What Have We Been Up To?

It's been a long time (2 months, in fact) since our last post! :O

Here's a little update.

We've spent many weeks together at our Sunday night group, our Monday night worship practice, our Tuesday night cell group, our Wednesday night devotion group, and most other days of the week!

Jodi, one of our youth leaders, has been leading some Sunday nights alongside Emma, our youth worship leader. And they've been doing an amazing job.

We've have had the privilege of hearing talks from both Paul and Jodi, as well as participating in some awesome ice breakers led by Hannah.

This Sunday was spent together at the beach, bonding together, laughing together, jumping together, playing together, and swimming together.

Our Monday night worship practices were focussed on the RE:FUEL launch night for a few weeks. We are happy to let you know that the launch night was a success and we loved working with and meeting so many other youth from youth groups that are local to us!

RE:FUEL Worship Band - Photo: Paul

Our Tuesday nights have been quite social approaching the Summer, creating an open atmosphere for all realms of questions and conservations. Just recently we had a BBQ games night.

Cell Group BBQ - Photo: Becca

Our Wednesday nights have been devotional. Exploring things deeper together and seeing some of the youth members lead entire sessions on their own. We're seeing amazing leaders form and grow from this group.

And we've got lots coming up! 

Incendium Cell Cherry Spitting Competition - 26th July

RE:FUEL hosted by AV Youth - 31st July

FORTIFY youth equipping day - 7th August

Furnace at the Park - 14th August

BIG Furnace - 4th September

We look forward to updating you again soon! 

We hope you enjoy the nice British Summer that is overwhelming us all. 

Joy and peace, 

BCDO Festival

A few friends who are associated with Willesborough Baptist Church went along to Big Church Day Out last weekend and here are some of their highlights!

We hope you enjoyed!

See you soon,

Here I Am To Worship

Picture from Google.

Imagine you walk into a room and in front of you are a bunch of randomers singing and dancing and playing along to a whole variety of songs. If that's all you see and all you feel then you've walked into a club. Imagine you walk into that same situation and something about the atmosphere catches you in a good way, filling you with love and peace. This can feel and look different to all of us but one thing is for sure: there's something more than just songs. You've entered into a place of worship.

Picture from Google.

When we enter into a space of worship inside ourselves we surrender to Jesus, to God, to Him. We humble ourselves before Him. Ultimately we worship for an audience of one: Him.

This brings freedom to our worship whilst also bringing unsettling mystery. What if someone hears my off notes? What if someone notices I can't always sing in tune? What if I mess up so badly that I put everyone off?

It's right to respect other people in their worship but who's to say that you shouldn't sing loud and jump high for your God? He's your audience. He marvels over every aspect of your worship to Him. Every single sound or movement or thought that you have for Him - He loves them all! If you can sing in the shower, you can sing to God. If you can run really fast or walk really slow, you can run and walk for God. If you can breathe, you can breathe for God.

Picture from Google.

Be encouraged. God doesn't judge us in a worldly and negative way in the here and now. In fact, He loves when we try and He loves when we freely want to meet with Him.

So close your eyes and focus on Him, sing Him your song, bring Him more than a song - bring Him your heart and your life and your love and all else. Bring Him you! Nothing more and nothing less.

All of God loves all of you (singular). Perhaps at first it seems a challenge for all of you (singular) to love all of God but the journey will be an exciting one!

Picture from Google.

See you soon,

Bandta

Welcome to the Furnace Worship Band post!

...we really need to think of a name, like, a.s.a.p! (Comment with suggestions, haha)

So you may be asking yourself what is it that we do? Well, we are the youth band for Furnace at WBC. We are a group that love worshipping Jesus and we love to lead others in worship too - it's our passion. Many of us are also regularly involved in the main worship band which is such a great thing to be doing. We love to step out and encourage our church in worship!

Anyway let's start by telling you a bit about band practice. Well it's an awesome way to start the week. Monday's sure aren't everyone's favourite but having practice in the evening lifts everyone's spirit. Monday is a session where we create a setlist to play at Furnace on the Sunday, but as well as this we chat, pray, laugh, jam and have fun!

Seeing the group strengthen their relationships with one another but also with God is so awesome to see and lead them in. Whatever the mood is each week we kind of roll with it, which makes it a chilled place for us all to be. Playing it by ear is lovely as some weeks we just pick random songs, sit together on the floor and jam for the whole time and other weeks we are feeling the full plugged-in effect!

I suppose now is a good time to mention who I am... 

I'm Emma and I'm the worship co-ordinator for the youth band. I am so thankful that I have been able to lead such an awesome group of people. Every single person involved with the band, has a different and unique gift from God, which makes it so special when we all play together. Having the courage to lead others and step out in faith is amazing and the group have no fear of spreading God's love.

 Now I think it's time you know who is currently part of the Furnace Worship Band... well, there are 10 people. Some are around more often than others but this means there is a varied range of musical talents involved! 

So we have: 

- Emma Matthews (Worship Co-ordinator/Leader)

- Sam Houghton (Deputy)

- Ollie Matthews

- Hannah Butcher
- Matt Chegwin

- Seona Casse

- Sarah Guy

- Jodi Tanton

- Tessa Lukkien

- Sarah Terry

- Molly Boot

So you know quite a bit about what we have a passion doing from my perspective but I wanted you to hear from a few others about what being part of the band means to them so here you are...

'Band is a family, a place to worship God not just on a Sunday. It's a time to worship, chill, laugh and pray with some amazing people. To use our talents to worship our God.' - Seona Casse

'I love band because it gives me a chance to be with amazing people and worship. Also the range of songs we do and everyone's love for Jesus.' - Sarah Terry

'I love being part of the youth band. Seeing other young people worshipping God through song and having that connection and passion for the creator is amazing. By far the most rewarding thing is allowing others to worship whilst you do. Looking out on a church of people who are dancing, singing and raising their hands...that's what worship is about.' - Sam Houghton

'I love that everyone comes to band with an attitude to praise God. There is always so much laughing and joy, but it's always rooted in God.' - Jodi Tanton

'We all get on so well and don't take it too seriously. I love that we can just jam and mess around at the practice but still play a masterpiece come Sunday evening and actually praise God! It's the perfect mix of fun and praise.' - Tessa Lukkien

Guest post written by Emma Matthews