Sunday 28th June:
Major Angie Bailey
Announcements
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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/ |
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Jeremiah 17:7-8 The Voice (VOICE)
But blessed is the one who trusts in Me alone; the Eternal will be his confidence. He is like a tree planted by water, sending out its roots beside the stream. It does not fear the heat or even drought. Its leaves stay green and its fruit is dependable, no matter what it faces. |
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Song: Come, Now is the Time to Worship
Salvation Army Songbook #332
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Click on the image to start the song. There are no lyrics for this song only accompaniment so sing up!
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Psalm 100: 4-5 The Passion Translation
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Click on the Bible image to hear Angie read the passage.
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Song: Come into His Presence with Thanksgiving
Salvation Army Songbook #331
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Click on the image to start the song. There are no lyrics for this song only the accompaniment.
Take some time to praise God. |
Prayer:
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Click on the image to hear Angie pray with us.
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Songsters: Everything I Need
Nancy Gordon
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This recording of Bedford Songsters was made during Sunday worship on 3rd November 2019.
The Songster Leader writes: As we continue on life's journey and stay connected with the Lord we are reassured that His love and provision, His comfort and His strength is always available to us. We can be restored daily when we take the time to enter into His presence and know His peace and love. |
Family item: Charlotte plays a cornet solo - Angels Watching Over Me.
Charlotte is a member of our Just Brass Group.
Click on the image to start the video
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Just Brass was started in 2016 when members of Bedford Salvation Army made contact with the Bedford Free School in an effort to transform children's lives through music, building self-esteem and musical abilities.
This initiative is organised by our Young People's Bandleader and a number of volunteers from the church. Charlotte also comes to our Tuesday evening Young People's Band practice [pre lock-down]. |
Bible Reading: Esther 4:7-17 The New Living Translation (NLT)
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Click on the Bible image to hear Marlene read the passage to us.
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Thought:
Last week I was prompted to read the book of Esther, it’s not a big book and easy to read in one sitting. I’ve read the story before and know the often quoted verse 4:4 ‘For such a time as this.’
The story of a bold young Jewish woman with zest and drive, faces the challenges of the day with confidence and inner strength.
The book doesn’t really reference God explicitly however we see His imprint as the story unfolds and the plan to wipe out the Jews are frustrated, God was clearly in control, working behind the scenes. I would encourage you to read it if you have time to do so.
It is set in Persia at a time when The King, Xerxes, had banished his wife from his presence and was looking for a new Queen. All the young girls including Esther are summoned to the palace. After 1 year of beauty treatments she is presented to the King. (Yes, 1 year)
[I have to say at this point, these first few chapters make weird reading with regard to the culture and practices of the day.]
What I took from this part of the story, was Esther was a beautiful young girl and she had beautiful clothing and jewellery to wear as she met the king, her outward appearance clearly was important to the king, although in Esther’s case she also had an inner beauty.
In our western culture, image and beauty have great importance placed on them and while it’s not a sin to want to look nice, and want to get the lockdown hair tidied up, inner beauty is far more important and long lasting and we need to take time to cultivate it.
The chorus penned by Albert Orsborn comes to mind:
‘Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me,
All His wonderful passion and purity
O Thou Spirit Divine, all my nature refine,
Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.‘
Of course we can only achieve this through our relationship with Jesus, allowing the Holy Spirit to shape and mould, acting on God’s Word, making space for time together (with God) through prayer, creativity, dance, and many other ways which we can enjoy God’s presence.
For many who have been on lock down maybe you’ve found new ways to connect and perhaps you’ve taken the opportunity to spend some extra time in His presence as the pushes and pulls of normal life diminished.
Bedford river, the Ouse, has been an oasis to me as I walk or cycle along its banks, this year above any other I have seen creation flourish and grow, and God’s really blessed me & spoken, in so many way as I journey to work and just take a leisurely stroll, whilst mulling over a reading or reflecting on a song, or just simply being.
If you know me, you will know I am a great fan of the willow tree, and find them so graceful as they dance in the breeze, we are blessed to have many growing around the banks of the river, where of course they thrive as their roots draw from the moisture of the banks, even these very dry months have not seemingly troubled them.
Jeremiah 17:7-8
The story of a bold young Jewish woman with zest and drive, faces the challenges of the day with confidence and inner strength.
The book doesn’t really reference God explicitly however we see His imprint as the story unfolds and the plan to wipe out the Jews are frustrated, God was clearly in control, working behind the scenes. I would encourage you to read it if you have time to do so.
It is set in Persia at a time when The King, Xerxes, had banished his wife from his presence and was looking for a new Queen. All the young girls including Esther are summoned to the palace. After 1 year of beauty treatments she is presented to the King. (Yes, 1 year)
[I have to say at this point, these first few chapters make weird reading with regard to the culture and practices of the day.]
What I took from this part of the story, was Esther was a beautiful young girl and she had beautiful clothing and jewellery to wear as she met the king, her outward appearance clearly was important to the king, although in Esther’s case she also had an inner beauty.
In our western culture, image and beauty have great importance placed on them and while it’s not a sin to want to look nice, and want to get the lockdown hair tidied up, inner beauty is far more important and long lasting and we need to take time to cultivate it.
The chorus penned by Albert Orsborn comes to mind:
‘Let the beauty of Jesus be seen in me,
All His wonderful passion and purity
O Thou Spirit Divine, all my nature refine,
Till the beauty of Jesus be seen in me.‘
Of course we can only achieve this through our relationship with Jesus, allowing the Holy Spirit to shape and mould, acting on God’s Word, making space for time together (with God) through prayer, creativity, dance, and many other ways which we can enjoy God’s presence.
For many who have been on lock down maybe you’ve found new ways to connect and perhaps you’ve taken the opportunity to spend some extra time in His presence as the pushes and pulls of normal life diminished.
Bedford river, the Ouse, has been an oasis to me as I walk or cycle along its banks, this year above any other I have seen creation flourish and grow, and God’s really blessed me & spoken, in so many way as I journey to work and just take a leisurely stroll, whilst mulling over a reading or reflecting on a song, or just simply being.
If you know me, you will know I am a great fan of the willow tree, and find them so graceful as they dance in the breeze, we are blessed to have many growing around the banks of the river, where of course they thrive as their roots draw from the moisture of the banks, even these very dry months have not seemingly troubled them.
Jeremiah 17:7-8
“But blessed are those who trust in the Lord
and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.
They are like trees planted along a riverbank,
with roots that reach deep into the water.
Such trees are not bothered by the heat
or worried by long months of drought.
Their leaves stay green,
and they never stop producing fruit.
and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.
They are like trees planted along a riverbank,
with roots that reach deep into the water.
Such trees are not bothered by the heat
or worried by long months of drought.
Their leaves stay green,
and they never stop producing fruit.
These months for some have felt like a drought season, where normal life has taken a turn we never imagined or planned for, but as we’ve trusted God, as we’ve found ourselves new rhythms, as we’ve run to Him in our times of despair, run into our strong tower, placing ourselves & our concerns into His hands we’ve seen His faithfulness, we’ve experience a new touch of His presence as our roots have pushed further down into the soil of His grace.
The book of Esther reminds us that whilst we some times look at a situation and wonder where God is in all of it, He IS still working, still present, the lyrics of the song Way Maker say:
The book of Esther reminds us that whilst we some times look at a situation and wonder where God is in all of it, He IS still working, still present, the lyrics of the song Way Maker say:
‘Way maker, miracle worker,
Promise keeper, light in the darkness
My God, that is who You are.
Even when I don’t see it, You’re working
Even when I don’t feel it, You’re working
You never stop, You never stop working’
Promise keeper, light in the darkness
My God, that is who You are.
Even when I don’t see it, You’re working
Even when I don’t feel it, You’re working
You never stop, You never stop working’
God, our God, has never stopped working, and just as Esther was Queen, for such a time, we too are purposed for such a time. This time, 2020, now.
Commissioner Anthony Cotterill , our UK territorial commander , a leader I believe for such a time, in his message from the 12th June talks of going forward , he challenges to us , as sent people to be salt and light, to bring hope, salvation, joy, love and healing, to live out the gospel where we are, to look again at who we are and our mission, intentionally living the Jesus life.
God equips us and gifts us as individuals and as a body of His people for such a time, I believe that we are placed where we are for such a time as this, we are Gods people, indwelt by His Spirit, God created us & equipped up for these days, to be a light reflecting His beauty, to be encouragers, to speak hope, to pray with our neighbours, to show love, to share grace, to be the church where we are, bringing in the Kingdom in the way we live our lives.
Let us continue to trust God for the future, allowing Him to lead as we move into this next phase of the easing of restrictions.
Allow some time to be in His presence.
Maybe write down where you’ve seen Him in this week, where He’s used you to reveal His kingdom with others.
Ask Him to reveal anything in you that doesn’t reflect His beauty.
Commissioner Anthony Cotterill , our UK territorial commander , a leader I believe for such a time, in his message from the 12th June talks of going forward , he challenges to us , as sent people to be salt and light, to bring hope, salvation, joy, love and healing, to live out the gospel where we are, to look again at who we are and our mission, intentionally living the Jesus life.
God equips us and gifts us as individuals and as a body of His people for such a time, I believe that we are placed where we are for such a time as this, we are Gods people, indwelt by His Spirit, God created us & equipped up for these days, to be a light reflecting His beauty, to be encouragers, to speak hope, to pray with our neighbours, to show love, to share grace, to be the church where we are, bringing in the Kingdom in the way we live our lives.
Let us continue to trust God for the future, allowing Him to lead as we move into this next phase of the easing of restrictions.
Allow some time to be in His presence.
Maybe write down where you’ve seen Him in this week, where He’s used you to reveal His kingdom with others.
Ask Him to reveal anything in you that doesn’t reflect His beauty.
Song: It is Jesus I Need
Salvation Army Songbook # 499
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Click on the image to start the song.
Song is provided by the Oshawa Corps of The Salvation Army. |
Band: Share My Yoke
Joy Webb
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Click on the image to hear the band piece.
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The Bandmaster writes:
I don’t know why but the piece I have chosen for today's worship suddenly sprung into my head earlier in the week, may be it was the words of Matthew 28:28-30 ‘Come to me, all ye who are heavy laden, and I will give you rest’. Joy Webb has set this to words and music in the form of the song ‘Share my Yoke’ (Salvation Army Songbook 527). How many times do we feel tired and seem if nothing is going right for us, how often do we doubt. The words of the second verse are rather relevant at the moment, ‘When I’m alone and nothing’s getting through to me; an isolation that increases day by day; When closest friends can seem a thousand miles away’. It is then I long to hear him say: Share my yoke and find that I am joined with you. |
Song: At the Name of Jesus
The Salvation Army Songbook #74
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Click on the image to start the song. Accompaniment is from The Regent Hall of The Salvation Army.
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Blessing
May the amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ,
the extravagant love of God,
the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit,
be with you always.
Amen
the extravagant love of God,
the intimate friendship of the Holy Spirit,
be with you always.
Amen
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/