Believe In More
A poem inspired by Newday and Ephesians 3….
This year, one of the running themes of Newday was ‘Believe in More’.
Our resident poet, Steve Page, was serving on the Zone Hosting team, and wrote a poem around the same theme.
Ephesians 3:20-21 says:
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
Believe in more than
you can imagine
Believe in more than
you ask to happen
Believe in more than
what you have seen
Believe in more than
what you have been
Believe in more than
your faded lable
Believe in more cos
your God is able.
Immeasurably more than
all we ask
Immeasurably more than
all we imagine
Immeasurably more than
what we deserve
Immeasurably more than
mere human passions
Immeasurably wider
Immeasurably longer
Immeasurably higher
Immeasurably deeper
Immeasurably more
full to the brim
Immeasurable love
to the fulness of Him
Newday Highlights!
A few weeks ago we went away to Newday! Here are just a few of the highlights….
A couple of weeks ago, 18 of us from Redeemer headed up to the Norfolk Showground for Newday! A Christian event aimed at 12-19 year olds, where people from churches across the UK and Europe join together to learn about and worship God, camp together and soak in the summer festival feeling. Some of us were young people enjoying the services and seminars, some were youth leaders looking after our young people and seeing them grow, some of us were Zone Hosts, who were in charge of making sure the camping experience went smoothly for over 1000 young people and servers on the Purple Zone!
All of us have highlights from the week, and some of them are listed (or photographed) below!
Amariah - Redeemer Youth
On the first night of Newday I gave my life to Jesus!
Gwen - Purple Zone Host
My highlight was being part of team Purple! It was a joy to work with wonderful young adults, who are so in love with Jesus, and happy and willing to serve him!
Toby - Youth Leader
It was incredible to be in a meeting with 7,000 young people, hearing people respond to the gospel by shouting ‘Jesus Christ is Lord’, and seeing them run to the front, cheered on by their friends, as they made the best decision of their lives!
Esther-Maria - Purple Zone Host
Waking up each morning to the smiling faces of the zone host team!
Mude - Redeemer Youth
I loved hanging out with the other young people, and being able to help the younger youth explore their relationship with God more, seeing them respond to God during the week was a highlight for me!
Anna - Youth Leader
Getting to know and love the young people, and then seeing them give their lives to Jesus for the first time was an honour and a joy!
Kayla - Purple Zone Host
Hearing over the radio that there was a hedgehog in the showers! Unfortunately this became less of a highlight once I realised what ‘hedgehog’ was code for…
Miguel - Redeemer Youth (joined us from Spain!)
My favourite part of Newday was encountering God’s presence at the big top, and getting to make so many great friends with the church I went with!
Adam - Purple Zone Host
My highlight is in video form…
I’m sure after you’ve heard all of these highlights you will be up for joining us at next year’s event? Well you can sign up already!! Do so by following the link below, or email toby@redeemerlondon.org to ask about serving next year.
#RedeemerRecommends - Andrew Wilson's Newday Blog
In anticipation of our highlights of Newday blog, check out Andrew Wilson’s!
We will soon be publishing a list of Redeemer’s Newday highlights, so keep your eyes peeled for that! For now, take a look at this blog from Andrew Wilson, who was the speaker at the 15-19s venue this year.
https://thinktheology.co.uk/blog/article/ten_things_i_loved_about_newday
#RedeemerRecommends - Newday 2019!
This week’s Redeemer Recommends highlights a fantastic opportunity for young people to experience the power of the gospel alongside thousands of others this summer!
Newday. You may have heard the name mentioned a few times at Redeemer recently, but what is Newday? Well, to summarise, Newday is a week long festival aimed at young people between the age of 11 and 19, which aims to bring people together from across the UK and Europe to learn about and worship God! It has been running every year since 2004 and this year it starts on the 29th of July and finishes on the 3rd of August, with everyone returning home on the 4th. We at Redeemer know that it’s an amazing opportunity for young people to take the next step in their relationship with Jesus, and that’s why we would love you to join us!
So what does a standard day look like at Newday? Well you’ll wake up, grab a shower (not optional, you’ll be spending a lot of time around other people….) and some breakfast. Then there is a morning worship meeting which is aimed at specific age groups, followed by short talks on a range of topics relevant to what’s going on in your life! After lunch together in the afternoon there’s time to chill, hang out at one of the cafes, join in with one of the sports competitions, listen to some live music, there’s even inflatables….Whatever you’re in the mood for, there’s something for everyone! Then, dinner is served! After dinner is the main event, a worship meeting with everyone on site in attendance, over 7000 people worshipping God together and hearing great biblical teaching! After the evening meeting there’s some more time to chill and enjoy the concourse, where all the action is, or if you would prefer a chilled evening there’s hot chocolate available in the Redeemer marquee! Then it’s time to turn in for a good night’s sleep before we do it all over again the next day!
You might be thinking, this sounds loads of fun, but I’m not a young person, how can I get involved? Well there is still opportunity for you to do so, we are still looking for a few people to help us serve the event as Zone Hosts! Hannah Kinning is running the team, made up of people from Redeemer, who together will be hosting the Purple Zone this year, looking after all the churches camping on that zone and making sure their young people have a fun and safe experience at Newday 2019! There is also an opportunity to come and help with our Redeemer catering, helping to cook the meals for our young people, youth leaders and zone hosts. If you’re interested in either of these serving opportunities then look out for Hannah or Toby on a Sunday morning, or email toby@redeemerlondon.org
So, what are you waiting for? You can get signed up by clicking the button below, or if you need any more information about the event or how we look after the Redeemer youth while we’re there, then email toby@redeemerlondon.org or check out the Newday website at newdaygeneration.org
HOW TO GET HAPPY WHEN LIFE IS GETTING YOU DOWN
We are encouraged to 'take joy' from happy circumstances, but this suggests that joy is something to be grasped while it's available.
While at Newday, a group of teenagers were invited to take part in the shooting of a video, Joy has a name. Newday gives a safe and fun environment for over 5,000 teenagers to worship and learn more about Jesus, God's Son.
Part of the thread of the 2016 festival was the connection between the fruit of the Spirit and the person of Jesus.
It strikes me that often when we are encouraged to 'take joy' from happy circumstances, this suggests that joy is something to be grasped while it's available.
"I took great joy in seeing my grandchild smiling up at me."
"I took joy in being able to bask in such a beautiful sunset."
But it turns out that part of the fruit of the Spirit of Jesus is Joy: It's not taken by us, it's given by Jesus.
Joy - like fruit - grows and develops by virtue of the life flowing through the tree that bears it; in this case, the tree is Jesus.
Being a follower of Jesus, having his Spirit within us, gives the fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Like fruit, these take time to grow and develop, however they are not dependent on our circumstances, but on our connection to Jesus.
Joy has a name
Joy has a name
Whispered in awe,
Shouted in triumph and
Partied abroad.
Joy out-runs
Mourning and tears,
Drowns out hatred and
Drives out fears.
Joy brings peace
And laughter soon after,
Joy gives release and
Heals much faster.
Joy has a name
Above all others
His name is Jesus
Joy of many colours.
If this seems like something out of your grasp, please come and find out more at Redeemer. You can find us on any Sunday morning at 10 am at Ealing Town Hall.
#ND16
I wrote this poem under a tree, thinking through what I had seen at the Newday youth festival.
Last month I spent a week at Newday festival in Norfolk. We were under canvas with around 1,000 other adults creating a safe place for over 5,000 12-18 year olds from churches across the UK (and a couple from the Netherlands).
A space to worship, pray and celebrate, and to learn about a God who is alive and fully relevant to their lives.
I found it a great privilege to be there. It was hot and sunny, and windy, and the positive attitude of everyone I met spoke volumes of their faith and passion for Jesus.
I wrote this while lazing under a tree thinking through what I had seen.
#ND16
This is what you came for...
Queues for showers
while you chat.
Hedgehogs and balloons
both going splat.
High-flying paint
on winds of change.
Great food smells
and others more strange.
Volley ball pitches
expanding as needed.
Praying for others,
strongholds defeated.
Songwriting and painting
on paper and faces.
Dodgems and climbing,
voices and praises.
This what you came for -
A Newday Generation.
If you have children that qualify by age, or if you have a week that you can give to helping make Newday happen, I recommend it.
100%.
Please ask for more information at Redeemer on any Sunday at Ealing Town Hall 10 am.