Written Warnings

"Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared and wrote on the plaster of the wall." (Daniel 5:5)

There are some messages we would rather not receive. A warning light on the car dashboard. A motorway sign: “Slow down. Queue ahead”. A pop-up advising us to take a break from social media. Warnings are not usually given to spoil our enjoyment, but to alert us to danger and protect us from it. Tooth twinges may indicate the start of decay; a backache may be more than a pulled muscle.

Daniel chapter 5 gives us one of history's most famous warnings. King Belshazzar is feasting, drinking and celebrating while Babylon is under threat. Suddenly, a hand appears, writing mysterious words on the wall. Daniel interprets them: God has numbered Belshazzar's days, he has been weighed and found wanting, and his kingdom is about to be divided. The phrase “the writing on the wall”, having entered our everyday language, is now used to point towards an approaching peril or an inevitable outcome. Belshazzar saw the writing, but tragically, he did not heed the warning.

God still gives us warnings today. He warns us through His Word: Scripture confronts our attitudes, exposes our sin, challenges our priorities and calls us back to God. He may also use circumstances to cause us to stop and reconsider our direction - a closed door, a painful consequence or a crisis. He may use people: a friend who loves us enough to speak truth.

In John 8, Jesus wrote with His finger in the dust. Though perhaps a reminder of Exodus 31:18 and Deuteronomy 9:10, we are not told what He wrote, but we are told what He said. He confronts those who were condemning someone caught in sin by turning the spotlight onto their own hearts: “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Jesus neither excuses nor ignores sin, commanding: “leave your life of sin.” A sober warning for all of us sinners to read.

Jesus' warnings were wrapped in mercy: exposing sin to rescue sinners, revealing danger and offering a way out. The question, therefore, is not simply, “Is God warning me?” but “Will I heed His warning?”

We can speed past the road sign. We can silence the carbon monoxide alarm. We can scroll or stroll past the warnings. We can dismiss the voice of conscience, even when confirmed by God's Word. We can surround ourselves only with those who reinforce our views and behaviours. We can even close our Bibles.

But God's warnings are loving invitations to stop and turn before it is too late. Belshazzar's ‘Banksy’ reminds us: Read the warning. Recognise the danger. Respond to God.

The God who warns us also welcomes us back. For in Christ Jesus, the Word became flesh, and the Way back to God was opened.

Revd Michael Hogg

Hello and welcome to our church. If you are a new visitor, we have a page for you to get to know us and learn more about planning a visit.
Click here to see more.

Visitors click here

Planning your Visit

A Warm Hello

The following information is specifically for those planning a visit, so that you know, beforehand, what to expect on a Sunday morning.

Where and When

We meet at the Church Building (details here) for our Sunday Service starting at 10am. For your first visit, we recommend arriving 10-15 minutes early to ensure you get a parking space and find somewhere to sit before the service begins. When you arrive, you should be greeted by someone on our Welcome Team who will be wearing a Welcome lanyard.

We serve tea, coffee and biscuits from 10am, before the service begins. It is a great way to meet people, or simply take time to find your bearings. All refreshments are free.

Accessibility: There is wheelchair access, and a sound loop for anyone who needs it. Please let one of the Welcome Team know on your arrival and they will help you to get set up. There are disabled toilets in the main foyer.

Our Service

The main service begins at 10am with a warm welcome from one of our team members. We share news and notices, usually about what’s going on in the life of the church. Following this is a time of sung and spoken worship. We typically have 2 or 3 songs lasting approximately 20 minutes. Often a person will pray out loud or read a small passage from the bible. Sometimes people share things that they believe God is saying to the whole church family. One of our leaders will then give a sermon that is bible based and that we can apply to our everyday life. We then finish with a final worship song. There is an opportunity to receive prayer at the end of the service.

images: Services

What about my kids?

We have a great programme lined up for kids of all ages:

Creche (0 months to 3 years). Children under 6 months are welcome but must be accompanied by their parent/grown-up at all times.
BRBK (4-11 years)

Children stay with their parent or grown-up at the start of the service for the welcome, songs and notices. We really value worshipping God all together as a family. Part way through the service, the leader will announce that it’s time for the younger members to go to their various groups.

The kids group activities vary depending on the age but usually there is a friendly welcome, bible stories, testimonies, praying, music, craft, drama, fun games and free play. Please pick your children up as soon as the service finishes.

Getting Connected

House Groups

While Sundays are a great way to meet new people, it is often in smaller gatherings that you can really get to know someone. Being part of one of our small groups allows you to make new friends, share together and support each other. We have a variety of groups that meet throughout the week, some afternoons and some evenings. Check out House Groups and see if there’s one that you could join, or we can put you in touch with a small group leader who will be more than happy to invite you along to their group.

Serving and Volunteering

If you want to get involved in the life of the church and help us make Sundays run smoothly, you can sign up to serve on a team.

Get in touch with us to plan your visit

If you would like to come and visit the church beforehand you are more than welcome! Get in touch and we can arrange a time that suits you.

Name:

Telephone:

Email Address:
Comments / Questions or anything you would like to say?

Next, we will contact you by email to say hello and help arrange anything necessary for your visit.

Leadership


Leader 1		Leader 2
Leader Intro		Leader Intro

We hope that whoever you are, you will feel at home at our church.

Best Wishes

(Handwritten Signature)