Stay Connected: Community Updates

Got an idea?

We know there will be lots of ideas brewing in the community of how we can help those around us. If you want to share an idea of what we could be doing to help bring faith, hope and love email us at: ideas@kingsarms.org

We'd also love to hear of any good news stories so do send them through.

What's Been Happening At Alpha | 30 June

We’ve been running our latest Alpha course online, and it’s been wonderful to see people still making friends, enjoying conversation and encountering God from there own homes.

In fact in addition to those based in Bedfordshire we’ve had people connect with us from Yeovil, Luton, Aylesbury, Bath, St Neots and Newcastle!

We’ve had guests share of answered prayer in family breakthrough, provision and being offered work.

Women sharing of being healed or significantly improved in back conditions and dental pain after prayer.

Powerful prophetic words encouraging guests.

And most significantly, we’ve had people take their first steps in a new relationship with God.

Our next course will likely be in the Autumn. Keep an eye on the website for details.

Prayer Points from today's devotional | 08 June

These prayer points are from today's devotional written by Katy (you can find the devotional here).

How to pray today
- I think that the most brave prayer we can pray today is a confession of our lack of faith that God might ever bring change in certain situations. While the wound is still exposed, let’s draw near to our Father and invite Him to comfort us. Invite His grace to overwhelm us where we’ve chosen to numb instead of bringing our pain to Him.

- Do you have time today, or if not this week, to list out some of the biggest prayers you can think of? Even writing them down is an expression of faith, God is so capable of then breathing more faith into your heart. Can 2020 be a year where you dare to hope for breakthrough in these prayers?

- Pray for our church, the King’s Arms. Pray that we would be a people of hope, a people of prayer. A people who don’t numb our pains and the pains of those around us, but rather we come before God to find His comfort and subsequently to be Hebrews 11 people - whether we receive the promises in our lifetimes or not. (v13: “These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.”)

Pastoral Team Update | 04 June

The impact of George Floyd’s murder is reverberating around the world. As so many of us are reeling from the shock of what we’ve witnessed this last week and through the pandemic we thought it might be helpful to suggest 3 simple steps to processing events like these.

1. Be honest with God.

Psalm 5 says “Listen to my words, Lord, consider my lament… For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness”

God is available not only for our praise but also for our ‘laments’.

As Tim Keller puts it “He expects us to come to him for refuge from our grief, fear and pain… not to dull those emotions with distractions that promise but can never deliver blessing’.

You can be honest with Him. His shoulders are broad enough.

2. Be honest with those around you.

Galatians 6:2-4 says “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks they are something when they are not, they deceive themselves. Each one should test their own actions.”

The bible has no understanding of ‘Solo Christians’. Part of the reason is that some of life’s experiences are too burdensome to carry alone. With so much turmoil in the world at the moment who are you really talking to?

If you don’t feel like you have anyone around you feel free to get in touch with us at pastoral@kingsarms.org or 01234 924008. We’d love to give you a call.

3. Reach out.

2 Cor 1:3-4 says “the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

Jesus is so powerful that he turns tragedy into redemption. As we receive comfort from Him and those he’s placed around us it’s worth thinking who should I reach out to? Whether it’s a relative, colleague or a ‘long lost’ friend who is the Holy Spirit nudging you to connect with?

Love

Paul Johnson, on behalf of the Pastoral Team

King's Arms Update | 03 June

While we intended to bring you this update yesterday, we felt it was right to respect the silence on social media. We recognise that many are currently hurting because of what is happening in America and that our church family cannot sit silently on the matter. We'd invite you to watch this update from Simon Holley and Ben Enejo, regarding King's Arms commitment to fighting the evil of racism and that we will continue to stand with the oppressed and afflicted.

If you're free we'd would also love us to pray into this issue on Wednesday 3rd June (tonight) from 9:00-9:45pm. Details are:

Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83326705661… | Meeting ID: 833 2670 5661 | Password: 291894

We will continue to pray unceasingly for justice, peace and reconciliation across our nation and the nations.

God's heart for the afflicted and oppressed | 01 June

Scripture: Psalm 10:17-18

17 O Lord, you hear the desire of the afflicted;
you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear
18 to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed,
so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.

Thoughts:

We have probably all been aware this past week of the terrible events surrounding the killing of unarmed George Floyd in America. It raises again the evils of racial hatred and the appalling history of division and death between people who look different than one another. God is very clear on this subject. He hates racial injustice. He stands with the oppressed. He hears the desires of the afflicted. And so should we. This week as we pray, we are praying for heaven to invade earth and swallow up evils like racism. Racism is not just a black issue. It’s a Kingdom issue. Let's' pray for God's beautiful multi-coloured Kingdom to rush in like a flood.

This verse captures a very relevant essence of prayer, God is close to those who are afflicted, to do justice. He hears us all. As we continue to pray against the pandemic today let’s also remain informed about what else is happening in our world.

Our prayers are powerful and effective, and we have brothers and sisters locally and around the world who need our prayers right now because of the injustice of racial inequality. Let's not be unaffected or uninformed about how real this is for people both across the Atlantic but also in our town and nation. Will you pray with me about this today, knowing that our prayers truly make a difference?

How to pray today:

- Take a moment to reflect on the power of prayer. Remind yourself about times when God has answered prayer before. Dwell here for a while before we engage in some big prayers.

- Pray that we will be a generation that sees a change in policy, in practice, in love and inequality. Pray for stability both in America and here in the UK, for leadership engagement in dialogue that validates oppression and seeks to implement change. Pray for police. Cry out to our Father for justice.d change. Ask God to show you His heart and pray accordingly.

- Pray that we will be a generation that sees a change in policy, in practice, in love and in equality. Pray for stability both in America and here in the UK, for leadership engagement in dialogue that validates oppression and seeks to implement change. Pray for police. Cry out to our Father for justice.

Thank you for standing together. Let's play our part. Let's not be silent.

King's Arms Project Update | 27 May

BIG NEWS! We wanted to share an important update regarding the King’s Arms Project.

Simon Dwight, who has led the Project so well for the past eight years will be leaving us to serve within the Ministry for Housing and Local Government as a Specialist Advisor on homelessness. Simon has led us through some big changes during his time in post and pioneered creative solutions in serving the poor in Bedford and beyond.

Whilst we’ll miss him greatly we’re also delighted to share that from July, Kirstie Cook will be taking on the role of CEO. Those who know her well will be aware of Kirstie’s passion for the poor, heart for justice and gifted leadership. She joins a superb group of staff and volunteers on the Project team.

Please join us in encouraging and praying for both Simon and Kirstie at this time.

We still believe that there no such thing as a hopeless case.

National Mental Health Awareness Week | 21 May

Hi everyone - Philbe here from the pastoral team! I’ve been reflecting on this week being National Mental Health Awareness week. I am increasingly aware of how being in lockdown with social distancing is potentially affecting our mental health and I’ve noticed 3 different groups of people emerging:

- The first being those whose mental health has improved and who find themselves thriving in this season. The more sustainable pace of life has reduced stress levels and has allowed space for more restful and reflective activities leading to a more peaceful state of mind. It has allowed the creativity to flow and fresh new innovations to be explored

- The second are those whose workload has not decreased and who find themselves busier than ever. These people are not finding they have the time to reflect and rest and this may lead to feelings of missing out and frustration and possibly even exhaustion. Also in this group are those that may have had a mild undiagnosed mental health condition such as anxiety or depressive behaviour. These people may have found with the increased uncertainties of the future their anxiety has also increased. They may have found it harder to ignore or distract themselves from this due to the lack of external stimulus and work.

- The third group are those that are finding their mental health significantly affected. They are often feeling overwhelmed by their emotions and thoughts. Each day is a battle for them and they feel isolated, afraid and alone.

So what should our response be to this be - Kindness

Kindness for others. At the beginning of a crisis the support is often high but can tail off as the situation continues. Can I encourage you to keep reaching out to your neighbours, your friends and family. Be kind to those you encounter on your daily exercise - make time to smile and say hello. Pray for those that may be suffering that they would know the strength, comfort and peace of God in this time.

Kindness for ourselves. For those of us who are finding they are struggling with their mental health then maybe this is something you could try. In Chronicles 16:34 it says give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever. Make time each day to reflect on what went well, your successes and what you are grateful for - no matter how small. Keep a note of these things and at the end of each week read back through and notice the kindness and the goodness of God towards you.

Also if you are struggling, particularly with your mental health, can I encourage you to pick up the phone and call the pastoral team on 01234 924008. We are ready and available to listen and pray with you and, where we can, help find the appropriate support for you.

Prophetic word about fire | 19 May

We regularly receive prophetic words from prophets within our church community and across the country. Yesterday this one captivated me… and I wanted to share it with you to be inspired… but more then that to fuel your prayers. May it be Lord.

“I have felt like God is beginning to speak about fire. I was out running on the streets the other night and the spiritual atmosphere in the town was pregnant with promise. I felt as if I wanted to prophesy on the streets and heal people. At times I feel like shouting out and declaring God’s goodness and hope. I can see something building in the spirit. There’s revelation and power coming. Revelation and power. We are like spiritual firewood. We are designed to be burned! We are designed to be on fire for Him. Before firewood can be used, it has to be dried-out first. We are in a season of drying out - we’re being prepared. We are being prepared to catch fire. He wants to set us ablaze for Him. There’s a hungering God wants us to fan into flame. He provides the fire. We are to stoke and maintain it. Worship is a foundational key to stoke that fire!”

Whole Church Prayer Meeting

A quick update from Steve about tomorrow evening's prayer meeting (Friday 15 May, 8pm) where we will join together online to seek God's face and to prioritise His presence. We believe that when we pray, God moves and so we will pray for our church, region and world. His promise is that when we turn to Him, He hears us and He heals our land.

Join us tomorrow evening: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87681522009

Look forward to seeing you there.

How's Your Hope | 12 May

How is your hope? Hope for the future? For your health? For your finances? For your family?

Hope is a little like a hospital gown. When it really matters, we’re often not as well covered as we think.

One of the most stunning verses in the Bible is Romans 15:13, it’s a prayer written by the Apostle Paul to those in Rome and it’s a prayer I’m praying for you right now even as you browse. I’m praying it for our church family, for those scattered across the earth, but I’m especially praying it for those who wouldn’t say they knew Jesus personally.

You see true joy, true peace, true HOPE is found solely in Him.

So “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Amen.

If you want to connect with us, and allow us to share more about what it means to enjoy a relationship with God you can visit kingsarms.org/response

Pastoral Team Update | 07 May

Tim and Sarah share some of tips around conflict resolution during the lockdown.

For more updates from the community see: kingsarms.org/communityupdates

Go: Everyday stories of stopping to love | 05 May

Many of us know and love Claire Coggan, and we’re thrilled to share of the release of her book ‘Go: Everyday stories of stopping to love’.It’ll inspire you of what God can do when we say Yes to him.

If you know Claire personally you can get your hands on a copy now by getting in touch with her direct or pre-order them at https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1912863472

COVID-19 Relief | 04 May

One important announcement on Sunday was Simon sharing his concern for what is happening in the developing world and the impact of the Coronavirus. We believe as a people we have been called to be a blessing not only to our nation but to the nations.

If you missed the video you can watch it now and if you want to give, then please head to kingsarms.org/donate using the COVID-19 relief drop-down option.

A Prayer Based on Psalm 91 | 29 April

In Proverbs 18:21 it says that the words that we speak have the power to release either death or life. In this current situation we need to, more than ever, be speaking words of life over our town, our nation, over ourselves, our families and friends.

Ali Borromeo, who is a frontline worker for the NHS wrote a prayer based on the words of Psalm 91. This prayer is full of life-giving words - why not take some time this week to pray this prayer, to meditate on the words and allow them to bring life to you and to the world around you.

I choose to live in your presence today God, to remain stable and fixed, to recover my strength and be at peace, to find respite and a breathing space in the safety of your shadow.

You alone are my God, my refuge and fortress, my protection. You are my hiding place and my safe house. I trust you and confidently rely on your unchangeable character and remain sure of you in the midst of the battle.

You will save me from the fowler's snare, that hidden trap of danger and disease. You will cover me with your feathers, protect and hide me, I will be safe and secure under your wings

You are my shield; my protection against the blows of the enemy, your faithfulness completely surrounds me.

I refuse to be anxious at night, or partner with a spirit of darkness by day. I choose peace 24/7; fear has no place in me.

Thousands may fall all around me, but it will not come near me or those I love, I will remain in peace, unshakable, strong in you Lord

I will anchor my soul; my thoughts, choices and feelings in you Jesus. I will NOT be afraid, I will trust you.

Even though I see chaos and fear all round me I will remain safe and inaccessible in the secret place of your presence.

I choose to focus my attention on you Father God, to stay in your presence and take refuge under your mighty wings.

Even now you are commanding your angels on my behalf giving them special instructions to guard and defend me, to go with me and catch me if I fall.

Because of the power of your blood Jesus I crush evil underfoot; I walk unharmed amongst the fiercest powers of darkness

I will remind myself constantly just how much you love me and of your promises to rescue and protect me; I anchor my soul in your LOVE and your WORD.

I will speak your name ‘Jesus’, I will boldly declare and proclaim it every chance I get, I will set my love on You Lord and I know that you have set your love on me. When I call on you you answer me, you deliver and honour me.

Today I gratefully receive your promise of a long life lived in the fullness of your salvation.

Daily Devotional | 27 April

Today it's great to have Sarah Brown, one of our artists, sharing with us some art and then her thoughts:
-
Scripture: (Romans 8:12-17)
12 Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, you have no obligation to do what your sinful nature urges you to do. 13 For if you live by its dictates, you will die. But if through the power of the Spirit you put to death the deeds of your sinful nature, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. 15 So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” 16 For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. 17 And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.

Thoughts:
As people who have received Jesus into our lives, we are led by the Spirit of God, and that means we are children on His! Adopted into His family. What a precious family we find ourselves in.

Sarah wrote about this revelation as she journaled: "As I pondered on it I was reminded of memories of my earthly father when I was growing up and the overriding image of him as a man of stature. He is a very tall man and I remember distinctly the size of his hands compared to mine. They felt huge and they were, and still are, incredibly soft. I loved nothing more than holding his hands or lying on his chest listening to his heartbeat having a cuddle. Those hands made me feel held, safe and loved beyond measure. Those hands picked me up when I was hurt, cuddled me when I was sad or needed comfort, tended me when I was physically hurt, cheered me on and led me over the years as I grew, way before I ever knew my Heavenly Fathers touch, as a prophetic echo of the Father I was yet to meet. But, what I love is that Papa God knew all that time ago that I would one day reach out for the hand He was offering me.

Whatever your experience of your earthly father, today and this week we're going to look to God and ask for increasing revelation of Him as our Father.

How to pray today:
-You could even go back to the Lord's prayer that we prayed last week, and sit for a while in the 'Our Father' opening phrase... as you go through the prayer, reflect on what it means to pray those words when He is a good Father. Ask Him to help you relate to Him in this way.

-Pray for a revelation of Him as a loving Father for those around you - it might be neighbours, family members or colleagues who have been affected by the pandemic, pray that they will encounter God as a loving Father even today.

-Pray for families around the world, knowing that the implications of our current situation are huge. You could research statistics about fatherlessness and pray about that. Or you could recognise that for some fathers, not being able to provide for their families due to employment problems is significant, pray for stability and provision for them. Pray for those who've lost a father.

Love Sarah Brown and Katy Hollway
-
Remember you can sign up for these daily devotions at: kingsarms.org/dailydevotions

Pastoral Team Update | 23 April

If you feel like you need a bit of help to connect to God in this season then here’s Amanda, from the pastoral team, with a ministry tool that will help to lead you into His presence.

YourNeighbour.org | 21 April

Listen to one of the hero’s of the King’s Arms sharing about a Project he’s been involved in that’s supporting churches around the country to help those in need. Find out more at: yourneighbour.org

If you need support, or know someone who does call 0300 323 9952 nationwide.

If you’d like to be part of the King’s Arms local response team, helping people practically you can email caroline.cameron@kingsarms.org

Pastoral Team Update | 16 April

Tim and Sarah share some marriage tips for this season.

Alpha Online | 14 April

Public service announcement.
1. Don’t paint around your furniture if you want to be friends with the next residents.

2. Why not take the opportunity to join Steve and explore the meaning of life on our first ever online Alpha courses.

Isaiah 25:8 | 13 April

Today we're very fortunate to have Katy Hollway, one of our artists, sharing with us some art and then her thoughts

Scripture: (Isaiah 25:8)

He will swallow up death for ever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken.

Thoughts:

Easter Sunday was a bit different this year but we still celebrated the most wonderful event history has ever known. Jesus rose up from the dead and is forever alive!

The promise from Isaiah that death would be swallowed up is fulfilled in Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross and his defeating death in his resurrection.

It’s all a very good bit of news! However, are we still living with this truth today. I like how Lauren Daigle says it in her song ‘Still Rolling Stones’.

“All at once I came alive

This beating heart, these open eyes

The grave let go

The darkness should have known

(You're still rolling rolling, you're still rolling rolling oh)

You're still rolling stones ...”

Jesus burst from that grave so that we don’t have to be kept there. His completed work on the cross means our destiny is not death but eternal life. He is the one that is able to roll the tombstones away and he is in the habit of still rolling stones today.

His desire is for us to be people living with the truth that we are not only rescued from death but carried by his victory.

The next part of that verse is especially wonderful to know at this time. Although there are tears, perhaps from grief or anxiety, we know the one who comforts and gives us strength.

Prayer pointers:
- Think about the day that Jesus stepped out of the tomb. What does this mean for you? Are you being carried by him? Let this spill over into thanks for what he has already done.

- Take a moment to ask Holy Spirit to show you where you are still showing signs of being stuck in the tomb. Invite Jesus to roll away the stone. Let him lift you up and bring you to a place of repentance and life.

- Jesus isn’t just your life bringer but your family’s, your friend’s, your neighbour’s ... Pray for them in their places of being isolated. Pray that the stones that have been stuck until now, will be rolled away and that they will encounter Jesus.

- Pray for comfort for those that are grieving and are anxious at this time. Ask for opportunities and inspiration in how to be GOD’s representative.

He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. (1 Peter 1:3-4)

Jesus has given us new birth and living hope. A fun way to engage with this truth is to search out signs of new birth and living hope in the world around us. A few creative ideas for you ... you could wake up a little early to listen to the dawn chorus, look closely at nature or plant some seeds.

If you like to draw or paint, you could do a study of a flower or plant.

Pastoral Team Update | 09 April

Hi everyone! I’m Philbe and I am part of the pastoral team here at the King’s Arms. As we get further into the lockdown I am struggling to remember what day of the week it is! I’m going to be honest with you today has felt quite a challenge for me - as an extrovert I am missing connection and interaction with people. I gain most of my energy from external stimulus and when that is not around my productivity reduces. Over the last few weeks there have been times when I feel like I’m adjusting to the new ‘normal’ and getting into a healthy routine and others where I am battling with frustration or anxiety. You may find that you’re in a similar position or have other challenges you are facing - so here are some thoughts that you might find helpful:

Don't compare! We really are in unusual times and we all respond in different ways. It might be that we are looking at social media posts of people who are learning new skills, changing the world and thriving and then we feel guilty because we are just about coping with making dinner or getting dressed. Your journey in this season may look different to someone else's; it doesn’t mean that either one is more right than the other. Take this time to find moments you can connect with God and listen to what he is saying to you and what he’s asking you to do.
Embrace authenticity. During this season we are going to have good days and not so great days. We need to find places where we can be honest about how we are doing and not to feel ashamed of our emotions. It might be that you need to find time with God where you can be open with him and share your frustration, your disappointment and pain. This is a great time to connect with one another and check in with how people are really doing - let’s ask our friends and family how they really are and what they are feeling. It’s a great time to cry together and to laugh together, to encourage one another, to offer words of comfort and an opportunity to allow our true selves to be seen by others.

If you would like to read more about how to stay healthy in this season then here is an article called Avoiding Overwhelm written by Kate Middleton from Mind and Soul Foundation

Frontline Worker Helpline | 07 April

If you work for the NHS in Bedford and need to talk, receive pastoral support or receive prayer, please call our helpline Monday-Sunday 8am-11pm. We are not trained counsellors, but we are ready to listen to you and pray for those on the frontline during COVID-19. You're not alone.

This is:
- An opportunity to talk
- A moment to be encouraged
- A way to receive prayer (even if this isn't normal for you, it is for us)
- Available to you, 8am-11pm every day
- A time when you don't need to hold things together
- Confidential (Unless someone's safety is at risk)

This is not:
- A counselling service, or mental health advice (We’ll recommend a GP or counsellor)
- A place to give away patient details
- Exclusive. Regardless of your faith, we are happy to talk to you.

Tips for handling being in isolation | 03 April

Luke 3 & 4 | 01 April

A brilliant little devotional from Phil where he shares from Luke 3 & 4 about three specific encounters Jesus has with the Holy Spirit and what we can glean from them.

King's Arms Project Update | 31 March

In this season we want to remember the poor, in this video, Simon Dwight shares what’s happening with our King’s Arms Project.

For more information and to support the Project you can visit kingsarmsproject.org or email info@kingsarmsproject.org

Prayer and Communion | 30 March

Katy reminds us that despite the uncertain times, Jesus remains comfortably on His throne. You can join us for our daily devotions by signing up at kingsarms.org/dailydevotion

Check out kingsarms.org/thirst and see all the other ways you can partner with the rest of the church family in prayer.

When plans A, B and C are out the window | 27 March

A quick Pastoral Team Update from Ben Enejo with a few thoughts about when plans A, B and C are out the window.

We're trying to make sure everyone in the church family is supported. In addition to group life support and pastoral@kingsarms.org, we've now got a pastoral phone line: 01234 924008. Feel free to call/email if it's for support or a chat. Also let us know if you want to volunteer.

Being Good News | 24 March

We were so pleased to see many of you join us for our first ever King’s Arms online church meetings on Sunday. Even when we can’t see one another face to face I’m grateful that technology is helping us to connect in new and creative ways. We’re working hard behind the scenes to make sure they not only continue, but that we explore more solutions to help build us closer together despite the call to social isolation.

I’ve been so encouraged to hear stories of God moving as family members are expressing an interest in God and coming to church for the first time, people are being prayed for in the streets and friends are stepping out to show radical acts of kindness to those working and serving our community. I’m so proud of each of you.

In the short video below I outline three ways that you can partner with God in being good news in this season.

Firstly, with your neighbours. Let’s be good news to those around us at the moment. There is an amazing ‘Viral Kindness’ card that we’re attaching that you can write up your details on and pop them through your neighbour's door. (Wash your hands first!) Maybe you could write a personal note on the other side to introduce yourselves? Even if you’ve never met them before, what an opportunity to bless others in our streets… Imagine if 500 of us took part and looked out for 10 of our closest neighbours we could support 5000 people across Bedford in an instant. Some people may need practical support like food essentials, others may just want someone to talk to or to pray with.

Secondly, to the poor. We have always had a mandate as a community to look out for the poorest in our town. How can you be doing that at this time? There are so many ways. Perhaps you could donate to your local food bank? (https://bedford.foodbank.org.uk) Maybe you could support the King’s Arms Project £30 for 30 scheme? (kingsarmsproject.org/donate) Or perhaps you may even be able to volunteer to help at the Nightshelter. There are all sorts of practical opportunities from mowing lawns or helping with cleaning to covering shifts. Perhaps you could even put a few extra items on your shopping that the Nightshelter most need? The team will even pick them up from you. These needs are changing all the time, so to express your interest and find out more about any of these areas please email info@kingsarmsproject.org.

Thirdly, to the NHS. Now is a time of great stress for our incredible National Health Service, and I want to encourage you to go out of your way to reach out to any NHS staff you might know to encourage them, or serve them in practical ways if they need them. We have also been given the opportunity by Bedford Hospital Voluntary Services to be able to get involved in volunteering. Not as front line staff, but as volunteers in more practical ways that will enable the front line staff to do what they are best at. There are short checks and training available for those who are keen to be involved. You can express your interest by emailing dave.holt@kingsarms.org.

Above all, pray. Pray for your neighbours, pray for the King’s Arms Project staff and for the poor in our community, pray too for the NHS workers and that through it all God’s kingdom would come on earth as it is in heaven.

Class of 2020 it’s our time to shine.

Steve

Tim Brown from the Pastoral Team and Youth Team shares some tips for handling being in isolation.

We're trying to make sure everyone in the church family is supported. In addition to group life support and pastoral@kingsarms.org, we've got a pastoral phone line: 01234 924008. Feel free to call/email if it's for support or a chat.

Download Kindness Postcard

Prayers That Move Mountains | 23 March

Katy shares about the daily devotion emails called: "Prayers That Move Mountains" that you can sign up for at: kingsarms.org/dailydevotion

We will send out daily Bible passages and reflections, as well as suggestions of what to be praying for and how to pray together in our households. It's a brilliant way of partnering in faith with King's Arms during this time and planting seeds of hope in your email account

p.s. sorry about the geese...

Pastoral Team Update | 21 March

A brief pastoral team update from PJ. This post will be updated with the phone numbers mentioned in the video once they have been sent through.

King's Kids Resources | 19 March

We are aware that we are in circumstances now that seem to change very quickly, and for the foreseeable future we won't be able to meet as King's Kids. So we wanted to let you know about some things that we want to put in place for the next season.

We are aware that you will have lots of things going on at the moment, and we don't want to just add to your 'to do' list. We would love to be able to give you some resources that you can dip into as and when you want to.

We are planning to send something out each week that will have a different focus, and will have worship, craft, discussion and prayer ideas for different ages that you can access as a family. Please do give us feedback so we know if we are giving you useful things.

We have also started to use our Kings Kids Facebook page where we will post ideas and challenges for the children. Please take a moment to follow the page. There is a great article on there by Rachel Turner at Parenting for Faith, where she talks about ways that we can lead our kids through this season.

The service will be streaming on Sunday, can I encourage you to join in with one of the services, you will be able to comment, and put in prayer requests as it streams.

Please do feel free to get in contact with us if we can help in any way,

Love

Nicky Stanyard, Anil Bangar and Jess Fordham

Sunday 22 March Resources