Dear Friends

Over the past 11 years this article has covered many subjects. I’ve often referred to events which will happen in that particular month. I’ve covered major festivals, world events, personal experiences and hopes and expectations but never did I think I would tell you I was going on an aeroplane.

My last flight was in 1990 and I vowed then I would never do it again but here I am 27 years later just a week away from my next one. I’m both mildly excited and very apprehensive about my flight to Dublin which should take a maximum of 1 hour (five minutes and a minimum of 50 minutes. I can hear those of you who take flying in your stride saying “you’ll be no sooner up than you’ll be down” and that maybe true but for me it will be both a huge ordeal and a personal triumph.

There are many people in the bible whose lives have presented them with huge ordeals. Take the story of Stephen determined to stand up for the God he believed in but suffered the fatal consequences of the angry mob.

The disciples who gave up everything to follow Jesus not knowing what the future held but taking the risk, following their heart and being rewarded in full. Zacchaeus the tax collector, Nicodemus who came to Jesus in the night wanting to be born again, the Samaritan woman at the well…..the list is endless. All of these characters and many more went through a huge ordeal, experienced personal triumphs and were richly rewarded by a God they discovered, believed in and trusted.

And then there was Jesus whose faith held him strong through the ordeal of Gethsemane, the horror of Golgotha and death on the cross. No one hasfaced a greater ordeal and triumphed through it to be raised from death and is with us still through the power of the Holy Spirit.

There are also Christians today who face huge ordeals every day and triumph through them. Being a Christian in Britain is a very comfortable experience but for many Christians practising their faith in other parts of the world offers both a huge ordeal and a personal triumph. We should remember and pray for all Christians who practice their faith in dangerous and hostile places across the world and are persecuted for what they believe.

For all of the above and many, many more it is true to say their faith has held them strong in the face of fear or persecution. God continues to be with us through all the difficult times in our lives when all kinds of ordeals come to try us. With his help, support guidance and encouragement may all the ordeals we face be turned into personal triumphs.

With love and prayers,

Trevor

Pulpit

November 5thTrevor Hippey

November 12thTrevor KershawRemembrance Day & Communion Service

November 19thRev David Muschamp

November 26thTrevor Hippey

Flowers

We are very grateful to the following friends who have kindly promised to provide flowers for the month of November.

November 5thMrs Brown

November 12thMrs Lowther

November 19thMrs Hastings

November 26thMrs Fletcher

Mrs Hippey will be responsible for arranging and distributing the flowers throughout this month.

Collections

October 1st£129.89

October 8th£100.40

October 15th£ 93.68

October 22nd£ 76.46

Ladies Circle

The Ladies Circle enjoyed a lovely meal at the Hare & Hounds on the 18th October. The next meeting will be held on Wednesday November 1st at 7:30pm when the speaker will be David Sibbald on records banned by the BBC.

Remembrance Day

The Remembrance Day service will be held at the Cenotaph in Lady Hill Park at 3pm.

There will then be an evening service at our church at 6pm with the Shipley Vocal Union Male Voice Choir.

Christmas Coffee Shop

Our Christmas Coffee Shop will be held on Saturday November 25th from 10am to 12noon. Entry is £1 to include tea/coffee and mince pies. We will also be holding the Bake off again. Entry forms are available on request. Stalls will include Cake, Bring & Buy, Raffle and others.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Date For Your Diary

Deadline for pieces for the December/January NewsletterNovember 30th

Carol ServiceDecember 17th at 10:30am

Christingle ServiceDecember 17th at 4:30pm

Christmas Day ServiceDecember 25th at 10:30am

Every SundayFamily Service 10.30am

Website:allertoncongregationalchurch.org.uk

facebook.com/allertoncongregationalchurch