Woodies Kids | The Holy Spirit (week 1)

Welcome to the Woodies Kids blog.

this week are learning about…

the Holy Spirit

The Bible tells us in Galations 5:22-23 that we can stay connected to Jesus and walk with the Spirit as our helper then we will produce good fruit in our lives.

We watched this clip from the film Ratatouille

Linguini wasn’t very good at cooking to start with but Remy showed him how – step by step. We’re not very good at following Jesus to start with, but the Holy Spirit lives in our heart and shows us how to do it – step by step. Mostly, we get a feeling inside about whether we should do something or not do something – that’s the Holy Spirit working and helping us.

Later on in the film, Linguini tries to cook without Remy and makes a big mess of it. If we try to live without the Holy Spirit, we’ll get in a big mess too! The Holy Spirit is our friend for life – if we let him, He’ll live inside our hearts and help us to follow Jesus better and better every single day.

EcoChallenge for May: No Mow May

At Woodies, we are keen love God's creation and our People + Planet group is key in helping us to reduce our impact on the environment as a church. Our monthly EcoChallenges help everyone in church to take part from home.

May 2021: EcoChallege - “No Mow May”

Let’s be honest, trying to live in a greener way can sometimes feel like a real challenge! However, every now and then it can actually save us some work and this month’s EcoChallenge is a great example of this. Simply, if you have a lawn, all you need to do is leave your lawnmower in the shed throughout May so that flowers present in your lawn have a chance to bloom – as someone who finds mowing the lawn a real chore this is music to my ears! The point of this is to give hard-pressed pollinating insects (for example bees or butterflies) a boost by giving them more opportunities to forage for nectar on your lawn

At the end of the month you have a chance to do a bit of citizen science by counting the number of flowers present in a random square metre of your lawn. 

What if this blogpost has come too late for you and you have already mowed the lawn this month? No fear, you can always take part in #LetItBloomJune or #KneeHighJuly.

Plantlife, the organisation behind the NoMowMay campaign, have found that the optimum way to manage your lawn for pollinators is a ‘Mohican’ approach. Mowing about every four weeks is the best way to promote the growth flowers that like shorter lengths of grass, such as daisies and white clover. At the same time leaving some areas unmown for longer can allow a richer variety of flowers to flourish in your lawn.

If you would like to sign up to the campaign and take part in the flower count at the end of the month visit this site: https://www.plantlife.org.uk/uk/discover-wild-plants-nature/no-mow-may

And this article gives a great summary of the Mohican approach to cutting your lawn:
https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/bees-wildlife-how-to-gardening-tips-mohican-grass-cut-423589

If you’d be interested in finding out more about the Woodlands People + Planet group, or have some feedback about the challenges, connect with us:

• Email lydia.klimecki@bristol.ac.uk 

• Find us on Facebook

Holy Spirit Series

How can we thrive by living in partnership with the Holy Spirit?

In our journey towards Pentecost this May, our Holy Spirit series will look at key symbols used in the Bible to help us understand how to encounter and live life with the Spirit of God.

We tend to think of the Spirit as a ‘force’ or an ‘energy’ - rather than a person to have fellowship with. However, it’s important to remember that the Holy Spirit is in the Godhead, which means ‘he’ is personal as well as powerful.

In this series, we’ll be unpacking scripture’s use of symbols describing the Holy Spirit as we try to better understand what it means to be a new creation and anointed with spiritual gifts. What is it that makes us well up from a deep place or speak in tongues? How do we deal with the mystical and transrational? How does God guide through the Spirit?

Here’s what our preaching topics during this series are:

• Dove: New Life of the Spirit | 2nd May 2021

• Oil: Gifts of the Spirit | 9th May 2021

• Water: Dwelling of the Spirit | 16th May 2021

• Fire: Passion of the Spirit | 23rd May 2021 (Pentecost)

• Wind: Mystery of the Spirit | 30th May 2021

We hope you can join us in person or online throughout May for this exciting series.

Remember you can book in advance to attend church in person. Capacity will be limited and COVID safe precautions will be taken. We’re also serving hot drinks outside before each service (weather dependant). Simply book online here:

• Sunday Services - Online Bookings

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TALKS FROM OUR HOLY SPIRIT SERIES

Resurrection + Restoration: Restored World | Tim Dobson at 8:30am | 25th April 2021

25 April 2021 - 8:30am Service

Resurrection + Restoration: Restored World

This Sunday we finish our current preaching series Resurrection + Restoration with a message from Tim Dobson on ‘Restored World’.

Following on from Easter, our series Resurrection + Restoration will help us grasp what Jesus’ resurrection means and the hope we carry in our everyday lives.

Rather than wave quickly goodbye to Easter, we’re taking some time to look at Bible passages from the Gospels after Jesus was resurrected. We’ll be looking at scriptures that address personal restoration, the great commission, and how we can bring hope into the world. Each week, we’ll be trying to earth these stories in our own lives and call as a Church today.

Remember, later today at the 7pm services we’ll hear Dave Mitchell speak on the same topic. Go check it out

DISCUSSION NOTES

INTRODUCTION | Matthew 28:16-20

Matthew 28:16-20 carries the hope of restored creation. God has always wanted his world to be filled with his image-bearers (Genesis 1:27-28 ‘Be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it’). Here in Matthew, the disciples are called to be fruitful and multiply, to fill the earth (every nation) and subdue (teaching them to obey everything).

STUDY QUESTIONS

1. The word for nations here is ‘ethne’ (from which we get ethnic) and was used by Jewish people to designate gentiles, non-Jews. What is the significance for the disciples of this particular call in the light of Israel being a ‘chosen people’?

2. How much do we prioritise in our sharing of Good News about Jesus people very different to ourselves? Does the commission of these eleven disciples extend to us? What does that say about the priority of the global mission for Christians?

3. How much is racial unity and inclusion an important practice for us at Woodlands? What do you think Jesus wants for us in this area?

4. We live in a world where environmental degradation, species loss and climate change are stark realities. What is the Christian response to Creation itself?

5. How might we teach people to obey the teaching of Jesus as these verses tell us to? What place does baptism have for people who are serious about obeying Jesus words?

Resurrection + Restoration: Restored Church | Dave Mitchell at 7pm | 25 April 2021

How can our lives, church and world be restored by the love and power of Jesus?

25 April 2021 - 7pm Service

Resurrection + Restoration: Restored World

This Sunday we finish our current preaching series Resurrection + Restoration with a message from Dave Mitchell on ‘Restored World’.

Following on from Easter, our series Resurrection + Restoration will help us grasp what Jesus’ resurrection means and the hope we carry in our everyday lives.

Rather than wave quickly goodbye to Easter, we’re taking some time to look at Bible passages from the Gospels after Jesus was resurrected. We’ll be looking at scriptures that address personal restoration, the great commission, and how we can bring hope into the world. Each week, we’ll be trying to earth these stories in our own lives and call as a Church today.

Remember, earlier today at the 11am service we heard Tim Dobson speak. Go check it out!

DISCUSSION NOTES

INTRODUCTION | Matthew 28:16-20

Matthew 28:16-20 carries the hope of restored creation. God has always wanted his world to be filled with his image-bearers (Genesis 1:27-28 ‘Be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it’). Here in Matthew, the disciples are called to be fruitful and multiply, to fill the earth (every nation) and subdue (teaching them to obey everything).

STUDY QUESTIONS

1. The word for nations here is ‘ethne’ (from which we get ethnic) and was used by Jewish people to designate gentiles, non-Jews. What is the significance for the disciples of this particular call in the light of Israel being a ‘chosen people’?

2. How much do we prioritise in our sharing of Good News about Jesus people very different to ourselves? Does the commission of these eleven disciples extend to us? What does that say about the priority of the global mission for Christians?

3. How much is racial unity and inclusion an important practice for us at Woodlands? What do you think Jesus wants for us in this area?

4. We live in a world where environmental degradation, species loss and climate change are stark realities. What is the Christian response to Creation itself?

5. How might we teach people to obey the teaching of Jesus as these verses tell us to? What place does baptism have for people who are serious about obeying Jesus words?

Resurrection + Restoration: Restored World | Tim Dobson at 11am | 25 April 2021

How can our lives, church and world be restored by the love and power of Jesus?

25 April 2021 - 11am Service

Resurrection + Restoration: Restored World

This Sunday we finish our current preaching series Resurrection + Restoration with a message from Tim Dobson on ‘Restored World’.

Following on from Easter, our series Resurrection + Restoration will help us grasp what Jesus’ resurrection means and the hope we carry in our everyday lives.

Rather than wave quickly goodbye to Easter, we’re taking some time to look at Bible passages from the Gospels after Jesus was resurrected. We’ll be looking at scriptures that address personal restoration, the great commission, and how we can bring hope into the world. Each week, we’ll be trying to earth these stories in our own lives and call as a Church today.

Remember, our 7pm service will be looking at the same topic and Dave Mitchell will be sharing with us. Check it out!

DISCUSSION NOTES

INTRODUCTION | Matthew 28:16-20

Matthew 28:16-20 carries the hope of restored creation. God has always wanted his world to be filled with his image-bearers (Genesis 1:27-28 ‘Be fruitful and multiply, fill the earth and subdue it’). Here in Matthew, the disciples are called to be fruitful and multiply, to fill the earth (every nation) and subdue (teaching them to obey everything).

STUDY QUESTIONS

1. The word for nations here is ‘ethne’ (from which we get ethnic) and was used by Jewish people to designate gentiles, non-Jews. What is the significance for the disciples of this particular call in the light of Israel being a ‘chosen people’?

2. How much do we prioritise in our sharing of Good News about Jesus people very different to ourselves? Does the commission of these eleven disciples extend to us? What does that say about the priority of the global mission for Christians?

3. How much is racial unity and inclusion an important practice for us at Woodlands? What do you think Jesus wants for us in this area?

4. We live in a world where environmental degradation, species loss and climate change are stark realities. What is the Christian response to Creation itself?

5. How might we teach people to obey the teaching of Jesus as these verses tell us to? What place does baptism have for people who are serious about obeying Jesus words?

Woodies Kids | Knowing Jesus and the Holy Spirit

Welcome to the Woodies Kids blog.

this week we Think About…

Knowing JEsus and the Holy Spirit

Lie down comfortably with eyes closed and use your mind to imagine the story.

Read the following fairly slowly allowing time for the children to respond.

“Imagine that you have been with Jesus as one of his disciples. Imagine that you have seen him die on the cross and now you are scared and going to hide out in another town. You are walking along the road - it feels like a long way! How are you feeling inside?

​Imagine that suddenly a stranger comes alongside you and starts asking why you look so sad. What do you tell him?

Now imagine that the stranger starts to explain all sorts of things about Jesus to you. What he’s saying makes lots of sense and your heart feels all funny inside

of you. Imagine that you get to the place where you’re staying and you invite the man in to have some tea with you. Before the meal, the man says thank you to God for the food and suddenly you know that it’s Jesus! How do you know? What does he look like? How does your heart feel now?

Jesus disappears. What do you do? How do you feel inside?”

Give the children some time to think about this and maybe write, draw or talk about what they experience.

Tea & Coffee on Sundays

At our Sunday services, we are serving hot drinks outside at 10.30am and 6.30pm before our services (as long as the weather is dry!). You can gather with groups of 6 people or two households. Simply submit your drink order on the booking form. Please bring your own keepie cup - this is a COVID-safe precaution and better for the environment.

Book to come to church and have tea & coffee:

• https://www.woodlandschurch.net/sundays

Here’s a short video with Tim sharing how it will work:

Resurrection + Restoration: Restored Church | Clare Thompson at 7pm | 18 April 2021

How can our lives, church and world be restored by the love and power of Jesus?

18 April 2021 - 7pm Service

Resurrection + Restoration: Restored Church

This Sunday we continue our current preaching series Resurrection + Restoration with a message from Clare Thompson on ‘Restored Church’.

Following on from Easter, our series Resurrection + Restoration will help us grasp what Jesus’ resurrection means and the hope we carry in our everyday lives.

Rather than wave quickly goodbye to Easter, we’re taking some time to look at Bible passages from the Gospels after Jesus was resurrected. We’ll be looking at scriptures that address personal restoration, the great commission, and how we can bring hope into the world. Each week, we’ll be trying to earth these stories in our own lives and call as a Church today.

Remember, earlier today at the 11am service we heard Nigel Coles speak. Go check it out!

DISCUSSION NOTES

INTRODUCTION | John 20: 19-29

Sometimes the Church blows it! Sometimes our Churches are faithless, divided, abusive, materialistic, self-centred etc, lukewarm, apathetic, and a poor even negative witness. As a body of believers we can fail to fulfil our mission and even bring Christianity into disrepute. Jesus it seems loves the Church and Church history is as much a story of restoration as of failure!

STUDY QUESTIONS

1. What would you say to someone who is disillusioned with Church, who might say ‘I love Jesus but I don’t want anything to do with Church’?

2. In John 20, what kind of confidence did the disciples (the nucleus of the ‘Church’ the community that Jesus came to build) have in themselves?

3. What strikes you about the phrases Jesus uses to speak to this group, ‘As the Father sent me, I’m sending you’, ‘If you forgive anyone sins they are forgiven’?

4. What is the role of the Holy Spirit in restoring Church here?

Resurrection + Restoration: Restored Church | Nigel Coles at 11am | 18 April 2021

How can our lives, church and world be restored by the love and power of Jesus?

18 April 2021 - 11am Service

Resurrection + Restoration: Restored Church

This Sunday we continue our current preaching series Resurrection + Restoration with a message from Nigel Coles on ‘Restored Church’.

Following on from Easter, our series Resurrection + Restoration will help us grasp what Jesus’ resurrection means and the hope we carry in our everyday lives.

Rather than wave quickly goodbye to Easter, we’re taking some time to look at Bible passages from the Gospels after Jesus was resurrected. We’ll be looking at scriptures that address personal restoration, the great commission, and how we can bring hope into the world. Each week, we’ll be trying to earth these stories in our own lives and call as a Church today.

Remember, our 7pm service will be looking at the same topic and Clare Thompson will be sharing with us. Check it out!

DISCUSSION NOTES

INTRODUCTION | John 20: 19-29

Sometimes the Church blows it! Sometimes our Churches are faithless, divided, abusive, materialistic, self-centred etc, lukewarm, apathetic, and a poor even negative witness. As a body of believers we can fail to fulfil our mission and even bring Christianity into disrepute. Jesus it seems loves the Church and Church history is as much a story of restoration as of failure!

STUDY QUESTIONS

1. What would you say to someone who is disillusioned with Church, who might say ‘I love Jesus but I don’t want anything to do with Church’?

2. In John 20, what kind of confidence did the disciples (the nucleus of the ‘Church’ the community that Jesus came to build) have in themselves?

3. What strikes you about the phrases Jesus uses to speak to this group, ‘As the Father sent me, I’m sending you’, ‘If you forgive anyone sins they are forgiven’?

4. What is the role of the Holy Spirit in restoring Church here?

Ash's Story

Ash tells her story of finding faith and following Jesus.

Oli's Story

Oli tells his story of following Jesus.

One Church One Day Prayer

We’re involved as a church with the One Church One Day (OCOD) prayer initiative, which works to unite the city of Bristol in prayer and worship.

We’re asking our church family to specifically be praying for the city in the month leading up to May 6th, when our local elections are happening. We’re taking the prayer baton for our day of prayer on Monday, April 26th.

Here’s how you can get involved:

• Join us for a special OCOD Evening Prayer Watch
  We’ll be focussing on praying for the peace and prosperity of Bristol. You can login to this online Zoom event, it starts at 8pm. (Meeting ID: 941 7083 1031 Passcode: 280753)

• Sign up for a slot in our 24/7 virtual prayer room
  As a church, we’re going to be covering the city in prayer for a full 24 hour shift. You can sign up here.

• Use our One-Hour Prayer Guide
  To help you pray for an hour, we’ve made simple prayer guide to help you. Download the Prayer Guide.

Be sure to mark the 26th April in your diary and let’s all be praying for our city! Amen.

Resurrection + Restoration: Restored Life | Ben Lilford at 8:30am | 11 April 2021

11 April 2021 - 8:30am Service

Resurrection + Restoration: Restored Life

This Sunday we start our new preaching series Resurrection + Restoration with a message from Ben Lilford on ‘Restored Life’.

Following on from Easter, our series Resurrection + Restoration will help us grasp what Jesus’ resurrection means and the hope we carry in our everyday lives.

Rather than wave quickly goodbye to Easter, we’re taking some time to look at Bible passages from the Gospels after Jesus was resurrected. We’ll be looking at scriptures which address personal restoration, the great commission, and how we can bring hope into the world. Each week, we’ll be trying to earth these stories in our own lives and call as a Church today.

Remember, later today at the 11am and 7pm services we’ll hear Rob Scott-Cook and Dave Mitchell speak on the same topic. Go check it out

DISCUSSION NOTES

INTRODUCTION | John 21

Key thought: Have you ever felt you have completely blown it?

It’s bad enough with human relationships - what if we have ‘blown it’ with God? John 21 is the tender story of Jesus threefold re-commissioning of Peter after his threefold denial.

STUDY QUESTIONS

1. What did Peter feel after his threefold denial of Jesus when he was arrested? (Read John 18v15-27) Did Peter feel guilt or shame? What is the difference between guilt and shame? How can we find freedom from guilt and shame?

2. In the encounter with Jesus in John 21, what details in the story remind you of situations earlier in Peter’s life? Are there triggers for you that bring back painful memories? How can those be healed?

3. Why did Jesus ask Peter ‘Do you love me’ three times?

4. Have you ever felt disillusioned when leaders or people you trust have ‘blown it’? What does restoration look like for people in places of leadership and ministry?

Resurrection + Restoration: Restored Life | Dave Mitchell at 7pm | 11 April 2021

How can our lives, church and world be restored by the love and power of Jesus?

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11 April 2021 - 7pm Service

Resurrection + Restoration: Restored Life

This Sunday we start our new preaching series Resurrection + Restoration with a message from Dave Mitchell on ‘Restored Life’.

Following on from Easter, our series Resurrection + Restoration will help us grasp what Jesus’ resurrection means and the hope we carry in our everyday lives.

Rather than wave quickly goodbye to Easter, we’re taking some time to look at Bible passages from the Gospels after Jesus was resurrected. We’ll be looking at scriptures that address personal restoration, the great commission, and how we can bring hope into the world. Each week, we’ll be trying to earth these stories in our own lives and call as a Church today.

Remember, earlier today at the 11am service we heard Rob Scott-Cook speak. Go check it out

DISCUSSION NOTES

INTRODUCTION | John 21

Key thought: Have you ever felt you have completely blown it?

It’s bad enough with human relationships - what if we have ‘blown it’ with God? John 21 is the tender story of Jesus threefold re-commissioning of Peter after his threefold denial.

STUDY QUESTIONS

1. What did Peter feel after his threefold denial of Jesus when he was arrested? (Read John 18v15-27) Did Peter feel guilt or shame? What is the difference between guilt and shame? How can we find freedom from guilt and shame?

2. In the encounter with Jesus in John 21, what details in the story remind you of situations earlier in Peter’s life? Are there triggers for you that bring back painful memories? How can those be healed?

3. Why did Jesus ask Peter ‘Do you love me’ three times?

4. Have you ever felt disillusioned when leaders or people you trust have ‘blown it’? What does restoration look like for people in places of leadership and ministry?

Resurrection + Restoration: Restored Life | Rob Scott-Cook at 11am | 11 April 2021

How can our lives, church and world be restored by the love and power of Jesus?

11 April 2021 - 11am Service

Resurrection + Restoration: Restored Life

This Sunday we start our new preaching series Resurrection + Restoration with a message from Rob Scott-Cook on ‘Restored Life’.

Following on from Easter, our series Resurrection + Restoration will help us grasp what Jesus’ resurrection means and the hope we carry in our everyday lives.

Rather than wave quickly goodbye to Easter, we’re taking some time to look at Bible passages from the Gospels after Jesus was resurrected. We’ll be looking at scriptures which address personal restoration, the great commission, and how we can bring hope into the world. Each week, we’ll be trying to earth these stories in our own lives and call as a Church today.

Remember, our 7pm service will be looking at the same topic and Dave Mitchell will be sharing with us. Check it out!

DISCUSSION NOTES

INTRODUCTION | John 21

Key thought: Have you ever felt you have completely blown it?

It’s bad enough with human relationships - what if we have ‘blown it’ with God? John 21 is the tender story of Jesus threefold re-commissioning of Peter after his threefold denial.

STUDY QUESTIONS

1. What did Peter feel after his threefold denial of Jesus when he was arrested? (Read John 18v15-27) Did Peter feel guilt or shame? What is the difference between guilt and shame? How can we find freedom from guilt and shame?

2. In the encounter with Jesus in John 21, what details in the story remind you of situations earlier in Peter’s life? Are there triggers for you that bring back painful memories? How can those be healed?

3. Why did Jesus ask Peter ‘Do you love me’ three times?

4. Have you ever felt disillusioned when leaders or people you trust have ‘blown it’? What does restoration look like for people in places of leadership and ministry?

Woodies Kids | Jesus is our friend

Welcome to the Woodies Kids blog.

this week we Think About…

Jesus is our friend

Volunteer at The Noise

SHOWING GOD’S LOVE IN PRACTICAL WAYS

The Noise weekend is an annual occasion when churches across the city unity to reach out to the communities around them with a shared vision of SHOWING GOD’S LOVE IN PRACTICAL WAYS.

Each year, volunteers from different churches and communities join together to host a weekend of events and practical projects, which make a difference in neighbourhoods across the city.

Mindful of the uncertainty of the next few months, caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, we are working towards hosting The Noise around the May Day Bank Holiday weekend (1st - 3rd May).

Across the weekend, volunteers from different churches will be:

• Hosting free, small community events such as pop-up takeaways and treasure hunts

• Delivering cream teas to senior citizens at home

• Tackling practical projects to transform gardens, public areas and community spaces for those who need a helping hand.

We are passionate about Bristol and want to equip the church to continue blessing communities across the city and the people who live there, but we need your help to do it!

So, join in this opportunity to show God’s love, together, and be part of building Bristol as a city of hope.

Visit The Noise website:

• www.thenoise.org.uk/2021

Holy Week: Easter Sunday | Dave Mitchell at 7pm | 4th of April 2021

4 April 2021 - 7pm Service

Holy Week: Easter Sunday

It's Easter Sunday at Woodlands Church Online! It's so great to have you with us. This Sunday we are happy to share an inspiring message from Dave Mitchell. Whatever your experience of church or faith, we pray that this Easter time will be a special time for you.

Be sure to visit our Easter page to view other content from Holy Week 2021. We have had some special lunchtime meditations as well as our special online Good Friday service that we’d love to share with you.

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

Holy Week: Easter Sunday | Dave Mitchell at 11am | 4th of April 2021

4 April 2021 - 11am Service

Holy Week: Easter Sunday

It's Easter Sunday at Woodlands Church Online! It's so great to have you with us. This Sunday we are happy to share an inspiring message from Dave Mitchell. Whatever your experience of church or faith, we pray that this Easter time will be a special time for you.

Be sure to visit our Easter page to view other content from Holy Week 2021. We have had some special lunchtime meditations as well as our special online Good Friday service that we’d love to share with you.

Remember, our 7pm service will be looking at the same topic. Check it out!