Blog

Hello Everyone

 

It was so goods to be in church this Sunday. To worship together again, to sing and pray out corporately. The atmosphere was wonderful. It made me so thankful for our church family and also made me realise what we have missed over this extended season without a free expression of gathered church. For those not yet ready to meet in person my prayer and hope is that the excitement and freedom felt in the room was also experienced at home through church online.

 

2 Dedications this Sunday

 

This week we celebrate with Tom & Abbie and with Niamh and Lewis as we dedicate Joshua and Finn. We are so looking forward to welcoming their families and their church family as we celebrate together.

 

If you didn’t make it this week here is the latest information to help you know what to expect from our gatherings:

Online Church – Join Pray Give

 

A huge thank you to everyone who has given, to those who are praying, and to those who have applied to volunteer on our teams. There is still time to pray, Join, and give.

For more information please watch our online church video below.

http://https://youtu.be/a1UsZTk9bhQ

This is my last Pastors Update

 

As we have now moved out of lockdown my Pastor’s update ends this week. I will be instead launching a blog from September to compliment our online church campus. Midweek messages will continue to update you with all the latest information and events at CLC.

 

Live Prayer

 

Please Join Tash and I for Live prayer on Thursday at St Helens CLC Facebook.  We are looking forward to praying for you and with you as we encounter God together in this online space.

Rest

 

As the season has shifted following freedom day and the Summer is now in full swing. I hope you are planning some well earned rest and relaxation with your families. I believe God has divine appointments for us as we rest and recuperate and as we have fun together. This season has been isolating for many, exhausting for some, and immensely challenging for all of us. I believe God is ready to meet us in our rest. In our family holidays, in our time with friends, in the quiet and in the exuberance. God is inviting us to rest in Him and enjoy each other.  I believe He will also give us unique opportunities to share the rest of his presence with those we meet. Declaring over you rest and strength, grace and peace, joy and lots of fun this Summer as you connect with others and connect with God.

 

Matthew 11:28-30

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

 

Love & Blessings

Craig

Hello Everyone

 

The Elders and I are so excited about this coming Sunday as restrictions are now lifted. We are so looking forward to corporate worship where we can again sing freely. Its wonderful to welcome you back. There is some more information below as to what to expect when attending services over the Summer.

Along with our excitement we also understand that the COVID pandemic is not over. We ask that you are considerate of each others space and each person’s boundaries and health decisions. Whilst some of us will be happy to hug and spend time talking afterwards others of us will be more cautious depending on our heath and family situations.

Please come along expectant to meet with God and look forward to meeting with each other whilst also being aware of the needs of others.

 

We are of course aware that for some people in person gatherings may be too much at the moment so our online church with online pastors will continue to be available for you.

Thank you for the way you have walked through this incredibly challenging season we love and appreciate you all. You are an amazing church family.

 

Here is the latest information to help you know what to expect:

Online Church – Join Pray Give

 

A huge thank you to everyone who has given, to those who are praying, and to those who have applied to volunteer on our teams. There is still time to pray, Join, and give.

For more information please watch our online church video below.

http://https://youtu.be/a1UsZTk9bhQ

Pastors weekly Update will finish at the end of July

 

As we have now moved out of locked down my Pastors updates will end next week. I will be instead launching a blog from September to compliment our online church campus. Midweek messages will continue to update you with all the latest information and events at CLC.

 

Compassion

 

I love to read about the life Jesus lived during His time on earth. Jesus demonstrated perfectly the heart of the Father as he ministered to people anointed by the Holy Spirit. The Trinity represented in the Earth through the ministry of Jesus. One of the expressions of the love of God that regularly moved Jesus to supernatural intervention in the lives of sick and hurting people was compassion. Many times in the gospels we read of Jesus being moved by compassion. I believe the season we are moving into requires us as the bride of Christ to represent Him in compassion.  We are to have His heart for each other, to be patient and compassionate with our Christian brothers and sisters. To move out of this time of restriction with compassion for each other. to weep with those who have lost loved ones, to be tender with those who are concerned about their health and mental health. To welcome and celebrate with those who have longed for human contact and missed gathering. We will need to be compassionate, patient, and moved by the humanity in each other as we navigate a confusing season of many mixed emotions and varying experiences.

 

We also have a wonderful opportunity to show the compassion of Jesus to those who don’t know him yet. We get to show the same care, love, and patience with the world around us and surprise them with a compassionate response seldom seen in the world today. So often in the ministry of Jesus compassion moved him to release supernatural healing, deliverance, and breakthrough. In this season, out of our hearts of compassion let us pray for those who are sick and see miracles happen.  Let us pray for those in lack, or in need of freedom and be moved by Jesus compassionate heart to se HIs Kingdom breakout in many lives.

 

Matthew 14:14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick.

 

Love & Blessings

Craig

Hello Everyone

 

This Sunday we enjoyed celebrating the dedication of Katy and Paul Auerswald’s son Joshua. It was wonderful to have so many visitors with us and to be able to celebrate with our CLC family in person and online. We are now looking forward to celebrating with two more families with Joshua Dobson and Finn Twist being dedicated on August 1st.

 

Live Prayer

 

 

Tash and I are back online and looking forward to praying with you again. please join us if you are free.

 

Online Church

 

A huge thank you to everyone who has given, to those who are praying, and to those who have applied to volunteer on our teams. There is still time to pray, Join, and give.

For more information please watch our online church video below.

http://https://youtu.be/a1UsZTk9bhQ

Bookings for 18th July remain Open:

 

Until the restrictions are removed on July 19th our service booking system will remain in place. We are currently hosting 75 people plus team on Sunday mornings. We can accommodate this number safely at a 1m plus social distance and with the hall well ventilated.

Our online services will continue weekly along with in person so we will always have both options available.

To book one of our services go to https://sthelensclc.com/connect/

Church Services fully open from Sunday 25th

 

Following the announcement from the Prime Minister  we are excited to inform you that Church will be fully open with no restrictions on Sunday Mornings from 25th July.

 

As we are still in the global pandemic, masks and hand sanitizers will still be available, the choice to wear masks will be at your discretion.  Our seating will be in rows with a little more space in between. We are so looking forward to seeing you all and to singing together freely again.

 

Children’s Church and Youth provision

 

Our full children’s and youth provision will start in September. For August we are aiming to offer a couple of sessions as our teams return to church.

 

Cafe provision

 

We will be taking our time with the re-opening of the cafe and be considering the local infection rates and how we can maintain some space whilst offering drinks after the service.

 

Abundant Blessings

 

Thankfulness is a practice that transforms our lives. We enter God’s gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. We enter the presence of God as we thank Him for all He has done for us and for who He is too us. Take a moment to reflect on all God has done, remember His goodness, reflect on His love, bask in His grace. We have so much to be thankful for, even in our darkest valleys we can remember the goodness of God poured out to us. Let us challenge ourselves to be thankful worshippers. Let us fast negativity and move to positive thanksgiving. Let us not be cynical or quick to moan and complain as the world is. Let us remember and give thanks for the new mercies of God every day. We have so much to be thankful for as Jesus came to give us thus life and give it to us in all it’s abundance.

 

you are abundantly blessed!

 

John 10:10

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

 

Love & Blessings

Craig

Hello Everyone

 

According to the news following the Prime Ministers announcement freedom day is here! At the risk of sounding like Mel Gibson’s rendition of William Wallace, they cannot take our freedom. Freedom day for us is the day we followed Christ, that day when we were set free from our sins, our past hurts, our selfish desires and instead we have been given a life of the Spirit. A life that will never end, that is abundantly full and completely free. Jesus liberated us. The church of Jesus Christ, His followers, His family, have always been and will always be utterly free. Let us live in the freedom Jesus has given us and no longer be slaves to sin, to fear, or to the fleeting pleasure of this world. You are free and you can share freedom with those around you.

 

Galatians 5:1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

 

Online Church

 

A huge thank you to everyone who has given, to those who are praying, and to those who have applied to volunteer on our teams. There is still time to pray, Join, and give.

For more information please watch our online church video below.

http://https://youtu.be/a1UsZTk9bhQ

Bookings for 11th & 18th July remain Open:

 

Until the restrictions are removed on July 19th our service booking system will remain in place. We are currently hosting 75 people plus team on Sunday mornings. We can accommodate this number safely at a 1m plus social distance and with the hall well ventilated.

Our online services will continue weekly along with in person so we will always have both options available.

To book one of our services go to https://sthelensclc.com/connect/

Church Services fully open from Sunday 25th

 

Following the announcement from the Prime Minister  we are excited to inform you that Church will be fully open with no restrictions on Sunday Mornings from 25th July. As we are still in the global pandemic, masks and hand sanitizers will still be available, the choice to wear masks will be at your discretion.  We are so looking forward to seeing you all and to singing together freely again.

 

Children’s Church and Youth provision

 

In the coming weeks we will have more information on the restarting of children’s and youth provision for Sunday mornings.

 

Cafe provision

 

We will be taking our time with the re-opening of the cafe and be considering the local infection rates and how we can maintain some space whilst offering drinks after the service.  We will again have more information on this in the coming weeks.

 

Dedication

 

This Sunday we are celebrating the dedication of Katy and Paul Auerswald’s son Joshua. We are so looking forward to celebrating with the family and looking at the CLC baby boom I am sure this is the first of many dedications with 2 more already booked for August.

 

Love & Blessings

Craig

Hello Everyone

 

God is on the move and is calling us to movement. There is an excitement in the air at CLC as we see new visitors joining us each week, new opportunities for connection with other Churches and to plant fresh expressions of reach groups and of CLC communities. God is on the move and movement is in our DNA. let us continue to pray together and to take every opportunity that God has prepared for us.

Live Prayer

 

This Thursday our live prayer will have an online focus as we step up the prayer element of our preparation for the online campus launch. Please join us to pray at 7pm on CLCL Facebook live.

 

Online Church

Please watch our video below from church on Sunday as we share how you can get involved with online church.

http://https://youtu.be/a1UsZTk9bhQ

Kevin Peat

On July 4th we have Kevin Peat preaching at our service. Kevin is a great friend of St Helens and brings a Pastors heart  for people and a real ministry of the Father heart of God. We look forward to welcoming Kevin online and in person.

 

July Bookings now Open:

 

We are currently hosting 75 people plus team on Sunday mornings. We can accommodate this number safely at a 1m plus social distance and with the hall well ventilated. As numbers have now increased please book as many services as you would like to and we will handle the bookings online.

Our online services will continue weekly along with in person so we will always have both options available.

To book one of our services go to https://sthelensclc.com/connect/

Church Services soon to fully open

 

Providing the government’s lifting of all COVID restrictions goes ahead as planned on July 19th our expectation is that our first full restriction free service will take place on July 25th and we cant wait!

Flow – Grow – Go

Matthew 4:18-20

As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.

 

This Sunday I shared around 3 words that God is leading us to, as we become the movement He is calling CLC to be. We are called to follow Jesus becoming like Him and sharing all He has given to us. These three words give us a simple framework to measure our faith journey currently and ask for increase. Firstly are we flowing in prayer and the presence of God? Secondly are we growing in our relationship with God, our reading and understanding the Bible, and in our ongoing faith journey? Finally are we going and sharing the good news of Jesus with those around us.

 

An apostolic movement will have all three of these elements we will flow grow and Go!

 

Please download our “Join the movement – Flow – Grow – Go” handout and spend some time answering the questions reading the bible verses and seeking God for increase as we flow, grow, & go.

 

Download here:  https://sthelensclc.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Flow-Grow-Go.pdf#

 

Love & Blessings

Craig

Hello Everyone

 

Great to welcome more new people on Sunday and to see so many of you in church and online. I would like to again wish a Happy Fathers day to all of the men in our CLC family. What a great morning as we were reminded of the affirmation of our Father God as Shaun again shared a great word with us.

Online Church

Please watch our video below from church on Sunday as we share how you can get involved with online church.

http://https://youtu.be/a1UsZTk9bhQ

Kevin Peat

 

On July 4th we have Kevin Peat preaching at our service. Kevin is a great friend of St Helens and brings a Pastors heart  for people and a real ministry of the Father heart of God. We look forward to welcoming Kevin online and in person.

 

June Bookings now Open:

 

We are currently hosting 75 people plus team on Sunday mornings. We can accommodate this number safely at a 1m plus social distance and with the hall well ventilated. As numbers have now increased please book as many services as you would like to and we will handle the bookings online.

Our online services will continue weekly along with in person so we will always have both options available.

To book one of our services go to https://sthelensclc.com/connect/

Church Services soon to fully open

 

Providing the government’s lifting of all COVID restrictions goes ahead as planned on July 19th our expectation is that our first full restriction free service will take place on July 25th and we cant wait!

 

Wait upon the Lord

^{Isaiah 40:31}

But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.

 

Waiting upon the Lord is always a fruitful pursuit. When we wait in hope and expectation of who God is, he never lets us down. When we posture ourselves to wait in the presence of God, to spend time with Him, He brings us life. He restores our souls. The weariness we experience is melted away as we rest in the presence of God our creator. His presence is healing, it is energising and life giving. To wait on God is to wait in hope on the one who never lets us down, never disappoints, and always shows up.  To run and not grow weary to walk and not grow faint requires us to be in a posture of hopeful waiting.

 

Make time in the presence of God this week and receive the life only God can give.

 

Love & Blessings

Craig

Hello Everyone

Great to see so many of you in church on Sunday morning. The presence of God and the joy of seeing you all, made for another great morning. We are so looking forward to the morning when we can all join together again but until then its so good to be seeing so many of you. Those who are still staying home we miss you and are looking forward to seeing you very soon.

Kevin Peat

On July 4th we have Kevin Peat preaching at our service. Kevin is a great friend of St Helens and brings a Pastors heart  for people and a real ministry of the Father heart of God. We look forward to welcoming Kevin online and in person.

Alpha

 

As I shared on Sunday our full online Alpha starts on Wednesday evening at 7:30pm. Please pray for our amazing team and also for all those booked in to the course.

If you would like to attend or bring a friend who is yet to know Jesus the sign up here:

https://sthelensclc.com/connect/

June Bookings now Open:

We are currently hosting 75 people plus team on Sunday mornings. We can accommodate this number safely at a 1m plus social distance and with the hall well ventilated. As numbers have now increased please book as many services as you would like to and we will handle the bookings online.

Our online services will continue weekly along with in person so we will always have both options available.

To book one of our services go to https://sthelensclc.com/connect/

Church Services soon to fully open

Following the Prime Ministers announcement on Monday evening our expectation is that our first full restriction free service will take place on July 25th and we cant wait!

Anointed and accompanied to do good!

 

As we considered on Sunday this powerful verse about the ministry of Jesus is both inspiring and challenging. During His earthly ministry Jesus was anointed with the Holy Spirit and with Power. God was with Jesus and he went around doing good and healing all of those under the power of the devil. Jesus modelled for us a life with God lived out in human form. The inspiration is that through Jesus death and resurrection and the promised Holy Spirit baptism we too can be anointed with the Holy Spirit and with power. The challenge for us is Jesus did not only operate in His own divine power but being fully God and fully man he relied upon the anointing of the Holy Spirit and the presence of God! That is a great challenge indeed as it removes our excuses, we can’t simply say Jesus moved in healing, in salvation, in deliverance and in power because He is God. Jesus demonstrated humanity empowered by the Holy Spirit and the presence of God. His apostles then followed Him and demonstrated the same. How about us?

 

Jesus we pray that you would anoint us again with the Holy Spirit and with power, God we thank you for your presence with us and ask that you will inspire us to step up and step out in anointing and power to destroy the works of the enemy and demonstrate the goodness of God.

 

Amen

 

 

Love & Blessings

Craig

Hello Everyone

 

I hope you are enjoying the warmer weather and looking forward to gathering all together again very soon. We are excited to have our church family fully reunited and worshipping together corporately in person. We continue to watch the Government updates on the June 21st deadline and will inform you of the first Sunday without restrictions as soon as we have any news.  Our streaming team continues to develop as does our online offer, Watch this space for more news of how you can give into and serve in this newly developing ministry.

 

June Bookings now Open:

 

As numbers increase feel free to book as many services as you like. We will handle the bookings and ensure everyone has the chance to attend. Numbers will increase to 75 in June before restrictions are completely removed (providing the Government meets its deadline for removing social distance requirements).

Our online services will continue weekly along with in person so we will always have both options available.

To book one of our services go to https://sthelensclc.com/connect/

Church Services soon to fully open

We are so excited at the prospect of gathering all together again. It is our hope  that our first full service can be celebrated all together on June 27th. We will keep a close eye on Government guidance and keep you informed as soon as we have clarity from the Government and from Elim.

 

 

On Thursday 10th of June we will be back online for live prayer. Please joins as we pray and prophesy together. We are expectant for all that God will do in us and through the prayers we pray.

#expectamiracle

Supernatural Love

 

Love is our light in the darkness. Love is the recognisable, transformational character trait of the family of God. By the way we love each other we will be known. God is inviting us to supernatural love, there is an invitation to us as the family of God. We are invited to love like God! To love each other as God loves us. This supernatural love will elevate our church family, it will inspire people to walk in their true identity in Christ, it will bring freedom, passion, comfort and safety. This type of love will promote honour and release the kingdom of God. Let us fervently pray for an increase in love that we might love as God loves us and see His name glorified by the love we have for each other.

 

John 13; 34 &  35 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

 

 

Love & Blessings

 

Craig

Hi all

 

It was wonderful to host United21 at CLC this week and celebrate together with the churches of St Helens. We pray for unity and expect God’s blessings on St Helens as we reach out together with the good news of Jesus Christ. Please follow United21 on Facebook and share our posts this week,  as we share the good news online.

 

June Bookings now Open:

 

As numbers increase feel free to book as many services as you like. We will handle the bookings and ensure everyone has the chance to attend. Numbers will increase to 75 in June before restrictions are completely removed (providing the Government meets its deadline for removing social distance requirements).

Our online services will continue weekly along with in person so we will always have both options available.

 

To book one of our services go to https://sthelensclc.com/connect/

Church Services soon fully open

 

We are so excited at the prospect of gathering all together again. It is our hope  that our first full service can be celebrated all together on June 27th. We will keep a close eye on Government guidance and keep you informed as soon as we have clarity from the Government and Elim.

Philip’s Retirement celebration Service is now fully booked

 

Please ensure you join us online as we stream the service and celebrate together.

Prophetic conversations

 

On Thursday 27th of May at 10am I will be joining Gary and Cheryl Smythe again on Facebook live. As we host the next part of prophetic conversations. Our desire for these conversations is to simply testify, teach, and release the gift of prophecy and empower each of us to hear God. Join us live or watch back later, we are expectant for God’s increase as we share and hear together.

Pentecost outpouring

 

Pentecost Sunday is a great celebration and an opportunity to reflect and remember. Holy Spirit poured out on all flesh, the church birthed in signs, wonders, and evangelism. Believers in one accord serving God, giving to the poor, and daily people were being saved and added to their number.

 

May you all have a personal Pentecostal experience this week. A fresh infilling of Holy Spirit. A fresh outpouring that impacts our families, our friends, our neighbours, our town!  I am praying Holy Spirit baptism for each one of us, that we may resonate deep in our identity that we are children of God. That the overflow of our hearts might cause our mouths to speak and share the good news. That we might be clothed with power from on high and empowered to witness.

Acts 2: 1-4

 

When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 

Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 

They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them.

All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

 

Love & Blessings

Craig

Hi everyone

This week we are looking forward to United 21 our joint town wide church service. We have the privilege  of hosting this from CLC and streaming out to the other churches. Please pray for the unity of the church of Jesus Christ in St Helens and also for inspiration to mission as we look to our theme “A time to Act”.  Lots of other things coming up in the next fortnight so lets get straight to it.

 

United 21

 

 

This week we have our joint church service across St Helens.

 

Two ways to connect:

1. Book in Person as we host the event from CLC
2. Join us online

 

Increased Numbers for services in May & June:

 

Booking numbers have now increased to 50 for the remainder of May and will increase to 75 in June before restrictions are completely removed (providing the Government meets its deadline for removing social distance requirements).

This week we are hosting United21 at CLC. You are still able to book places to come and be part of the congregation for this event.

Our online services will continue weekly along with in person so we will always have both options available.

To book one of our services go to https://sthelensclc.com/connect/

Philip’s Retirement celebration is now fully booked

 

Please ensure you join us online as we stream the service and celebrate together.

 

 

Live Prayer 

 

 

Join us this Thursday for live prayer on CLC facebook from 7pm. we look forward to connecting with you.

 

Prophetic conversations

 

On Thursday 27th of May at 10am I will be again joining Gary and Cheryl Smythe on facebook live. As we host the next part of prophetic conversations. Our desire for these conversations is to simply testify, teach, and release the gift of prophecy and empower each of us to hear God. Join us live or watch back later, we are expectant for God’s increase as we share and hear together.

 

Jehovah Jireh

 

God is enough! For every circumstance, every problem, every issue; for ever opportunity, purpose and promise, God is enough. On Sunday we considered the provision of God available for the lives and the mission He created us to live and fulfil. Abraham first called God a God of provision. Jehovah Jireh “The Lord will provide” is one of the names of God, declared by Abraham after God provided a ram for the sacrifice and saved Abraham’s son Isaac from the alter. Let us remember as we walk through the valleys God is enough! As we live in the moment each and every day, God is enough! As we dream of the future plans and purposes God has for our lives, God is enough!

 

 

Love & Blessings

 

Craig