Time to seek the Lord

January 17th, 2025

Dear church family,

Last week in the weekly update, Katie encouraged us to go into 2025 excited and expectant for God to make paths and ways ahead for us this year...! This week, I was reading Hosea, and this verse really stood out to me. I then noticed that it was the verse for the day on Thursday which I felt possibly meant God wanted to highlight it to me - so I thought I would share it with you all too! It encouraged me that we, as a church family, are in a season of expectancy for what God will do this year (and already we are two weeks in and he is doing so much!), but it also challenged me that each one of us has a part to play too! We are not called to be passengers on God's plans but to be active participants because He loves to work through us and in us wherever we are to reach those around us!

What I noticed in this verse was that we have to be willing to put in the work to break up the unplowed ground (this may look like going to spaces and places we maybe haven't been before and preparing the way for Jesus to impact those communities), to reap the fruit of unfailing love (to love one another and those around us unconditionally, without grumbling or complaining and to truly pray our best prayers for those people we find more difficult!) and it is time to seek the Lord (don't miss spending time with God in prayer, switching on your speaker at home and having a praise party in your kitchen, gathering together on Sundays, in discipleship groups, spending time together in community to be asking God what he is asking of us) UNTIL our God comes and showers righteousness upon us - individually, as a church family and across this nation.

What a joy to be given this assignment here in this town, and to be part of God's big family across the globe. I feel so blessed to be able to have the freedom to spend time with our amazing Father and to seek His face, knowing that when we do, He moves in power and authority and things change!

Let's keep seeking the Lord together (and loving one another deeply) through 2025...

Every blessing and much love, as always,

Izzy xxxxx

SUNDAY GATHERING - 10:30AM Join us this Sunday morning as we continue our Lost & Found series. For those who are unable to attend in person please join us on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZG1AmPc7i-c

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Lost and Found - Youtube and Socials-04 SOCIAL MARK.png

CHURCHES TOGETHER NEXT WEEK | Next week across Ashford we have a Churches Together week of prayer where churches will be coming together to seek God for our town and ahead of the next year. We are hosting a time of prayer UPSTAIRS in The Well on Monday 20th January from 12-1pm and it would be amazing to have lots of people come along and join us! The week will culminate on Sunday 26th with a Prayer and Praise evening at Ashford Baptist Church at 7pm (refreshments from 6:30).
***We have put the details of the other prayer gatherings here so you can see which ones you're able to make***

CAP LIFE SKILLS | Friday 31st January | Afternoon
Our next Life skills course will be beginning on Friday 31st January in The Well! If you or anyone else you know of is free and wants to come along to learn some different things which may help with life generally, please contact us via the office or register you interest via the form on the website https://www.willesboroughbaptist.church/cap and Anne will get back to you! The feedback from those who have done this course previously has been overwhelmingly positive so feel free to get in touch, even just to find out a bit more about it!

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CAP - Ashford Life Skills - Socials NO DATE.png

LEAD PLUS | On Saturday 1st Feb from 9:30am-4pm, Rev. Dr. Tim Welch who was a tutor at Bristol Baptist College and has been a pastor in local churches for many years is coming to join us for a teaching day on preaching and communication. He is also a specialist in Revival history so will be teaching on Revivals in the afternoon which should be fascinating! This is not just for those who are already preaching or thinking about it (we all have something new to learn so if you do already preach at church please do sign up for this!) but also those who have felt at different points a nudge from the Holy Spirit that this might be something God has for them either now or in the future - everyone is invited!

Please sign up for this event using the link below:
https://willesboroughbaptistchurch.churchsuite.com/events/cuvpzfvs

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