2024

I hope you have had a good start to the year. It feels like 2024 is racing away already. Before we get too far in to this year I wanted to follow on from the vision talks we had at the end of January, when we shared the hopes and plans for Kerith Windsor.

Café

The installation of the café will be complete this week. I think it looks amazing! Lee from ‘Velo Life Café’ has done an absolutely brilliant job. Again, thank you to everyone who gave generously and prayed. I hope you are as happy with it as I am. Big thanks to Adam Parsonage and Calum Field from Kerith’s central operations too, they have worked hard on making sure the project ran smoothly.

Initially, the café will be used by our host teams on a Sunday and our midweek groups, but I’m really hoping it won’t be too long before we can start to open during the week as well, so that both the church and local community can enjoy it. We still need to choose a coffee machine, we want to be able to provide great tasting coffee, so we won’t rush into this decision. Further thoughts around how it will be run are needed, if you are interested in being involved in those discussions please let me know as I’m going to organise an ‘interest meeting’ soon. Either catch me on a Sunday or email Leon.Johnson@kerith.church

Two Sunday Meetings ?

We have seen steady growth in regards to the number of people attending our Sunday services and are thinking about how we can make sure there is enough space for new people. We really want families to be able to sit together and we are getting to the point where that is not always possible. We are looking at ways we can increase seating but discussions have also started about the possibility of adding another Sunday meeting. Growth in the Kingdom seems to happen slowly and steadily, at least at first, and that is what we are seeing.

If you heard my vision talk at the end of January you would have heard this quote from Rick Warren:

“Church health is the key to church growth. All living things grow if they’re healthy. You don’t have to make them grow – it’s just natural for healthy living organisms.”

I believe our slow and steady growth has been down to creating a healthy culture, rather than any strategy which sparks something. As we look to create space for more growth, I think we need to continue focussing on maintaining that healthy culture. One of the ways we can do that is by making sure we stay close to Jesus and keep our hearts right. Another way is to all play our part, rather than having a few people carrying too much. Jesus calls us to serve one another. And, if we are looking to do more during the week, in order to have a greater impact in society and to add more meetings, so we can reach more people for Jesus, it is crucial we all look to get involved. So, if you feel this is the Church God is calling you to be part of please be thinking and praying about where you could serve.

Perhaps your heart is discipleship, would you like to lead a small group or host a small group? We don’t just want to gather on a Sunday morning, we want to do life together. Small groups is a great way we can begin to do that.

Maybe hospitality is where your heart is, in which case the host team on a Sunday could be a good fit? If you have any questions please have a chat with Adam who looks after both Small Groups and Sunday Host teams: Adam.Parsonage@kerith.church.

If you would like to get involved once a month with our brilliant production team, which takes care of sound and visuals on Sunday’s, please contact Josh.Boyle@Kerith.church or speak to Andi Swift on a Sunday. Full training is provided.

We want to do more in raising up the next generation, so are looking for more people to support our young people. If you were able to volunteer once per month on our kids or youth team, so we can run that ministry every week, that would be brilliant. You might not want to necessarily lead any teaching, but having more adults in the room supporting the leaders helps them and helps us with the ratios, so we can then serve more children. We are having more families join and this is probably the area of church we are in most need of volunteers. Please email our wonderful families lead Ruth.Haruna@kerith.church for more information.

If you would like to get involved with ‘Revive’, the social justice arm of Kerith, please email Simon and Louise Goodison at Revive.Windsor@kerith.church - They are a great couple who would love to tell you all about the projects we are currently doing, but also hear if you have an area of social injustice on your heart. They would gladly welcome a discussion around what that is and look at potential ways we can support and resource you to bring change in that area.

Worship is another area we would love to have more people involved in. Particularly when we do eventually add another meeting. If you can sing and/or play an instrument, plus a passion to lead people into sung worship, please speak to Simon Goodison, Stef or me on a Sunday.

I’m really excited by all that God is doing in Kerith Windsor and the lives which are being impacted by Jesus. I also believe there is so much more He wants to do in and through us. Lets keep our hearts right by staying close to Jesus this year. And, lets make ourselves available to be used by Him as he continues to build His Kingdom here.

Jesus, may our lives be poured out in service to you and to those around us from the overflow of a heart thankful for your grace.

Hope to see you soon.

Leon