We have shared the pointers below to inform our praying, in relation to our impending move forward. These are just a few pointers and each would need to be expanded more fully. We have received confirmation that the building warrant will be available within the next few weeks.

In relation to pastoral planning of services during May we have been in touch with Reg Bartlett, pastoral care of Motherwell Baptist (MBC) and shared with him our plans to meet not so very far from where MBC is based. This has led to the opportunity for us to meet with MBC in the evening of 20th May. This in turn has led to us planning to meet with Larkhall Baptist Church, in the evening, on 6th May. These will provide unique opportunities for us to build bridges of fellowship with our sister churches. We are building in flexibility in the other two alternate evenings in May which will help our ‘setting up team’ who will be facilitating arrangements for our morning services in May. All of our morning services will all be at Dalziel studios.

There are quite a number of unknowns (to us!) and no doubt there will be the unexpected (to us!). This however is a unique opportunity for us to experience together, faith in action and real fellowship as we look after each other. We serve the Living God who knows all things and is never taken by surprise. During April we will be sharing with you further updates and offering practical help for all in our congregation. Our aim is that we all will benefit from the necessary move. In doing so we pray that we all will be inspired and reassured.

Please do not hesitate at any time to share with our pastors, elders and deacons any concerns or questions you might have.

Please pray daily and pray in faith and with conviction, for our journey ahead together. Please, in particular, pray for:

• Team completing final contractual arrangements.
• Team preparing the building for work to commence.
• Pastoral planning of services at both venues.
• All ages involved, and us all together as a church family.
• Fellowship opportunities together.
• Teams involved in setting up, parking, stewarding, chairs, PowerPoint, sound, music .
• Team involved in refurbishments to the rest of our premises – Toilets, corridors, large hall. Finishing touches, chairs, communion, carpeting etc.
• On-going funding, and gift days.
• Publicising our move and using it as an evangelistic opportunity.

The theme commences on Palm Sunday and continues from Wednesday with a special time together in communion on Good Friday evening.

Plan to be along as often as possible to share together in these special times of fellowship, teaching and encouragement.

Please note also that the annual Holy week services arranged by the Hamilton Ministers’ Forum are being held this year, 2nd – 6th April at 7.30pm, in the United Reformed Church, South Park Road, under the theme: Christ the Servant King. Our Pastor, Derek, has been asked to lead the Tuesday evening service.

Assuming all the planning permissions etc. are obtained when expected, the building work in the church buildings will start in May and all Sunday services for that month (only) will be held in South Dalziel Studios, 181 Windmillhill Street, Motherwell (map below).

To help us to access the accommodation required, the preparations required each Sunday for services, etc. we have arranged a visit to see the premises at 7pm on Thursday 15th March. If you are involved in Sunday services in any way, music, sound, creche, Junior Church (or possible Holiday Sunday School), etc., it would be helpful if you could either come or make certain someone from your group comes for this walk round this Thursday (15th March).

Some photos from the visit to South Dalziel Studios can be found below.

From the start of June, the Sunday services will be held in Hamilton College (map below) – further details will be posted in the news section once they have been finalised.

Although the main contractors have said that the halls will be available during the period of the renovations, we are planning to tackle several problem points in the halls across the summer. These are likely to include the removal of the plaster on the dividing wall between the large and small hall to allow the cracks that have appeared on the large hall side to be repaired, the sanding and sealing of the floor in the large hall, the up-grade of the toilets, installing new lighting and painting and papering in the corridors. It is thought that this work will start in June at the earliest, so the Boy’s Brigade and Girl’s Brigade will have full use of the halls for their displays in May. However, during June, July and August, the halls, toilets and corridors will be out of action for a period of time and it is not possible at present to be precise about when that will happen.

More information will appear in the news section of the website closer to the time.

As we’ve been learning at our Arise evenings, the shape of God’s power is in the transformed lives of ordinary people. This same power brings unlikely, changed, people together, in what is called ‘the Church’.

In our Growth groups over the next few weeks and on Sunday mornings we will be finding out about the ‘shape’ of such people – we’ll be discovering God’s grand design for individuals and the tools He uses to bring them together in a unique community of people. Please pray that we will allow God’s word to speak to us and change us.

The dates for the house groups are below.  Make sure to look out for the house group leaflet in the What’s On the Sunday before the study.

To find a group or to download the notes, visit the House Groups page. To catch up on the sermons from “The Shape of God’s Power series visit the series page.

We hope to discuss together material presented by Malcolm Duncan minister at Gold Hill Baptist, London. While Malcolm himself will not be with us, his presentation is refreshing, applied to ‘contemporary’ issues and Biblically rooted.

We’ll be meeting in the church flat 7.30-9.30pm with a good opportunity to share pizza and refreshments, meet some new friends and engage with key Christian teaching. We hope to arrange other events during 2012 of an enriching, encouraging and entertaining nature.

To help with food arrangements could you please let Tommy Green know before- hand if you can make it along.

Some other dates to keep in mind:

• 11th February – Men’s breakfasts arranged(Calvary, Motherwell)
• 12th May (Bothwell Evangelical)
• 15th September (Hamilton Baptist Church)

Christmas Service Times
18th Dec 10:45am – ‘God’s Gift from Above’
18th Dec 6:30 – Arise Carol Concert
24th Dec 11.30pm – Candlelight Carol Service
Christmas Day 10:45am – ‘God’s Gift of Love’

We look forward to seeing you!

Do plan to be with us in the morning at 10:45am and later in the evening at 6:30pm as Richard speaks at the Arise youth service.

We are always very grateful to those who donate baking, nearly new, hand made items and time. If you have a talent that you think will contribute to the success of this event please get in touch!

All money raised will be donated to HBC Building Fund.

While our burden in prayer will be the on-going life of our fellowship and the exciting possibilities ahead we will also be praying for individual special needs and vital national concerns and decisions.

Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:16

Derek & Graham

We have had a very encouraging response so far this month, in response to our gift day. The total donated, including gift aid tax refund, was £22,598.

The really exciting news is this brings our total giving to date to a total of £382,665, meaning we have exceeded the “trigger point” (75% of £500K = £375K) which enables us to commence the re-development programme once the necessary building approvals etc. are submitted and approved by the council. We anticipate that process could take up to six months, and hope to provide more information at the November business meeting on 30th November.

Please accept the thanks of Pastors, Elders and Deacons for your part in helping us achieve this significant milestone.