Mission Matters Street Pastors

Preston City Centre

Christmas and New Year were busy times in our city centre and we responded by having 61 Street Pastors out, meeting 397 people and providing a hot drink and snack to those in need on 161 occasions. We were grateful for the support of customers at ASDA Fulwood who contributed food items for those we meet on our patrols. It was great to offer chocolates, mince pies and other goodies to those in need and bring some Christmas cheer! Thank you to all who contributed. A story to give you a flavour of what happened: Met with a young girl outside Yates. She was being harassed by a group of boys and girls and was in tears. She said she had phoned her mum to come and pick her up. We said we would stay with her until her mum came and the other people would not bother her if we stood with her. She was very grateful. We waited with her for 20 mins until her mum arrived.

Commissioning Celebration 13 May at 7.30pm

We are commissioning 15 new Street Pastors at a special celebration on Tuesday 13th May in St Johns Church (the Minster) on Church Street, Preston. This will include Savannah Watkins, Angela Duckett, David Kelly and Dan Feeny from our own church. We will have music from The Bobbysocks and a band headed up by two of our Street Pastors (Steve McNamara and Graham Whitehead). Chairman Ian Higginbotham will be bringing us up to date with all that is happening and the new Street Pastors will be commissioned. To help raise vital funds to support the work tickets will be 5 and can be purchased from the coordinator, Dave Brown on 07794 008767 or streetpastorspandsr@gmail.com or direct from Dave at church. Everyone welcome!

Living in the Light of the Cross

Most people live and move about best when it is light. For the majority of us, stumbling around in the dark is far more difficult and can be dangerous. It is Easter time. We want to celebrate the centre of history as we remember the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. But how does that actually affect my life? Personally, I aim to live every day at the cross. My way of doing this is by writing down thoughts and prayers in a daily journal. Three years ago I started to draw a simple cross at the top of the page. Then I pray from the Lords Prayer: Lord, do not lead me into temptation, but deliver me from the evil one.

Give a Little Time

A few years ago our youth and childrens team were challenged by 1 Corinthians 12 v 27 which speaks about the church as a body of which each one of us is a part. Some years on, it is wonderful to see old and young worshipping as one family which cares for each other. Our team is constantly encouraged to see the children grow through each group from Aunty Annes class to Connect and beyond! They bring their friends to Kickstart, Space, Friday Night Live, Shine and Youth Home Groups. RIGHT NOW WE NEED HELPERS IN EVERY AREA. Please can you spare even ONE hour a week to help us in any way? There are endless opportunities - from Energize on a Sunday morning, to volleyball on a Friday night. If craft is your thing, come to Kickstart on a Wednesday. Youll love getting to know our fantastic young people. Maybe youve never helped out in a church before - this is a great way to start and the rewards are amazing! Next term, Space will run as normal, but FNLive is going on tour! We have planned 4 nights out bowling, laser tag, a progressive supper and a beach trip. These are open to anyone from year 9 upwards. Ask for info at the welcome desk. (Book early, numbers are limited for two of these events!) The next SHINE event takes place on Saturday 26th April, open to all girls from year 6 upwards. Please encourage your children to get involved with these things. As they do, they will make friends with others, and learn to relate to God. Thank you! The Youth and Childrens team If you can help us in some way please see Ted & Rebecca Parkinson or Dan & Nicki Thorpe.

This practice has helped me to fight against sin. When I look at the cross it gives me light, reminding me that Jesus died for me and took my place in death. I am reminded how vulnerable I am to temptation, and thinking about the cross gives me strength to do what is right. This light stops me from stumbling. After His death, Jesus was taken down from the cross. Death couldnt destroy Him and He rose from the dead so the cross is empty! This empty cross reminds me that I am forgiven. I am safe for all eternity.
It took amazing spiritual discipline for Jesus to go to the cross. Maybe a new spiritual discipline for you would be to learn how to live in the light of the cross every single day. Find your own way to do this, or ask someone to help you. The same power that raised Christ from the dead, (His Holy Spirit) lives in you. Lets all live in the light of the cross of Christ. Pastor Andrew Gardner

To work for Him we must also rest in Him

One man challenged another to a wood-chopping contest. The challenger worked hard all day, stopping only for a brief break. The second man had a leisurely lunch and several breaks. At the end of the day, the challenger was surprised to find that the other fellow had chopped substantially more wood than he had. I don't get it, he said. Every time I checked you were taking a rest, yet you chopped more wood than I did. But you didn't notice, answered the winning woodsman, that I was sharpening my axe when I sat down to rest. When we work for Jesus we must take time to rest in His presence, to recharge our spiritual batteries. Talking with God sharpens our blades. When we overwork, we can get weary and achieve less; our work could become a chore, rather than an act of worship. We easily stop allowing the Holy Spirit to work through us. Ephesians 3 v 20 - 21 says, Glory to God who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen. This message is for all of you who continue to serve through the many ministries that Fulwood FMC support; Be blessed and know that God will accomplish infinitely more through you than you know. Please rest in Him and make sure you take time out to sharpen your blades! Jason Buckler

OneLine News
We have again been awarded the 5 star (Top Rating) from the Food Standards Agency and featured in the Top Rankings in The LEP, well done to those who work in the kitchen! The visit from Jonathan Veira last month was very well received and we look forward to welcoming him back sometime in the future. A date for the diaries - Congratulations! Ian Clarkson will be ordained as a Free Methodist Pastor on Friday 16th May 7.30pm. Please be there to support, pray for and encourage Ian, Joanna and their family. Congratulations to Mark Ellis and Chananoot Chekhokkruat who were married in Thailand on 6th April. Thanks go to Tim Ball for the front cover picture, taken in Hawkshead Church side chapel.