Today's Meetings:

9.45am Children's Bible Club
10.15am Sunday Prayer Meeting in cottage
11.00am Morning Service
6.30pm Evening Service
After Church Fellowship at Paul & Janet's home

Weekly Meetings:

Tuesday

8.00pm Members' prayer meeting

Wednesday

9.30am to 11.00am Mums & Tots
6.45pm to 8.00pm KIC club - For Year 4,5 & 6 children

Thursday

2.00pm Ladies Rest Hour - Speaker: Mr Porter
7.45pm Bible Study and Prayer Meeting - Led by Pastor

Friday

7.30pm to 9.00pm FOY - For secondary school children

Saturday

9.30pm Meet for prayer and open air preaching

Sunday

11.00am & 6.30pm Sunday Services - Led by Pastor

Thought For The Week:

"Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them." Mark 11:24

Prayer For The Church:

Continue to pray for the midweek meetings that God may bless the work of each of these and that we might see fruit for our labour to His glory.

Pray that God may over rule with the work at KIC club.

Please pray for our local churches without Pastors. Remember Thamesmead especially as Douglas is soon to move away.

Also pray for the church at Whitstable who are without a Pastor.

Please continue to pray for CCIW camps 2008. Pray particularly for camp numbers 4 & 5 as we have members linked to these. Pray especially for Alistair and Norman as they prepare their talks and Bible study notes for officers. Pray that both camps would have a good number of campers.

Pray for Ruth, Mona and Pete as they seek employment. Pete has an interview tomorrow.

Prayer For The Local Area:

Chingford "We are encouraged by two applications for church membership. Please pray for the preparations for our Holiday Bible Club in August. Our Pastor, Robert Read, is seeking to know the Lord's will with regard to his future ministry."

Prayer For The Wider Area:

Ministry sees hope in the rubble of China's quake

The death toll may rise above 50,000 after an earthquake that struck in Sichuan province last week. Reverend Cai, who started and directs a Christian Humanitarian organization called Hua Mei International, is also a local pastor and has taught at a Bible school in Chengdu. Cai reported that there was no damage to their facilities, and none of their staff was killed in the earthquake. One of Cai's staff e-mailed Erik Burklin at the Mission ‘China Partner' saying, "Even now, day two, life has returned to normal in most parts of Sichuan. Buses and trains are running. Schools have either already started holding classes or will early next week. Please continue with your plans to come to Sichuan."

The trip the man referred to in the e-mail was China Partner's trip this summer planned for lay pastor training in two cities very near the quake's epicentre. However, the new situation may mean they'll be working through Cai's humanitarian organization to do relief work. "Our team is ready to do whatever we can and however they feel they would like to use us," said Burklin.

The government has taken notice of the work that Christians do, and China Partner agrees with the May issue of Christianity Today which reported: "Many Chinese people think Christians are trustworthy. Christians have good reputations. During many disasters in China, churches were involved in relief work to poor areas, and even the government was encouraged. Churches are having an influence by being examples of moral behaviour."

The superstitious notions of many in China cause them to believe that tragedies like the earthquake happen as a punishment from God or because of an evil spirit. The questions of "why" open doors for Christians to talk about the hope and truth of Christ. While Christians help provide for the physical needs, they are also able to fill deep spiritual needs, too.

"The beautiful thing is that we as believers, and Christians in China right now-those who love Jesus and follow Him-can show their Christian love to these neighbours of theirs with a very practical way of serving them. And as a result of that, I really believe many will come to faith," said Burklin.

Bible Readings:

May
18th Numbers 23:1-30; 1 Corinthians 11:2-16
19th Numbers 24:1-25:18; Corinthians 11:17-34
20th Psalms 30; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31a
21st Numbers 26:1-65; 1 Corinthians 13:1b-13
22nd Numbers 27:1-23; 1 Corinthians 14:1-25
23rd Numbers 28:1-31; 1 Corinthians 14:26-40
24th Numbers 29:1-40; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11
25th Numbers 30:1-31:54; 1 Corinthians 15:12-34

General Announcements:

Want to get fit?!
If you would like to have some fun getting fit, please see either Sarah or Debbie. This is open to everyone on a Monday evening from 7.30pm

Members' meeting. - would friends please let Ken Winnie have in writing any matter they wished raised for consideration by the church officers by Lord's Day 1st June

Copy of letter being sent to Douglas: