‘Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labour is not in vain’ 1 Corinthians 15:58

We have started preaching through Ecclesiastes during the autumn and against a backdrop of ‘vanity’ it has been wonderful to be reminded that the work of the Lord, who rose from the dead never to die again, is not in vain.

Looking back

• We finished preaching through Ephesians in the early summer - it had been our book of the year. Many were struck by God’s plan to unite all things under the rule of Christ and the implications for church and individually.
• We have seen a lot of new people joining us over the summer - more than for a while. That’s potentially more labourers for the harvest field but it also potentially dilutes our core and adds to the fringe. Please pray they’d get stuck into Growth Groups quickly and be keen to join our next ‘Joining In’ newcomers’ course in January.
• Jake Tasker has joined the staff team as a part time ministry trainee while attending the Cornhill Training Course. He and Lizzie have been part of GCD for five years. Pray for him as he helps us in our evangelism and disciples some of the younger men, as well as continuing to help with the youth group.
• Thanks for the large number of young people who went on summer camps together with church family leading and helping to cook. In particular for those who professed faith in Jesus or have resolved to live for him.
• Our Bishop’s Mission Order was signed off in June so we are now formally a Church of England church.

For prayer

• As we look at Ecclesiastes this term on Sundays and the second half of Luke’s Gospel in Growth Groups we long for God to be at work in power by his Spirit week in week out building his church.
• For a three-week evangelism training course in November - to raise gospel convictions, confidence and urgency.
• For Andy Meadows training and equipping our many Sunday Club and JAM leaders - so that God’s word is faithfully taught week by week.
• Our mums and toddlers’ group ‘Scallywags’ continues to be an encouragement - please continue to pray for a growing vision for the work amongst church mums.
• A women’s pre-Christmas wreath making event on Thursday 28 November with Sarah Piper speaking.
• Our Christmas carol services - a Christingle on 8 December, carols by candlelight on 15 December, carol service with nativity on 22 December and Christmas Day all-age service.
• Please pray for us as a staff team - Andy Meadows youth and children’s worker, Fiona Neden part time women’s worker, Jake Tasker (as above) and Vicky Widdows part time administrator - that we’d be good at speaking gospel truths to each other, committed to both proclamation and prayer.

Family

We are grateful for Christian camps over the summer for our children. Please continue to pray for them to seek first his kingdom and for distinctive living at university and school. Rachel’s mother moved to sheltered housing in Manchester over the summer where she is just 20 minutes from Rachel’s sister, which should make it easier for the family to provide for her long-term care needs.