BH Bulletin - Wednesday 10 February 2021

Thought for the Day by Alex Forrest
​(Voluntary Staff  Worker)

​Exodus 4
10 Moses said to the Lord, “Pardon your servant, Lord. I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.”
11 The Lord said to him, “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord? 12 Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.”
13 But Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”
14Then the Lord’s anger burned against Moses and he said, “What about your brother, Aaron the Levite? I know he can speak well. He is already on his way to meet you, and he will be glad to see you. 15 You shall speak to him and put words in his mouth; I will help both of you speak and will teach you what to do.
 
Without trying to make this all about me or turning this into ‘Confession Corner’, I wanted to share something with you all. Over the last few years, I’ve developed an occasional stutter. I’ve always mumbled and muttered under my breath in conversation but particularly over the last few years I’ve found myself really struggling to get my words out straight or work out what it is I’m really trying to say. I find I speak a lot clearer when I’m up the front on a good day, but sometimes I’ve tripped over my words then as well. I know it’s not exactly the biggest or most important complaint in the world at the moment and I’m sure it’s something that will ease over time.

Even if it doesn’t, I can take so much encouragement from the story of Moses. He’s been thrown down the biggest challenge by God, going up to the court of the biggest and most important man in the land and demanding he let go of his nation’s workforce, God’s chosen people. Doesn’t seem like an ideal job for a fairly incoherent man with a stutter does it?

Moses raises this concern, and God gives the best response in v11-12. I MADE THE MOUTH. I AM IN CHARGE OF WHAT PEOPLE SAY. I CAN GIVE YOU THE WORDS TO SAY AND MAKE SURE YOU SPEAK THEM WELL. But even then, Moses lacks self-confidence (something else I very much relate to!) He’s up-front with God here, JUST SEND SOMEONE ELSE! PLEASE!

What’s Gods reaction? Does he say “well, okay then, if you don’t want to, I’m sure there’s some much more confident, brave, well-spoken Israelite to do the job!” No, he gets angry at Moses. Nothing is going to stop God’s calling on Moses’ life, not even Moses! He’ll send Aaron along to help him, but Moses has still got to do what God has told him to.

Throughout Moses’ time attempting to convince Pharaoh to let God’s people go, he doubts and questions God about his judgment in choosing him for this role, specifically using his faltering lips as an excuse (Ex 6:10-12 7 28-30). We know how the story ends don’t we? God speaks through Moses to free his people from the Egyptian tyranny, lead them into a new land where they can praise him, and even uses him to write down the first five books of the Bible and inform the Israelites of God’s law.

Do we ever doubt God’s calling on our lives? I know I do; I’m speaking more to myself than anyone here! But I need to remind myself of the way God can use unconfident mumblers to speak to the highest authorities, and through his power, win the battle. God is more than capable of using us to do anything he pleases. What could he do with you?
​Alex

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                                                          Deanery Synod
The Deanery Synod is an important group that meets 2 or 3 times a year and has representatives from each church in our Deanery, which covers Hove and Shoreham. The most important thing coming up is that the Deanery Synod members are those who vote in the upcoming General Synod elections. The General Synod is the CofE's Parliament, so who gets voted on is really significant, and especially so for the coming term, when the Cof E will be debating the whole area of human identity and sexuality in a report entitled Living in Love and Faith.
BH parish still have two seats on the Deanery Synod which remain unfilled, and I am very keen indeed that we fill these as soon as possible, not least so that we can help vote for good people on the General Synod. Please be in touch with me as soon as possible if you'd like to stand, and at the latest by Friday 19th February.
Our Deanery Synod are also looking for a minutes secretary. Could you serve in this capacity? It's not that onerous. Again, do be in touch about that if you're interested.
Many thanks
Phil

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Monthly Prayer Meeting and Praying for our Country

We meet again this evening at 7.00pm for 30 minutes to pray for the NHS and our Country as a whole.


After that at 7.30pm it is our Monthly Prayer Meeting which will last until 8.00pm.
​Do come and join us if you can. Join via MyChurchSuite in the usual way.

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