Isaiah
61 is as well-known and as challenging a chapter from the Bible as your likely
to find. It’s hard to read it and not feel provoked in some way. I’d probably
recommend pausing from this Blog for a moment to read it…Isaiah 61
61 is as well-known and as challenging a chapter from the Bible as your likely
to find. It’s hard to read it and not feel provoked in some way. I’d probably
recommend pausing from this Blog for a moment to read it…Isaiah 61
Welcome
back…
back…
I’ve
been spending some time reading those words over the last few days and I find
myself being struck once more by God’s desire for us to respond to the areas of
need on our doorstep – not just the financially ‘poor’ (which is the type of
‘poor’ that I think we most naturally assume it refers to) but the spiritual,
relational and physically ‘poor’ as well. Isaiah tells us that God has
anointed us and sent us to proclaim, release, comfort, provide, bestow and rebuild.
It seems like He’s giving us many ways in which to act!
been spending some time reading those words over the last few days and I find
myself being struck once more by God’s desire for us to respond to the areas of
need on our doorstep – not just the financially ‘poor’ (which is the type of
‘poor’ that I think we most naturally assume it refers to) but the spiritual,
relational and physically ‘poor’ as well. Isaiah tells us that God has
anointed us and sent us to proclaim, release, comfort, provide, bestow and rebuild.
It seems like He’s giving us many ways in which to act!
There’s
so much we can practically do to assist those in need and I find these verses
particularly exciting in light of something that Everyday Difference is
launching in just over a week’s time. It’s born from a desire that we simply need to have, to love and serve people in
our surrounding community – however possible.
so much we can practically do to assist those in need and I find these verses
particularly exciting in light of something that Everyday Difference is
launching in just over a week’s time. It’s born from a desire that we simply need to have, to love and serve people in
our surrounding community – however possible.
Being a
kid is tough. Being a kid with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
(SEND), must be very tough. Being a parent is hard work. Being the parent of a
kid with SEND must be particularly hard work. So we’ve decided to set up a
group called Rest&Play, which
will happen every Thursday afternoon (2-4pm) at the Southfields venue. This exciting opportunity has come about thanks to a wonderful partnership that has developed between Everyday Church and Jenniflowers Childcare.
kid is tough. Being a kid with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities
(SEND), must be very tough. Being a parent is hard work. Being the parent of a
kid with SEND must be particularly hard work. So we’ve decided to set up a
group called Rest&Play, which
will happen every Thursday afternoon (2-4pm) at the Southfields venue. This exciting opportunity has come about thanks to a wonderful partnership that has developed between Everyday Church and Jenniflowers Childcare.
I love
how Isaiah contrasts the image of ‘oaks of righteousness’ (v3) with ‘the
sprouts’ that come up and the ‘seeds’ that grow in the garden (v11) – something
grand and visible from afar versus something subtle. We recently established
the Twiglets play group at the
Southfields venue. It happens on Thursday mornings and the queue of parents and
kids snakes down the road. It’s packed, noisy, great fun and I think it serves
the local families well. It’s already become well-known – something of an ‘Oak’
perhaps.
how Isaiah contrasts the image of ‘oaks of righteousness’ (v3) with ‘the
sprouts’ that come up and the ‘seeds’ that grow in the garden (v11) – something
grand and visible from afar versus something subtle. We recently established
the Twiglets play group at the
Southfields venue. It happens on Thursday mornings and the queue of parents and
kids snakes down the road. It’s packed, noisy, great fun and I think it serves
the local families well. It’s already become well-known – something of an ‘Oak’
perhaps.
In comparison, I believe Rest&Play
will be more like a little ‘sprout’, as we will limit numbers to a maximum of
10 children (aged 0-5 years old). These kids will receive high-quality,
interactive, sensory playtime from the Jenniflowers team. The team are passionate
about all forms of child development and the small group of kids, with their
range of special needs, will receive the undivided attention from the team.
will be more like a little ‘sprout’, as we will limit numbers to a maximum of
10 children (aged 0-5 years old). These kids will receive high-quality,
interactive, sensory playtime from the Jenniflowers team. The team are passionate
about all forms of child development and the small group of kids, with their
range of special needs, will receive the undivided attention from the team.
At the
same time, the parents/carers can rest! We will provide a quality selection of
refreshments and cake and they can simply take the weight of their feet and
relax – read, catch up with emails, snooze – whatever they need to do, but
probably don’t have the time/space to do while caring for a small child with
SEND.
same time, the parents/carers can rest! We will provide a quality selection of
refreshments and cake and they can simply take the weight of their feet and
relax – read, catch up with emails, snooze – whatever they need to do, but
probably don’t have the time/space to do while caring for a small child with
SEND.
We
purposefully don’t want Rest&Play to
look like another Twiglets. They’re
two completely different expressions of God’s love being outworked as helpfully
and practically as we can manage.
purposefully don’t want Rest&Play to
look like another Twiglets. They’re
two completely different expressions of God’s love being outworked as helpfully
and practically as we can manage.
We’re so
excited to see how God might bless this initiative and the relationships that
are formed through it.
excited to see how God might bless this initiative and the relationships that
are formed through it.
If you would like more information about Rest&Play or would like to volunteer
your time, please email restandplaysouthfields@gmail.com.
your time, please email restandplaysouthfields@gmail.com.
Adam Bream, Everyday Difference Coordinator for the
Southfields venue.
Southfields venue.