Sorry late post again, but anyway . . .
This service started with Gill giving a talk about ‘Hebrews
12’. . .
Hebrews 12:1-2
“Since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy that was set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
You need to run the race set out for you until the end no matter how many obstacles are in the way and by fixing yourself to a goal you will get there. Christianity is a long race but remember that we need to encourage each other.
What is the REAL prize?
It is seeing those around us become effected by God’s grace
and spirit.
After a break for songs, which I will discuss later on in
this post, Phil started his talk, the main talk, by reading from Hebrews 12 . .
.
Hebrews 12 3-11
“Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so
that you will not grow weary and lose heart. In your struggle against sin, you
have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And have you
completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father
addresses his son? It says, ‘My son, do not make light of the Lord’s
discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord
disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.’
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what
children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined - and
everyone undergoes discipline - then you are not legitimate, not true sons and
daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us
and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of
spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best;
but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his
holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on,
however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have
been trained by it.”
We need to be patient and focus on Jesus and try not to get
distracted by the things that surround us in Life.
Priest (P): O Lord, shew thy mercy upon us
Answer (A): and grant us thy salvation
P: O Lord, Save the Queen
A: and mercifully hear us when we call upon thee
At Christmas time, the Queen spelt out her faith in her speech when she spoke about how this time is a time to remember that Jesus died for us. At the time of the Gerwell fire, the Queen went to sleep with those affected by it.
A: and make thy chosen people joyful
There are many questions in government about the persecutions
of Christians around the world, which is good that many are thinking about it
and maybe a way in which it could be stopped. We should be thankful for free
speech and the freedom to vote as there are hundreds that don’t have that.
P: O Lord, save thy people
A: and bless thine inheritance
People don’t see all that Christians have done through:
charities, working with hospitals, working in schools and so much more.P: Give peace in our time, O Lord
A: because there is none other the fighteth for us, but only thou, O Lord
We should be thankful that never has there been 70 years of
peace as we have seen in this time.
P: O God, make clean our hearts within us
A: and take not thy Holy Spirit from us.
2 Timothy 4:3-4
“For the time will come doctrine. Instead, to suit their own
desires, they will gather round them a great number of teachers to say what
their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth
and turn aside to myths.”
We don’t want to carry things when running a race, and it is
the same with our faith. Get rid of stuff that way down your faith so that you
can endure what God asks of you.
At the end of this service, we prayed for: the places that are not in peace; those who are ill, and in suffering, and that they have a healing hand as well as a sense of peace; and thank those working for us, and give them guidance. We ended the service by saying the Lord’s prayer that was then followed by the song ‘Amazing Grace’, a great way to end the service.
I haven’t heard this song in a while and I feel that it was
a great way to begin the service.
I also haven’t heard this is in a while, which is a shame as
it is an amazing, inspirational song. I feel that this song is all about
casting your sin to him so he can forgive, as well as putting your trust in him
so that he can show you the way along your path.
For me this is a traditional song as I have heard it since I
was little, and therefore is emotional to me not only through the message of
God, but also how I have grown up listening to it. I feel that the message of
this song is about Jesus leading us, but also looking after us and defending us
as he guides us on our journey.
I haven’t heard this song since I was little and therefore
didn’t remember it until half way through. I found it nice, to be reminded of
the song as well as my childhood. I feel the message of this song is all about
how great God’s love is for us and how God takes our sin by his son, Jesus,
dying on the cross so that we could live free of the consequence of sin.
No Longer Slaves
This is one of my favourite songs which I originally heard
at my church in Plymouth, PCC (Plymouth Christian Centre). I found this song
even more inspirational as at the time I was and still am getting ready to face
my last attempt on passing my professional skills tests. However, there is good
news as I passed Maths this Tuesday so now just English to focus on.
Prayers for this English test on Saturday would be
appreciated
Any comments or questions don’t be afraid to use the contact
box
Amy x
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