Hockley Pentecostal Church

We’re coming up to the Easter holidays and I wonder what it means to you. For a lot of people you’d think it had nothing to do with our lives (except maybe an excuse to eat loads of chocolate). The reality is very different. Easter is a celebration of one the most amazing weeks that our planet has ever seen.

Two thousand years ago Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the back of a donkey in fulfillment of prophecy. Within a few days the crowd that had cheered him became an angry mob, baying for his blood. On Good Friday we remember how he was brutally tortured before being crucified. Then on Easter Sunday comes the biggest celebration of the year. Of course Christmas is great when we look back at his birth, but the Bible reveals his death and resurection as probably the greatest event in the whole of history.

This Easter we’ll be celebrating the fact that there is nothing better than God in the whole universe. He has the greatest love for us, the power to overcome any circumstances, as well as the desire and ability to transform our lives for the better. Not even death is a match for the creator of everything.

This Easter we’ll got all our usual services which you’ll find on the weekly page. We’re also joining with many other local churches to walk down Soho Road on Good Friday. It’s called “The Walk of Witness” because we’re all witnesses to the great things that God has done for us. The events of two thousand years ago still have a practical effect on our daily lives. There’s a few photos from earlier years in a previous post.

Jesus is the light and soul of Christmas as our musical clearly demonstrated in December. Playing to a packed house on both nights everyone agreed it was a great night’s entertainment, full of fun and with a message of hope for the world. It was too long to put the whole video of the performance on You Tube but a DVD can be bought from the church price £5.

Loads of things are happening at HPC over the next few weeks as we celebrate the birth of Jesus!  Some special events and some changes to our usual programme to make way for Christmas.  More details are on the Special Events page, but here’s a run-down:

Thursday welcome evenings are closed until 8th January.

Tuesday 2nd December at 7pm sees the return of the ever popular Esther Generation BEad Creative Jewellery Party.

Wednesday 10th December - Bright Hour Christmas meal out.

Tuesday 16th December from 11am-2pm - Friendship Plus Christmas Meal

Wednesday 17th December from 1-2.45pm – Bright Hour Carol service

Saturday 20th December at 7pm & Sunday 21st December at 5.30pm is our Christmas Musical - Jesus the light & Soul of Christmas – the whole family will love this theatrical nativity.

Tuesday 23rd December at 11am – Queen Elizabeth Court Carol Service 

Tuesday 23rd December – Friendship Plus is closed

Wednesday 24th December – Bright Hour & the prayer meeting are closed 

Thursday 25th December from 11am-12noon – Christmas Day Service

Sunday 28th December – Treasure Kids is closed & there will be no evening service

30th December - Friendship Plus is closed

31st December – Bright Hour & the prayer meeting are closed 

Come down on New Year’s Eve at 7.30pm for party games & food as we see out 2008 together & then welcome in 2009 with a Watchnight Service from 11pm-midnight.

Sunday 4th January – Lunch after the morning service, followed by our vision afternoon (Treasure Kids is closed and there will be no evening service)

Thursday 8th January – Welcome Evenings start again, yippee!

Sunday 11th January – Treasure Kids is closed.  Those workers need a rest now & then!

Sunday 18th January – Treasure Kids re-opens for 2009, hurray!

Friday 30th (evening) & Saturday 31st January – our annual Prayer Conference

We always like to do something a bit special at Christmas and this year is no exception. We’ve written our own musical and rehearsals are in full swing ready to provide you with a great evening’s entertainment. The show’s entitled “Jesus the light and soul of Christmas” and there are two performances; Saturday 20th December at 7pm and Sunday 21st December at 5.30pm. Come and be reminded what Christmas is all about. Admission is free.

Anne Instone is a woman who really knows the difference that God can make in someone’s life.  She was a prisoner of Agoraphobia and anxiety for over 18 years and addicted to valium for 14 years. She could hardly leave the house, let alone speak to a group of people. Yet on Sunday 16th Nov. 6.30pm-7.30pm Anne is going to be speaking at our church and explaining how God set her free and transformed her fear to boldness. Why not come and hear what she has to say?

Is Hockley Pentecostal Church the only church in Birmingham where you can literally have your feet washed?!  Not to mention your weary hands massaged!  At our recent Body Shop Pure Pamper Party, weary mums and busy professional ladies were given star treatment by the “Body Shop at Home” team.  It was the biggest home party they had ever done, and a resounding success.  Hockley girls and their friends and family enjoyed getting to know each other over the beautiful natural lotions and potions.  There were prizes, there were silly games, there were gales of laughter.  That hall has never smelled so fantastic.  Watch this space for our next great Esther Generation social event.

Last year N:r-gize (our youth group) went to the Ultimate youth camp. This year they decided to be audacious!  Audacious is an amazing youth event that was held in Portsmouth. It was a week of worship, teaching and fun which everyone massively enjoyed. Here are some quotes from those who went…

“I never knew how much strength you can draw from God – getting down on your knees to worship, it’s just so amazing.  I see that God is really moving in England.  Don’t just lie back and take life as it is – I want to do things I’ve never done before and I feel God has given me strength!”

“I’m a Christian and I’m not going to stay in the shadows any more!”

“An amazing time for me!  I went to a different level with my worship – if you really go for it, rise up, sing and worship, it’s amazing, I don’t know how to explain it!”

“I grew stronger with the Holy Spirit and it has really touched me – I learnt how to cope with life”

“It really changed my life.  I realise I sometimes hang out with the wrong crowd and it will lead me down the wrong path, now I realise what the right path is.”

“I have really grown and for the first time in my life I got an answer from praying!”

“I was filled and my eyes were opened, I saw the world in a different light and Jesus is the only salvation.”

After returning to the church in Birmingham, N:r-gize led our next evening service. To see how they got on take a look at this video.  We’ve also put a few clips from Audacious on YouTube to give you an idea of what it was like.

All our ladies events come under the umbrella title of Esther Generation.  For our next event we’re hosting a Body Shop pamper party.  Body Shop says,  “Experience our spa and bath & body ranges, specifically designed for top-to-toe pampering.  The sumptuous aromas and textures will stimulate the senses and create an oasis of calm.  Bring a bowl and towel so you can enjoy the fun.” 

The event is completely free and light refreshments will be provided. Everyone who attends will be entered in a raffle to win some Body Shop products.  I can tell you’re hooked so put the date in your diary now – Tuesday 9th September at 7pm.

Click this link for more information on what to expect from a Body Shop Party.

On Saturday 5th July we’re taking a bus loads of kids to the Go Wild event at Twin lakes Park. It ’s going to be a fantastic day out with spiritual input as well as all the attractions at the park. Children must be aged 11 or under, and those under 7 must be accompanied by an adult. The cost is £16 but we’re reducing that to £9 for HPC families by providing free transport. To book see Janice or Elizabeth. Alternatively contact the church office.

In addition to our usual Easter services we enjoyed two special events during the holiday period.  On Good Friday was ‘The Walk of Witness’ in which many local churches gathered together to march down Soho Road. The weather started out as cold, wet and windy but, undeterred, the people gathered. Thankfully the snow and hail didn’t arrive until just after the walk had finished.

Three days later was our annual family fun day and once again over 500 came to enjoy the fun and festivities. This year the local residents association joined with us to make it a great day for everyone.