December 2023

Update From Your Pastors

Dear Welling Church family,

The year’s final month has come; like usual, it seems to come quicker each year. As a church, we will end this year differently than we started it. This past week has been especially hard as our hope of Jassen and Kaylynn returning to work with us seemed to disappear in a moment. However, what is shocking news and contradictory to our plans has not surprised God and has not changed a single plan He has for our church or the individuals in it.

Hope is the message of this Christmas season, and hope (certainty that God will do all He has promised to do) will get us through the rest of 2023 and into 2024. A few weeks ago, we looked at Romans 5 in our series on sanctification. The words in verses 2-5 seem even more fitting now in light of current circumstances:

Romans 5:2–5
Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

As we prepare for another year of living for God through faithful obedience, we strive to ensure that the message of Christ rings out from Welling Church. This Christmas, we desire to share hope with all who interact with our church or even come through the building’s doors.

Isaiah 7:14 
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Immanuel means God with us. God came down from heaven on the first Christmas to be with His creation. Then, since the resurrection, God has promised to be with those who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. For those who have made this decision, we have God with us every day.

As we end this year, may we remember that God is with us. Individually, we may not know exactly what to do or which direction to go, but no matter our choices or direction, God will never leave us or forsake us. As a church, God has given us a clear direction and mission. It is the same as last year. While the team working together may change from year to year, our mandate from God remains the same until His glorious return.

The Elders:
Justin Rhoades & Tarl Reeves

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December/January Notices

In December, we will look at the nativity story from different perspectives. Each Sunday, we will focus on the characters God used to bring about the first Christmas. I pray you can join us each Sunday at 11:00.

Christmas Eve is a Sunday this year, and we will still meet at 11:00, but it will be a simple family service.

Join us for our annual carols by candlelight. We will do the same service on 10 and 17 December at 6 pm.

Our sermon series for the beginning of the new year is looking back to Genesis to see the story of Noah and how he had faith in obeying God. Sundays at 11:00 starting 31 December.

Small groups will start on 15-19 January, and all groups will study the same series this term. We will look at faith foundation and helping each other strengthen our relationship with Christ. You can learn more on our small group page.

Baby Steps continues to meet every Tuesday from 10:30-11:30. It is a lovely time for mums to have a Bible study together and pray while the little ones play. For more information, please see Rachel Rhoades at Rachel@WellingChurch.com.

The last Baby Steps of 2023 is on 12 December
The first Baby Steps of 2024 will be on 9 January

Grace Recovery is a small group for those struggling or who have struggled with alcohol and drug addictions. Please see Jackie if you would like to attend or help serve on Thursday nights.

The last Grace Recovery is on 2023 is 14 December
The first Grace Recovery of 2024 will be on 11 January

Primary and Secondary Children meet for Bible lessons, songs, small groups, and games each Friday from 19:30- 21:00 at the church building.

The last club of 2023 is on 15 December (Christmas Party)
First club of 2024 will be 19 January

On 21 January, at the end of our service, we will take communion together.