Thursday 29th February 2024

“This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. ⁶ If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. ⁷ But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
1 John 1:5-7 NKJV

God of light,

Thank You that you are not a God far off or a God who comes near and spies to critique our every move . . . But a God who dispels darkness in order that we might have an intimate loving relationship and walk in Your love and light. We know how You love – because You gave us Jesus.

Relationships. They should enable us to learn to trust, be blessed, grow. Being enriched by family, friends and helps us to be the best we can be. They are vital, from a very early age. We need to share our lives and help each other. They can make life meaningful, memorable and enrich us. We all have very different experiences some good and some not so. They colour our outlook and trust.

But that You want a relationship with us, imperfect as we are, is amazing. You were even willing to send Your Son to the cross to enable it to happen, almost unbelievable. That the relationship is for our good for 24 hours a day, any day of the week is life saving. And it is an unbalanced relationship. Your Holy Spirit brings not just Your company but all the gifts and blessings You send each day. And we bring You all our sins to be forgiven, our needs to be met and sometimes we remember to worship and say thank you. We share with You our joys and sorrows, laughter and tears, and receive Your love and wisdom. Thank you. Help us to be forgiving and generous to those we know.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Suggestions for prayer . . .
God of light,

For family, friends, neighbours, shine into their lives and give them a bright good day.
For our church family, ministers and all who serve, shine Your light into all they do today.
For all the Royal family. King Charles to see healing coming with the treatment..
For our government. Light up their way. Let love for this nation drive them to de their best.
For an end to the war in Ukraine. Lord disrupt Russia and lead them away, remove desire to war.
For the church in Ukraine, Myanmar and the underground church in many countries. Strong love.
For Gaza an end to all the killing, hostage taking and hate. Give success to all peace talks.
Chase away the gloom and dark in out communities. Help the police prevent crime.
Encourage and strengthen those who work in hospitals, dentist and doctors surgeries. Those who work in hospices and those who are close to the bereaved. Comfort the comforters.
For us, a day as bright as the dawn and which lifts our spirits even amidst the things we must do or try to do!

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Thursday 29th February 2024

What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
leaning on the everlasting arms;
what a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
leaning on the everlasting arms.

Leaning, leaning,
safe and secure from all alarms;
leaning, leaning,
leaning on the everlasting arms.

O how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
leaning on the everlasting arms;
O how bright the path grows from day to day,
leaning on the everlasting arms.

What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
leaning on the everlasting arms?
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
leaning on the everlasting arms.

Lyrics: Anthony J Showalter, Elisha Hoffman

This hymn was published in 1887. Anthony Showalter said that he received letters from two of his former pupils saying that their wives had died. When writing letters of consolation, Showalter was inspired by the phrase in Deuteronomy 33:27, “The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms”. He wrote the lyrics to the chorus and asked Elisha Hoffman to write verses.