A heart for service in Blackheath

Buzz groups during the first session

To St Nicholas, Sevenoaks to lead a Church Awayday for St John's, Blackheath, on the theme ' A Heart for Service.'

Some years ago I led a parish weekend for this wonderful church in Blackheath and it was great to back with them today.

In addition to activities for the children and young people, a sumptuous lunch, and a post lunch stroll in nearby Knole Park we had three teaching spots interspersed with buzz groups and discussion groups for the 150 people who had booked in for the day.

Group Discussion

First up, after opening worship, we looked at theWonder of the Church from 1 Peter 2 (a chosen people, a royal priesthood and holy nation), and the Church's treasure from 2 Corinthians 4.6-7 (the light of the glory of God in the face of Christ).

After coffee, we considered How to be an Ambitious Christian, looking at Colossians 3.17 and Philippians 3.7-14, rounding off the morning by looking at Romans 12 and the Apostle Paul's exhortation, in the light of God's mercy, to offer ourselves as a living sacrifice.

After lunch and recreational activities in Knole Park, we rounded off the day with All Age Worship, including contributions by the children and the youth, and a look at the Parable of the Pearl of Great Price in Matthew 13.45-46.

Just before that we had a question and answer time from the team that are planning a move to two morning services at Blackheath to cope with the happy problem of a church building full to capacity, and I was able to share some of our experience from Holy Trinity, Redhill which had travelled down a similar road for the same reason.

It was great to see St John's in such good heart and a great privilege to share the day with them.

St Nicholas, Sevenoaks