We would like to extend a warm welcome to you for our services today which are led by Joe Hewitt. Thank you to Mr. Hewitt for leading our Childrenβs Bible Club Anniversary Services.
Todayβs meetings 10.15am Sunday Prayer Meeting in cottage
11am Morning Family Service
6.30pm Evening Service Help needed to move most chairs up into gallery. All are welcome to the after church fellowship at Mike & Rosemaryβs home.
Weekly meetings
Monday 7.00p.m. Holiday Bible Club Preparation
8.00p.m. Prayer Meeting
HOLIDAY BIBLE CLUB β Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday
Friday Good Friday Service - Speaker β Brian Khurt Followed by Fish & Chip dinner
Sunday 9.45 Bible Club
10.15 Prayer Meeting
11.00 & 6.30 Easter Sunday Services led by Pastor
Prayer for the church Please pray for the on going weekly activities that God may bless each.
Continue to pray for Mark Roper and his father.
Please pray for the success of the Holiday Bible Club this week. Pray that we may have a good number of children. Pray that may have enjoyable time and would be kept safe. Pray that the gospel may be well received. Pray for Philip, pastor and Ralph as they teach Godβs Word. Pray for the Prize Giving on Thursday.
Pray for Karen and Matt who are expecting their 2nd child soon.
Please pray that Janet will be given wisdom in taking any opportunities for the gospel as she takes Peggy to visit a critically ill aunt.
For the local area. Colchester Praise God for: Β· arrival and settling in of new pastor (Peter Shirtcliffe) and family
Β·five people attending Christianity Explored Course
Β·growing attendance on Sundays
Β·well-attended womenβs meeting and toddler group.
Please pray for: Β·wisdom and strength needed for dealing with pastoral issues
Β·wisdom concerning evangelism
Β·large number of unconverted people attending
Β·salvation of those on the Christianity Explored Course
Β·growth of childrenβs and teenage work.
For the Wider Area BELARUS β Minsk - Pastor Released from Prison On March 13th, Georgi Vyazovsky of Christ's Covenant Reformed Baptist Church in Belarus was freed from a Minsk prison on completion of a 10-day sentence for conducting religious worship in his own home. After his release, Pastor Vyazovsky said he felt "splendid" and even joked he had lost weight due to the "good diet." Held in cells with five and later 13 other inmates, he said both they and the warders were "amazed" he was there for religious activity. One of the staff remarked the judge must have gone crazy. Pastor Vyazovsky is the first person to have been imprisoned for religious worship in Belarus for 20 years. When 30 members of various Protestant churches gathered at the prison to meet Pastor Vyazovsky, police roughly moved them some 400 metres away, while some 20 special police officers stood by. Pastor Vyazovsky confirmed there has been no further attempt to prosecute church members since his conviction. However, Sergei Tsvor, who is the first vice-chairman of the Pentecostal Union and pastor of the Minsk-based Good News Church, said that police visited the free-standing residential house where his 100-strong congregation met during a service some six weeks ago. When an officer drew up a protocol against him on the grounds he had no right to lead the gathering under the law on public demonstrations, Tsvor said, "I told them that it wasn't a demonstration or a picket, but a worship service." He was summoned to a Court hearing on March 9th, but the judge was busy with another case and told him he would be summoned again. He has heard nothing since. Dozens of people have been arrested for challenging the Presidential election results last Sunday. International observers say harassment and arrests of opposition candidates prevented a fair election. A Belarusian pastor said he's concerned about religious freedom. "All the legal system is already prepared to put pressure on evangelical movement, especially house churches. A church cannot have any open air events. They cannot do evangelism outside the church walls." Russian Ministries' Sergey Rakhuba βdefinitely it will affect church growth, but we're not going to give up."
Thought for the week: βThe statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.β Psalm 19:8
Notice Board General Announcements Cleaning Rota (this week) β Lee & Susanna Door Rota (next Sun) β Peter
Christianity - an introductory course - If you are interested please see Pastor, Paul or Janet.
The church outing has been booked for Saturday 1st July.
Good Friday β please ensure you have ordered lunch
Weekly Bible Readings
Mon 10th Apr Ezekiel 38 Philemon
Tue 11th Apr Ezekiel 39 Hebrews 1
Wed 12th Apr Ezekiel 40 Hebrews 2
Thur 13th Apr Ezekiel 41 Hebrews 3
Fri 14th Apr Ezekiel 42 Hebrews 4
Sat 15th Apr Ezekiel 43 Hebrews 5
Sun 16th Apr Ezekiel 44 Hebrews 6
Contact details The church website can be viewed on: www.free-grace.org.uk
To add contributions please contact Peter or Ralph at: news@free-grace.org.uk
Older
Top
