BH Bulletin - Wednesday 8 April 2020

Thought for the day by Matt Jones (Associate Minister for Music).

We are halfway through Holy Week and Easter services at the weekend are fast approaching. It’s an exciting time for the church, but for all of us Easter will look very different this year. Steph and I for one can’t join with my parents to celebrate Good Friday as we have done every year. Others can’t travel to see family, go on holiday, gather in church on Sunday morning!
 
It’s interesting that though this is the final week of Jesus’ earthly ministry we don’t get a lot of information of what is going on. Yes we have the triumphal entry, Jesus teaching his disciples some amazing end time prophecy, the dramatic turning of the tables in the temple…but aside from a couple of small things, not much.

One of my favourite encounters that Jesus has is one that happens just before the triumphal entry. In John 12, Jesus is staying with friends, Lazarus (whom He had raised from the dead), Martha and Mary. And during this encounter Mary takes some very expensive perfume worth a year’s wages, most likely her inheritance, and pours it out on Jesus. What an outstanding act of worship! What is she saying in this? Jesus, everything I have, I am, I give to you. You are worth it. Outrageous is what the disciples described it, 'what a waste!’ they say. But notice how Jesus responds: ‘Leave her alone’, she did this for me, this is special to me, and I while remember it forever. The perfume is said to have filled the room. That potency of that much perfume would not have disappeared after a couple of hours. The smell of costly, sacrificial, perfumed love would remained with him as he stumbled through hate-filled crowds all the to Calvary.
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I wonder what your initial reaction was? What a waste? What an act of worship? That first response reveals that which is in our heart. In living a life for Christ we want to respond like Mary does, though how easily do our sinful hearts respond with despise like Judas. Holy Spirit, give us hearts of outstanding sacrificial love!

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 BH Youth Live on tonight

BH Youth Live is on tonight and every Wednesday until the Lock down finishes.  If you are between 11 and 18 and want to get involved message Stephen (Youth Minister)

Maundy Thursday Prayer

​Hi Everyone, 
Last Wednesday's The Prayer Meeting was great fun and so good that we thought we'd do it again. 
On Thursday evening. From 7-8, then we can all go out to applaud the NHS and key workers.
 It'll be on Zoom again.  If you are a member of the church and have not received a link please contact the Church office. 
We can't get together for our normal Maundy Thursday Communion, but this will be a great substitute. 
See you there! 
Phil