpose and some clear tasks, and we trust in God's guidance for the coming years.
Thanks for all your support.
Sunshine
