“Give your burdens to the Lord, and He will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.”
Reflection:
In this time where many have been self-isolating, there has been a bigger need for people to be taken care of. There has been a dependency on other people’s kindness and care. So many have selflessly and sacrificially taken care of those who have fallen ill and needed treatment of any kind. And to different measures, we have all carried a burden together to see this virus pass.
Yet in this time, we have also seen that we cannot bear the burdens of this life on our own. And in many ways, our care is so limited. Yet there is One who is able – and willing – to carry each and every one of our burdens. He desires to care for us and will do so with a perfect care that “does not permit us to slip and fall”. What a promise in this time where everything else has shown itself fallible. God’s arm will never be too short to care for us when we reach out and give our burdens to Him.
Prayer outline:
Thank You, Heavenly Father, for Your unlimited care for me. You invite me to give You my burdens, because You care for me. You desire to be my strength and my sustainer, my courage and my care. I choose again today to put my trust in You and to give You my burdens, for You are able and You care for me. Holy Spirit, help me to let go of control and put things into Your capable hands. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
“The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.”
Reflection:
The scripture above caught my attention following the horrific attack on the twin towers of the World Trade Centre in 2001. That tragic event proved that those towers were not a strong or safe place. I was reminded that Jesus Christ is LORD, which means that His name – the name of Jesus – is a “strong tower.” That “strong tower” will never become “ground zero” – no attempts by the powers of darkness using misguided people will obliterate the name of Jesus. Therefore believers can take refuge in that name and be safe. We are now under another attack – from Coronavirus – and society has been asked to stay home in order to be safe. Wise advice indeed but let us not forget the eternal safety provided in the name of Jesus. His name is ABOVE every other name, so the name of Coronavirus, of Covid-19, must submit to the name of Jesus. Glory!
Prayer outline:
Thank You, Father, for the protection found in Your “strong tower”, the name of Jesus. We thank You that there is eternal safety in His name, that no weapon, no pestilence, no disease can remove us from the “strong tower.” Amen.
In current circumstances, we are using Zoom to connect together on Sundays. The meetings will still be recorded and uploaded onto the website under the AM Celebration podcast feed. Each week we will also share the slides from the meeting, so you can go over them and use it in your times with the Lord throughout the week.
If you have a personal Zoom account or app on your device, please make sure you are logged out before clicking the link to join. This should avoid you having to fill in meeting ID and password. Email office@jubilee.co if you have any questions.
This past Sunday, Ben and Kaat shared on the perfect unity that is found within the Trinity. We looked at John 17, which shows us one of Jesus’ last prayers before His crucifixion. This prayer shows us the heart of God to invite us into their perfect unity. What a privilege!
Do you have a specific testimony about anything the Lord has shown you during last Sunday morning’s celebration or this time of lockdown? Please send in a 1-2 minute video to office@jubilee.co.
Each week, there will be a number of sessions which will each consist of a brief 15 minute talk followed by a chance for you to connect with others and ask questions.
The Zoom link will be the same for both Tuesday and Thursday lunch time sessions. If it changes, there will be a separate notice. Link: https://zoom.us/j/4651812918
This week’s topics: “Bible Devotional on Connectedness” with Neil and Steve | Tuesday 26th May 12:30pm
While we’ve been in lockdown, the trees and weeds have continued to grow so we are hoping to have a work party in Rutland Woods on Saturday 6th June from 09.00 to about 13.00. Although being out in the fresh air is meant to be one of the safest places, we will limit numbers to 6 and maintain social distancing rules.
If you’ve not been to one before, the work parties are a great mix of hard work, fun and time for a drink and snacks round the camp fire (bring your own mug).
Holy Trinity Brompton (who run the Marriage Course) have made a free online version. It includes 7 sessions for you to do when suits you in your schedule.
Register and order booklets at www.htb.org/marriage For more info contact Paul & Gwyneth Darling on paul.darling@jubilee.co or gwyneth.darling@jubilee.co.
Mature Open-minded Sociable Adults In Connection
Mosaic runs every second Tuesday at 11am. During this time of lockdown, we are using Zoom to connect with one another.
For more info contact Ray & Jacqui Skilton on ray.skilton @jubilee.co
New to Jubilee or not quite sure how to access all the resources available on our website? Have a look at this video above that shows you how to navigate your way around.
Words of life – Encouragements from the Word
Throughout the week, there will be words of encouragements shared on the website and Facebook. These are just one way to spur one another on to truth and hope in Christ Jesus. Use these as a foundation for your times with God or conversations with others during the week.
Although we are physically separated at this time, we are one in the Spirit and members one of another (Romans 12:5). Let us spur one another on in our faith and pursuit of the Lord.
Due to the Corona pandemic, many life situations have changed drastically almost overnight. For many, it has come with challenges in how to provide for themselves and their loved ones. Kent Voice (www.kentvoice.com) is a forum that offers information about the different kinds of help that is available.
If you are struggling in any way, please contact us at office@jubilee.co and we will find the best way to help you and support you in they way you need.
Prayer for our Parkwood Home
As a Jubilee family, we have been praying more specifically into various areas of our new home-in-process in Parkwood. If you haven’t received one of the leaflets handed out, please ask the Welcome Team on a Sunday morning.
Prayer points – Wisdom for the elders & project team as they lead the project. – For the right building contractor to be appointed. – Favour with the local contractors. – Finance. – Safety of those who work on-site. – For the project to run smoothly from start to finish with no delays.
Join us as we trust God together to see our new home built to be a place where He is glorified and made known to the community around us.
Family Weekend Away – Update
As I am sure many of you will have suspected, we will not be going ahead with the Jubilee Family Weekend, originally booked in for 26-28 June 2020.
We can now confirm that the venue has kindly agreed to postpone our booking to the weekend of 24th June 2022 (in two years’ time). 2021 was already booked up and as we wanted to have a summer booking we have taken the weekend in 2022.
The payments Jubilee has already made to the venue will not be refunded but held on deposit. Therefore, we are also proposing to hold any moneys you might already have paid and use this to secure your place in 2022. If you are happy with this, you do not need to do anything at this stage. However, we understand that for some of you, finances are tight in light of the circumstances and you may prefer to have your money back and re-book at a later stage. If this is the case, please email office@jubilee.co with your full name, amount to be repaid and bank details. We will verify the amounts before refunding.
Ladies Garden Party
As we reach the end of our first year of The Feast, we want to warmly invite you to a Ladies Garden Party.
This will include a glass of Prosecco on arrival, traditional afternoon tea with finger sandwiches, seasonal selection of cakes, fruit and plain scones with clotted cream and jam and a choice of loose leaf tea or freshly brewed coffee.
There will be garden games for your enjoyment, beautiful grounds to explore and an inside venue should the weather misbehave.
WHERE Chilston Park Hotel, Sandway, Lenham
WHEN 11th July 2020, 2-5pm
COST Twenty-five pounds pp (available to pay in installments)
Support Jubilee Church with every purchase made on smile.amazon.co.uk with just one click: https://smile.amazon.co.uk/ch/1115331-0 add Jubilee Church as your nominated charity and amazon will make a donation for every purchase made through it- every little helps in the building project!
Make your donations go further!
If you are eligible for gift aid, here is a link to our updated Jubilee Church Gift Aid declaration. Simply click on the link below to fill out the form.
Homegroup is a great way to get to know people without the bustle of Sunday! Contact us at office@jubilee.co and we’ll get our pastoral team in touch 🙂
Join our Mailing List!
If you’d like to be added into our mailing list, please contact us at office@jubilee.co
“Praise the LORD! For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting. The LORD builds up Jerusalem; He gathers the outcasts of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars; He gives to all of them their names. Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; His understanding is beyond measure. The LORD lifts up the humble; He casts the wicked to the ground.”
Reflection:
What strikes me in these few verses is the pictures that are painted of who God is – from the macro to the micro. He is the God who “determines the number of stars” and also He who “heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds”. As we have been looking at the Trinity, I am continually so amazed at the vastness beyond understanding of our God and at the same time incredibly humbled at His regard for me, little old me. What kind of God who holds all power in His hand would choose to invite me into His perfect relationship of love? Surely to this God “a song of praise is fitting”. At the start of this new week, I decide to choose to sing those songs of praise and turn my heart to the truths of who my God is; star-breather and healer of my heart. And as I do so, I want to encourage all of us to do the same – this week, let us declare to one another the praises of our God. Send someone a message, share a verse or a song; let’s point one another to the truth of who God is and “sing” His praises in our situation.
Prayer outline:
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, how truly majestic You are in all Your ways. When my mind tries to understand the fullness of who You are, I feel so small and incapable, so humbled. Yet You, Creator of the universe, care closely enough to notice and know my pain and sorrows and to “heal my wounds”. How truly majestic is Your name in all the earth. I sing Your praise, for You are worthy. Let Your name and Your fame be known in all the earth. Amen.
“For God alone my soul waits in silence; from Him comes my salvation. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken. How long will all of you attack a man to batter him, like a leaning wall, a tottering fence? They only plan to thrust him down from his high position. They take pleasure in falsehood. They bless with their mouths, but inwardly they curse. Selah. For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah”
Reflection:
Like it has for everyone, lockdown has stripped much of my life as I knew it away, and replaced it with a strange new ‘normal’. It’s been a big adjustment relinquishing control of pretty much everything and having to rely on the kindness and help of others. During this time of uncertainty and the unknown, I’ve found real comfort in this psalm, knowing that God is my refuge and my fortress. He is my mighty rock. When uncertainty and whispers of fear swirl around me, and things seem out of control, God is the calm in the storm. He is in control and He is the hope in our future.
Each of us has a different day-to-day reality in this storm. As I read somewhere the other day: “We are not all in the same boat, but we are all weathering the same storm”. The amazing truth is that God is interested in us as individuals. He meets each one of us in our individual circumstances. We don’t have to strive to find Him, or go out looking. He comes to us and meets us in the place we are in. Whether you are content and at peace, frightened and lost, stressed or exhausted; He is your refuge. He sits beside you, holds your hand and restores your soul.
Prayer outline:
Have a listen to the song “Find You on my knees” by Kari Jobe. Be encouraged; no matter how hard and dark your circumstances may seem (or indeed may be), your almighty Father can and will lift your spirits, restore your soul and lift you up. Trust in Him and receive His love. Find Him in the place you’re in.
“The mature children of God are those who are moved by the impulses of the Holy Spirit. And you did not receive the ‘spirit of religious duty’, leading you back into the fear of never being good enough. But you have received the ‘Spirit of full acceptance’, enfolding you into the family of God. And you will never feel orphaned, for as He rises up within us, our spirits join Him in saying the words of tender affection, ‘Beloved Father!’ For the Holy Spirit makes God’s fatherhood real to us as He whispers into our innermost being, ‘You are God’s beloved child!'”
Reflection:
There is something about the need for belonging and acceptance that is deep in the hearts of all mankind. I love this translation’s description where it contrasts “the spirit of religious duty leading us back into the fear of never being good enough” with a “Spirit of acceptance that enfolds us into the family of God”. How quickly do we find ourselves operating from a deep fear of not being good enough, both towards God and one another? All too often I discover I have somehow strayed and crept back to this place of distortion. It is often marked by feelings of isolation and non-belonging. But the truth is that if we have received the Spirit of God we have been adopted into His family, the ultimate place of belonging.
Prayer outline:
Take a moment to reflect on this truth. The challenge here is two-fold – firstly, am I living in the joy of this truth that I belong and am accepted? Secondly, as a part of God’s family, am I playing my part in embracing others and welcoming them in the same way Father God welcomes me?
Dear Abba Father, I pray today that I will know afresh your Spirit affirm to me that I am your child. Let this fatherhood become real to me as you whisper into my innermost being that I belong to You, and help me, from this place, extend my reach to invite others into your family of belonging too. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Hi, I’m Laura and I work as a counsellor in two settings: firstly in a Primary School in Gillingham with children. There, I clinically supervise a group of teaching staff who take a lead in building resilience and attachment for children. Secondly, I work in Croydon, South London, with babies and their families and I run a therapy service in Maidstone with Lara Forza working into SEN schools.
I want to share a few thoughts about mental health. This week is Mental Health Awareness Week. This year’s theme is KINDNESS. Kindness seems like a good place to start when considering our mental health. This is not just about the kindness we show to each other, but it is the kindness we show to ourselves also. I have worked with so many people who live with a feeling of shame about who they are or what they have experienced. In this time of lockdown, and grief for some, it might have created some new or unusual responses for you. Remembering kindness to yourself is a really good place to start.
I have put together resources which you can access at the bottom of this article. These resources are for adults and for kids. There is a PDF calendar of activities for children at school and at home – if you’d like to focus on kindness this next week – as well as lots of ideas based on Cognitive Behavioural Therapy which is usually the recommended therapy in times of anxiety.
So how to respond in a pandemic…
There are no black and white responses to this time. For most of us, we have never experienced anything like it. I have seen people with more introverted personalities actually feel a sense of freedom in this time in not needing to be socially active. And then there are those who have found this time painfully disconnecting.
There are a few thoughts you might want to consider and I hope this might be helpful for you.
1. Connectedness
If you are someone who has found solace in staying home and think you might struggle with reconnecting back in, I want to say, please, let someone climb in your life now and be face to face with people on Zoom, FaceTime, whatever. I’m not talking about accountability, I’m talking about vulnerability.
2. Grounding
Grounding is a good technique to fend off symptoms of anxiety and stress when things feel overwhelming. Grounding involves trying to take your mind off of uncomfortable symptoms or thoughts. You can use the following method if you’re feeling anxious:
Start by sitting in a comfortable place and taking a deep breath. Then remember 5-4-3-2-1:
5 – LOOK: Look around for 5 things you can see, and say them out loud.
4 – FEEL: Pay attention to your body and think of 4 things that you can feel, and say them out loud.
3 – LISTEN: Listen for 3 sounds. It could be the sound of traffic outside, the sound of typing, etc. And say them out loud.
2 – SMELL: Say 2 things you can smell. If you can’t smell anything or you can’t move to find smells, then name your 2 favourite smells.
1 – TASTE: Say 1 thing you can taste. It may be the toothpaste from brushing your teeth or the last thing you ate, etc. If you can’t taste anything, then say your favourite thing to taste.
Lastly, I want to encourage you with this promise from Jesus:
Matthew 11:28-30 New International Version (NIV) “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30 The Message (MSG) “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to Me. Get away with Me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with Me and work with Me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with Me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
In current circumstances, we are using Zoom to connect together on Sundays. The meetings will still be recorded and uploaded onto the website under the AM Celebration podcast feed. Each week we will also share the slides from the meeting, so you can go over them and use it in your times with the Lord throughout the week.
If you have a personal Zoom account or app on your device, please make sure you are logged out before clicking the link to join. This should avoid you having to fill in meeting ID and password. Email office@jubilee.co if you have any questions.
This past Sunday, Darren and Ray shared with us on the Holy Spirit in the light of John 7:37-39, which talks about streams of living water. We were encouraged to “believe and come and drink”. Darren also reminded us that “we do not walk by feelings, but we walk by faith”. The Holy Spirit is at work, even if we can’t always feel it.
Ray shared a word on “turning point”, encouraging us that God is doing something new that will only happen by the power of the Holy Spirit. Hazel added to that by sharing that this turning point is on a personal level, as well as a Church family level. A deeper relationship with Christ and understanding of who He is will leave our lives changed. We are each challenged with the question: “What does this turning point mean for me in this season of my life? What is God doing that is taking me to a deeper level of knowing Him?”
Do you have a specific testimony about anything you experienced or anything the Lord showed you during last Sunday morning’s celebration? Please send in a 1-2 minute video to office@jubilee.co.
Each week, there will be a number of sessions which will each consist of a brief 15 minute talk followed by a chance for you to connect with others and ask questions.
The Zoom link will be the same for both Tuesday and Thursday lunch time sessions. If it changes, there will be a separate notice. Link: https://zoom.us/j/4651812918
This week’s topics: “Revelation, Antichrist, the end of the world and the virus” with Neil, Louise Buys, Mark Biddlecombe and Charis Thompson | Tuesday 19th May 12:30pm
The session is designed to put minds at rest and give us a confidence to look forward to the second coming of Christ with peace and hope for the future. If you want to look at some of the key Bible passages beforehand, they are listed below. Matthew 24:6-8: “You will be hearing of wars and rumours of wars. See that you are not frightened, for those things must take place, but that is not yet the end. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and in various places there will be famines and earthquakes. But all these things are merely the beginning of birth pangs.” Revelation 16:8-9: “The fourth angel poured out his bowl upon the sun, and it was given to it to scorch men with fire. Men were scorched with fierce heat; and they blasphemed the name of God who has the power over these plagues, and they did not repent so as to give Him glory.” 1 John 2:18: “Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know that it is the last hour.”
“Meet the Team: Neil and Hazel” – hosted by Steve and Siji | Thursday 21st May 12:30pm
Power Hour of Prayer
This Wednesday is the Power Hour of Prayer from 7:30 – 8:30pm. Join us via Zoom on https://zoom.us/j/177286209.
The Marriage Course
Holy Trinity Brompton (who run the Marriage Course) have made a free online version. It includes 7 sessions for you to do when suits you in your schedule.
Register and order booklets at www.htb.org/marriage For more info contact Paul & Gwyneth Darling on paul.darling@jubilee.co or gwyneth.darling@jubilee.co.
Mature Open-minded Sociable Adults In Connection
Mosaic runs every second Tuesday at 11am. During this time of lockdown, we are using Zoom to connect with one another.
For more info contact Ray & Jacqui Skilton on ray.skilton @jubilee.co
New to Jubilee or not quite sure how to access all the resources available on our website? Have a look at this video above that shows you how to navigate your way around.
Words of life – Encouragements from the Word
Throughout the week, there will be words of encouragements shared on the website and Facebook. These are just one way to spur one another on to truth and hope in Christ Jesus. Use these as a foundation for your times with God or conversations with others during the week.
Although we are physically separated at this time, we are one in the Spirit and members one of another (Romans 12:5). Let us spur one another on in our faith and pursuit of the Lord.
Due to the Corona pandemic, many life situations have changed drastically almost overnight. For many, it has come with challenges in how to provide for themselves and their loved ones. Kent Voice (www.kentvoice.com) is a forum that offers information about the different kinds of help that is available.
If you are struggling in any way, please contact us at office@jubilee.co and we will find the best way to help you and support you in they way you need.
Prayer for our Parkwood Home
As a Jubilee family, we have been praying more specifically into various areas of our new home-in-process in Parkwood. If you haven’t received one of the leaflets handed out, please ask the Welcome Team on a Sunday morning.
Prayer points – Wisdom for the elders & project team as they lead the project. – For the right building contractor to be appointed. – Favour with the local contractors. – Finance. – Safety of those who work on-site. – For the project to run smoothly from start to finish with no delays.
Join us as we trust God together to see our new home built to be a place where He is glorified and made known to the community around us.
Family Weekend Away – Update
As I am sure many of you will have suspected, we will not be going ahead with the Jubilee Family Weekend, originally booked in for 26-28 June 2020.
We can now confirm that the venue has kindly agreed to postpone our booking to the weekend of 24th June 2022 (in two years’ time). 2021 was already booked up and as we wanted to have a summer booking we have taken the weekend in 2022.
The payments Jubilee has already made to the venue will not be refunded but held on deposit. Therefore, we are also proposing to hold any moneys you might already have paid and use this to secure your place in 2022. If you are happy with this, you do not need to do anything at this stage. However, we understand that for some of you, finances are tight in light of the circumstances and you may prefer to have your money back and re-book at a later stage. If this is the case, please email office@jubilee.co with your full name, amount to be repaid and bank details. We will verify the amounts before refunding.
Ladies Garden Party
As we reach the end of our first year of The Feast, we want to warmly invite you to a Ladies Garden Party.
This will include a glass of Prosecco on arrival, traditional afternoon tea with finger sandwiches, seasonal selection of cakes, fruit and plain scones with clotted cream and jam and a choice of loose leaf tea or freshly brewed coffee.
There will be garden games for your enjoyment, beautiful grounds to explore and an inside venue should the weather misbehave.
WHERE Chilston Park Hotel, Sandway, Lenham
WHEN 11th July 2020, 2-5pm
COST Twenty-five pounds pp (available to pay in installments)
Support Jubilee Church with every purchase made on smile.amazon.co.uk with just one click: https://smile.amazon.co.uk/ch/1115331-0 add Jubilee Church as your nominated charity and amazon will make a donation for every purchase made through it- every little helps in the building project!
Make your donations go further!
If you are eligible for gift aid, here is a link to our updated Jubilee Church Gift Aid declaration. Simply click on the link below to fill out the form.
Homegroup is a great way to get to know people without the bustle of Sunday! Contact us at office@jubilee.co and we’ll get our pastoral team in touch 🙂
Join our Mailing List!
If you’d like to be added into our mailing list, please contact us at office@jubilee.co
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”
Reflection:
I have completed two 1000-piece Jigsaws during this lockdown. At times I was convinced that someone had mixed two puzzles together and was having a laugh! here are a lot of puzzled looks on faces at the moment, aren’t there? So many questions in all our hearts. When will things get back to normal? When can I see my loved ones? It can feel overwhelming and even a bit scary as we try to make sense of everything. In our verse today God reminds us to ‘Fear not’. We need that reminder, we really do. We need to remember that He knows what the picture on the lid looks like.
Imagine each puzzle piece represents one year of your life. You can zoom right out, take the 2020 puzzle piece and know that it has a place in the Jigsaw; it isn’t a mistake. It’s a significant, pivotal, memorable year whose pattern and colour seeps into other years, but it’s a year ordained by God which He oversees. He knows how this year fits into your life and He invites you to rest in the truth of that as you navigate all the challenges it brings.
Prayer response:
Father, thank You that You see my life from the beginning to the end and every day of it is ordained by You. Thank You that You are always with me, always for me and always working everything together for my good. Help me to trust that Your strength within me is enough and that I can rest in the truth that You uphold me every single day. Amen.
“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.”
Reflection:
There is an expression that says “mind over matter” – in other words, if you only will it enough in your mind, you can overcome anything. There is definitely truth in the fact that our minds are very powerful and it is where change and even transformation begins. But we cannot do it in our own strength. The Bible isn’t a self-help book. It doesn’t give us instructions on how to make ourselves better people. This verse is a great reminder that God is the One who keeps us in perfect peace, as we set our “minds” on Him. In this time of confusion, frustration and inner turmoil, as we are surrounded by not much else other than our own thoughts, God promises to “keep those in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Him”. What a promise! So no matter what goes on around us, when our mind looks to Him and chooses to trust in Him, we are kept “in perfect peace”.
Prayer response:
Father God, thank You for Your promise of perfect peace. When my mind is so easily distracted and overwhelmed by all that is going on around me, I choose to focus my mind on You. Help me in this. Give me the grace and strength to keep my “mind stayed on You” and my heart trusting in You. I love You. Amen.
