Becoming an Autism Friendly Church

As a pastor, I have noticed an increasing number of families with special needs children, particularly those with autism, visiting our churches. In some cases these are also single-parent families. Having faced the struggle, years ago, of caring for a child with special needs along with my wife – I can’t imagine how hard that must be for a single mother. I can understand why such parents are drawn to the fellowship and community of a local church.

But how are we doing when it comes to providing the support that such parents and children are obviously looking for? Will they find the church to be the most caring place in the world? Or would they do better at their local discount supermarket?

That was the question that I had to face when God spoke to me at the checkout of Lidl. I was on my way home from a pastoral visit, and popped into Lidl to pick up the ingredients for a chicken curry. As I was packing away my naan bread, I saw a

poster advertising that supermarket’s initiative for families with autistic children.

Why is Lidl doing better than most churches when it comes to caring for families with special needs children? Can we help churches to do better?

For this reason, EAI is teaming up with Philo Trust (J.John’s ministry) to host a special seminar at Swords Baptist Church on 15 March. The guest speaker is Craig Johnson from Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas – himself the father of an autistic child. Craig pioneered a ministry in Houston which has proved to be singularly effective in this area. I believe that, as Irish churches, we can learn from his experiences and insights.

The seminar starts at 12noon and is scheduled to run until 3pm. The event is free, but a light lunch is being provided, so it is essential to register in advance. You can register at Eventbrite Booking

Space at this seminar is limited, so please do register ASAP to reserve your place. If, for any reason, you struggle with using Eventbrite, then please email me at nickpark@thesolidrock.net

God Bless you

Nick Park

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Speaking The Written Word by Faith in The Incarnate Word

At our final Monday night prayer meting of 2018, we repeated, as a congregation, 50 biblical declarations over our lives:

1. As I live in God, my love grows more perfect. I can face Him with confidence on the day of judgment because I live like Jesus here in this world (I John 4:17 NLT).
2. I receive an abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness. I reign in life through Jesus Christ (Romans 5:17).
3. I look out not only for my own interests but also for the interests of others (Philippians 2:4).
4. I am kind and tenderhearted to others. I forgive them as God in Christ has forgiven me (Ephesians 4:32).
5. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13).
6. I ask God to set a guard over my mouth. He keeps watch over the door of my lips (Psalm 141:3).
7. I let the peace of Christ rule in my heart. As a member of one body, I am called to peace and I am thankful (Colossians 3:15 NIV).
8. I walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, pleasing Him in all respects. I bear fruit in every good work and I am increasing in the knowledge of God (Colossians 1:10 NAS).
9. I am being strengthened with all power according to His might. I have great endurance and patience (Colossians 1:11 NIV).
10. God has not given me a spirit of fear. He gives me power, love, and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7 ESV).
11. God loads me daily with benefits. He is my salvation (Psalm 68:19).
12. God makes all grace abound toward me so that I always have all sufficiency and an abundance for every good work (2 Corinthians 9:8).
13. I bring the whole tithe into the storehouse. He opens the windows of heaven for me and pours out a blessing so great that I don’t have enough room for it (Malachi 3:10).
14. Christ redeemed me from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for me (Galations 3:13 NIV).
15. I am blessed in the city and blessed in the country (Deuteronomy 28:3).
16. I am blessed when I come in and blessed when I go out (Deuteronomy 28:6).
17. The Lord has established me as a holy person to Himself. I keep His commandments and walk in His ways (Deuteronomy 28:9).
18. All the people of the earth see that I am called by the name of the LORD. Deut 28:10
19. The LORD opens to me His good treasure, the heavens to give the rain to my land in its season and to bless all the work of my hand (Deuteronomy 28:12).
20. My ways please the LORD and He makes even my enemies to be at peace with me (Proverbs 16:7).
21. But by God’s doing I am in Christ Jesus. He became to me wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption (I Corinthians 1:30).
22. The God of hope fills me with all joy and peace in believing so that I abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13).
23. I always rejoice and pray without ceasing. In everything, I give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for me (I Thessalonians 5:16-18).
24. I am steadfast of mind. He keeps me in perfect peace because I trust in Him (Isaiah 26:3).
25. The joy of the LORD is my strength (Nehemiah 8:10).
26. I am confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in me will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6).
27. God works in me both to will and to do His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13).
28. I do all things without grumbling or complaining so that I will prove myself to be blameless and innocent. I am a child of God who is above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom I appear as lights in the world (Philippians 2:14-15).
29. I hold fast to the word of life. In the day of Christ’s return, I will have reason to glory because I did not run or labor in vain (Philippians 2:16).
30. I always rejoice in the Lord and my gentleness (graciousness or forbearance) is known to all people (Philippians 4:4,5).
31. I am anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving I let my requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7).
32. I choose to meditate on anything that has virtue or is praiseworthy. I think about things are true, noble, just, pure, lovely, and of good report (Philippians 4:8).
33. I press on, that I may lay hold of that which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:12-14).
34. The Lord is my God! He is mighty to save. He rejoices over me with gladness and singing. I am quieted by His love (Zephaniah 3:17).
35. God instructs me and keeps me as the apple of His eye (Zechariah 2:8).
36. I am a crown of glory and a royal diadem in the hand of the LORD (Isaiah 62:3).
37. God rejoices over me as a bridegroom rejoices over his bride (Isaiah 62:5).
38. The LORD has chosen me for Himself as His special treasure (Psalm 135:4).
39. I speak God’s word and hearing the word increases my faith (Romans 10:17).
40. I declare God’s word about who I am, what I have, and what I can do in Christ Jesus who gives me strength. I am established as His daughter in all ways and I shine in His light (Job 22:8, Isaiah 60:1).
41. I speak God’s word and His angels do the voice of His word (Psalm 103:20).
42. I speak God’s word and it does not return to Him void. His word accomplishes what He pleases and it prospers in the thing for which He sends it (Isaiah 55:11).
43. I persist in speaking God’s word until it accomplishes its purpose. It is like fire. It is like a hammer that shatters a rock (Jeremiah 23:29).
44. The Lord has given me the tongue of the disciples. I know how to speak a word in due season to those who are weary (Isaiah 50:4).
45. The Lord God awakens me every morning to fellowship with Him, and He opens my ears to hear as the learned (Isaiah 50:4).
46. I speak pleasant words that are sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. I am wise and I bring healing (Proverbs 16:24, Proverbs 12:18).
47. I have a wholesome tongue which is a tree of life to myself and others (Proverbs 15:4, Proverbs 11:30, Proverbs 18:21).
48. I speak words of life. I am satisfied with the good by the fruit produced by my words (Proverbs 12:14, Proverbs 18:20).
49. As I speak God’s word, He sends it to heal and deliver me from my destruction (Psalm 107:20).
50. Christ bore my sins in His own body on the cross and I am healed by His stripes (1 Peter 2:24).

 

One Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, Two Service Times

Don’t forget our new service times at Solid Rock Drogheda – 10am and 12 noon. Children’s Sunday School classes provided in both services, and new cafe area open after each service.

We’re Changing Service Times to Reach More People!

As from Sunday 29 October the Solid Rock Church in Drogheda will be having two identical Sunday services – at 10am and at 12 noon. You are welcome to come and worship with us, and join us for fellowship after each service in our new cafe area.Each service will continue to provide heartfelt worship, age-appropriate classes for children, and relevant inspirational preaching from God’s Word.

Finding Your Place

Part of our vision at Solid Rock Drogheda is to see every member of the Church find their place of maximum fulfillment and effectiveness in the Body of Christ.

The following slides were shown as part of a teaching in our Monday night service in Feb 2016.

Slides

 

Reading the Bible from Genesis to Revelation

The Solid Rock Church in Drogheda, for three years now, has been reading the entire Bible (Genesis to Revelation) out loud. We believe this prophetic proclamation of the Word has released something mighty in our Church.

The idea is that individuals in our Church pre-book slots in the Prayer Centre (at the rear of the White House that houses our Church Offices). There you find a chart detailing where the last reader left off. You start reading out loud from that point – and when you leave you update the chart ready for the next reader.

Once we got to the end of Revelation, we go back to the beginning of Genesis and start again! Please note that it is OK to have breaks between readers. Once you pre-book you will be given an access code to enter the Prayer Centre, and you lock it again when you leave.

It’s also OK if two or more people end up being there to read at the same time. That will simply add some fellowship to the mix! You can take it in turns to read.

This vocal reading of the Word will, we pray, provide insights and revelations to those who do the reading. We also believe that many will find the Prayer Centre to be a place of peace and life where they will return often to spend time with God.

“Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear it and take to heart what is written in it, because the time is near.” (Revelation 1:3)

Sunday Services

We have a Prayer Meeting every Sunday from 10.30am – 11.00am in the Prayer Centre at the rear of our Church Offices (White House at the front left side of our property).

Sunday Worship Service is in our main Worship Centre to the rear of the property at 11.15am.

Children and youth participate in the first part of our Worship Service. At 12 noon the children go to their age-graded Sunday School classes.