BH Bulletin

23/7/2021

Thought for the Day by Simon James-Morse
(Minister of Goldstone Church)

Open Eyes and an Open Heart
"Jesus now travelled through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of illness and disability. As he looked at the vast crowds, he was deeply moved with pity for them, for they were as bewildered and miserable as a flock of sheep with no shepherd.” (Matthew 9:35-36 JBP)

When we read the opening books of the New Testament, it is significant how often they say that Jesus saw people that others did not see. For example, in Matthew 9:36, Jesus saw the crowds and had compassion on them. Jesus saw what others seemed to have missed.

In Bible times many people considered the blind, the poor, the paralysed and the broken as just background noise; the ‘unfortunates’ who were swiftly overlooked. But not to Jesus. These were people to Him – real, flesh-and-blood, living, breathing, hurting people. And Jesus’ perfect and unconditional love went out to them. After all, they needed His work of salvation like everyone else.

And as He showed His compassion to the lost, Jesus challenges us today: how many people have we overlooked? Perhaps we are too busy, too preoccupied, or just numb – and we have missed the opportunity to be the hands and feet and heart of Jesus.

Let us not allow the pandemic to be an excuse to explain away a possible reluctance to express the love of Jesus to those in need. Instead, let us have open eyes, and an open heart to be “…the feet if those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns’” (Isaiah 52:7).

What are practical ways in which we can show the love and compassion of Christ in our work, in our home and with our friends?

Dear Lord, please open my eyes today. Please let me see those around me that are in need of Your compassion. Urge me to listen to them, to hear their needs. Give me a heart to be interested in their troubles and, if possible, to provide the means to help them. Help me to be more like You – who had so much compassion for the world that You sacrificed your Son on a cross for me. In Jesus’ holy name, Amen.
Simon

Church Services on Sundays at BH

Updated Church check-in procedure

From Monday 19 July 2021, at Bishop Hannington we are no longer legally required to ask customers, visitors and staff to “check in”. Although it isn’t a requirement, NHS Test and Trace have strongly encouraged us to retain our NHS QR code posters and maintain our “logbook” containing attendees’ contact details.

We are really looking forward to welcoming everyone back on Sunday in line with “The BH Roadmap” which was published recently in the BH Bulletin and BH News.

In order to streamline the checking in procedure at the church door we recommend that attendees scan the NHS QR code poster (see above) which is the quickest and easiest way to register. Posters will be available at the entrance and outside the church. Please have your phones and the app switched on in advance of reaching the entrance for a quick scan! For those who don’t have the app you can give your details at the entrance.

The wearing of masks will be optional from this Sunday. The choice is yours. Sanitiser will still be available for the foreseeable future.

We look forward to seeing you on Sunday.

News from the Webbs

James & Carolyn write" We were very excited to baptise M on Sunday 4 July, and then participate in her wedding with J on Tuesday 6 July! We teamed up with some other missionary friends who also had a woman who wanted to be baptised. It was a great day. Here is our little church group in Zalla."