We’ve just got back from a superb four days with Dan and Hanna in Stockholm, Sweden. The weather was awesome – really sunny and warm too. So different from how it’s been over there all winter.
While we were there, we got the chance to visit their Church – Hillsong Stockholm. It was totally inspiring – we visited a few months ago and it was good then too, but they’ve grown, matured and moved premises. They now meet in a renowned Stockholm night club – GK, close to the city centre. How cool is that – Church in a night club!
I find it amazing that some Churches manage to find their niche and develop a positive ethos which enables them to go from strength to strength. Hillsong Stockholm is one of those. Some of the key points are that they confidently raise up young people to take responsibility and release people’s creativity. Pastor Andreas has stayed faithful to God’s call through thick and thin – now it’s paying off. Everyone is encouraged to be real with their Christianity – no false ’spirituality’, but honesty which draws people to the thing which motivates them – relationship with God.
So if you’re ever in Stockholm on a Sunday – look them up – easy to find at hillsong.se.
Posted 11 months, 1 week ago at 8:03 pm. Add a comment
Last Sunday, Mothers Day, we had a fantastic time with Helen’s brother Ramsay, partner, Catherine and their 17 month boy, Alex. He’s rather cute and at that stage of life where everything is ready to be discovered!
Here’s a link to a ten minute video of Alex:
Posted 11 months, 3 weeks ago at 11:38 pm. Add a comment
It’s amazing – Helen was browsing on-line last week, thinking how nice it would be to go an see our son and daughter-in-law in Stockholm. We keep in touch a lot, but they are so far away. Things are really going great for them over there, especially with the Church – have a look at www.hillsong.se. They’re growing at a speed of knots and Andreas, the Pastor is a fantastic leader – pointing everything to God. They meet in one of the most notorious night clubs in Stockholm – hiring the whole venue every Sunday for Church!
Anyway, back to Helen surfing for flights. She came upon a Ryanair flight for 1p each way; 2p return and, if she selected no checked in bags, online check-in, no insurance and used a Visa Electron card, there were no taxes or extras – so all five of us get to fly to Sweden for 10p in April! Three cheers for Ryanair – I just hope they don’t go bust before we fly!
So it all happened! Rebecca and Emile are well and truly married. Two ceremonies – one a low key CofE marriage service in St Matthew’s, Fulham, the other, a big celebration in The Crypt on the Green, Clerkenwell, Central London.
What can I say? Well I could explain all the details of the way it looked, who was there, what we did, but that can come later, with pictures. I’d rather talk about the experience … what it felt like. As the bride’s dad, for me it was an incredibly emotional experience, in a really nice way. Travelling with my daughter, in a London cab, to her wedding was just an amazing start, then to walk her down the aisle, her arm on mine, in front of all her friends and family, then to hand her over to her husband – so right, and all I could have dreamed of for her.
Did I cry? Why, yes! Impossible not to on the happiest day of her life!
Mark.
Posted 1 year, 1 month ago at 10:02 am. Add a comment
We’re on the final countdown to Rebecca and Emile’s wedding. And it’s getting really exciting now! Off to London today, to help with preperations there – wow; it really will happen!
All the costs of financing your daughter’s wedding are pretty scary – not that you don’t want to bear them; it’s what you plan for and part of being a dad, but they’re still scary. Helen and I have been praying and asking God to provide our needs. There are some awesome Bible promises regarding the way He suplies all our needs. Think I’ll list some of them when I have some spare minutes.
Anyway, we’ve been praying and, totally out of the blue, a complete and wonderful surprise. Our Church trustees announced yesterday, in the middle of the family service, that they were taking an offering for us for wedding costs. £280 was given – thanks to our Church! Not that it covers all the costs, but it says, “we love you” and reminds us that God is in control! He will look after the rest.
We have a great Church (River of Life) and a wonderful God.
We’ll keep you posted as the countdown continues. Be blessed!
Mark.
Posted 1 year, 1 month ago at 9:39 pm. Add a comment
