Kerith Bracknell Blog
Our Easter Trails This Year
For the past two years, our Good Friday Easter trail has been a hit with families. This year, we invited schools, and 4 schools joined in! We're grateful to our volunteers and excited to do it again for the whole church community on Good Friday…
Restored Lives explained
Following a powerful message from Erik Castenskiold on forgiveness, we’re excited to launch the Restored Lives course on 30th April. This 7-week online course provides practical support for anyone facing relationship breakdown or divorce, helping you navigate this season with tools, community and renewed hope—whatever your beliefs.
Easter at Kerith
This Easter at Kerith Bracknell, you’re invited to explore what it means to be truly ALIVE! From Good Friday’s Walk of Witness and interactive Easter journeys for families and adults, to a powerful Half Night of Prayer and our joyful Easter Sunday all-age celebration with baptisms—there’s something for everyone to experience the hope of Easter.
How to Hear God - Prophecy
On Sunday 9th March, we explored how God speaks through prophecy—His word shared through others. John Bell brought a timely prophetic message, sensing a "new season" for Kerith: a springtime of revival, restoration, and fresh outpourings of the Holy Spirit. We're inviting everyone to take time to reflect and pray into what this could mean for you and our church community.
Breathing IN and OUT during the week…
Midweek community at Kerith Bracknell is an invitation to deepen connections and create space for God beyond Sundays. As Simon Benham encourages us to Breathe IN and Breathe OUT God's presence this year, we're exploring new ways for community to flourish. Whether through small groups meeting in the daytime, Cafe Church in partnership with Revive, or opportunities to serve our local schools and international community — there’s a place for everyone to belong and grow.
Gift Day Update - Cost of Living Fund
Last Sunday, we relaunched our Cost of Living Fund, created in 2020 to support individuals and families facing financial hardship due to the ongoing cost-of-living crisis. Over the past five years, thanks to your generosity, we've raised over £73,000 — helping many in our community with essential needs. However, with demand still high and the fund running low, we're asking for your continued support to help those struggling with rising costs.
Your donations, whether one-off or monthly, enable our Kerith Care team to provide supermarket vouchers to those in need — from parents struggling with school costs to pensioners facing energy bill pressures. Every contribution makes a difference.
Friday Prayer Theme & Half Night of Prayer
Join us for a powerful time of prayer and reflection as we wrap up our week of prayer and fasting with a special Half Night of Prayer on January 31st. We'll focus on being still in God's presence, inspired by the story of Mary sitting at Jesus' feet. Come and breathe in His presence, asking for His guidance and yielding to His will. Whether you join us for one hour or stay until midnight, we invite you to pray with the Kerith Bracknell community.
Support the Bracknell Climate Change Strategy (and get paid!)
Join the Net Zero Strategy Room—an immersive experience where you can have your say on tackling climate change! 🌍
Kerith Bracknell is hosting Bracknell Council’s Climate Change Team for two events next week:
📅 Tuesday, 2-4pm | 📅 Thursday, 10-12pm (K2)
There are limited spaces left, and participants will be paid for their time!
Be part of the change. Sign up now and help shape a better future.
Thursday Prayer Theme: Breathing Out (pt2)
Today’s focus is on "Breathing Out"—being a faithful presence in the world. Philippians 2:14-16 calls us to be a "breath of fresh air" in a polluted society, carrying God’s light into every space we enter.
Following the P.R.A.Y. framework, take a moment to pause and breathe deeply, thank God for the encouragers in your life, ask for opportunities to bring His presence into difficult spaces, and yield to His call to "shine like stars" in the world.
Action step: Read about the work of Tearfund and be inspired by how Christians around the world are shining for Jesus!
Wednesday Prayer Theme: Breathing Out (pt1)
Today, we shift from "Breathing In" to "Breathing Out"—living out God’s presence in our families, workplaces, and communities. Matthew 5:13-16 reminds us that we are called to be salt and light in the world, bringing out the "God-flavors" and "God-colors" around us.
Following the P.R.A.Y. framework (Pause, Rejoice, Ask, Yield), reflect on where you've been salt and light this week, thank God for your salvation, ask for opportunities to share His love, and yield to His purpose for you.
Action step: Explore the Isaiah61 app and challenge yourself to intentionally help others move closer to Jesus.
Tuesday Prayer Theme: Breathing In (pt2)
Today, as we continue "Breathing In" God's Presence, we focus on experiencing Him deeply within our church community—in small groups, Sunday gatherings, youth ministries, and beyond. Isaiah 41:10 reminds us, “Do not fear, for I am with you.”
Following the P.R.A.Y. framework (Pause, Rejoice, Ask, Yield), take time to quiet your heart, thank God for His Presence in our church, ask for greater awareness of His Spirit, and yield to His work in us and through us.
Action step: Encourage someone in your church community today—send a message, share a verse, or pray for them!
Monday Prayer Theme: Breathing In (pt1)
Today, we begin our week of prayer and fasting by “Breathing In”—seeking to encounter God’s Presence personally and as a church community. As Exodus 33:14 reminds us, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
Following the P.R.A.Y. framework (Pause, Rejoice, Ask, Yield), take time to quiet your heart, rejoice in God’s Presence, ask for more of Him in your life, and yield to His transforming work.
Action step: Set reminders throughout your day to pause, breathe deeply, and rest in His Presence.
Preparing for our prayer and fasting week…
From Monday 27th to Friday 31st January, we’ll be setting aside time to ‘Breathe In’ God’s Presence and ‘Breathe Out’ His love into the world. Through prayer and intentional living, we seek to encounter God deeply, see lives transformed, and pursue His justice in our communities.
This week, we also encourage you to consider fasting—whether it’s a meal, social media, or another sacrifice—as a way to draw closer to God. Not sure where to start? Check out our 24-7 Prayer resources, daily blogs, and guided prayer sessions to help you stay engaged.
Join us in seeking God in a fresh way—let’s expect transformation!
Practising the Presence of God..
What a powerful start to the year! As we journey deeper into God's heart, we’re embracing new ways to stay constant in His presence. Last Sunday, our Kerith Bracknell panel—Jenny, Karin, Paul, Mark & Paula—shared inspiring ways to refresh our devotional time.
Looking for resources to help? Here are some great FREE devotional apps to support your spiritual growth, from Bible reading plans to prayer journaling and guided devotionals.
Missed the discussion? Listen to the panel podcast now and check out our Vision Night LIVE on YouTube for more insights from our Central Leads and Simon Benham.
Let’s continue seeking God’s presence together!
Curious about faith?
Are you curious about faith, life’s big questions, and what it all means? If you’re looking for a space to explore these topics openly and without pressure, the Alpha Course is for you!
Alpha is a series of interactive sessions where you can ask anything, share your thoughts, and engage in meaningful discussions—all in a welcoming and relaxed environment. Each session includes refreshments, a short talk, and open conversations about topics like Who is Jesus? and Is there more to life than this?
Our next Alpha Course starts Wednesday, 29th January 2025, at Kerith Bracknell. Come and explore faith with us—no pressure, just honest conversation.
Sign up today and take the first step on your journey of discovery!
Making Room for Jesus in 2025
As we step into 2025, the pace of life remains relentless, with distractions pulling us in every direction. Like the biblical Martha, we often find ourselves busy with good things but at the expense of the best thing—time in God's presence. How do we balance the demands of life with a disciplined, meaningful pursuit of spiritual growth?
Looking to the wisdom of the early monastics, this message explores The Royal Way—a balanced path that avoids extremes of overzealousness and neglect in our faith. Inspired by the life of Antony of Egypt, we'll discover how spiritual disciplines like prayer, solitude, and Scripture meditation can deepen our relationship with God.
Join us this Sunday as members of the Kerith Bracknell community share their experiences of walking The Royal Way in everyday life!
Sing carols in town with us on Thursday 12th December
The Lexicon have invited the Bracknell Churches back to sing carols together by the Christmas tree in the middle of the Lexicon shopping Centre, to sing carols and invite people to many of the carols services at the Bracknell Churches by giving out leaflets on Thursday 12th December.
Please, we still need your help to spread the JOY this Christmas Season
We still need help in bringing Christmas JOY to our events over this season. Can you take up a serving opportunity?
Find the JOY in Christmas this year at Kerith.
In the midst of the highs and lows of this season we want to invite you to experience the heart of Christmas as we take a you on a journey through the Christmas Story.
Join us in bringing JOY to Christmas…. 🎄 👼🏻🎁
Part of our DNA at Kerith Community Church is to craft events and moments where people can experience the presence of God in the midst of the Christmas season. To do this well we need all of us to play our part- it’s a great way to make new friends at Kerith and bless those coming through the doors for the first time.