Living in Freedom: I Am the Gate 

Monday 16th February 

Good morning CCB, (urgent request for help with soup at the end!!)



We start a new week, and my prayer for us as we wake to a new day is that we would know God and experience more of Him in our daily lives this week. I pray for blessings and encouragement as we seek to live for Him.

Recap from our Sunday service

It is good to be reminded of some of the key points from yesterday's service, so we can continue to reflect and pray about those things God has spoken to us about.

So far in our series, we have looked at:

• I am the Good Shepherd - and how and where God wants to lead us.
• I am the Bread of Life - how we need to search for spiritual growth and nourishment.
• I am the Light of the world - asking questions about our own walk with God.

Yesterday, we were looking at I am the Gate (John 10: 1-21).

Our main thoughts were that as we come into a relationship with Jesus, we are set free. Freedom in life is ours because of everything Christ has done for us.

We looked at what that life looks like and then finished with a number of points from our reading about, about how we might express this freedom.

1. V3 - keep listening to God's voice
2. V4 - keep Christ at the Centre of everything we do
3. V9 - live in the freedom that we have
4. V10 - remember that God wants the absolute best for us
5. V11 - it is a life of sacrifice as well
6. V14 - Live with the freedom knowing that God knows us and chooses us

Some of the other Bible readings referred to yesterday were:

1. Colossians 3: 1-3
2. Joshua 1:9
3. Galatians 5: 1, 13, 14 and 16-18
4. 1 Peter 2: 4-10

Maybe have a look at some of these readings and hold onto them as we journey through this week.

Next Sunday: we will move onto John 11: 17-44 - I am the Resurrection and Life

LENT

We begin our Churches Together Lent course next Tuesday (24th February). All the dates are as follows:

1. Tuesday's 11.30 a.m. . @ All Saints led by Andrew and Matt (starts 24th Feb for 5 weeks)
2. Thursday's 7.30 p.m. @ Saint Benedicts led by James and Diana (starts 26th Feb for 5 weeks)
3. Saturday's 10.15 @ St Mary's Church, Apsley (starts 28th Feb for 5 weeks)

The material we will be reflect on is: 24-7 Prayer by Pete Greig

It would be great to support this if we are able to, as we continue to build on the good relationships between all the churches in Kings Langley.

URGENT need (and please let me know in the next few days) is there anyone willing to come and help me provide soup and rolls?

We do not have to do all 5 sessions, but would be good if we could offer 2 or 3. Please let me know ASAP, otherwise I will have to find alternative options.

THANK YOU

UPDATES

It has been encouraging to see people book into ministers' surgeries on a Monday morning (10.00-Midday).

Pastoral work does take place at other times. Please do let me know if you would like time with me at any point. The pastoral surgeries are to enable us to do more one-to-one pastoral work in a safe environment for all.

We are in the process of enlarging our pastoral care team, so that we can continue to give the best pastoral care that we are able to as a church - this is a priority.

Next Monday (23rd) I will have the joy of going to meet the manager and residents at Garrad House, exploring what ways we as a church can support both the staff and residents in this lovely home.

We are excited that the new website is not far away. We will provide the support that is needed to help all of us get the best out of this website. It is easy to use, and we pray will be a good tool for communicating effectively with our community.

The safeguarding and leadership team are also working hard behind the scenes to update all our policies and procedures - please pray for the team in this important area of church life.

PRAYERS FOR THE WEEK

As we journey through this week, let us hold one another in our prayers (those needs that are known and those that are unknown). Let us pray:

• For our world and our community
• For all those in the workplace (we have quite a few in our church, it is a place of mission)
• For all those who are in the medical profession and emergency services
• For opportunities to share our faith
• As it is half-term, a few of our groups are on a break - so rest for all who volunteer at CCB

I want to thank you all for your support and encouragement, and may we continue to see God doing amazing things this week, and I finish with the prayer I closed yesterday's service with:



God bless you all,

Matt
 

Finding True Satisfaction: Jesus, the Bread of Life

19th January 2026

Good afternoon CCB,

Highlights from Sunday morning

It is good to see some new people connecting to our worshipping community at CCB on Sunday mornings.  We will be sharing in the next few weeks different ways people can connect with CCB so that support and friendships are developed within the life of the church.

Yesterday morning, we explored our second I am saying of Jesus - I am the Bread of Life, and here are some of the main points...

The main reading was John 6: 25-29 and we looked at three questions:

1. Why were they looking for Jesus? And we asked that question of ourselves and encouraged us not just to look for the miracles but look to the miracle maker (Jesus), who has so much more for you.
   
   I referred to a song yesterday which beautifully reflects this desire to search for Jesus because He will truly satisfy our hearts' desires. Let me encourage you to listen to this song: Hungry

Hungry I come to You for I know You satisfy
I am empty but I know Your love does not run dry

So I wait for You
So I wait for You

I'm falling on my knees
Offering all of me
Jesus You're all this heart is living for

Broken I run to You for Your arms are open wide
I am weary but I know Your touch restores my life

 3. How can we be satisfied? As we thought about Jesus being the bread of life, we asked the question, are we content with what we have and where we are. Paul said: I have learnt to be content in each and every situation.

If you want a copy of my notes, please do ask; I am more than happy to share them with you.

Other things to look out for...

The leaders had a really positive and encouraging day on Saturday as we spent time reflecting and praying for God's guidance and direction for us as a church in 2026. 

We look forward to sharing some of these things with the church in the coming weeks, but more information will be shared at the next church meeting (open to all) on Wednesday, 28th January, 7.45 p.m. (please do come along if you are able join us).

Some of the key focus points we are looking at and praying into are:

• Worship and prayer.
• Caring for all of our volunteers - not burning people out.
• Pastoral care - we will be introducing a couple of new things over the coming weeks that will help with the care we give as a church.
• Home groups - we are exploring introducing a few new groups and opportunities for people to connect.
• Several events we can invite people to over the year.
• Planning of an Alpha course.
• And a summer mission in August - more info to follow.

Please do join us on the 28th if you would like to find out more.

On Monday, 19th January 7.30 p.m.
All involved in children's, youth and families at CCB (and anyone who would like to know more and perhaps like to be involved) will be meeting together at the church as an opportunity for us to say thank you for all the hard work, but also to explore the vision together for us going forward in this important area of the church life. We will also spend time praying for each of the groups.

Prayers for this week...

One of the things we would love to see develop is for one another to pray for one another, not just on a Sunday morning but throughout the week. Let me encourage us on a Sunday morning to seek out a leader or someone sitting near to you, to pray with you and for you, in response to what God maybe saying as we gather to worship.

Let me encourage us to keep one another in our prayers. We have those on the weekly news sheet, but we have many others who need prayer. Let us pray for those in the workplace, those who serve at the church, our doctors and nurses and who work in the medical profession, all our emergency services, armed forces, the world, and our missionaries who we support as a church.

Let us pray for opportunities to witness to God's incredible love in the coming week.

On Thursday, I will be meeting with the Churches Together ministers as we continue to seek God's guidance in what we can do together in that joint mission to reach this community.

Please continue to pray for all of our groups that meet, and First Steps would appreciate your prayers after a different first week back last Thursday. And please do pray for the youth groups on a Friday night, as we see seeds being sown; may God continue to be at work in these young lives.

Please do be assured of my prayers for you all as we journey through another week, and I pray blessings and encouragement over you all.

God bless

Matt

Walking Together in the Light

Monday 26th January

Good afternoon CCB,



It was great to come together as God's people yesterday to worship and to pray together. It was so encouraging yesterday to hear people sharing how God has been working in their lives and prayers that have been answered. Thank you to all who shared. We want to encourage this as we move forward in our worship together.

Yesterday, we reflected on John 8, and here are some of the key points from the sermon (especially for those unable to be with us, but a reminder for the rest of us).

• One of the purposes of the I am saying 'I am the light of the world' is both to help us reflect on our own lives and also to help us move forward in the right direction. And so, we asked the question: how is our relationship with God?
   
• Jesus models something really important when life is busy and full of noise and distractions: how we need to take time out to rest, to listen and to pray - to nurture our relationship with God. In taking that time out, it equips us for all that we face in life.
   
• We looked at the way Jesus handles difficult situations and people who have different views and opinions. Jesus challenges those who make judgments on others by demonstrating what true light means by showing love and support to the woman caught in adultery: not condoning sin, but helping her to move forward without being judged.
   
• And we finished with three promises that are given to us as we hold onto this truth: Jesus is the light of the world.
  • We will have the light of life: God helps us in times of darkness.
  • We can have certainty about where we are going.
  • We can see things from God's perspective.

And it was that final point that we had the reminder for us not to be judgmental towards people, but be open to showing them the love of Christ, whose light transforms each and every one of us.

Next Sunday: Sunday 1st Feb: a slight change to our theme

Next Sunday will be a busy morning service (exciting). Next Sunday, the focus is on BMS World Mission, and we are encouraged to think about this important part of Baptist Life together. And so we will make that our focus and return to the I am sayings of Jesus on Sunday, 15th February (Cameron is taking our service on Sunday, 8th Feb).

Our reading for next Sunday will be: John 17: 1-26.

We will also be welcoming two people into membership and celebrating communion together.

Allan will be sharing something of his passion for BMS and leading us in prayer, but he would like us to watch a clip of a project that our missionaries are involved with. I share the link for you to watch at home, as this would be too long to play in church (with everything else we have going on next week).

Coming up @ CCB

These are exciting times at CCB, and I want to encourage us to keep on PRAYING for everything that takes place in the life of the church. We are seeing God answering prayers in amazing ways, and we need to continue to pray for all the seeds that are being sown.

We will be sharing at our church meeting on Wednesday evening (7.45) more of the discussions, reflections and prayers that are going on. Some are very practical things, but others are missional and outreach, and both the practical and missional are exciting as we see God at work in the life of the church and community. Please do join us if you are able to (non-members are very welcome), come and see what God is laying on our hearts at this time.

So what can you specifically be praying for at this moment:

1. All those we have contact with who do not know Jesus yet.
2. All of our midweek groups and all who come through the doors of the church.
3. All those in the workplace and those who travel for their work.
4. We will be sharing news on pastoral care at CCB in the coming days and weeks. Thank you to those willing to be involved in this important area of church life.
5. For our meeting on Wednesday evening, that it will be a time of blessing and encouragement.
6. The CCB team that will meet with the CBA (our Regional Association) safeguarding team to begin updating our policies and procedures (Wednesday afternoon).
7. Continued work with families (1st Steps) and the children and youth on a Friday evening. Friday night we have up to 7 at 7up and up to 15 Ultimat8. 
8. Friday, as we give thanks for the life of Diana. Please do be praying for John, Joanne and Stephen at this time. 9.30 at Hemel Hempstead Crematorium and 10.45 at CCB.

I am excited by many of the different conversations I am having with you all, hearing about how God is at work in your lives throughout the week. Please be assured of my continued support and prayers for you all as you seek to be Christ's disciples in the places He calls you to be in the week days.

If you would like to know more about how to connect at CCB, or whether you would like to know more about baptism or membership, then please do speak to myself or any of the leadership team; we are here to support, help and encourage you all on the journey of faith.

We look forward to seeing you all soon. God bless.

Matt 
 

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