Based on issues raised at the Ministry Communication Meetings, the church leadership met in November to plan the year ahead. As a leadership we identified three main areas of focus for 2011: Prayer, Evangelism and Training. We want to glorify God as we come to Him in prayer, seeking to share the gospel with our world, and equipping ourselves for His service. Here are some of the ways we want to do that this year: 

1. Prayer: A New Look Quarterly Prayer Meeting (1st Sunday of each Term)
We have decided to try a new approach to our Quarterly Prayer Meeting by incorporating it into an adapted 9:30am service. The normal 9:30am service will be tailored to end at approximately 10:15am and, after a short opportunity to allow people from our other Sunday services to join us, the next half an hour up to 10:45am will be dedicated to group prayer together, led from the front. Please join us if you can - no one will be forced to stay for the meeting or to pray out loud! 

2. Training: One-to-one Information Meeting (5 to 6:30pm on 30th January 2011) 
One of the ways we want to encourage prayer, evangelism and training is to raise the profile of one-to-one meetings, where people meet in small groups of 2-5 for a short time of Bible reading, prayer and encouragement, wherever and whenever they are able to meet. This meeting is designed to help those who would like to join in and are unsure of where to start. 

3. Evangelism: XEE Evangelism Training (2nd term focus) 
Sharing the gospel with others in a conversational way doesn't always come naturally, and for many of us we can be filled with fear or guilt when that evangelistic opportunity passes us by. That is why we want to introduce the evangelism training course XEE to you. If you're interested, have a look at their website (select North America region). 

We are also planning to introduce the evangelistic course Christianity Explored in the last term. 

4. Other events in 2011 to diarise (please note dates are subject to change):

• 27th June – 1st July: Children's Bible Holiday Club 
• 20th and 27th July: Lifestyle Christian Parenting Seminar 
• 9th - 11th September: Church Family Camp 
• 1st - 8th October: Mission Trip up to Port Elizabeth, to our missionaries Kenny and Rose Lloyd, and Kyle and Jenna Barrow. 
• 28th October: Missions International Food Festival 

Our Community Life Notices (each Sunday) and our Year Planner (in the church foyer) will keep you posted as these events draw near. Further information and updates can be found on the website. 

Please continue to raise up Christ Church to the Lord in prayer, that we may continue to glorify God by knowing Christ so as to make Him known, being prayerfully equipped to share the gospel with one another and our world. 

In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the Day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:4-6)