May at Kerith West Wight - Baptisms!
Sunday 14th May - Baptism Sunday! Usual times
We're really looking forward to Baptising Penny Tilt and Caroline Morton on the 14th! It's going to be a great celebration of what God has done in their lives. As usual, we will be using our hot tub in the car park to Baptise them! And if the weather is good we hope to have the whole service out there, like we did when we were first coming back from Covid. If it's just a bit chilly, wrap up warm!
Please be praying for Caroline and Penny as they look ahead and prepare. That they would know God's hand on them and his blessing in their lives.
Sunday 21st May
We will have Simon and Catrina Benham with us, Catrina will be speaking and following the service (and maybe after some lunch) Simon will begin his Pilgrimage to Wildfires! His plan is to walk from Freshwater to the Wiston Estate in Steyning, arriving on the Friday in time for the Big Church Festival and Wildfires. You can read more about his plan here on his blog.
I'm planning on doing the first bit of the walk, from Freshwater to Cowes with Simon and Catrina. If you would like to join us you'd be really welcome. Just let me know if you're thinking you'd like to!
Or if you want to do the full walk with Simon you can get in touch with him.
Your own Pilgrimage
Through this whole series on Pilgrimage, it gives us a helpful moment to consider where we are at on our own spiritual/metaphorical pilgrimage as followers of Jesus. For some, you've just begun this journey, others have been on it for many years, others won't be sure whether you want to start out on the journey of faith - what's holding you back? What's brought you to this point?
For those on the journey:
How are you doing in your faith at the moment?
Do you feel like you are growing in your faith with Jesus, are you having some mountain top moments, or feel like your coasting and faith is easy? How can you encourage others and keep stepping out in faith? Keep exercising those faith muscles!
Are you finding things hard at the moment, like there's a mountain in your way? What do you need that will help you in this season? Is it relationships - people to get round you to pray into your situation. A small group to get plugged into regularly, or new rhythms of time with Jesus and spiritual disciplines? Or maybe it's something like counselling or practical support that would help you through this time. Let's acknowledge what is needed and find the courage to ask for help!
Have you plateaued in your faith? Do you feel like things are plodding along and not really great but sort of fine? What do you need to do to get going and get growing again? Is it a change of rhythm in your devotional life, or a new commitment to being part of small group or gathering on a Sunday? Or a prayer partner that you are honest with and pray with regularly? Or a new way of serving others? Why not volunteer with a local charity, maybe even something out of your comfort zone!
Wherever you're at, let's think and pray about what the next thing is and move towards Jesus.