Woodies Kids | God is Unchanging

Welcome to the Woodies Kids blog.

this week we Think About…

The names of Jesus

People make New Year’s resolutions because they want the new year to be different from the last. Maybe there is something they wished had happened last year that they want to strive to make happen this year. People always seem to want the new year to be better than the last. Do you have any hopes and dreams for the new year?

Do you think that God is different in 2021 than He was in 2020? It’s actually a bit of a trick question – the Bible tells in Hebrews the Jesus is the same, yesterday, today and forever. He is constant and He never changes.

Last year, we looked at some of the promises of God for us – do you remember? These promises that we looked at last year, are the same for us this year. Let’s take a look at them again

Family Challenge

Can you work together to find 10 names or ways Jesus is described in the bible?

In Tiny Treasures we have been looking at the story of the lost sheep, Why is Jesus called the Good Shepherd?

Resolute Series for January 2021

How can we do the New Year well?

This January, we’re looking at how small disciplines give big results in our Resolute preaching series.

As we enter into 2021, we’re asking the question: “How can we do the New Year well?” January is renowned for people setting resolutions - but these are often hard to stick to. Change isn’t easy, but it isn’t impossible, either. The beliefs and habits we have and the decisions we make influence who we are becoming on a day to day basis.

In this series, we’ll be looking at the foundations we build our lives upon and what happens when everything is shaken. Are our resolutions built on our wisdom, our ability - or His? Self-reflection is really useful tool and we'll be looking at what we need to hold on to and what we should let go of in the year ahead.

Prayer Week is happening from 10th - 17th January and will help us make time to intentionally seek the Spirit as we stand in a day of trouble.

The problem of evil is one for us all to wrestle with. We don't talk much about the devil and our own fallen nature, but we'll spend one Sunday reading the stories of demons and deliverance in the ministry of Jesus to help us in our everyday lives.

We’ll wrap the series up with a focus on how we need to spend time with the Father to be refreshed and strengthened to carry on.

Our preaching topics during this series are:

• Firm Foundations - 3 Jan

• Holding On - 10 Jan

• Standing Strong - 17 Jan

• Speak of the Devil - 24 Jan

• The Father’s Heart - 31 Jan

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TALKS FROM OUR RESOLUTE SERIES

Christmas at Woodlands Church: Everyone is Invited | 27 December 2020

27 December 2020 - 11:00am Service

Christmas at Woodlands Church: Everyone is Invited

Welcome to The ELEVEN AM at Woodlands Church Online. Join us online for a special pre-recorded service (so the team can all have this final Sunday of 2020 off!) This week we conclude our Christmas series with a talk on 'Everyone is Invited' from Dave Mitchell.

Christmas at Woodland's Church: Home for Christmas | 25th of December 2020

25 December 2020 - 10:30am Service

Christmas at Woodlands Church: Home for Christmas

Join us online for a special half-hour service on Christmas morning! We’ll be celebrating the birth of Jesus – the Saviour of the world! You can expect some joy-filled fun (and shenanigans). We wish you a very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year! God bless you.

Christmas: A Star is Born | Clare Thompson at 11am | 20th of December 2020

20 December 2020 - 11am Service

Christmas at Woodlands Church: A Star is Born

This Sunday we continued our Christmas Series with a talk from Clare Thompson on ‘A Star is Born.’

Our 11am services will be live-streamed online until January. We hope you enjoy Christmas with us!

Remember to have a quick look at our 7pm service. We had a lovely ‘Folky Christmas’ service planned but due to Covid this had to be cancelled. Instead Dave Mitchell shared a short talk with us. Check it out!

A Folky Christmas at 7pm | 20th of December 2020

20 December 2020 - 7pm Service

Christmas at Woodlands Church: A Folky Christmas

Welcome to what was supposed to be our very special ‘Folky Christmas.’ As some of our key staff members involved in the service had to self isolate, we had our very own Dave Mithcell share a lovely message with us instead.

Remember, earlier today at the 11am service we heard Clare Thompson speak on the topic ‘A Star is Born.’ Go check it out!

Advent 2020: Week Four

Advent 2020: Week Four

The fourth week of Advent is all about peace.

When we read about the prophesies of Jesus’s birth, we hear him called many names – Prince of Peace is one. Jesus came to bring peace to the world and to our hearts. Peace is not the absence of conflict or of trouble, but it is a calm understanding – a deep knowledge inside that regardless of our feelings, whatever the circumstances around us, we know that it is God who is in control no matter what.

It is easy to look at the world around us and feel worried, anxious, and fearful. But the Bible tells us not to worry and to turn in prayer to God in all things. Jesus came to earth with His peace. He left us the Holy Spirit. We do not have to live with fear or anxiety alone, instead we can ask the Holy Spirit to minister to us with His peace.

· What is peace?

· How do you know if you are feeling peaceful?

· What are the things that take away your peace?

· What can we do when we feel our peace is slipping away?

· Is there anything you’d like to share with your family that is troubling you at the moment?

Respond:

In a season where every heart should be happy and light, many of us are struggling with the heaviness of life. We need His peace. We confess that our hearts are often full of stresses and anxiety. Jesus came to bring His peace. “Do not be afraid!” the angels told the shepherds. As we respond to this week’s devotional, we’d like to create space for you to pray as a family to welcome the Holy Spirit into your houses and bring His peace.

Listen to this song as you soak in His presence and pray a blessing of peace over one another.

Chat and Catch

Go and make the cosiest space that you can. You may want to go to your bedrooms, you may find a cupboard or a corner. You can use pillows or blankets.

Find a space that is just yours. But remember – God goes with you wherever you are. So, this space is yours and God’s. Spend some time chatting to God. Remember God loves you talking to Him about anything. You may want to tell Him about your day, you may want to invite Him into your journaling time. You may want to read your Bible with Him or listen to some worship music. This is your quiet time with Him. Ask Him if there is anything He’d like you to catch from Him today.

Christmas at Woodlands Church: Carols by Candlelight at 7pm | 13 December 2020

13 December 2020 - 7pm Service

Christmas at Woodlands Church: Carols by Candlelight

Welcome to our special Carols by Candlelight service at Woodlands Church! We're live-streaming this evening and so happy to celebrate the story of Christmas with you at home. It's guaranteed to make you feel all Christmassy! If this was a normal year, our church would be packed with hundreds of people feeling festive and ready for the holiday season. We'd be enjoying mince pies and singing our hearts out. During the service, you can join in and sing along at home. The lyrics to the carols will appear on the screen. It's so great to have you with us!

Remember, earlier today at the 11am service we heard Laura Harris speak on the topic ‘Surprising the Strong.’ Go check it out!

Christmas at Woodlands Church: Surprising the Strong | Laura Harris at 11am | 13 December 2020

13 December 2020 - 11am Service

Christmas at Woodlands Church: Surprising the Strong

This Sunday we continued our Christmas Series with a talk from Laura Harris on ‘Surprising the Strong.’

Our 11am services will be live-streamed online until January. We hope you enjoy Christmas with us!

Remember to have a look at our 7pm service where w had a lovely carol service with talented musicians and inspiring messages. Check it out!

Advent 2020: Week Three

The third week of Advent is all about joy!

Let’s take time to remember that the amazing news of Jesus’ birth brought great joy to those who visited Him in the stable; it was the answer to the many Old Testament prophecies for the people of Israel, but it also has the power to bring us great joy this year and every year. The Bible tells us to rejoice in the Lord always!  It shows us that our joy isn’t dependent on what is going on in our life; in our world or in the lives of people around us. It is more than fleeting happiness. Christmas can easily be a time of happiness – and we want that!  But nothing on earth, nothing we do, can give us complete joy. Our joy comes from God. 

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What is the difference between joy and happiness?

 · What makes you happy?

· Are you always happy?

 Often happiness depends on how we feel or what happens to us. It is often based on our circumstances. Having joy is different. Joy comes from knowing the truth about God and his promises for us:

· Is it possible to be joyful when things are not going well?

· What things bring you joy at Christmas?

· How do we keep joy not just at Christmas but always?

 Advent reminds us that our joy is found in Christ

· How does Jesus bring joy to your life?

· How can you share that joy with others?

Chat and Catch:

Find yourself a comfortable place. You may want to close your eyes to help you concentrate.

Tell God the last time you really laughed!

Share with God someone who brings you joy

Thank God for that person

Ask God to remind you of one of His promises that you can hold onto when you don’t feel His joy.

Try Alpha Online! Starting 20 January 2021

Are you exploring faith? Try Alpha!

The Alpha Course is amazing because it’s about people connecting with each other and going on a spiritual journey. The course explores the key foundations of the Christian faith.

Alpha will be run entirely online using the Alpha Film Series, so you can take part from the comfort of your own home. Watch the short video below about Alpha to find out more.

Visit our Alpha Online page to sign up! All are welcome.

Christmas at Woodlands Church: Light in the Darkness | Matt Dobson at 7pm | 6 December 2020

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6 December 2020 - 7pm Service

Christmas at Woodlands Church: Light in the Darkness

This Sunday we started our new Christmas Series with a talk from Matt Dobson on ‘Light in the Darkness.’

Our 11am services will be live-streamed online until January. We hope you enjoy Christmas with us!

Remember, earlier today at the 11am service we heard Rachel Riddall speak on the same topic. Go check it out!

STUDY NOTES

The four gospels each give a particular perspective on the life of Jesus. Unlike Matthew and Luke John’s gospel doesn’t give a nativity account. His gospel starts with the perspective of the eternal relationship between God and the Word, or as we understand that, the Father and the Son. The incarnation is introduced in those terms ‘the Word became flesh’ so we have no doubt that the Jesus we worship is also divine.

Big idea: The word becoming flesh speaks of a ‘divine humility’ which is staggering! Is your view of God big enough to grasp the immensity of this act?

• In what way are human beings ‘in darkness’? Is that true for our present age as well as 1st Century Palestine? 

• How is the darkness affected by Jesus becoming human?

• Why did so many of the highly religious, biblically educated people of Jesus time fail to recognise Him?

• Jesus ‘incarnate’ reveals to us exactly what God is like, (e.g. that God can self-limit, embrace suffering, allow his will not to be done for the sake of giving us the opportunity to freely turn to him and know him). How does your understanding of Go and relationship with Him resonate with those truths?

• Jesus once said to his followers ‘You are the light of the World’. How can we be that light today?

 Jesus commissioned his followers (e.g. Paul in Acts 26) to call people from darkness to light. Ask God to show you how you can point people to Jesus this Christmas. 

Christmas at Woodlands Church: Light in the Darkness | Rachel Riddall at 11am | 6 December 2020

6 December 2020 - 11am Service

Christmas at Woodlands Church: Light in the Darkness

This Sunday we started our new Christmas Series with a talk from Matt Dobson on ‘Light in the Darkness.’

Our 11am services will be live-streamed online until January. We hope you enjoy Christmas with us!

Remember, our 7pm service is also looking at this topic, and Matt Dobson will be sharing with us. Check it out!

STUDY NOTES

The four gospels each give a particular perspective on the life of Jesus. Unlike Matthew and Luke John’s gospel doesn’t give a nativity account. His gospel starts with the perspective of the eternal relationship between God and the Word, or as we understand that, the Father and the Son. The incarnation is introduced in those terms ‘the Word became flesh’ so we have no doubt that the Jesus we worship is also divine.

Big idea: The word becoming flesh speaks of a ‘divine humility’ which is staggering! Is your view of God big enough to grasp the immensity of this act?

• In what way are human beings ‘in darkness’? Is that true for our present age as well as 1st Century Palestine? 

• How is the darkness affected by Jesus becoming human?

• Why did so many of the highly religious, biblically educated people of Jesus time fail to recognise Him?

• Jesus ‘incarnate’ reveals to us exactly what God is like, (e.g. that God can self-limit, embrace suffering, allow his will not to be done for the sake of giving us the opportunity to freely turn to him and know him). How does your understanding of Go and relationship with Him resonate with those truths?

• Jesus once said to his followers ‘You are the light of the World’. How can we be that light today?

 Jesus commissioned his followers (e.g. Paul in Acts 26) to call people from darkness to light. Ask God to show you how you can point people to Jesus this Christmas. 

Invite your friends and family to Carols by Candlelight Online!

We’ll be live-streaming our traditional carol service online - so you and your loved ones can join in from the comfort of home. You could even host a Watch Party on Facebook!

Our Carols by Candlelight service is guaranteed to make you feel all Christmassy! Be sure to invite your friends and family to tune in.

There are so many ways to invite people. Download and share this image as an invite or share the link to watch direct on our Facebook page or YouTube channel:

• Visit the Woodlands Church Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/woodlandschurchbristol

• Share the link to the service on YouTube:
  https://youtu.be/bU1ZpSdbAa8

Woodies Kids Advent: Week Two

Advent 2020: Week Two

This week’s candle focuses on love.

The whole meaning of Christmas can be explained in that one little 4 letter word – LOVE. The birth of Jesus was God’s gift of pure, undeserved, unconditional love for us. Love that came down from heaven, love that was born in a manger, love that would ultimately die on a cross. This week we can focus on that magnificent gift of love given to us in the form of God’s own son.

At Christmas we enjoy showing those around us how much we love them. We buy them gifts; we gather together; we share food. We laugh and sing and eat! Let’s remember that love and remind ourselves that the ultimate show of perfect love was born in a manger.

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Discuss!

• How do you know if someone loves you? 

• ·Why do you think that Jesus was born?

• · Do you think God loves everyone?

• · Is it easy to love everyone?

• · Can you find a story in the bible where Jesus showed love to someone?

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Respond!

When someone loves you, they might do things for you, make sure you are safe and treat you kindly. Sometimes there are ways we can show love without it looking like something big. A great way you can show love is to pray for someone.

Can you think of anyone who needs to feel God's love right now? They might feel sad or lonely. Is there a way you can show God's love to them?

As a family think of something you can do each day for someone else. This could be for a member of your family or one of your neighbours. It could be as simple as a card saying you are thinking about them or it could be collecting shopping for them or baking them a cake. 

Chat and Catch:

Make yourselves comfortable – close your eyes if you wish:

· Show God in your mind someone you really love.

· Thank God for that person.

· Ask God what He loves most about you

Christmas 2020 Series

What can we learn from the story of Christmas?

This December, we’re celebrating the story of Christmas throughout Advent.

As this unprecedented year of 2020 comes to a close, we want to look to Jesus and the awesomely magnificent way He came into the world. Against a backdrop of light and darkness, God sent His son to dwell among us and bring hope, love, joy and peace to a hurting world.

Through our sermon series this Christmas, we’ll look at how Mary’s story gives us insight into the wisdom of God and His strategy to overcome evil using the weak to shame the strong and bring in His upside down Kingdom. In Joseph’s story, we see prophecies fulfilled as Jesus was born in the City of David to inaugurate a Kingdom bigger than King David could have imagined. And finally we’ll look at how today the invitation to God’s Kingdom is open to everyone, to the last, the least and the stranger…that means all of us!

Our preaching topics during this series are:

•  Light in the Darkness - 6 Dec

•  Surprising the Strong - 13 Dec

•  A Star is Born - 20 Dec

• Christmas at Home - 25 Dec (10.30am)

• Everyone is Invited - 27 Dec 

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TALKS FROM OUR CHRISTMAS SERIES

Advent Resources for Families

Advent with Woodies Kids

This year, our Woodies Kids team has put together some fantastic resources to help families celebrate Advent! Woodies families will have received their special packs in the mail - but anyone can take part online!

 At Christmas there is so much to think about and so much to do, but it’s important in the midst of that to take time out of the stresses and the busy-ness and make time to gather together as a family. Make a space each Sunday in advent, maybe light a candle on your advent wreath and remember - Jesus is coming!

This month, we will explore together the traditional advent themes:
Hope | Love | Joy | Peace 

These are a few of the good gifts God has given to us. During this advent season, let us remember and celebrate Jesus coming to earth as a baby, meaning we have a way to access and experience these gifts.

Our prayer for you is that in spending time together each week celebrating Jesus’s birth, we will together encounter more of Him and experience more deeply the hope, love, joy, and peace He offers.

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How does it work?

Each week, families can take part by reading our Woodies Kids blog which will have a Bible reading to focus on; an introduction to the theme;  discussion questions; something to do together as a family and a way of responding.

There’s also a Going Deeper section if your children are older - as you may feel that you want to spend more time exploring the theme for the week and so these activities are for you! 

There is a Chat & Catch section too - Chat & Catch is a really useful tool taken from the Parenting for Faith course. A training video on Chat and Catch is available on our Woodies Kids blog.

Don’t worry about doing all of the activities or questions, but we pray that as you take time out each Sunday and focus as a family on the source of our peace, joy, hope and love; that you will meet with Jesus in a special way this advent.

With love and blessings,
The Woodies Kids team x

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Advent Blog

Jesus Talk: True Riches | Hannah Mitchell at 7pm | 29 November 2020

29 November 2020 - 7pm Service

Jesus Talk: True Riches

This Sunday we hear the final talk of our current preaching series Jesus Talk with a message from Hannah Mitchell on ‘True RIches’.

Jesus is on the move. In Luke 10 Jesus appoints 72 to go ahead of him ‘to every town and place he was about to go’. In Luke 13:22 we read ‘Jesus went through the towns and villages teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem’ (13:33). In 14:25 we read ‘large crowds were travelling with Jesus’.

Jesus ‘way’ lies through Samaria from Galilee to Jerusalem and corresponds to Luke 9:51-19:44. It’s not always welcoming territory (9:51-56)- the disciples might feel like sheep amongst wolves at times. 

Jesus teaching, usually in parables, is sometimes provoked by questions, sights and sounds on the road. The Good Samaritan is based around a risky journey through bandit territory. The three ‘lost’ things parables of Luke 15 have journeying and seeking in them.  Not all the teaching and sayings in these chapters from 10-19 are chronological. But perhaps there is a body of teaching that teaches us how to live ‘with the end in mind’. How do we live out our discipleship on this journey of life with the Kingdom as our goal and destination?

Remember, earlier today at the 11am service we heard Richard Pollard speak on the same topic. Go check it out!

Go deeper with this topic with the study notes!

• True Riches: Study Notes

Jesus Talk: True Riches | Richard Pollard at 11am | 29 November 2020

29 November 2020 - 11am Service

Jesus Talk: True Riches

This Sunday we hear the final talk of our current preaching series Jesus Talk with a message from Richard Pollard on ‘True Riches’.

Jesus is on the move. In Luke 10 Jesus appoints 72 to go ahead of him ‘to every town and place he was about to go’. In Luke 13:22 we read ‘Jesus went through the towns and villages teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem’ (13:33). In 14:25 we read ‘large crowds were travelling with Jesus’.

Jesus ‘way’ lies through Samaria from Galilee to Jerusalem and corresponds to Luke 9:51-19:44. It’s not always welcoming territory (9:51-56)- the disciples might feel like sheep amongst wolves at times. 

Jesus teaching, usually in parables, is sometimes provoked by questions, sights and sounds on the road. The Good Samaritan is based around a risky journey through bandit territory. The three ‘lost’ things parables of Luke 15 have journeying and seeking in them.  Not all the teaching and sayings in these chapters from 10-19 are chronological. But perhaps there is a body of teaching that teaches us how to live ‘with the end in mind’. How do we live out our discipleship on this journey of life with the Kingdom as our goal and destination?

Remember, our 7pm service is also looking at this topic, and Hannah Mitchell will be sharing with us. Check it out!

Go deeper with this topic with the study notes:

• True Riches: Study Notes

Advent 2020: Week One

This first Sunday of Advent is all about Hope.

The candle is also called the prophecy candle because of all the prophesises in the Old Testament that told of the Messiah’s coming.  The people of Israel waited with hope because God had promised a saviour.  As Christians we know that God fulfilled that promise through the birth of Jesus Christ.  

So, as we start to get ready to celebrate Jesus’ birth, let us remind ourselves of the bigger plan that He is part of and how much the world was anticipating Him even before Mary was pregnant!  

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Discuss!

Read two of the prophesies about Jesus:

· What does it mean to anticipate something?

· What kind of things do we look forward to?

· What were some of the things Jesus would be called?

· What does your name mean?

· How can we get to know God better through His son?

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Respond!

Light a candle and ponder the wonder of Christ’s birth and rejoice in God’s gift of Jesus being born. Consider how Deity transcended time and space and entered into humanity.  Consider how Jesus, the Lord of Glory, humbled himself and came to earth; how the Royal One, the King of kings, entered into poverty.  And consider how, on that dark night centuries ago, True Light entered our world in the form of a lowly infant.  Give thanks for the Light of Jesus in your life and, just as John the Baptist testified of the True Light, be ready to be a witness to the Light of Christmas—the Lord Jesus Christ.      

Chat and catch!

Make yourself comfortable, to help you concentrate close your eyes.  You could also write or draw these things if you would like to on a piece of paper or in a journal.     

· Tell Jesus what you love about the Christmas story.

· Tell Jesus what you are hoping for.

· Ask God to highlight one of the names of Jesus from Isaiah 6:9 to you.