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ASSEMBLY OF GOD KING’S CHRISTIAN CENTRE

CHURCH NEWSLETTER

June 2016

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Editorial by Malcolm The Simplified Life “One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell

in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the

LORD, and to enquire in his temple.” Psalm 27:4

In a book wr itten by Francis Chan called, “Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a

Relentless God” he wrote, “We are a culture that relies on technology over

community, a society in which spoken and written words are cheap, easy to

come by, and excessive. Our culture says anything goes; fear of God is almost

unheard of. We are slow to listen, quick to speak, and quick to become angry.”

Modern life is anything but simple, in fact it is the complete opposite. Yet as

one reads the Bible we come across “one thing” statements which indicate that

individuals had arrived at a place where they had decided that doing “one

thing” was of paramount importance in their lives.

The Lord Jesus replied to a troubled Martha, “Martha, Martha, thou art careful

and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath

chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:41-42.

The man who had been born blind testified to those who questioned him,

“Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I

was blind, now I see.” John 9:25. The apostle Paul also shared the one thing in

his life, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I

do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those

things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling

of God in Christ Jesus.” Phil 3: 13-14

Let us consider the “one thing” that David writes about in Psalm 27:4.

1. LIVING with the Lord. “….that I may dwell in the house of the LORD”

King David with all the responsibilities he carried as a king prioritised his

relationship with the Lord as being of greater importance. The Hebrew word

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used for ‘dwell’ is ‘yasab’ meaning, to ‘sit down, to remain, to marry or settle.’

As people we live with many different things in our lives. We live with family,

we live with our responsibilities, our thoughts. We can live with pain, sometimes

constantly. We can live with regrets, with anger and with depressive thoughts.

David had maybe read Psalm 91 and had decided that he too was also going to

make “the Most High (his) habitation” Ps 91:9. The Hebrew word for ‘High’ is

‘elyown’ and it means ‘the Supreme, most high, highest, uppermost’. When we

decide to live with the Most High in our lives, He promises us three things:

a) Protection. “There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come

nigh thy dwelling.” Ps. 91:10

b) Angelic Care. “For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in

all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot

against a stone.” Ps.91:11-12

c) Victory. “Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the

dragon shalt thou trample under feet.” Ps. 91:13

2. LOVING the Lord. “…..to behold the beauty of the LORD,”

In the Amplified translation of that verse it says, “to behold and gaze upon the

beauty (the sweet attractiveness and the delightful loveliness) of the Lord”.

David realised that the Lord was waiting for him to communicate with Him and

that he had instant, direct access to the Lord. Because the Lord loves mankind so

much, and in a very special way His children, the Lord has made Himself

available to His children at all times. David paints a picture with words which

sees him ‘beholding’ or gazing upon, in meditative wonder, the beauty of the

Lord. Joseph Hall, a 16th century English bishop observed, ‘It is not hasty

reading, but seriously meditating upon holy and heavenly truths that makes them

prove sweet and profitable to the soul. It is not the bees touching on the flowers

that gathers the honey, but her abiding for a time upon them, and drawing out the

sweet. It is not he that reads most, but he that meditates most on divine truth, that

will prove the choicest, wisest, strongest Christian.’

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3. LEARNING about the Lord. “...and to enquire in his temple.”

Mankind possesses an insatiable appetite for knowledge and understanding.

Daniel prophesied, “that in the last days that many shall run to and fro, and

knowledge shall be increased.” Daniel 12:4. Prophetically Daniel saw into the

modern age of world travel and technological advancement. David was coming

into the Lord’s presence to “inquire”, or admire, consider, search or seek out for

the Lord. In other words, David was wanting to know the Lord in a deeper way,

to understand and know His thoughts, which he recognised were so much

higher than man’s thoughts.

Learning about the Lord is a lifetime pursuit. After approximately twenty eight

years of becoming a Christian and of having had the most amazing conversion

and given a great apostolic ministry, having been caught up into the third

heaven and seen and heard things which he wasn’t allowed to speak about, Paul

writes “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the

fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any

means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.” Philippians 3:10-11

If that was the heart felt prayer and cry of the great apostle Paul, whose spiritual

experience is the envy of every Christian, how much more must we also pray,

“ Lord, that I might know you more !!”

May the Lord help each one of us to de-clutter our lives and seek for,

The Simplified Life of, LIVING, LOVING and LEARNING about the

Lord more and more.

EU Referendum Vote on Thursday 23rd June II Chronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves,

and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven,

and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Let us pray that the Lord’s, Perfect Will for the United Kingdom be reflected

in the voting result.

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Spiritual growth and maturity is an essential characteristic of a true

Christian, yet infant behaviour seems rampant in so many churches.

It was A. W. Tozer who said that the visible Church of Christ includes at least

four classes of people:

First, average people who come to church regular ly but are never conver ted.

They enjoy church, their friends are there, but they have never passed from death

to life.

Second, those who have tr ained to be Chr istians, but are not. They have

learned the language, give the impression they are a Christian and others think of

them as such.

Third, there are those who are true Chr istians, but carnal and are still as

they were when first saved.

It's Time to Grow Up! By: Alan Hewitt

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Finally, there are true Chr istians but “unfortunately these seem to be the

minority in most churches.”

Tozer’s comments make sad reading, but his challenge cannot be ignored. A

similar picture is found in the New Testament where Paul refers to the

Corinthians as “mere infants” and “spiritual babes”.

The writer to the Hebrews speaks of believers being “slow to learn.” There is a

huge difference between being childlike and childish: one blesses a church, the

other drains a church. One is spiritual, the other is carnal.

There is something very tragic about an adult being childish. John Ortberg tells

of a man called Denny who regularly attended church all his life, yet didn’t

like the music and called in the local authority about the volume and everyone

guessed who complained and laughed it off. However, Ortberg said it was no

laughing matter as this guy was 60 years of age, his children couldn’t tolerate

him, he stayed cranky and no one expected him to be any different.

Those comments remind me of some words from Juan Carolos Ortiz, who said,

“We have a phenomenon in the church today which I call the ‘Eternal baby-

hood of the believer.’ We have members of our churches who, after years of

hearing messages are just the same. They continually need a minister to keep

after them, changing their diapers, putting talcum on them, and checking their

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milk isn’t too hot.” Perpetual infancy is not allowed in the Kingdom of God!

Childish behaviour has to be addressed and confronted. Immature, childish

believers have these unhealthy traits:

•Self-centred – everything has to revolve around them.

•Influenced by their feelings – one minute they’re happy, the next they’re

screaming!

•Easily attracted by externals – a new sound or rattle quickly gets their

attention.

•Prefer play to work – unproductive apart from making work for others.

•Don’t take responsibility for their actions and behaviour.

•Live on a restricted diet, prefer r ing to be spoon-fed and dependent.

Pastoring isn’t pampering! Growing as a Christian is a command not an option.

Spiritual growth is a matter of attitude, not age. God has provided everything we

need for growth, and maturity should be our burning ambition. If you’re wearing

a small jacket, make sure you’re growing out of it!

Alan Hewitt National Leadership Team

AOG e-news Monday 16th April 2016

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A Purposeful Reminder By Jim Denison

In reading from “My Utmost For His Highest”, Oswald Chambers states: "We

must continually remind ourselves of the purpose of life. We are not destined to

happiness, nor to health, but to holiness." Chambers elaborates: "At all costs, a

person must have a right relationship with God. . . . God has only one intended

destiny for mankind—holiness. His only goal is to produce saints."

Our holy Father intends his children to live holy lives. How can we cooperate

with him in accomplishing this goal?

One: Make holiness your definition of success.

You may think that sinful people cannot be made holy, but it's not true.

Chambers explains: "Atonement through the Cross of Christ means that God

can put me back into perfect oneness with himself through the death of Jesus

Christ, without a trace of anything coming between us any longer." Jesus's death

for your sins means that you can now live in unbroken relationship with your

holy Father. There is no sin you must commit. Scripture promises: "God is

faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the

temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to

endure it." 1 Corinthians 10:13.

Don't blame sin on your fallen nature and fallen world. Settle for nothing less

than God's best for you.

Two: Reinforce your commitment by daily discipline.

Aristotle observed, "Men acquire a particular quality by constantly acting in a

particular way." Admit your sins 1 John 1:8. Claim God's forgiveness v. 9. Ask

before every decision, "What is the holy thing to do?" Chambers urges us:

"Never tolerate, because of sympathy for yourself or for others, any practice

that is not in keeping with a holy God."

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Three: Ask the Holy Spirit to help you be holy.

Your Father wants intimate relationship with you even more than you do with

him. Chambers: "When we choose deliberately to obey him, then he will tax the

remotest star and the last grain of sand to assist us with all his almighty power."

So pray for your Father to make you like his Son (Romans 8:29). And know that

he always answers that prayer.

Jonathan Edwards resolved "never to do anything which I would be afraid to do

if it were the last hour of my life." And God used his integrity to spark the First

Great Awakening. Do we need more holy people today? Edwards, once wrote in

his diary: "Resolved first: that every man should live to the glory of God.

Resolved second: that whether others do this or not, I will." William Carey, the

pioneer missionary to India, stated: "I am not my own, nor would I choose for

myself. Let God employ me where he thinks fit." F. B. Meyer, perhaps the great-

est preacher of his generation, said, "If I had a hundred lives, they should be at

Christ's disposal."

http://www.denisonforum.org/

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Church of Scotland in an "interesting place"

after same-sex marriage vote

By Aaron James

The Church of Scotland has said it's in an "interesting place" after voting to

recognise ministers in same-sex marriages, while still affirming that marriage

should be between a man and a woman.

It has also said it hopes people will "stay calm" and "hold on" after the decision

and give it time to see how it will pan out.

The Kirk voted through the change at its General Assembly in Edinburgh

yesterday with 339 voting in favour and 215 voting against.

It means congregations who want to can take ministers already in same-sex

marriages and that ministers can get married to someone of the same-sex if they

wish.

The vote does not permit same-sex marriages within the Church of Scotland.

It follows a vote last year to recognise ministers in civil partnerships.

Yesterday's vote seeks to reflect Scottish law which now allows people in civil

partnerships to get married.

Very Revd John Chalmers, the Principal Clerk of the Church of Scotland

General Assembly, told Premier: "The Church of Scotland has maintained as its

default position the traditional understanding of marriage.

"We've made room for people of a different view and in a broad church you

have to do that, and perhaps we've given the denominations of the world a steer

on how this can be done.

"This does not affect our understanding of what holy matrimony is in terms of

our theology. So it's an interesting place for us to be.

"I hope that people will stay calm and that those who're upset by the decision -

hold on there, and wait to see how this plays out."

www.premier.org.uk/News/ Sun 22 May 2016

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Its a synagogue, church, and

mosque all in one' Joint house of prayer for Muslims, Jews, and Christians

to be built in Berlin

An interfaith group is laying the groundwork for what will likely be the world’s

first ever joint house of prayer.

The centre of worship, which

will be called the “House of

One," will combine

simultaneous Jewish, Muslim,

and Christian prayer services.

The House of One is planned to

be built on the site of Berlin’s

first church, the Petrikirche.

One of the organizers of the interfaith group

behind the planned church/mosque/synagogue, Rabbi Tovia Ben Chorin, said

that the House of One is a reminder that despite the dark history of Berlin in the

20th century it is now a centre of tolerance.

“For me as a Jew, this city is the ‘city of wounds’ and the ‘city of miracles.' In

this place our systematic extermination was planned. And it is from this city

that an answer has emerged,” said Ben Chorin.

He also suggested that Berlin could become a model for cultural integration and

religious tolerance. “It is a multicultural city, the idea will spread to different

countries all over the world.”

Construction of the building is scheduled to begin next year.

www.israelnationalnews.com/News/ First Publish: 5/19/2016

Great Synagogue of Berlin

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I want to give thanks to the Lord..my Lord.. that I am physically feeling so

well now. I experienced recurrent viruses over the winter and going on into

Spring. This eventually caused me to have time off from work.

Thanks to you all for praying for me during this time and I give thanks for

medication which also enabled the recovery process.

I was feeling very washed out and sick and tired of being sick and tired!.

On one particular Sunday morning I went up for prayer for healing and

certainly over the next few days I began to regain my health and strength.

I watched quite a few Christian health programs on TV and considered some of

the health messages in regard to certain fruits and vegetables as I consider food

as medicine if used wisely and it is provided for us.

In watching the pennies I wondered if I may have denied myself some benefits

of what might be called luxury fruits and veg as treats when on a budget but

which can be really good for our immune system so have altered my shopping

to reflect this.

It is good to belong to a church that cares and prays for its members and can

encourage each other with our experiences and testimonies.

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I found myself re-reading Psalm 23 and then it has become a meditation over

the weeks as I considered it in more depth and I found myself paring each verse

right back which spoke to my soul and revived my spirit. It was like peeling the

skin off it and getting to the fruit as it were! So here is my revelation of God’s

care for me and I will use it as a proclamation over my life.

Psalm 23

He is

I have

I am lead

I am restored

I have revelation

I walk

I am accompa-

nied

I am comforted

I am prepared

I am healed

I am overflowing

I am protected

Together for Eternity

Together for Eternity

With blessings to your heart as well.

Rosie Russell

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By Aaron James

A survey of nearly 2000 Christians has found they believe in-depth Biblical

teaching in a sermon is over twenty times more important than a good joke.

44% of believers (49% of men and 39% of women) said "biblical exposition"

was the most important thing in a sermon, compared to 2% who said a "sense of

humour" was important.

The poll also found 40% of Christians (44% of women and 36% of men) found

practical examples of how to live out the Bible's teachings was the most

important part of a sermon, compared to just one percent who said personal

anecdotes or stories were important. It also found the majority of Christians do

not like long sermons, with 44% believing they should last between 10 and 20

minutes.

However, the institution of a weekly church sermon is alive and well today:

nearly 90% of churchgoers disagreed or strongly disagreed that the practice was

"outdated". The research was commissioned by the Christian Resources

Exhibition (CRE), an annual trade show of hundreds of Christian charities and

organisations.

Stephen Goddard, from CRE, told Premier's News Hour: "It just shows you that

people go to church for a real reason - to hear stuff that's really going to make a

difference to them." Somebody said it's a bit like Dad-dancing; if you're trying

to hard to be cool, you'll not succeed. If they think 'well I've got to put in a joke

here', the people in the pews know what's going on."

Stephen Goddard also highlighted a problem that Christians in the CRE survey

flagged up: "Out of the survey we found 50 percent of people in the pews on an

average Sunday feel that young people are not given enough of a chance to

preach in church. "You can understand why it is that young people drift away.

They're not involved enough."

http://www.premier.org.uk 10 May 2016/

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On Easter Sunday whilst Richard was preaching at

Somerton Assemblies of God church both he and

Lynne heard a new song, to them, written and

performed by HILLSONG entitled 'The Creed' from

their album 'No Other Name'.

The song, based on the 'Nicene Creed', sets out the

fundamental beliefs of the Christian church and has a

catchy tune...so much so that Richard promptly

downloaded the song from ITunes!

Richard and Lynne then had a growing conviction that God wanted them to lay a

firm spiritual foundation for the young people before they break up for the long

summer holiday period and therefore have started an 'I BELIEVE...' Bible

teaching series which will run throughout this present summer term

@KINGSyouth.

The course covers the following...

I believe in...

God the Father

God the Son

The Holy Spirit

The Virgin Birth

Jesus Mission

The Resurrection

The Second Coming of

Christ

The Name of Jesus!

The Church

The Saints Communion

Eternal Life!

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Each week, as part of our worship time, we have decided to include

HILLSONG's 'The Creed' as an anthem song to help us remember these

important fundamental truths to the Christian Faith. Apart from worship, prayer

and Bible teaching we also have a time of fun and a social time with the tuck

shop, pool, table tennis, games and just chilling out talking and laughing

together.

KINGSyouth is a Chr istian youth meeting for young people of secondary

school age, meeting on Fridays during term time, 7:30-9:30pm, at Kings

Christian Centre, Swindon.

'French Jews experiencing

worst situation since 1945'

French Jews are experiencing the most difficult situation they have encountered

since the end of World War II, the newly-

elected president of France’s umbrella of

Jewish communities said. Francis Kalifat,

64, said on Sunday 29th May. His first

priority as president of CRIF is to fight

against the anti-Semitism that he said was

responsible for the situation he described.

Kalifat, whose presidency comes at a time

of record emigration by Jews from France, partly

because of anti-Semitic violence that included hundreds of anti-Semitic

incidents annually in recent years, and dozens of physical assaults.

Since 2012, attacks on Jewish targets by French Islamists in France and

Belgium claimed the lives of 12 people. Last year, roughly 8,000 French Jews

left for Israel — the highest number on record for any year, which made France

for the second year straight Israel’s largest provider of newcomers.

http://www.jpost.com

French soldiers patrolling in Jewish

neighbourhood

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Below are key Scr iptures/Topics that will be taught

in Sunday School this month for the different Sunday

School groups. Please can we kindly support the chil-

dren in their learning and understanding of the topics

taught each Sunday.

Generally all the Sunday School focus on similar

topics and scripture but just taught in different

ways and with different resources that fit more to their age group.

- Letters to a friend - 2 Timothy 1:3-10; 3:14-17

Aim: To learn, as Paul writes to Timothy, how important the Bible is to him.

We see that the same message can be presented differently (by text, email, and hand-

written on a flip chart or displayed on a screen, they may look different but they are

actually identical, and they are the same message from God.

We learn that the important response is to take it seriously and act on God’s word,

however it is delivered.

- Let’s praise – Psalm 95:1-7

Aim: To enjoy praising God.

We discuss the importance of enjoying praising God. We see that the book of Psalms

is a collection of what they said, sang, or wrote as they reflected on how great God is.

We note that Psalm 95 encourages us to say, “Wow!” and then to say, “We praise you,

God!”

- Mercy on a city —Jonah 1, 2

Aim: To discover that our merciful God gives opportunities to be sorry

We look at Jonah’s story. We note that it is always in God’s nature to be merciful, for-

giving people who are sorry.

We note that God forgives our sin and they are completely removed.

- Mercy on a man - Jonah 3, 4

Aim: To find out that God’s mercy is for everyone who is sorry.

Bible Verse to Remember

“Now God’s home is with human beings! He will live with them, and they shall

be his people”. Revelation 21:3

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Sunday School in June

BUBBLES children 3-5yrs. SPLASH children 5 1/2 – 8yrs.

Sunday 5th Joyce O. Sunday 5th Sue M.

Sunday 12th Josephine O.K. Sunday 12th Sue M.

Sunday 19th Josephine O.K. Sunday 19th Jenny L.

Sunday 26th Lorraine T. Sunday 26th Marion M.

Sun. 3rd July Lorraine T. Sun. 3rd July Marion M.

XTREME for children 9-12 yrs.

Sunday 5th Alain T.

Sunday 12th “John B”

Sunday 19th “John B”

Sunday 26th Steve G.

Sun. 3rdJuly Steve G.

Current Assembly Happenings

Birthday’s and Goodbye’s.

On Saturday 7th May a supper was held

at the Church to celebrate David’s 60th

birthday. Friends from Slough, Bristol,

Southampton and other places came

together to give thanks to the Lord for

David, his life and ministry. After a

time of Praise & Worship ably led by

Paul and ministry from Malcolm,

everyone enjoyed the beautiful food

that had been prepared.

David & Vidji will be leaving on Thursday 9th

June to return to Chennai after having spent six months in Swindon with Paul,

Sheeba and the grandchildren. It has been such a blessing for us all to get to

know David and Vidji. We will really miss them both.

May the Lord continue to richly bless you with health and strength as you con-

tinue to serve the Lord. We look forward to keeping in touch.

David, Vidji, Malcolm & Marion at the Birthday

Celebration

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Friday 3rd 11:00am Kingsmead Care Home

Sunday 5th 10:30am Pastor Alan Smithers

Sunday 12th 10:30am Pastor Richard Pidgley

Friday 17th 11:00am Kingsmead Care Home

Sunday 26th 10:30am Bro. Umera Chukwuchebe

Friday 1st July 11:00am Kingsmead Care Home

Thursday 2nd Prayer / Bible Study Biruta B.

Sunday 5th Morning Service Paul

Thursday 9th Prayer / Fellowship Alain

Sunday 12th Morning Service Andrzej

Thursday 16th Prayer / Bible Study David

Sunday 19th Morning Service David / Paul

Thursday 23th Prayer / Bible Study Biruta B.

Sunday 26th Morning Service David / Paul

Thursday 30th Prayer / Fellowship David

Sunday 3rdJuly Morning Service David

Thursday 7th July Prayer / Bible Study Paul

Thursday 2nd Niyi O. Sunday 12th Elkan R.

Friday 3rd Delvin O. Monday 13th Dayo S.

Saturday 7th Gosha S. Monday 13th Franco F.

Wednesday 8th Marion M. Friday 24th Alfred B.

Thursday 9th Liliana B. Tues. 5th July Nelly W.

Saturday 11th Jogesh R.M. Thurs. 7th July Georgina N.

Saturday 11th Daniel T.

Invited Ministry & Meetings in June

Chorus Leading in June

Birthdays in June

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Back from USA.

Mirelle went to Boston for a short holiday to visit her family, some of whom she

hadn’t seen for a long time. We hope that you had wonderful quality time of

reconnecting and sharing together.

Returning to India.

Sheetal’s Mum, Elizabeth, who arrived on the 15th Feb. to be with Jogesh &

Sheetal, to prepare for the birth of their second child, is returning to India on

20th June. We wish you a safe trip home and hope that you’ll visit us here in

Swindon another time.

Home Prayer Meetings.

We are continuing with our fortnightly prayer meetings in different homes be-

ginning at 7:30pm. Below is the list of venues for June & July.

Tuesday 14th June At Elroy & Daisy’s home, Haydon End, North Swindon.

Saturday 25th June At Umera & Felicia’s home in West Swindon.

Wednesday 6th July At Peter & Joyce’s home in Royal Wootten Bassett.

Beach Trip.

Please put Saturday 2nd July in your diaries for a day at the seaside to Barry

Island, in Wales. More details will be announced closer to the time.

Weekly Meetings Sunday 10:30 Morning Service & Sunday School.

Tuesday 10:00 Baby & Toddler Music Group.

Thursday 19:30 Prayer & Bible Study.

(Fellowship Meeting on last Thursday of each month.)

Friday 19:30 KING’SYouth

Contact Details: Malcolm & Marion Macqueen: Tel. 01793 325935

Malcolm: Mobile: 07743322781

E-Mail: e.macqueen1@ntlworld.com / gbenganoiks@hotmail.com

Website: www.aogswindon.org.uk

Visit us at: 26a King William Street

Old Town, Swindon. SN1 3LB