January Vacation!

Sorry if you have been looking to see what is going on at Ilam. There are services every Sunday at 10.30am at the Ilam Primary School. These services are taken by various people from the Congregation as Ernest has concluded his ministry at the Church and they are now awaiting the arrival of Rod and Steph Robson who are to be the new Pastors sharing the position.
The Welcome day for the Robsons is the 4th February. No time has been set at the time of this posting. However phone the Church office after the 28th January when Fraser will have returned from his mission trip to China, and he will advise you about the times etc.

Sunday 24th December

This Week:
What is in a name? That is the question we will ask as we meet for worship today. Of course as it is Christmas Eve the particular name that we will be considering is the name of "Jesus." Does it have a meaning? If so what is it?
We will sing Christmas Carols as we prepare for the coming of the Christ.

Next Week:
We will start a series of at least three Sundays when we meet informally outside. (Weather permitting!) Each Sunday the leader will have a topic for discussion as well as songs to sing while the children enjoy the play ground. If it is wet then the programme will be in the Hall. Steve Muir will be the leader on the 31st.

Text for today:
...an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." Matthew 1:20-21

From Ernest and Margaret:
This will be our last Sunday with you as Pastor ad Wife. Thank you for the opportunity to serve the Church. We have appreciated your openness and welcome. This has been a year when have learned many new ways of being a Christian in a receptive congregation. It has been a privilege to get to know you all and to share your difficult times as well as your more exciting ones. We are sure that God will richly bless your renewed ministry in 2007 and beyond.

Sunday 17th December

This Sunday
Ray, Debs, and Ernest will share their reflections on the recent Baptist Assembly that they attended in Nelson. It was a time of great encouragement and also challenge as we think about the shape and pattern of the Church in future days. The chidren will have a Craft Day.
The reading that is appropriate for these reports is: Hebrews 10:24 and 25.

24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Next Week:
10.30am Christmas Eve Family Service with carols and stories. There will also be an opportunity to farewell the Stevensons.
Note there will not be a Christmas Day service at Ilam Baptist.

Sunday 3rd December

This week:
"What about Prayer?" is the topic for this Sunday. The text chosen is from the letter of James chapter 5 and verses 13 to 18. Parts of this text are often quoted but today we will look at what James says about prayer as a response in all circumstances, that prayer is a group activity and that prayer should make a difference.

Next week:
The Children of Galaxy Club will join us for their end of year sharing and fun. There will also be something from SPF13 and the Youth Group.

Sunday 26th November

This Week:
10.30am Alison Daly and Noel Marceau will be leading the service and their topic is "the sound of silence!"
Also Frederick and Maryse Rohs (Esther's parents) will be sharing about their personal experiences of ministry in Asia.

7.30pm. All who belong to the Ilam Baptist Congregation are invited to a presentation by the Pastoral Search Committee and the Leadership team with a recommendation for a call to the position of Senior Pastor for the Church. After the presentation there will be a time for questions and then prayer before a vote will be taken by secret ballot.

Next Week:
Ernest will be speaking from a passage in James 5:13-18. "What about Prayer?"

Sunday 19th November

This is the third in the series of topics requested in a recent survey of the Church members. The first was about "Heaven" and the second two weeks ago about "Ilam's perception/interpretation as to whether it is OK to have sex before marriage." The texts for both of these messages are now on the Ilamrave Blog. If you would like to know something of the interesting discussions afterwards you will need to talk to someone who was present.
This week the requested topic is "The wrath of God." God's wrath is mentioned more than 150 times in the old and New Testaments. What does it mean for us, and perhaps more to the point what does it mean for others in our community especially when we consider that God is also known as a God of mercy and grace?

Sunday 5th November

This week:
Recently as part of the 10th Anniversary celebrations we did a survey of the congregation. One of the questions asked for suggestions for Sunday messages. So two weeks ago we discussed 'Heaven' and this week we will look at the topic, "what is the Ilam perspective/interpretation on whether or not it is OK to have sex before marriage." An interesting topic!

Next Week:
Our guest speaker will be Andrew Tisch.