Lansdowne. Life. Special Christmas/New Year Edition

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1 Lansdowne Life Dec/Jan 2019 Special Christmas/New Year Edition

I wish it could be Christmas every... No prizes for filling in the missing word from the pop quiz above! You are bound to have heard the jingle in the shops or over the airwaves in the last few weeks.

2 I wish it could be Christmas every... No prizes for filling in the missing word from the pop quiz above! You are bound to have heard the jingle in the shops or over the airwaves in the last few weeks. Yes, Christmas is everywhere. It is inescapable, inevitable, immoveable. Although the actual date for celebrating Christmas has long been a matter of debate. No matter. The festival is nearly upon us. And those who struggle with their inner Grinch will be matched by those who believe this is the most wonderful time of the year (another song reference!) Yet even the most ardent lovers of the Yuletide spirit will surely struggle to sign up to the lyric of Roy Wood and Wizard and wish that it could be everyday! Everyday! But we who celebrate the season from a Christian perspective have many reasons to find in it good news of great joy. Firstly because a Saviour has been born. Our world needs rescuing. Rescuing from its greed and misdirected desires; from its fascination with tinsel and glitter. And in Jesus we have a Saviour. That s what his name means and that s what he came to do. Jesus has come to save his people from their sins. We live in a world where, as in Narnia under the white witch, it is always winter but never Christmas. But Aslan changes that story. He comes to rescue. Take a look at the Lansdowne Christmas Programme, think about who you could bring with you to an event or carol service. There s plenty of choice! We have good news of great joy to share. So share it. Peter Baker Senior Minister

explore We decorate our houses and put trees inside, but why? We spend hundreds of pounds on stuff we don't need for people we don't speak to the rest of the year, but why?

Go back over 2000 years and travel over 3000 miles to a small town in modern day Palestine, where one cold night a child was born who put the 'Christ' in Christmas.

To many this story is now thought of as a nice story or a legend, but the truth is that it reveals the true meaning of Christmas and an offer of much, much more.

3 explore We decorate our houses and put trees inside, but why? We spend hundreds of pounds on stuff we don't need for people we don't speak to the rest of the year, but why? We party with friends and eat with family, but why? We make such a big deal of Christmas, but why? Go back over 2000 years and travel over 3000 miles to a small town in modern day Palestine, where one cold night a child was born who put the 'Christ' in Christmas. Years before 'The Messiah', God s chosen one, also known as 'Christ', had been promised to make God known on earth. That famous night, everything God had promised came true. To many this story is now thought of as a nice story or a legend, but the truth is that it reveals the true meaning of Christmas and an offer of much, much more. Jesus, born in an innocent stable in Bethlehem, went on to die a criminals death and then bring himself back to life. Much more than myth or legend, the truth of Christmas offers us hope, freedom and joy as we find forgiveness and new life in Jesus. life faith meaning If joining us for Christmas has got you thinking, why not join us for our next Alpha course starting on Monday 21st January at 7.30pm. The Alpha course is the perfect informal environment to discover more about who Jesus is, the claims of Christianity and how we can find new life in him. Tom Davenport Community Worker Starts 21 January

Mission Sunday PETER ROWAN is the UK National Director for OMF International, a role he shares with his wife, Christine. Following initial theological studies, he served as an evangelist in N.

For the past twenty years he s been with OMF International, first of all teaching missiology for a decade in Malaysia and since 2010, based at OMF s UK National Office.

4 Mission Sunday PETER ROWAN is the UK National Director for OMF International, a role he shares with his wife, Christine. Following initial theological studies, he served as an evangelist in N. Ireland and then worked with an NGO in Central Asia. For the past twenty years he s been with OMF International, first of all teaching missiology for a decade in Malaysia and since 2010, based at OMF s UK National Office. He is the author of Proclaiming the Peacemaker: The Malaysian Church as an Agent for Reconciliation in a Multicultural Society (Oxford: Regnum). Peter and Christine have four children two daughters who live and work in London, and two sons who live at home and attend local schools. Peter will be our Guest Preacher on Sunday 27 January Linda Fox Mission Council Connect Groups Connecting you with Lansdowne Church Newcomers continue to visit Lansdowne. At our last Newcomers Evening in October, over 30 newcomers packed into Peter and Sian s home to hear more about our Church. During recent years, we invited newcomers to Gateway to Lansdowne. Over the Summer, we decided to change the Gateway format by reducing the number of sessions and welcoming newcomers with a meal in a home (rather than a meeting at Church). We have called these new groups, Connect Groups, as their purpose is to connect newcomers and others to Lansdowne Church. Connect Groups have been well received with 18 newcomers attending three Connect groups over the last two months. Each cycle has three evening sessions and, during our time together, we cover our Church values, ministries and mission and then assist newcomers to join a Small Group. Connect Groups will run after any Newcomers Evenings and whenever the need arises. The next Newcomers Evening is planned for 5th December. Steven OBrien Elder

5 Within a few weeks the shops will be full of Christmas goodies, from wrapping paper to sprouts, you cannot avoid it. But why - why is Christmas such a big deal? As Christians we know the answer to this, but to many who have no faith and have no background in church, they don't know who Jesus is, let alone when he was supposed to have been born! So this Christmas we'll be asking the question together, Why Christmas? Here are some dates for you diaries to help you plan your festive season *: Students and Internationals Carol Service - Sunday 9 December at Lansdowne Church Central (Holdenhurst Rd, Bournemouth, BH8 8AW) Carols by Candlelight Services - Sunday 16 December at 5:30pm & 7:30pm All Age Christmas Celebrations - Sunday 23 December at 9:15am & 11:15am Christmas Day Reflective Service - 25 December at 9:00am Christmas Day Celebration - 25 December at 10:30am Carols Service Dates for Care Homes below - Do join us Park Manor Sunday 2 December, 3.00pm Avon View (Christchurch) Sunday 9 December, 3.00pm Knyveton Hall Sunday 9 December 3.00pm Avon Cliff Wednesday 12 December, 3.00pm Windsor Court Sunday 16 December 3.30pm Queensmount Sunday 16 December 2.30pm Queensmead (Christchurch) Sunday 16 December 3.30pm Highcliffe Plus Day Centre Wednesday 19 December Evergreens Sunday 23 December 3.00pm Canford Chase Sunday 23 December, 3.30pm *Events and services listed are at Lansdowne Church Woodbury Avenue unless listed otherwise.

New Year, New Motto, New Vision Do you remember this year s church motto? Where have you kept it? Fridge door, bathroom, coffee table? Well in 2019, the motto is a classic.

Jeremiah Chapter 29, the book which will be our main preaching series on Sunday mornings.

6 New Year, New Motto, New Vision Do you remember this year s church motto? Where have you kept it? Fridge door, bathroom, coffee table? Well in 2019, the motto is a classic. For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah Chapter 29, the book which will be our main preaching series on Sunday mornings. It s a quote from Jeremiah s letter to the exiles in Babylonian captivity, written to a faith community struggling to come to terms with difficult circumstances. Our motto text then is not an easy peace -pill which, when swallowed, makes everything in life painless! It s not the absence of trouble it promises, but the presence of God. A God who is sovereign, in control and with good plans for us. It s said that the way to make God smile is to tell him your plans! The point of our motto for 2019, is that God s plans are the ones that matter not ours. And God has big plans for a big future. That s precisely the motto we all need, all the time. But perhaps especially this year when we are still in exile as a church, a Lansdowne without walls. By the way, look out not just for a new church motto in the new year but a new vision. To glorify God and proclaim Christ in the power of His Spirit through the truth of His Word. I know, it s hardly new! So pray that in 2019, as we place all of our plans into the hands of the God with good plans, that we will experience that vision statement as if we were hearing it and living it for the first time. Peter Baker Senior Minister

7 Something for Everyone (check website for latest information) Crèche (for pre-school children) Sunday mornings at WA. Children stay in for first 15 minutes of service. Jelly Tots (pre-school children) lansdownechurch.uk/jelly-tots Woodbury Avenue at 9:30am on Wednesdays (term-time) St Augustin s at 10:00am on Thursdays (term-time) Young Church (school years R-5) Sunday mornings at WA at 9.15am & 11.15am. Children stay in for first 15 mins of service. Hi5 (school years 2-5) Fridays at 6:30pm lansdownechurch.uk/hi5 Youth Church (for school years 6-10 term-time) Sunday mornings at WA at 9.15am & 11.15am. Children stay in for first 15 mins of service. Lansdowne Youth (for school years 6-10) Fridays at 7:30pm term-time lansdownechurch.uk/lansdowne-youth CYFA (school years 11-13) Wednesdays at 7:30pm term-time. lansdownechurch.uk/cyfa Life for Students and 18-30s facebook.com/groups/lansdownechurchstudents Mondays at 7:00pm at Starbucks Coffee (69 Holdenhurst Road). Women of Lansdowne lansdownechurch.uk/women-lbc All meetings start at 10:00am with tea/coffee and brunch. Men of Lansdowne All meetings start at 8:00am with tea/coffee and breakfast. Alpha Course (check website for dates) Thursdays at 10:00am at Woodbury Avenue. All welcome. Mondays at 7:30pm at Woodbury Avenue. All welcome. lansdownechurch.uk/4men lansdownechurch.uk/alpha Castle Coffee Thursdays between 10:00am-12:00pm at Woodbury Avenue. Join us for a coffee and a chat. Everyone welcome. In Touch lansdownechurch.uk/in-touch Providing practical and spiritual help to the homeless. Every Tuesday and Friday at 11:45am at St Augustin s Church, Bournemouth. International Cafe lansdownechurch.uk/international-students Fridays at 8:00pm at Naked Coffee (4 Christchurch Rd). Connect Groups An informal introductory group for newcomers or those who don t yet feel connected to Lansdowne Church.

8 Key Dates December 2018/January December SAT Women of Lansdowne 10:00am WA 2 December SUN AM Luke 1: 1-25 Peter Baker 2 December SUN PM Colossians 4: Pray, Speak and Live Peter Baker 3 December MON Christmas Tea 2:30pm WA 6 December THU Prayer Central 7:30pm WA 8 December SAT Men of Lansdowne 8:00am WA 9 December SUN AM Luke 1:26-56 Mike Smailes Communion 9 December SUN PM Michael Ots W/C 10 December Small Groups meet together 11 December TUE Elders Meeting 7:00pm 16 December SUN AM Miles Tradewell 16 December SUN 5:30pm/7:30pm Carols Luke 2:14 Peace on Earth Peter Baker 23 December SUN AM Luke 1: Tom Davenport - NO PM SERVICE 25 December TUE 9:00am Reflective Service 10:30am Family Celebration Service 30 December SUN AM Luke 2:21-40 Waiting for God PM Service (to be decided) 3 January THU Prayer Central 7:30pm WA 5 January SAT Jelly Tots Meal 5:30pm WA 6 January SUN AM Jeremiah 1:1-19 What Do You See? 6 January SUN PM 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 Celebrating Faith and Conversion 8 January TUE Elders Meeting 12 January SAT Life Day 10:00am WA 13 January SUN AM Jeremiah 2:1-3:5 Turn! Turn! Turn! Communion 13 January SUN PM 1 Thessalonians 2:1-1 Guard the gospel, nurture the people 17 January THU Mission Prayer Central 7:30pm WA 20 January SUN AM Jeremiah 7:1-8:3 Hear the Word of the Lord 20 January SUN PM Making Sense Of series 27 January SUN AM Mission Sunday: Guest Preacher Peter Rowan (OMF) 27 January SUN PM Mission Sunday: Guest Preacher Peter Rowan (OMF) Communion Lansdowne Church Woodbury Avenue Bournemouth BH8 0HH lansdownechurch.uk office@lansdownechurch.uk Registered Charity No Lansdowne Church is a name of Lansdowne Baptist Church Bournemouth. CIO. Charity No

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