On the Way 2019

We all met together on Thursday evening to re-focus our minds ready for 2019, and to share together the direction that we feel God is taking us in for this year
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​We briefly reviewed 2018 which was themed  'YEAR OF ACCELERATION' alongside all of our Church of the Nations family churches. For us it certainly was an intense year in many ways. We ran Freedom in Christ and the Grace course which were both very challenging for many of our members.  We also stepped up our level of serving the community with our 'Len Valley Ranch' burger stall at the Lenham Festival, and increased our collaboration with our Anglican friends in the Len Valley Benefice.  We also undertook a 'ring of fire' prayer walk around our area, as well as our usual cell groups and Sunday celebrations.

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Following on from that, at Pathways we have chosen the phrase 'ON THE WAY' to be our theme for 2019, as it captures the sense of moving forward into everything God has called us to do; both old and new things. ​Johnny shared that he has felt God impressing upon him that we should 'do something new' this year, and that God would bless us as we step out into new things. 
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One NEW thing planned is a potential trip to THE HAGUE to visit friends  This looks most likely to be during the October half term (Thursday to Sunday), so keep those dates free just in case!

 See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
Isaiah 43:19

​One of our strengths is that we have a very clear and simple vision statement that God gave us when we launched the church, and that we have stayed within the boundaries of that and managed to achieve it in many ways.  Therefore we have organised our plans and dreams for 2019 around the headings of our vision statement.
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Being a Loving Family

​Cells and Celebrations will continue in the same pattern and format that we started in September.  We also hope to visit some other churches in our Church of the Nations Cluster and organise some preaching swaps!  Of course we will, as usual, also have some social events during the year where we can just chill out and have fun together.
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Jenny shared our exciting NEW teaching theme for 2019 which is the gospel of Mark (from January leading up to Easter), then the book of Acts after Easter leading up to the summer. We will be looking at these book in both the cells and the Sunday celebrations.

​Keeping Christ at the centre

​Estelle shared what God has placed on her heart regarding walking and praying along the ancient pathways of the UK.   With that in mind we will arrange some regular Saturday family walks around the area, where we can socialise, but also pray and proclaim God's word as we do so.
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​Another exciting NEW development for this year is that Dave Cape, who heads up Acts Life Cluster, is planning to walk the Pilgrim's Way on mission during August and September.  We are situated right on the Pilgrim's Way so this is a great opportunity for us.

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Serving our community

We will continue to be involved in the Lenham Family Festival, and Jenny and Gail are both on the committee this year.   We will also help in some way at the Christmas Lights day
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"ALTHOUGH YOU ARE SMALL, YOU ARE MIGHTY!"

Estelle closed by sharing the above phrase that God gave her for us: ​
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We are being encouraged to believe what God says about us, not what it looks like in the natural.  Although it feels like we are doing small things, the impact will be far greater than we imagine, for we serve a Mighty God!