_ WHAT’S INGLEWHITE CHURCH LIKE? _ A FEW WORDS FROM THE COMMUNITY...

Fellowship with each other is good and people look out for each other by prayer and support. We share happy and sad times. A good atmosphere.”

There was no intention of changing churches when I made an impromptu visit with a friend to Inglewhite church, but having st epped through the doors, I felt enveloped by love and knew without a shadow of doubt, that this was where God wanted me to be. Ten happy years. ”

Inglewhite Church has a passion to connect with our community & tries to do this in many different ways. I love to meet new people and build friendships via our regular community café events.”

“I started coming to Inglewhite when I was about 11, and felt like I was quickly adopted into the church family. I am now involved in writing and performing dramas and sketches to perform for the church, and enjoy attending the weekly youth group where we have a lot of fun. I think I have made life-long friends here and really developed my faith. The church have supported me during my hardest times and area always encouraging. I feel very blessed to be here.” _ Externally, we may look like a small rural church, but our enthusiasm for sharing the love of God bounds outside the stone walls and God’s ministry at Inglewhite takes place as much in the communities we live, play, care and work in as well as within our lovely, recently modernised, church.

Inglewhite Church is situated seven miles north of Preston, in a beautiful rural village. Some of the villagers attend Inglewhite Church, but predominantly, our fellowship comprises of people living in the surrounding villages and small towns of , , Ribchester, Broughton and .

The area benefits from excellent primary and secondary schools and universities. Being 10 minutes away from the M6, M61, M65, M55, we are well connected and Preston is on the main rail line to London. Our area is popular with visitors at weekends and during the holidays as a lovely place to visit and walk in. We enjoy beautiful rolling hills, bluebell forests, magnificent streams and sunsets. The Fylde coast is very accessible (20/30mins by car) and the Lake District is about 45 mins by car. The nearby Ribble Valley is famous with foodies and the postcode (PR3) is home of Lancashire cheese. The urban metropolis of Manchester and Liverpool aren’t far away either – less than an hour by train or car.

Our community is diverse in age, backgrounds Many of our fellowship do a tremendous job and interests. Some people work locally as caring for others, both in a voluntary or paid well as commuting into Preston, Blackpool capacity. and surrounding areas. The congregation is made up of those from a variety of occupations including teachers, engineers, healthcare As a church, we have continued to grow workers, business professionals, the Arts and our online presence, particularly over the agriculture. A significant proportion of our Coronavirus lockdown including live-streaming community are retired and many of them enjoy of church services and events, with digital media active social lives. and communications something we recognise as important for a modern church.

_ WHAT WE BELIEVE

Statement of Faith

1. The one true God who lives eternally in three persons—the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

2. The love, grace and sovereignty of God in creating, sustaining, ruling, redeeming and judging the world.

3. The divine inspiration and supreme authority of the Old and New Testament Scriptures, which are the written Word of God—fully trustworthy for faith and conduct.

4. The dignity of all people, made male and female in God’s image to love, be holy and care for creation, yet corrupted by sin, which incurs divine wrath and judge- ment.

5. The incarnation of God’s eternal Son, the Lord Jesus Christ—born of the virgin Mary; truly divine and truly human, yet without sin.

6. The atoning sacrifice of Christ on the cross: dying in our place, paying the price of sin and defeating evil, so reconciling us with God.

7. The bodily resurrection of Christ, the first fruits of our resurrection; his ascension to the Father, and his reign and mediation as the only Saviour of the world.

8. The justification of sinners solely by the grace of God through faith in Christ.

9. The ministry of God the Holy Spirit, who leads us to repentance, unites us with Christ through new birth, empowers our discipleship and enables our witness.

10. The Church, the body of Christ both local and universal, the priesthood of all believers—given life by the Spirit and endowed with the Spirit’s gifts to worship God and proclaim the gospel, promoting justice and love.

11. The Divine institution of marriage as the voluntary union of one man and one woman for life, to the exclusion of all others in accordance with the teaching of Jesus Christ as recorded in the New Testament Scriptures.

12. The personal and visible return of Jesus Christ to fulfil the purposes of God, who will raise all people to judgement, bring eternal life to the redeemed and eternal condemnation to the lost, and establish a new heaven and new earth. _ HOW DO WE PUT INTO PRACTISE WHAT WE BELIEVE?

Here is a summary of our approach which is based around Deut 5:33 - Walk in all the way that the Lord your God has commanded you .

W – We value Worship which seeks to honour God and place Jesus at the centre of our community whilst reflecting the multi- generational nature of the Church. We value the truth of God’s Word in the Bible and hold our beliefs as helpfully reflected in the creed of the Evangelical Alliance

A – We value All being involved, the ministry and contribution of every member, believing all have gifts to bring for the wider good

L – We value Learning and growing together, depending upon the Bible and the work of the Holy Spirit. We value Loving Relationships; the Church at Inglewhite has a loving caring soul which is reflected in a strength of relationship and an acceptance of one another which makes all who come feel welcome

K – We value having a Kingdom mentality, expecting God’s Church to grow as it serves the community around. Looking to spread Christ’s influence whether in the workplace, study environment, at home or in Church based activities through evangelism and other demonstrations of our faith. This also is reflected in our concern and support for the wider ministry of God through other local Churches and mission agencies. Church services & events; Youth services Family services Messy church Café style church Prayer breakfasts Mission & giving Outreach events to family and friends; Reciprocal mission trips have taken place between Ukraine Music festival weekend and Sierra Leone as part of our on the field support to IAT Travelling nativity in the village We support Traidcraft and many Scarecrow nativity & outdoor other ministries (urban, rural, carol service (Covid 2020) UK & overseas) and consider Pub quiz and service our mission giving a at village pub. cornerstone of our worship

_ Inglewhite Church, as well as having its regular events, has a great variety of other activities sprinkled throughout the calendar year. Here’s a taster

Youth and children’s All age social events events An active Women’s and men’s Youth weekend away at Quinta activity social calendar conference centre, North Wales Days out and church holidays Children’s holiday club Good Friday walk around the Music events (Govna B rap artist local area, Easter Egg hunt and & author & One Voice choir, raising of the cross male voice choir) New Years Eve family Hog roast & picnics party Church fun day Hosting a Youth For Christ (YFC) student for a year to work with the young people. _ TRUST IN THE LORD AND DO GOOD DWELL IN THE LAND AND ENJOY SAFE PASTURE TAKE DELIGHT IN THE LORD AND HE WILL GIVE YOU THE DESIRES OF YOUR HEART COMMIT YOUR WAY TO THE LORD; TRUST IN HIM AND HE WILL DO THIS PSALM 37 V3-5