Lansdowne Life 12 March 2018

March 2018
Lansdowne
Life
Listening to God
The Big Build Review | Paul Williams | Safe Families for Children and more ...

Are we
Listening?
Last Christmas I was given a really clever
device as a present. After a few attempts
this small round object learned to
recognise my voice. So now, when I sit at
my study desk and say “Good morning
Google”, the little gadget replies “Good
morning Peter, what can I do for you
today?”
No other voice in the house will have the
same effect as mine.
So as I gear up for the day I have a
conversation, admittedly in mono
syllables, in which my electronic friend
will give me the latest news, tell me the
weather and what’s in my calendar for
the next twelve hours. And, if I have
time, she/ he/ it will even take me to my
playlist to enjoy some soothing early
morning music!
In this season of listening to God, which
culminates in a week of prayer as we lead
into Easter, there’s a key question “Am I
able to recognise God’s voice in my life?”
identify my accent, tone and inflections,
after a few minutes of repeated phrases.
Have we developed the same sensitivity
to hear God as a Church?
According to Jesus this should not be a
problem. He said “My sheep know my
voice” (John 10). And yet we know it can
be a problem. For God’s voice has to be
distinguished from all the others we may
hear every day. And some of those can
deceive us into thinking that God is
speaking.
But the more we know the Bible, which is
the primary means by which we hear
God’s voice, the greater our sensitivity to
God’s ways and wisdom.
As we approach Easter together, what a
great opportunity to place before God all
aspects of our lives and say “Speak Lord,
we are listening…”
My clever little friend had learned to
Peter Baker | Senior Minister

During half term the Big Build 'brick by brick'
Holiday Club welcomed over 80 kids onto the
building site that is Woodbury Avenue. Over four
days and the Sunday morning, the little builders
explored what God is like. Through the story of
Noah and the life of Jesus we engaged with big
building blocks about God, as holy creator, loving,
righteous faithful saviour. We learnt some great
new songs - search for 'My God is Powerful',
'Made for this' and 'You Forgive Me' on YouTube.
We also made some great crafts, including
decorating Lego biscuits and making our own
Lego builders and John 3:16 fridge magnets.
The feedback from parents and kids has been
fantastic, with lots joining us on Sunday morning
for the first time ever. The team worked
amazingly together and we're so grateful for all
the time and energy given up to make the week
happen! Praise God for such a successful week!
Tom Davenport | Community Worker

A
S E A S O N
of
P R A Y E R
L i s t e n i n g t o G o d
“Speak, Lord for your servant is listening”
Read 1 Samuel 3:1-21
Listening to God requires discipline.
Samuel struggled several times until he
finally disengaged from human voices.
When he did hear God, the consequences
were life changing.
When we intentionally seek God in this
way, we deliberately ask Him to tell us
what matters most.
But how?
Here are some broad suggestions. They
are not rigid rules but steps I have
personally observed, in a process of
corporately discerning the mind of the
Lord at a critical time of organisational
change.
We must prepare ourselves
We cannot casually saunter into God's
presence or rush hurriedly. We must
disengage from current activities to bow
to the Sovereign Lord. Worshipping Him
will help block out distractions, and tune
our hearts, minds, and wills to His. A
variety of hymns and scriptures will
highlight different aspects of His
character and promises.
We must confess our dependence on Him
We are dependent servants, albeit
unprofitable ones. We are His children,
sometimes wilful in our self
determination. We should confess, and
ask our Heavenly Father to search and
refine us that we might clearly hear Him.
We are privileged to pray but there can be
no presumption. We come to a throne of
grace as penitent not proud seekers.
He says "I live in a high and holy place,
but also with the one who is contrite and
lowly in spirit" Isaiah 57:15.
We must pause, and with thankfulness,
reflect
“Be still and know that I am God"
It takes time to listen well.
Prayerfully, ask yourself questions:
• “is there a need for change, but unsure
over what or how?”
• “what might be displeasing to Him and
needs to be put right?”
• “What motivates us, duty or love?”

• “Are we passionate for God and
outraged that He is robbed of His
glory, and so many are unsaved
and lost in Bournemouth?”
Write down and share in response
We should be ready to share with
our leaders. But first prayerfully:
a) reflect on God's word, His
promises and His purposes.
b) think and pray asking His Spirit
to speak, and be ready for the
unexpected ways and times He
answers.
c) write down what the Lord says
personally and about Lansdowne
Church.
d) review your written thoughts.
Share them with others: in a group
at Prayer Central, write them on a
post it, and give them to the
leadership.
The leaders can gather our
collective feedback, review it, and
share their responses with us. This
way, as a body of people, we may
together begin to hear and
understand what God might be
saying to us.
e) be expectant, ready for
surprises, and be patient, time is
needed.
f) remember, hearing God is the
beginning. We must obey to keep
in step with the Spirit.
Effective prayer springs from the
fertile soil of gratitude. It does not
flourish in the stony desert of duty
and legalistic praying. Grace is
foundational, for at the throne of
grace, life changing transitions
and transactions take place.
David Pickard
| Member

As a church family we are privileged to be able to sit under
such good Bible teaching week by week. From time to time
we also enjoy the benefit of hearing from visiting preachers
and another such opportunity is afforded to us on Sunday 4
March when Paul Williams will be with us.
Paul became Chief Executive of the Bible Society in
September 2016 having previously worked for over a decade
in business in London and then as an academic theologian in
Canada. He is the visionary behind ReFrame, an innovative
resource for whole-life discipleship, produced by Regent College, Vancouver, where he
holds a Research Professorship of Marketplace Theology and Leadership. Paul is
passionate about helping the Church read the Bible in the marketplace and engage
missionally in contemporary culture.
When a crisis strikes a family with
children, its effects can be devastating.
Many of us would turn to relatives and
friends for support but some families can
be really isolated with nobody there to
help them. Stabilising families before
they reach a breaking point is key to
reducing the number of children who
need to go into care. An award-winning
charity, Safe Families for Children has
benefitted over 5000 children since it was
launched in the UK in 2013.
We work hand-in-hand with Children’s
Social Services to link families with
volunteers from local churches who can
offer them help and support. Safe
Families provides Family Friends, Host
Families and Resource Friends to help
Did You Know?/Can You Help?
while parents get back on their feet.
We have recently started working with
Bournemouth Local Authority to help
them reduce the number of children
going into care in this area. By using this
very simple model of befriending, hosting
and resourcing we have seen the flow of
care steadily reducing in the Local
Authorities where we have been
working. Want to find out more about
volunteering?
Contact:
camillahawley@Safefamiliesforchildren.com
or
www.safefamiliesforchildren.com
to sign up!
Camilla Hawley | Safe Families for Children
• Do you want to be baptised? Contact the Church Office for details of baptism classes.
• Gateway to Lansdowne: Want to know more about us as a church? Next cycle of
meetings start 5 March, see website for details.
• Thinking about Membership? Find out more on the 18 April. Book your space online at
www.lansdownechurch.uk/tam or contact the Church Office.

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. Children stay in for first 15 minutes 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 20s and 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.
lansdownechurch.uk/4men
Just 4 Fellowship
Bring a friend and enjoy good fellowship.
lansdownechurch.uk/just4fellowship
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/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.
Hub Café for Internationals
lansdownechurch.uk/international-students
Fridays at 8:00pm at Naked Coffee (4 Christchurch Rd).
Gateway to Lansdowne
lansdownechurch.uk/gateway-to-lansdowne
An informal introductory group for those who are new to Lansdowne.

Key Dates
March 2018
1 March THU Season of Prayer | Prayer Walk at BH1 | 6:30am
1 March THU Thanksgiving Service for Joan Waelti | 2:00pm | WA
4 March SUN AM Paul Williams | The Bible Society
4 March SUN PM Paul Williams | The Bible Society
6 March TUE Season of Prayer | 12:30pm | WA
8 March THU Season of Prayer | 7:30pm | WA
11 March SUN AM Exodus 19: 1-24:18 A Kingdom of Priests Peter Baker
11 March SUN PM John 17: 6-19 The Disciples of Christ Miles Tradewell
13 March TUE Season of Prayer | 12:30pm | WA
13 March TUE Elders’ Meeting 7:00pm
15 March THU Season of Prayer | 7:30pm | WA
18 March SUN AM Exodus 20: 1-21 The Big Ten Miles Tradewell
18 March SUN PM John 17: 20-26 The Mission of Christ Peter Baker
20 March TUE Season of Prayer | 12:30pm | WA
22 March THU Members’ Meeting | 7:30pm | WA
23-25 March Youth Church House party at Ferny Crofts
25 March SUN AM John 12:12-19 The Saviour King Tom Davenport
25 March SUN PM John 13: 1-17 The Servant King Peter Baker
26 March MON Season of Prayer | 12:30pm | WA
27 March TUE Season of Prayer | 7:30pm | WA
28 March WED Season of Prayer | 6:30am | Prayer Walk from WA
29 March THU Season of Prayer | 7:30pm | WA
30 March FRI Good Friday Communion Service 10:30am | WA
Lansdowne Church
Woodbury Avenue
Bournemouth
BH8 0HH
01202 297977
Lansdownechurch.uk
office@lansdownechurch.uk
Registered Charity No 1158579
Lansdowne Church is a name of Lansdowne Baptist Church Bournemouth. CIO. Charity No. 1158579. Principal Office in England.