Welcome to Worship today. Our in person service is at 11am today and will be very similar to this service. We welcome our guest preacher Matt Jones who is speaking all the way from Nottingham (or even further) today. As we cannot mingle after the service, we will gather on zoom at 12.30pm. The link is here
During November we want to cover our building in poppies. If you would like to contribute then please contact us or put it through our letterbox or drop it in during our in person services. An act of remembrance when our community is not able to remember in our normal way.
On the 29th November we have our AGM which will be held on zoom as part of our morning worship. More details to follow as well as how to participate if you are a member but unable to access zoom.
Worship
A boy was sitting on a park bench with one hand resting on an open bible. He was loudly exclaiming his praise to God. “Hallelujah! Hallelujah! God is great!” He yelled without worrying whether anyone heard him or not.
Shortly after, along came a man who had recently completed some studies at a local university. Feeling himself very enlightened in the ways of truth and very eager to show this enlightenment, he asked the boy about the source of his joy.
“Hey” asked the boy in return with a bright laugh, “Don’t you have any idea what God is able to do? I just read that God opened up the waves of the Red Sea and led the whole nation of Israel right through the middle.”
The enlightened man laughed lightly, sat down next to the boy and began to try to open his eyes to the “realities” of the miracles of the Bible. “That can all be very easily explained. Modern scholarship has shown that the Red Sea in that area was only 10 inches deep at the time. It was no problem for the Israelites to wade across.”
The boy was stumped. His eyes wandered from the man back to the Bible laying open on his lap. The man, content that he had enlightened a poor naïve young person to the finer points of scientific insight, turned to go. Scarcely had he taken two steps when the boy began to rejoice and praise louder than before. The man turned to ask the reason for this jubilation.
“Wow” exclaimed the boy happily, “God is greater than I thought! Not only did he head the whole nation of Israel through the Red Sea, he topped it off by drowning the whole Egyptian army in 10 inches of water!”
The joy of a child. The joy of the Lord, to see God’s greatness amidst the negativity from the world. The joy of the Lord is our strength. The joy of the whole earth. Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise. As we join together (either in person or online) let’s lift the voices of our hearts to the Lord. ‘Sing to the Lord a new song. Sing to the Lord, all the earth. Sing to the Lord, praise His name.’ The name that is above all other names. The name that is more wonderful, more powerful than any other. For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise.
Songs for today - you might want to save a couple for towards the end - you might want to save the last two for before and after the sermon.
Finding Rest
How do you find rest? Watch this video to and meet a pirate struggling to find rest
Resting is good for your body and soul. It's good for your mental health. Take some time today to find rest. Do something that makes you happy. Do something you wouldn't normally do. Sleep if you need to. Spend time reading your Bible or reading something else you have been meaning to read for ages. Spend some time on your own if you are always with other people. Contact another person if you are always on your own. Be still and thank God for rest.
Prayer (from https://clairenfish.blogspot.com/2020/10/be-still.html)
As the world around rapidly changes
As nothing seems the same
Stop and stand for a moment
Be still
As twitter tweets panic
And Facebook shares conspiracy and worry
Look up to the clouds
Be still
As every decision is a risk assessment
As stepping out of the door brings fear
Pause for a while
Be still
As uncertainty rocks normality
As waves threaten to overwhelm
Put down the uncontrollable oars
Be still
As voices around conflict
As they challenge your existence
Look beyond the horizon
Be still
As work demands far too much
But the ways of working are slower
Remember you are just one, only one
Be still
As the new normal promised doesn’t emerge
And as non normal becomes usual
Be sure that this won’t be forever
Be still
Be still and see what God has done
Be still and hear what God has promised
Be still and listen to the stories of goodness
Be still and sing the songs of hope
Be still and know that God is God
Be still and breathe for God is here
Spend time in God's presence and be still. Lift up your anxiety and worry. Pray for those who are struggling right now with finding rest. Pray for their rest.
Word
Matt Jones brings our sermon based on Matthew 11:18-20
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