These are times filled with uncertainty. The way we meet together as a church has changed, but we will persevere because the Church is not a building. It is not brick and mortar. It is the Body of Christ. It is all of us, honouring God, no matter our circumstance. Any place, any time, any day…We are still the Church!
Sunday 26th April - 'Take-away Worship'
Major Angie Bailey
Announcements
Click on the image and watch the announcements for this week.
Band: Grace Alone
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The Bandmaster's comment:
The piece I have selected this week is one of my favourites that we have played under my leadership, ‘Grace Alone’. During this time of turmoil lets be gracious to one another, lets think on God’s Grace to each one of us and know that in the near future we will back to together worshipping and praising his glorious name. |
Every promise we can make, every prayer and step of faith,
Every difference we can make is only by His grace.
Every mountain we will climb, every ray of hope we shine,
Every blessing left behind is only by His grace.
CHORUS:
Grace alone, which God supplies;
Strength unknown He will provide;
Christ in us, our cornerstone –
We will go forth in grace alone.
Every soul we long to reach, every heart we hope to teach,
Everywhere we share His peace is only by His grace.
Every loving word we say, every tear we wipe away,
Every sorrow turned to praise is only by His grace.
Every difference we can make is only by His grace.
Every mountain we will climb, every ray of hope we shine,
Every blessing left behind is only by His grace.
CHORUS:
Grace alone, which God supplies;
Strength unknown He will provide;
Christ in us, our cornerstone –
We will go forth in grace alone.
Every soul we long to reach, every heart we hope to teach,
Everywhere we share His peace is only by His grace.
Every loving word we say, every tear we wipe away,
Every sorrow turned to praise is only by His grace.
Song: Salvation Army Songbook 229 - O Joyful Sound! O Glorious Hour
Thomas Kelly
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Click on the image on the left. The congregation recording was made during our Easter Sunday Morning worship last year on 21st April 2019
O joyful sound! O glorious hour When Christ by his almighty power Arose and left the grave! Now let our songs his triumph tell Who broke the chains of death and Hell, And ever lives to save. Refrain: He lives, he lives, I know that my redeemer lives. |
Prayer
Solo
Margaret shares the song 'All I Am' with us as part of today's worship.
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Bible Reading: John 21:1-14 (New Living Translation)
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Click on the image on the left to listen and read along as Andrew brings the Bible reading to us.
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Songsters: Somebody Prayed for Me - Claire Cloniger
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The Songster Leader put it to our Songsters last week asking them to request a song for them to ‘sing’ over the coming weeks. This song was requested by a few of the Songsters, some, who have been immensely thankful in the past when going through tough situations, that others were upholding them in prayer.
The edition of ‘Sing to the Lord’ in which this song is printed contains the following comments by Andrew Blyth – Music Editorial Department in the UK and Ireland Territory: “One of the greatest privileges we have as Christians is to uplift and uphold people in prayer. This song portrays a personal journey, when we feel at times low in our own experience, but also speaks of true fellowship and love that can give us so much comfort and help.” In these days may we all be uplifted, comforted and strengthened knowing that “the voice of prayer is never silent” and others are lifting our names to our Heavenly Father who hears all our prayers. |
This song was requested by one of our Songsters at her enrolment as a Soldier and was recorded during our morning worship on Sunday 5th February 2017.
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Thought:
Breakfast on the beach with Jesus has always been my perfect combo, and for many years, as we ministered in Hastings, I had the opportunity to do just that, take time before the business of the day to be with Jesus on the beach—sadly not with a barbecue breakfast - just a banana!
I love reading this story and imagine myself as one of the disciples, I can hear the crackle of the fire, the waves lapping at the shore, the smell of salty air combined with the wood burning, fish cooking and fresh bread.
I can see Jesus, as always ready to greet us with a warm welcome, as we pull in the net full of fish– having just witnessed this miracle catch and what a catch!!
Excited by the sight of the Risen Master, and spurred on by the hunger of a long night, we gather around the warmth of the fire on the shore as the sunlight emerges from its night slumber.
A beautiful scene, a story post-resurrection, with such a rich tapestry of themes and truths we can take , and reflect on.
As Jesus stands on the shore He offers the disciples an opportunity to be fulfilled in their task of fishing—can you imagine their frustration and disappointment of no catch after a long night?
Jesus knows those emotions and offers another direction to fish, to try letting the nets down on the other side. As they did, the miraculous catch beyond their expectations was netted.
The picture painted is often of a quiet shore and no other boats, but I imagine these weren’t the only fishermen that night, there would have been others around who also witnessed the scene, of God’s abundance - whether they recognised the source or not.
During these days, we undoubtedly will have experienced emotions of disappointment and frustrations as our normal life has been interrupted in one degree or another, maybe limiting the opportunities we normally have to share with others.
Jesus knows us full well, allow Him to meet us in these and other emotions, and be open to His direction as we find new ways of being salt and light in our communities as many of you are, through keeping in touch with others, befriending those who are lonely, planting herbs for the community to share, shopping for neighbours, making laundry bags for NHS staff, doing what we can where we can, casting our nets in ways we haven't before.
We leave the outcome to God as He invites us to be bring our gifts and play our part in building His kingdom—the disciples were a mixed bunch of mainly unskilled fishermen but together they brought in the catch, added to which, without some of the fish they’d caught, breakfast would have been incomplete.
The phrase often used in these days is ‘we’re all this together’, each of us making a difference to the whole. Together, as God’s people, we all make a difference just where we are, shining our lights in the darkness of these present circumstances.
We can only shine bight as we spend time in God’s presence. Jesus invites the disciples to take some time to share food together, as He serves them the bread and fish, perhaps in this action reminding them of the time they had eaten together in the upper room as he take the bread and shares it amongst them, fulfilled those things He spoke of at that time.
Jesus want us to look after ourselves by taking time out to physically and spiritual look after ourselves.
By spending time with Him, the bread of life, being in His presence and feeding from His word, we can better serve a hurting world
As we meet with the Risen Lord today, may we be encouraged that He knows us full well ,knows how we feels and meets with us, maybe take some time to give those emotions to Him and allow Him to bring healing and peace.
As you think about the new ways you are serving others, being the light where you are, ask Him to bless and use it for the Kingdom.
And just take time to be
...to be still in His presence
I love reading this story and imagine myself as one of the disciples, I can hear the crackle of the fire, the waves lapping at the shore, the smell of salty air combined with the wood burning, fish cooking and fresh bread.
I can see Jesus, as always ready to greet us with a warm welcome, as we pull in the net full of fish– having just witnessed this miracle catch and what a catch!!
Excited by the sight of the Risen Master, and spurred on by the hunger of a long night, we gather around the warmth of the fire on the shore as the sunlight emerges from its night slumber.
A beautiful scene, a story post-resurrection, with such a rich tapestry of themes and truths we can take , and reflect on.
As Jesus stands on the shore He offers the disciples an opportunity to be fulfilled in their task of fishing—can you imagine their frustration and disappointment of no catch after a long night?
Jesus knows those emotions and offers another direction to fish, to try letting the nets down on the other side. As they did, the miraculous catch beyond their expectations was netted.
The picture painted is often of a quiet shore and no other boats, but I imagine these weren’t the only fishermen that night, there would have been others around who also witnessed the scene, of God’s abundance - whether they recognised the source or not.
During these days, we undoubtedly will have experienced emotions of disappointment and frustrations as our normal life has been interrupted in one degree or another, maybe limiting the opportunities we normally have to share with others.
Jesus knows us full well, allow Him to meet us in these and other emotions, and be open to His direction as we find new ways of being salt and light in our communities as many of you are, through keeping in touch with others, befriending those who are lonely, planting herbs for the community to share, shopping for neighbours, making laundry bags for NHS staff, doing what we can where we can, casting our nets in ways we haven't before.
We leave the outcome to God as He invites us to be bring our gifts and play our part in building His kingdom—the disciples were a mixed bunch of mainly unskilled fishermen but together they brought in the catch, added to which, without some of the fish they’d caught, breakfast would have been incomplete.
The phrase often used in these days is ‘we’re all this together’, each of us making a difference to the whole. Together, as God’s people, we all make a difference just where we are, shining our lights in the darkness of these present circumstances.
We can only shine bight as we spend time in God’s presence. Jesus invites the disciples to take some time to share food together, as He serves them the bread and fish, perhaps in this action reminding them of the time they had eaten together in the upper room as he take the bread and shares it amongst them, fulfilled those things He spoke of at that time.
Jesus want us to look after ourselves by taking time out to physically and spiritual look after ourselves.
By spending time with Him, the bread of life, being in His presence and feeding from His word, we can better serve a hurting world
As we meet with the Risen Lord today, may we be encouraged that He knows us full well ,knows how we feels and meets with us, maybe take some time to give those emotions to Him and allow Him to bring healing and peace.
As you think about the new ways you are serving others, being the light where you are, ask Him to bless and use it for the Kingdom.
And just take time to be
...to be still in His presence
Song: The Salvation Army Songbook 353 - Be Still for the Presence of the Lord
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Again this week we are indebted to Richland Corps of The Salvation Army in Washington State, USA for the accompaniment and the video for our song.
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Final Song: Redeemer - Nicole C. Mullen
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