GOOD FRIDAY

On Good Friday we commemorate the death of Jesus Christ who was crucified on behalf of humanity. Why us it ‘good’? The horrors of crucifixion cannot be called ‘good’. The murder of an innocent man by jealous religious leaders conspiring against Him can’t be called ‘good’. The rejection of One who healed the sick and blessed the poor can’t be described as ‘good’. The mourning of His family and friends can’t be called ‘good’.

Yet it is ‘Good Friday’. It is a memorial of the day when one sinless man – the Son of God, Jesus Christ – was put to death on behalf of the remainder of mankind who had no eternal hope because every one had sinned and missed the mark of God’s glory. God Himself, both just and loving, became a man and received the penalty of sin in Himself as He was crucified on the cross. Now, anyone – however far they have fallen in life – can call on Him because He has paid for their failures Himself, and receive forgiveness and eternal life. That is GOOD! This is the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ. He has loved us to the very end! Why not step into it for yourself this Easter?

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Our Good Friday Service is at 10:00am,

in the Firehouse Chapel, Newton Avenue, Coney Hill, Gloucester, GL4 4NS

EASTER SERVICES

Meetings in Golden Valley Church this Easter are as follows:

SUMMER CHANGES

As we have now arrived at the holiday period, there will be changes to our Sunday services over the next couple of weeks.

Due to the number of people away at one time, next Sunday 31st July the meeting will take place in the small room at Innsworth Community Hall, and there will be no separate ‘Gladiators’ session for the children.

The following Sunday, 7th August, will be a day out at The Forest of Dean, so there will be no meeting at all at Innsworth.

We wish everyone a blessed and happy holiday season.

BILL O’LEARY PREACHING AT GOLDEN VALLEY

We are very pleased to be welcoming Rev. Bill O’Leary, pastor of Tewkesbury Baptist Church, to preach this coming Sunday.

He has been a good friend and colleague of the leaders of Golden Valley Church for many years, and it is exciting that he will be sharing with us again.

Come along and hear for yourself! Worship will be awesome, and the Presence of God very real.

The service is at 10:30am, at Innsworth Community Hall. Coffee will be served throughout.

Bill’s full bio can be found on the Tewkesbury Baptist Church website.

There will also be a ‘soaking prayer’ session in the afternoon from 2:30 until 3:30.

THE OTHER SIDE

What a fantastic Sunday morning it was in God’s Presence yesterday!! Wow and ‘many wows’ again!! How privileged are we in Golden Valley Church that God in His love and kindness continues to show up at the meetings and connect with us in His awesome holiness.

After giving thanks, as it was Remembrance Sunday, for all those who gave their lives in war so that we could have freedom, and taking time to pray for the personnel and families at our own local NATO unit, wishing to give honour, we began in worship, thanking Jesus for His death that brought us life and freedom, and there was an immediate way open into the Father’s awesome Presence.

It was the kind of morning where we could have stayed there forever, as He continually invited us to come in deeper, as we are!

One was aware of God being there, seeing us, and speaking. We were aware of angels joining us in our worship. How holy it was. How tangibly we were in His Throne Room!!

The speaker later in the meeting was Mick Taylor, regional ‘Catch the Fire’ representative. Mick spoke on ‘Crossing Over to the Other Side’, basing his talk on Mark ch. 5 where Jesus crossed over to the Gadarenes -  a land forgotten and dark. And yet He had an appointment there with a man who was deranged, chained, and rejected, but who despite the demonic in his life, ran to worship Jesus and call for His help. Jesus met him where he was, and healed him, and set him free.

Maybe at this time God is calling us to ‘cross over’ into areas of life that are unfamiliar and even ‘threatening’ to us, and yet where He has divine appointments lined up. What will we do? Stay in the familiar and comfortable (boring), or go on an exciting adventure with Him into new things, and carry His awesome love and presence with us to others who are in need?!!

 

ARE YOU GOING BACK TO CHURCH?

Sunday September 26th in the UK is National Back To Church Sunday.

Why do people stop going to church? Why do they never start attending? And when they do attend, do they really become a part of a real fellowship of God’s people?

In the USA, yesterday was ‘Back to Church Sunday’. Reasons why people stop attending there are probably not all the same as in the UK, but here are a few statements people make.

“Church is boring / irrelevant to my life”
“I felt isolated and alone, even in church”
“My children were not adequately catered for”
“I didn’t fit in: there was no-one else like me there”
“Christians are selfish people”
“They were always asking for money”
“The services were weird”
“We should get out of church and go and help where it really counts”
“Church is only for the elderly and the weak”

How many of these statements have some validity? As Christians are we still relevant and are we welcoming and friendly? What would you say to the above?

We will be putting out some leaflets in the community for Sunday 26th September. Can you pray? Can you help be a welcomer? Will you be real? Would you like to come back to church yourself?

You are welcome in Golden Valley Church.

MORE LORD

It’s great to have Steve Long here again in Golden Valley Church, and we are looking forward to the celebration meeting at Cheltenham Regency hotel this evening. (Sandra won’t be with us as she has travelled on separately).

Steve has been on a ministry tour for the past couple of weeks, first in Scotland with the Elim churches there, then last week in Norway with the ‘Catch the Fire’ church plant in Oslo, and this week visiting Partners in Harvest churches in England.

Steve comes with many great stories from the meetings so far and some exciting testimonies of healings.
If you are coming along, we suggest you get there early to make sure you get a seat, and come expecting to encounter God’s love and Presence in your own life.

We say ‘More Lord! Keep coming Holy Spirit!’

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Steve’s Blog – http://blogs.catchthefire.com/stevelong/

MARRIAGE VOW RENEWAL

What a privilege it was to share with Paul and Helen and their family and friends as they renewed their marriage vows together after 34 years.

The service took place in Wheatpieces Community Centre, Tewkesbury on Saturday afternoon. The atmosphere was one of awe and joy and appreciation to God. The service was led jointly by Wes & Sharron Boxall, and worship led by Rebecca and Colin Boucker. Paul and Helen testified in their vows to God’s goodness to them as a couple and made promises for the future. A short address was given by Colin Sinclair, former pastor of Prior’s Park Chapel in Tewkesbury; who had also conducted the couple’s original wedding. Church leaders, family members, and friends gathered around the couple to pray for God’s blessing on their future together, and to express the honour that was in God’s heart for them.

Many of the couple’s original wedding guests were also present for the renewal service as well as family and new friends. The service was followed by photographs within the grounds of the Centre, and a fabulous buffet meal, with a chance to catch up with people. It was indeed a wonderful occasion, and underscored afresh the Godly importance of marriage and family.

CHANGE OF PREMISES

After almost sixteen years of meeting in Parton Manor Junior School, Churchdown, Golden Valley Church has now moved on to new premises for Sunday services.

We are most grateful to the staff and governors at Parton Manor for allowing us to use the premises so flexibly and for such a long period of time. We especially appreciate the previous Headteacher, Mrs. J. Thorogood, who in 1994 welcomed the church into the school for its weekend services, and assisted us in developing a positive partnership together at that time.

Truly so much has happened in this venue, with lives being changed by God’s love and presence, and worship and prayer being released of dynamic proportions. We thank God.

Now it’s a season for some changes to be made, and the final service in Parton Manor was held on December 20th. It was a wonderful mix of Christmas celebration with carols, puppets, drama and dance, as well as several testimonies of individuals’ experiences with God in Golden Valley Church.

Sunday meetings have now shifted for the present time to Innsworth Community Hall, Rookery Road, Innsworth, Gloucester at 10:30am.

We anticipate new things in God’s love and purposes.