Fellowship Meal

Aug 2, 2026

After the service on the 1st Sunday of each month we share in a fellowship meal, sampling the cuisine of another country and pausing to pray for that country. This month it was the turn of France!

Many of us learned French at school and have visited France, which is a popular tourist destination. We learned about its nickname (the Hexagon, because of its shape) and its diverse history. This month we can pray for the church in France to grow and flourish, for wisdom for leaders in different political parties and for protection in the areas currently beset by wildfires.

We enjoyed boeuf bourgignon and coq au vin as well as tarte aux pommes and mousse au chocolat!

Kingdom Keys

Aug 2, 2026

Today Yan Hadley spoke on ‘Kingdom Keys That Unlock God’s Blessing.’ Jesus frequently spoke about the kingdom of God which is both here now (and relevant today) and has a future aspect to it. In Matt 16:19 Jesus spoke about the keys to the kingdom. Keys unlock, and the first key unlocks the door to an assurance of God’s miraculous power. (Eph 3:20). We may well feel we are living in a wilderness, but this wilderness can change when God intervenes. (Is 35:1-2) God is our refuge and strength; His revelation brings us the reassurance we need.
We need keys to unlock fearless obedience in us so that we can be wholly dedicated to God’s purposes. Josh 3:5 reminds us of the need for consecration. the need for personal holiness. 2 Chron 7:14 speaks of the need for us to repent, to turn from our wicked ways and turn back to God.
This recommitment causes us to cry out to God to search us and know us. Holiness is like a stick of rock – we need to be holy all the way through! We may well make many mistakes, but the biggest mistake we make is to ignore God’s holiness and to fail to seek holiness in our own lives.
When we have the keys to God’s kingdom, we have the keys to God’s joy. Joy is centred in Christ (John 15:11). He has promised us this joy, but we need to allow Him to reign in us so that His joy may be complete in us

York Maze

Aug 2, 2026

This week has seen the Parent & Toddler group go on their Summer Outing to York Maze, thanks to the generosity of the Snap Tin Community Hub and the fund-raising efforts of the group. 17 families were able to attend, with 53 people going on the coach to this fantastic family venue.

Here’s the group photo of us at the entrance.

There were bouncing pillows, sand areas, a Volcorno and many other areas and rides to explore. We took part in a Cornula 1 race, saw Cob-Zilla, met Colonel Kernel and Sweetie and Maizey the cow, and safe to say, the dinosaurs and crows were both popular. My personal favourite (with its nod to ‘Cool Runnings’, one of my favourite films) was the Cobsleigh.

It’s such a privilege to be able to take local families to places like this and it was wonderful to see everyone enjoying themselves so much.

Summer Fun

Aug 2, 2026

The first ‘Churches Together’ Summer Fun day was held at Goldthorpe Railway Embankment and the Salvation Army on Wednesday 22 July and was attended by 143 people. The theme was ‘Wise Words’, and we looked at many verses in the Bible that encourage us to be thoughtful, considerate and kind in how we speak. Activities included a ‘Wise Words Trail’, crafts such as decorating biscuits and designing posters as well as decorating wood slices to form kind words. Our thanks to Nikki from JJ’s Chippy for providing lunch for us and for Lesley from Gone Wild Forest School, who worked with us on this occasion.

Rooted In Christ

Aug 2, 2026

we looked at Colossians 2:6-7 and Ephesians 3:17-19 to explore our identity as the people of God, and concluded that we need to be rooted and built up in Christ if we are to become spiritually mature. Trees are frequently used as a metaphor for growth in the Bible (see Jer 17:7-8, Psalm 1), and we know that the root system for trees to grow well requires both good soil (to enable nutrients to be absorbed by the tree) and water.
In spiritual terms, we need to remember that we live by faith and not by sight (see 2 Cor 5:7, Gal 3). The Parable of the Sower reminds us that good soil matters if we are not to be affected by thorns and rocky ground. We have God’s help in times of trouble (Ps 46) and can therefore continue to grow even when external circumstances are not the best.
If we are to be rooted in God and built up in Him, we must learn to listen for God’s voice, to the voice of the good Shepherd. (John 10:4-5) This will require time spent with God, because we only learn to recognise voices as we know people personally and intimately. The prophetic word of God and gifts of the Spirit are essential to our growth, but we must also learn to remember what God has done and to record this to avoid forgetfulness (see Ps 77:11).
Ephesians 3:17-19 reminds us also of the fundamental (and ongoing) need for love if we are to be rooted in God. 1 Cor 13:4-8 gives us the definitive description of love, which must grow and mature in us as we receive God’s love.
Psalm 1 contrasts the wicked and the blessed, those who live according to the wisdom of the world and those who live God’s way. We are called to delight in God’s word and let it dwell in us richly (Col 3:16) so that we can grow thereby. God’s love, faithfulness, mercy and grace shape our lives and sustain us. Then we can continue to live in Him, walking by faith, allowing His Spirit to grow much fruit in us so we can thrive in all seasons and in all weathers. God’s people are called to thrive and not merely to survive; they are called to dig deep so they can reach out and be fruitful for God. Then, in the words of Casting Crowns, the result is ‘Joy Unspeakable, Faith Unsinkable, Love Unstoppable, Anything is possible.’ (‘Thrive’, Casting Crowns) That’s quite a destiny for us all!

Manvers Lake event

Jul 13, 2026

It was a privilege to be at Manvers Lake on Sunday 12 July alongside 19 other churches and witness the baptism of 80 people. God’s goodness and graciousness are beyond our understanding! 8 people came to faith yesterday – what rejoicing there is in heaven and on earth too!

Here are some photos from yesterday’s event.