Sunday 21st June: Father's Day
Major Graham Bailey
Announcement
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Commissioning:As many of you will know by now Commissioning 2020 will be a closed session with the Training College Staff and Cadets only in attendance, but the good news is that the event will be live streamed and the links for this are:
https://www.youtube.com/user/salvationarmyvideo https://www.facebook.com/events/320136182325620/ Thanks:A big thank you to the 9 teams who drove around yesterday delivering a Father's Day card and choc to the men of our Church community.
Thank you too to those who have helped delivering 'The Army' papers and shopping. Your help is much appreciated. |
Song: Joyful, Joyful, We Adore You
Salvation Army Songbook #39
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Click on the image to start the song, there is an introduction.
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Prayer:
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Click on the image to hear Graham pray and then pray The Lord's Prayer.
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. |
Songsters: Lord, You Are So Good to Me
Howard Davis
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Since his first published work "The Wonder of His Grace" in 1969, Major Howard Davis has provided many songs for The Salvation Army. This song is a reflection of the composer's gratitude to God for how He has loved and cared for him throughout his life.
The words will resonate with all of us who have trusted in God throughout our own lives. Our Heavenly Father never fails to understand and is always available to us His children. |
Bible Reading: Psalm 71 The New Life Version (NLV)
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Click on the image of the reading to hear Ann
read the Psalm to us. |
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Family item: Andrew and Ella sing The Prayer
Song: Fill Thou My Life O Lord, My God
Salvation Army Songbook #361
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Click on the image to sing the song.
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Thought:
It was good last Sunday to hear how Kat, Jonny & the girls were doing at College, wasn’t it and to ‘sit’ under their ministry? It’s amazing how God works though, as Kat spoke on John’s gospel and Jesus’ words about Remaining in Him. That thought fits rather nicely into what I wanted to speak about this week, which is about the fact that we have an amazing Father God who, as David said in his Psalm that we shared earlier, we can rely upon and who gives us a solid foundation on which to build our lives.
If we are remaining in Him, then what does that look like? Some people say, “Well actually, I know what Jesus looks like, but I have no idea about God the Father, so how can I know what it means to remain in Him?”
Well, Scripture tells us that if we want to know what the Father is like, then all we have to do is look at Jesus -
John 14: 7-9 says:
“7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
Philip asked Jesus to show him the Father in order that he would know what God is like. Jesus said, “Actually Philip, you’ve seen Me, therefore you’ve seen the Father!” (my paraphrase!)
Today in the UK is Father’s Day and, just as we were in ‘lockdown’ for Mother’s Day in March, we are still here for Father’s Day in June! Father’s Day can be a difficult time for many people, can’t it? Maybe it is for you and the concept of having a father like the one you’ve had isn’t a particularly comforting idea. Maybe you’ve been blessed to have had a good father & the concept is a positive one for you, and that’s good, but whatever your experience of fatherhood is, even that ‘good’ example of fatherhood pale in comparison to that of Father God.
You see, the Person we are to ‘remain in’ is Father God who is dependable, not prone to mood swings or inconsistencies.
The Psalm we shared earlier was written by David and it’s thought (unsurprisingly) that he wrote it when he was ‘not so young!’ However, although we might not all be ‘older’ it is applicable to all of us, at whatever age we are, as it talks about the fact that God is there for us, at all times, in all situations. He has been with us since we were born and He will see us through whatever we encounter – whenever we need Him, He is there. He is the sure foundation on which we can rest assured – He has a proven track record! Isn’t that something that we need in these days when the foundation of our world have been shaken? The reassurance that God is there, that He is the same yesterday, today & forever – not in a negative way, but in the sense that He is dependable.
So, what is Father God like?
Looking at Jesus, we see that our Father God has compassion, the likes of which we have probably never encountered before. Read the gospels again and see how, even when Jesus was tired, He made the needs of others His priority. Our Father God has patience and an all-embracing deep love for us, His children – what a picture of a wonderful Father!
When we are secure in the arms of such a Father then we are able to be at rest, safe (Proverbs 29:25); we are able to be assured that nothing can separate us from Father God (Romans 8); & we have a solid foundation on which to build our lives.
In these days, let’s spend the time if we can to be in His presence, to ‘remain in Him’, or if time isn’t that freely available, just try to ensure that we are aware of God’s presence, His dependability, His constancy and above all, His love as we go about our everyday.
A couple of weeks ago we remembered again the fact that God sent us His Holy Spirit to reside with us and the Apostle Paul reminds us in his letter to the Galatian Church that:
Galatians 4:6-7 (NIV)
6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.
We are children of God! Able to use that most intimate of Names with Father God, ‘Abba’ – the closest translation of the Greek word that we have of that is ‘Daddy’.
There are lots of things at the moment that we cannot control, many things that unnerve us and unsettle us but we can rest in the arms of Almighty Father God and allow Him to be our all in all.
Read again the Psalm and see how we need to respond by ’enjoying’ His presence but also speaking out praise for all that He does.
If we are remaining in Him, then what does that look like? Some people say, “Well actually, I know what Jesus looks like, but I have no idea about God the Father, so how can I know what it means to remain in Him?”
Well, Scripture tells us that if we want to know what the Father is like, then all we have to do is look at Jesus -
John 14: 7-9 says:
“7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.”
8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.”
9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?
Philip asked Jesus to show him the Father in order that he would know what God is like. Jesus said, “Actually Philip, you’ve seen Me, therefore you’ve seen the Father!” (my paraphrase!)
Today in the UK is Father’s Day and, just as we were in ‘lockdown’ for Mother’s Day in March, we are still here for Father’s Day in June! Father’s Day can be a difficult time for many people, can’t it? Maybe it is for you and the concept of having a father like the one you’ve had isn’t a particularly comforting idea. Maybe you’ve been blessed to have had a good father & the concept is a positive one for you, and that’s good, but whatever your experience of fatherhood is, even that ‘good’ example of fatherhood pale in comparison to that of Father God.
You see, the Person we are to ‘remain in’ is Father God who is dependable, not prone to mood swings or inconsistencies.
The Psalm we shared earlier was written by David and it’s thought (unsurprisingly) that he wrote it when he was ‘not so young!’ However, although we might not all be ‘older’ it is applicable to all of us, at whatever age we are, as it talks about the fact that God is there for us, at all times, in all situations. He has been with us since we were born and He will see us through whatever we encounter – whenever we need Him, He is there. He is the sure foundation on which we can rest assured – He has a proven track record! Isn’t that something that we need in these days when the foundation of our world have been shaken? The reassurance that God is there, that He is the same yesterday, today & forever – not in a negative way, but in the sense that He is dependable.
So, what is Father God like?
Looking at Jesus, we see that our Father God has compassion, the likes of which we have probably never encountered before. Read the gospels again and see how, even when Jesus was tired, He made the needs of others His priority. Our Father God has patience and an all-embracing deep love for us, His children – what a picture of a wonderful Father!
When we are secure in the arms of such a Father then we are able to be at rest, safe (Proverbs 29:25); we are able to be assured that nothing can separate us from Father God (Romans 8); & we have a solid foundation on which to build our lives.
In these days, let’s spend the time if we can to be in His presence, to ‘remain in Him’, or if time isn’t that freely available, just try to ensure that we are aware of God’s presence, His dependability, His constancy and above all, His love as we go about our everyday.
A couple of weeks ago we remembered again the fact that God sent us His Holy Spirit to reside with us and the Apostle Paul reminds us in his letter to the Galatian Church that:
Galatians 4:6-7 (NIV)
6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.
We are children of God! Able to use that most intimate of Names with Father God, ‘Abba’ – the closest translation of the Greek word that we have of that is ‘Daddy’.
There are lots of things at the moment that we cannot control, many things that unnerve us and unsettle us but we can rest in the arms of Almighty Father God and allow Him to be our all in all.
Read again the Psalm and see how we need to respond by ’enjoying’ His presence but also speaking out praise for all that He does.
Song: O Father of the Fatherless (Father Me)
Songs of Fellowship #950
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Click on the image to start the song.
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Prayer:
Father, thank you that we can rely upon You to be our all in all.
Thank you that in uncertain times we can be certain of Your presence and power in our lives.
May we always be aware of Your love & compassion & Lord, we want to sing Your praises in thanksgiving today.
Thank You Lord, Amen.
Thank you that in uncertain times we can be certain of Your presence and power in our lives.
May we always be aware of Your love & compassion & Lord, we want to sing Your praises in thanksgiving today.
Thank You Lord, Amen.
Band:
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Click on the image to hear the band piece.
This recording of our Bedford Congress Hall Band was made during Sunday Morning Worship on February 23rd this year. Please listen and watch as the words associated with this wonderful piece of music are presented to you with images to help you as you reflect on the music. |
Song: What a Faithful God Have I
The Salvation Army Songbook #378
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Click on the image to start the song.
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Note: Our 'take-away' Sunday worship started on the 22nd March. To find the previous week's services go to the Archive section of the website listed under the 'more.....' tab at the top of the page. On the 'C-19 Worship' section of the website we will only keep the current and previous month on this section of the website before moving them into the Archive.
Can you help?
In this current situation when our church doors are closed to our normal activities but our work to support those in need continues our normal source of funds (Sunday Tithes and Offerings) have reduced dramatically. We need your help, so that we continue to be ready to meet the ongoing needs of our community that will undoubtedly impact beyond this lock down period. If you are willing to help please visit our Just Giving Page to make a donation to this work. https://www.justgiving.com/