How has another year drawn to a close already? Another year of blessings, sadness, cares and concerns for each and every one of us. However, I can say for sure that whatever has happened to each of us, be it good or bad, the constant throughout that year has been our Lord God. As Deuteronomy1 v 8 says ‘The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. As we move into 2026 may we take comfort from that promise and know that whatever we face in the coming year our Lord God goes before us and he has everything in control. We may sometimes forget to turn to Him in our problems and difficulties, but He is always there alongside us. As we start 2026 may I wish you all a Happy, Healthy and Blessed New Year.
Thanks for Valerie’s life and years of service at ACBC
As I write this 2025 ended on a sad and joyous note. Sad for us as Valerie passed to glory on December 29th, but joyous for her as she is no longer suffering and is with her Lord and Saviour and re-united with her husband David and her sister Sylvia. Valerie was our oldest and longest serving member.
She became a member of ACBC on February 12th, 1961, with her husband David and has served her Lord in many ways over that time. As a Sunday School teacher for many years, as a deacon and in later years, when she was unable to be as active, due to ill health as a prayer warrior for the work and people of ACBC.
I for one owe my introduction to ACBC and Sunday School to Valerie and her encouragement and witness as she worked for the Lord. She was an inspiration to us all in her faithfulness in prayer and will be greatly missed.
We will be celebrating her life here at ACBC on Friday, 16th January 2026 at 4.15 pm. All are welcome to join the family in that service of celebration and refreshments afterwards.
Sermon series
- January 4th – Café Lite
- January 11th – Mark 1:15 Jesus’ Declaration
- January 18th – Mark 2:1-12 Jesus’ Authority
- January 25th – Mark 4:35 – 5:20 Jesus’ Power
- February 1st – Café Lite
- February 8th – Mark 5:21-43 Jesus’ Healings
- February 15th – Mark 6:30-44 Jesus’ Compassion
- February 22nd – Mark 8:27-9:13 Jesus’ Followers
Dates for your diary
- Saturday 3rd January – Men’s breakfast in the church hall at 9 am
- Saturday 3rd January – Ladies’ breakfast in the manse at 9 am
- Tuesday 6th January – Prayer meeting in the lounge at 7.30 pm
- Wednesday 7th January – Oasis meeting in the lounge at 2 pm
- Friday 16th January – Celebration for the life of Valerie Owen in the church at 4.15 p.m.
- Tuesday 3rd February – Prayer meeting in the lounge at 7.30 pm
- Wednesday
4th February11th February – Oasis meeting in the lounge at 2 pm - Saturday 7th February – Ladies’ breakfast 9 am in the manse
- Saturday 7th February – Men’s breakfast 9 am in the church hall
- Tuesday 17th February – Church AGM in the church at 8 pm
And finally….
The Rev. Billy Graham had just finished a tour of the Florida East Coast and was taking a limousine to the airport. Having never driven a limo, he asked the chauffeur if he could drive for a while. Well, the chauffeur didn’t have much of a choice, so he got in the back of the limo and Billy took the wheel. He turned onto I-95 and accelerated to about 90 MPH. WHAM! The blue lights of the State Highway patrol flashed in his rearview mirror. He pulled over and a trooper came to his window. When the trooper saw who it was, he said, “Just a moment, please, I need to call in.”
The trooper radioed in and asked for the chief. He said, “I have a REALLY important person pulled over and I need to know what to do.” The chief replied, “Who is it, not Ted Kennedy again?” The trooper said, “No, even more important.” It isn’t the Governor Jeb Bush, is it?” asked the chief. “No, even more important,” replied the trooper. “It isn’t the President George Bush, is it?” “No,” replied the trooper, “even more important.”
“Well, WHO in the WORLD is it?!” screamed the chief. The trooper responded: “I don’t know for sure, but I think it might be Jesus, because his chauffeur is Billy Graham!”
