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Thought for the day by Phil Moon (Vicar)What’s the difference between a Christian and an unbeliever? You could say from Psalm 23:4 that the answer is God’s presence. “I will fear no evil, for you are with me”. In fact the whole of the psalm is about the relationship between David and his Lord God. Just look at the number of phrases such as “The Lord is my…” (v1) “He makes me…” (v2), ”He leads me…”(v2), “He refreshes my…”(v3), “He guides me…” (v3), and “You anoint my…” (v5). And just see the difference this makes. Because of this relationship, for instance, “I lack nothing” (v1), “I will fear no evil” (v4) and “I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.” (v6) So as Christians today, we have God’s presence, in the fear and the uncertainty, in the worry and the concern, in losses we currently experience. I suggest you read Psalm 23 today, very, very slowly, pausing after each phrase and responding in prayer to the Word of God. It is a truly wonderful psalm. God present with us. Today. Right now. What a Comfort, what a Help, what a Shepherd. The Sound of Music!!!!!! An updated version!! https://youtu.be/MMBh-eo3tvE A thought.....
Statistics! In our modern intercommunicative world, we are constantly bombarded by statistics of all sorts. Mostly we shrug them off. Sometimes they make us gasp but then we move on and forget. Suddenly, statistics have taken on a human dimension. They mean something. To us. They have human faces. They are people we know - parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, family, friends. When was the last time we were so bothered by statistics? eg:
May He forgive us for our indifference. Maybe He is giving us an opportunity to repent? 2 Corinthians 7:10
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Thought for the day by Alex Forrest (Voluntary Staff Worker) Job 38:4-18 4 “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? Tell me, if you understand. 5 Who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? 6 On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone-- 7 while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy? 8 “Who shut up the sea behind doors when it burst forth from the womb, 9 when I made the clouds its garment and wrapped it in thick darkness, 10 when I fixed limits for it and set its doors and bars in place, 11 when I said, ‘This far you may come and no farther; here is where your proud waves halt’? 12 “Have you ever given orders to the morning, or shown the dawn its place, 13 that it might take the earth by the edges and shake the wicked out of it? 14 The earth takes shape like clay under a seal; its features stand out like those of a garment. 15 The wicked are denied their light, and their upraised arm is broken. 16 “Have you journeyed to the springs of the sea or walked in the recesses of the deep? 17 Have the gates of death been shown to you? Have you seen the gates of the deepest darkness? 18 Have you comprehended the vast expanses of the earth? Tell me, if you know all this. You might be getting to the point now where you’re just sick of all this. The endless Skype and Zoom meetings have lost their novelty, you had to wait in the Waitrose queue for an hour and a half, or maybe you’re just beginning to feel very, very alone. Maybe you’re angry with God for allowing this to happen, maybe you’re confused about why the world is like this, maybe you’re even doubting a loving God is even out there. The story of Job can be a challenging read! It was written as an answer to the question of “where is God in the suffering?”. When we cry out to God, asking “what is going on Lord!?”, “where are you God!?”, “how can you be in control when the world is a mess!?”, the book of Job has the answer. The answer is that it’s okay to be confused when life is hard, it’s okay to ask God what is going on, it’s okay to cry out in despair. But when we stray into believing that God doesn’t love us, or that he isn’t in control, or that he isn’t even there, we say that God isn’t really who he claims to be in the Bible. When we do that, God is well within his rights to remind us of his power. To remind us that he was there before the beginning of everything and will be there at the end. He laid the Earth’s foundation (v.4), he burst forth the sea (v.8), he gave orders to the morning to appear at the right place and time (v.12), he can comprehend the vast expanses of the Earth (v.18). That is God reminding us who he really is. When we think he’s not in control and that he doesn’t care for us, remind yourself that he made the sun rise this morning so that we can see the world around us, he provided water to flow from the sea to our taps so we can drink, he laid the very foundations of the Earth that we walk along for our daily exercise. When you cry up to God this week, remind yourself that God is so much bigger than Covid-19, and that he loves his people so much that he blesses them every single day with things they take for granted. Remind yourself that God really is who he claims to be. How are you getting ready for Easter? A few weeks ago we began plugging 'The Garden, the Curtain and the Cross' Easter resources for families. Some of you will have opened the first door of the Easter calendar from that series yesterday. To help families with children to prepare for Easter, I'll be using these resources in a very short video each day leading up to Easter. There will be some Bible verses and a question to get you thinking about the Story of what God has done to save us. You don't need to have the books to join in but if you would like to get them they are available from Books Alive who are delivering locally and from the Good Book Company here. You can find the first video here. Catharine Currell (Families Minister) Charis and Emily- Update on Tanzania tripDear all. We just wanted to update you as to our situation with our trip to Tanzania. Firstly, thank you so much for your generosity in supporting us throughout our preparations, we couldn't have got this far without you! Due to the coronavirus, we heard two weeks ago that if we were to be allowed access into Tanzania we would have to start quarantine here in the UK and then when we’re out in Tanzania. Shortly afterwards, Kenya and Tanzania both closed their borders, meaning it was impossible for us to go out to Tanzania. We are both of course devastated and it has been some hard news to get used to. We are hoping that borders may reopen and we will get to go out at a later stage this year but the uncertainty of the future means that we won’t know for sure. If not there is also the option of going out in summer 2021 or 2022. We are looking into all possible options and will keep you updated. We are sending our love and prayers to all our wonderful church family in this difficult period. Please stay safe and well- we have faith that by standing together and continuing to fix our eyes on Jesus, we will all get through this.
Much love, Charis and Emily xxx Thought for the Day by Phil Moon (Vicar)We ARE Blessed Psalm 144:15 Really sums up Psalm 144, and it’s a great verse: “Blessed is the people of whom this is true; blessed is the people whose God is the Lord” Fact: we are blessed. We are a people whose God is the Lord. Not anyone or anything else. Our God is not a god of career, house, looks, popularity, health, income….. but the Lord. That is the Trinitarian God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He is our God. Not just yours personally, but ours. Together. Corporate. And so we are a people who will walk with this God of ours and encourage one another to do the same. And as we do that, as God’s people, we are blessed. We have been blessed and we are, currently blessed, more than you could imagine, more than you could get your arms around, more than you can comprehend, more than you could enjoy, even. Our past is paid for, our future is secure, we have our God’s engagement ring (the Spirit) and we will one day meet with our God face to face in glory. In the meantime, there are problems, there are pains and now, a pandemic. People are concerned, some are grieving, some are afraid, some are beginning to panic. But one thing does not change, even in the world of Covid 19. We ARE Blessed. Sunday Services todayJoin us on line at 10:00 and 18:30 and please remember that the clocks have gone forward. New TechnologyWe are all having to get to grips with new technology. Who had heard of Zoom 3 weeks ago and now it is part of our everyday vocabulary. Many of the BH Small groups, Youth Groups and Feast are continuing using Zoom. Lots of people are using Zoom to keep in contact with family. If you want to know more about Zoom there are lots of resources on YouTube for you to look at. Please find below links to two resources that you might find helpful: 1. A simple guide from Christ Church Kensington https://www.christchurchkensington.com/softwarehelp 2. A slightly longer, more in-depth guide https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9isp3qPeQ0E Thought for the Day by Stephen Demetriou (Youth Minister)Philippians 2:14-15 14 Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, ‘children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.’ Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky. With the postponement of the Olympics; I wonder whether they are taking any new event ideas for the rescheduled Olympics? I’ve got a great idea for our medal chances – The 200m Grumble or the 4x100m Moan. I think Great Britain are in with a big shout for golds across the board?! We who live in England are moaning masters, groaning giants so it’s almost like Philippians 2:14 was written for us! I think this is more important than ever for us to hear. Isn’t it easy to slip into patterns of moaning and complaining? About food shortages? About technology disruption? About the lack of fresh air? And yet Paul says “Do everything without grumbling or arguing…” What challenging words for us now, we who are good at focusing on the negatives of life. “Do life in lockdown without grumbling or arguing…” Our God is good and there are ALWAYS reasons for us to be thankful, even in dark and difficult times. If you are a Christian trusting Jesus, don’t we have the greatest reason for thankfulness? We KNOW our living God, we are saved through the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus, isn’t that fuel for thankful fires even in dark times? So Let’s get good at being thankful, cultivating an attitude of gratitude for ourselves. It’s amazing the physical, mental and spiritual benefits of being grateful ESPECIALLY in times like this. (try it!) Later on in Philippians 4 Paul talks about thankfulness helping us have peace because thankfulness lifts our minds to all those things we do have and the one who gives them to us. Challenge yourself today, why not start a Thankful journal? Writing 5 things that you are grateful each day before bed? Why not say thank you for the small things like showers (!) and exercise and sun and food? Why not make your prayers TODAY all prayers of thanks? That attitude of gratitude is infectious and it enables us to “shine among them like stars in the sky…” I’m thankful for the taste of mayonnaise and BBQ sauce! I’m thankful for the young people of this church and seeing their faces on Zoom! I’m thankful for carrots from the garden. I’m thankful for friends around the globe. I’m thankful for books lifting my mind up higher. I’m thankful that I can wear shorts every day, even on a Sunday (!) I’m thankful for my Slanket (a blanket with sleeves…) that I wear in the morning. I’m thankful for a cracking staff team to work with. I’m thankful that this list is the tip of the thankful iceberg… Cos most of all, I’m thankful for a God who doesn’t change. What are you thankful for? Have you remembered!!A gentle reminder that the clocks Go Forward on Sunday morning. Prayer by Anne Graham LotzPlease find at the link below a helpful prayer by Anne Graham Lotz (Billy Graham's daughter). It comes from the States but it is good and helpful National-day-of-prayer-march-15-2020 Sunday ServicesJoin us on line Sunday 10:00 and 18:30
Thought for the day by Matt Jones (BH Associate Minister for Music)Psalm 102:25-27 In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded. But you remain the same, and your years will never end Normal If there was a word to sum up what most of us would like right, now it would be a return to normal. Normal work hours, normal amounts of food on the shelves, normal freedom to go outside, to the pub, to see extended family, normal church. And that’s just in the last week! What about normal politics, normal environment, normal civil discourse.. We like normal. We find comfort in it. It doesn’t surprise us, it doesn’t offend us. Normal seems to make sense to us. As creatures of habit, rhythm and routine, of course it does. But everything feels different, and everyone is trying to get a grasp on what is, for now, the new ‘normal’. Everyone is affected, including the church. But as we journey through the next weeks of months of abnormality, there are two things we can cling onto:
He is the true constant. His love for us does not change. Where through the course of our lives we will experience huge amounts of change; in work, relationships, emotions and so much more, God is the firm foundation in whom we can completely trust. As the hymn says it, On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand. So if things are feeling shaky, we can take confidence that He will never, ever. The writer of Psalm 102 got that. Verse 12 ‘But you, Lord, sit enthroned forever’ and in verse 25-26 ‘[Heaven/earth] will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded. But you remain the same,and your years will never end.’ He is true normal. And that is truly comforting.
Yes we will go through times that are really tough, or unnerving, or uncomfortable, but our God who never changes and whose love for us never changes, is working great good in that change. He is using circumstances, even the one we find ourselves in right now, to mould and shape us and change us by the power of His Spirit into the likeness of His Son. That’s great news! We know that He will bring to completion the good things that He has started in us. And so as we go through the weeks or months ahead where normal will shift constantly, let us fix our eyes on God who never changes, and the one that is working great change in us. For the Youth TonightDon't forget ROOTED Hangout - 7:00-8:00 For Rooted young people a chance to hangout and chat about how we're doing. Message Stephen to get involved. Clap for our carersA nationwide round of applause to thank NHS staff working during the coronavirus pandemic will be taking place tonight.
Clap for our Carers is asking people to show their appreciation for workers including doctors, nurses, and GPs, at 8pm on Thursday, March 26. Those joining in can do so from their front doors, windows, gardens and balconies. Thought for the Day Deuteronomy 6:6-9 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the door-frames of your houses and on your gates. These are challenging times for all of us, but for those of us with children there is the added complexity of homeschooling for the next few weeks. But while the normal routine of things has gone out of the window we are exploring new fun ways of doing things. Personally I’ve really enjoyed being involved with and seeing more of what and how our children learn. Yet in all of this it can be easy to forget what God wants us to teach our children more than anything else. In Deuteronomy 6, Moses is preparing the people of Israel for their crossing into the promised land. At this exciting and anxious time Moses commands the parents to take responsibility for their children’s spiritual life. Whether they are at home, walking around, going to sleep or waking up, there isn’t a time when Christian parents are limited to sharing what God has done in the past and what it to means to follow Christ, to share the good news of His grace. You may feel unsure how to do it best, in which case it’s best to start simple. The biggest way to seeing success in this area is if we are ourselves delighting in these things in our own hearts (v.6). At the moment God has provided families with lots of opportunities to sit at home together, exercise together and spend time in one another’s company. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if one of the outcomes of this time was families who grew in their time of family devotions together. Don’t just wait for the church to do it all! God has placed you in the privileged position of teaching your children the immeasurable treasures they have in Christ. Tim Pray for families to engage creatively with the Bible using things to remind them of God, such as reading, talking and art. Let’s pray that family devotions will become more established through this time and beyond. Prayer Meeting Wed 25th March The prayer meeting scheduled for today Wed 25th March will not be taking place. We are aiming for it to be on Wed 1st April and are hoping that people can join us online. If you can't then materials to help us pray will be available. Emily Whiffin and Charis Marshall Emily and Charis were going to Tanzania last week with the Christian charity GO MAD (go make a difference). Unfortunately this has had to be postponed but they are hoping to go later in the year. Details to follow A message from Phil Moon
Corona Affects Everything! Corona will affect our AGM, elections to Deanery Synod, the General Synod, PCC meetings and so on. Here is a potted information sheet of how it will affect us: 1.PCC and Deanery Synod Elections
2.Annual Parochial Church Meeting (AGM)
3.General Synod Elections
23 March 2020 A Message from Phil Moon (Vicar)Thought for the Day Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Phil. 4:8 This Scripture makes it clear: critical to our lives is our thought life. Our emotions and perceptions, values and choices, highs and lows are all connected to whatever fills our imagination and meditation. What’s filling yours at the moment? Perhaps that’s a silly question! But in fact, before the changing needs of the hour, or our fears for the future, or the brokenness of our world claim our preoccupation, we can do nothing more important than to think on what is excellent, and especially to think on the Son of God – and to keep doing so. It’s no accident that our verse comes in the context of God’s antidote to anxiety. For what we think about affects us – for better or for worse. More than that, what we think about most, we end up worshipping. Think on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy – and especially the One who is excellent par excellence – and we’ll flourish and worship the Son of God. Fail to do that, and we’ll worship gods which are no gods at all, which will cripple us and insult God. How important it is, then, that we’re captivated with what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. Many things in your and my life fall into those categories; let’s pause often to consider them. And most of all…well, C. S. Lewis spoke of the difference between looking at a sunbeam from inside a dark toolshed, and then moving such that “the beam fell on my eyes.” We can enjoy what is good, then look up the sunbeam, and enjoy the One who created them, who is the essence of goodness. In other words, we want to be captivated with, by, and for Jesus. Nothing, and no one, is more “true and noble, right and pure, admirable and praiseworthy” than him. By the Holy Spirit, we want and need Jesus’ beauty and love to be the most unavoidable realities in our lives. For the more we see of Jesus, the clearer we will see everything else. We suffer from astigmatism of the heart, and we need the corrective vision only Jesus can give us. We need Jesus’ kingship and reign to rule in our hearts—not a constant preoccupation with the coronavirus. We need the truth and riches of the gospel to shape our emotions, sleep, choices and relationships — not concerns about money, food, and even loved ones. We need Jesus’ mercy and grace, not our fears or selfishness, to determine how we do life. This isn’t “mind over matter,” but Jesus over all things. It’s not the “power of positive thinking,” it’s being transformed by the constant renewing of our minds. So let’s consider what we’ll allow to fill our minds. Watch what you read; watch what you play; watch what you chat about; watch what you daydream about; watch what you watch. It’s not that we don’t give the fallout from COVID-19 any thought; we will and we must. It is that we give what is excellent and praiseworthy much more thought – especially the excellent, praiseworthy Lord Jesus. Today, will you commit to that? And will you strive to help others do that? Lord Jesus, captivate us all with yourself. Love, Dave Monthly Prayer Meeting 25th March 2020 Please note that the monthly prayer meeting will not be taking place this week as planned. We are aiming for it to be on Wednesday 1st April and hope that everyone can join us online. If you can't then materials to help us pray will be available. Further details to follow. MEDITATION March 2020 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble Therefore we will not fear….” - Psalm 46 Dover Castle, with its great Norman keep, stands on top of Castle Hill overlooking the town and ferry port far below. Additions were made to protect against the French in Napoleonic times with an underground hospital and operations centre built during the last war. It has never been breached. The Psalmist reminds us that God is our refuge and strength – an idea used in more than one Psalm (See Psalm 62) – therefore we will not fear. Later in the same Psalm we are exhorted to “Be still and know that I am God” It is good to take this Psalm to heart. Each day before you get involved in the often frantic pace of life why not be still and reflect on the refuge God provides, especially in times of trouble? John Head Originally written for the Kingston (Lewes) Parish Magazine by John An Evening with Jonathan Aitken This was originally planned for Wednesday 23rd April and unfortunately has had to be postponed. A new date will be arranged later in the year Thought for the Day
Amos 3:1-8 1 Hear this word, people of Israel, the word the Lord has spoken against you – against the whole family I brought up out of Egypt: 2 ‘You only have I chosen of all the families of the earth therefore I will punish you for all your sins.’ 3 Do two walk together unless they have agreed to do so? 4 Does a lion roar in the thicket when it has no prey? Does it growl in its den when it has caught nothing? 5 Does a bird swoop down to a trap on the ground when no bait is there? Does a trap spring up from the ground if it has not caught anything? 6 When a trumpet sounds in a city, do not the people tremble? When disaster comes to a city, has not the Lord caused it? 7 Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets. 8 The lion has roared – who will not fear? The Sovereign Lord has spoken –who can but prophesy? Luke 13:2-3 2 Jesus answered, ‘Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? 3 I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. I’ve been using the ‘Explore’ app for my daily bible readings lately, and this week the readings have been from the book of Amos. They don’t make for comfortable reading. Warnings of God’s judgement are not the sort of thing that get printed on a fridge magnet or posted on facebook with a nice picture of a sunset! Yes there is great reassurance to be found in these verses if we are willing to listen to God’s call to repentance. These words were originally delivered to God’s people in the northern kingdom of Israel around 760BC. Having broken away from the southern kingdom (and the God-given rule of the Davidic kings) they had become complacent that their status as God’s chosen people and their material wealth would keep them secure forever. But God’s judgement was coming, just as he had always promised it would. These verses from Amos 3 were a sobering reminder to the people of Israel that the disasters about to befall them were happening because they had failed to listen to God’s warnings and continued to live as if God was not in charge. Of course, disasters are not always a direct action of God against the sin of a particular nation. However they are always opportunities for a ‘wake-up call’. Jesus called his listeners to respond to news of a disaster, not with indifference or with terror but with repentance. (Luke 13:2-3) Disasters, both global and personal remind us that we are not in control. We are not sovereign over our own destiny, our own timetables or even our own bodies. But we must resist the temptation to be fatalistic in that knowledge. We have a heavenly Father who loves us and who has not left us alone as we try to make sense of this confusing world. He wants us to know him and has gone to extraordinary lengths to make that possible, even giving his only Son as an atoning sacrifice for all our complacency, greed, pride and unbelief. What is God teaching each of us through the daily disasters, both great and small that we are facing? The Lion has roared! Are we listening? Catharine “Give us each day our daily bread” Whoever thought that we’d need to pray that, literally, in 2020? But it seems to me that we should. In my lifetime as a Christian, we’ve been taught that it means to express our dependence on God for everything in life, not just our food. But the food’s just got rather important. Perhaps a bit too important. So, what to do? Here are five things we can try, as Christian people:
Phil BOOKS ALIVE a message from Gillian Carr Books Alive is still open - normal hours (9.30 to 5 every day except Sunday). We will remain open as long as possible but if we are forced to close we will be aiming to maintain service to customers by taking orders over the phone or by email which can then be paid for by card over the phone. These can either be collected by arrangement or posted. We have books to keep you from boredom as well as cards and stamps so you can send encouraging messages. We still have lots of Easter eggs left! Gillian A message from Phil Moon (Vicar)Thought of the day Today we think particularly about our Mums, and we thank God for them, whether they are still alive, or died perhaps many years ago, whether we can be with them today or maybe the travel restrictions are stopping us being together today. Whatever our circumstances, today we thank God for our mums. And today we may be particularly praying for our mums, or perhaps you’re a mum and you’re particularly praying for your own children. Psalm 62:8 was our verse for the year a few years back and I regularly go back to it as it’s a great help to my prayers. Let’s start in the middle – “pour out your hearts to him”. Nothing fancy, nothing premeditated, nothing prepared, just your heart and God’s. And you telling God just how it is; just how you’re feeling today. Your fears, your anxiety, your relief, your joy. What’s on your heart? What’s the first thing you think of in the morning? No holding back, “pour out your hearts to him”. Second, why? Let’s look at the end of the verse – the reason is that “God is our refuge”, our shelter. Many times on Men & Mountains we’ve got to the top of a mountain and sought refuge out of the wind in one of those mountain top shelters. It’s always so much warmer out of the wind! And we pray because God is our (personal) refuge. Our place to go, our shelter, our home. If corona is getting too much, (and even if it isn’t) God is our refuge. So we pray and pour out our hearts to Him. And third, as we do so, we’re putting our trust in Him. He is God, and he has tremendously big hands, warm hands, loving hands, capable hands. He is able. And he is THE one we know we can trust, because he’s shown us that at the cross of Christ. And that’s for now, and at all times. It’s for the hard times, and for the easier times. “Trust in Him at all times, you people.” What's happening todaySunday Morning Service on the website Phil Moon Preaching 10:00 Suitable for everyone Sunday Evening Service on the website Don Bawtree Preaching 18:30 Suitable for everyone Sunday: KO Hangout - 7:30-8:30 For KO young people a chance to chat together after the evening service has gone live and chat about our faith. Message Stephen to get involved. Feast Hangout 8:00-9:30 For Feast people to have a bible study Message Alex to get involved. The JHMT AppealCorona has stopped lots of things but it's not stopping the JHMT appeal!
So just a reminder, we're giving money to support Living Hope Ministries in their ministry in Africa. If the conference there can't go ahead, the money will still be well used to grow and develop good gospel centred Bible teaching ministry, in several countries, mainly in East Africa. And we're giving to support the ministry of Julian and Nicky Milson, Jemima and Theo in Valencia, Spain. Julian leads a church there and our gifts will be a very valuable financial support to the ongoing ministry of proclamation and discipleship. Cheques (yes we still accept them!) payable to James Hannington Memorial Trust and if you don't specify, your gift will be divided 50-50 between Living Hope and the Milsons. Want to pay online? Best to send an email to the church office and we'll pass it on to Roger Bellamy the JHMT Treasurer. Let's give generously: it will make a huge difference Thought for the dayISAIAH 40:26-31 26 Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. 27 Why do you complain, Jacob? Why do you say, Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord; my cause is disregarded by my God”? 28 Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. 29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 30 Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; 31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Frankly, this is the weirdest time in my life. No-one knows what’s going on, no-one knows what’s going to happen, no-one knows when life can get back to normal. This world has become a scary, anxious, hopeless place to live in the blink of an eye. People are growing tired and weary. This hopeless world needs to be given hope. This unstable world needs a rock. This sick world needs a doctor. Perhaps now more than ever, the world needs to hear about an everlasting God. A God who doesn’t grow tired(v.28). A God who gives strength to the weary, and power to the weak(v.29). A God who renews the strength of those who put their hope in him(v.31). So, put your hope in him. When you’re looking around at the horrendous state of the world right now, look up. “Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens”(v.26). The God who created every star in the sky is still in control, and renewing the strength of those who put their hope in him, giving them meaning and purpose in the face of darkness and terror. God is our only hope, joy and strength in these tough times. And we will soar above these tough times on wings like eagles, we will not grow weary, we will not grow faint(v.31). We are about to enter into the first weekend in a very long time where no service of any kind will be taking place at Bishop Hannington. The service recording will appear on the website on Sunday but no-one will be at BH on Sunday. I find this properly heart-breaking. But here’s an amazing, comforting reminder from a tweet a friend sent to me earlier this week. “For those disappointed about not being at church this weekend; Remember that when the church began at Pentecost, there were no buildings, fancy productions, pews, or spotlights. It was just people, the Holy Spirit, and the glorious gospel. The buildings may be closed, but the church is still alive”. Alex Some encouragementIn trying times, it's good to be encouraged. So here's something from Juan, a Colombian postgrad student, who's been with us since September and has now flown back to Colombia to complete his course: "Finally I found an extraordinary family in God. People from different ages that are in love with our heavenly Father and that testify their faith with their actions. Believers that look for the people with needs and that have a compassionate heart. People that make the living Word of God part of their life and as so, love their father and their neighbour." That's talking about us. And Feast perhaps in particular. Be encouraged! Phil What is happening for the Youth at this timeLockdown, Praise Up! - Daily Video thoughts from Isaiah Here's the link to the channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLfW_6eqLlfr82_QD0JVsGw/ This is aimed at Rooted & KO young people and their families, but all are welcome to join in! Wednesday: BH Youth Live! - 7:30-8:15 For Explorers, Rooted & KO, message Stephen to get involved! Thursday: ROOTED Hangout - 7:00-8:00 For Rooted young people a chance to hangout and chat about how we're doing. Message Stephen to get involved. Sunday: KO Hangout - 7:30-8:30 For KO young people a chance to chat together after the evening service has gone live and chat about our faith. Message Stephen to get involved. Something for childrenDaily Sing-along with Michael and Mr Grumpy! This is especially good for children it has bible stories and songs to sing along to.
https://www.facebook.com/michaeljtinker/videos/2695358293910288/?hc_location=ufi |
Mental Health Awareness 2021
Please follow the link below to our Resources page for more information. Resource Page We have church services on a Sunday at 8.00am, 10.00am and 6.30pm. Archives
October 2021
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