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Sunday 18th January 2026

“Then Jacob rose early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put at his head, set it up as a pillar, and poured oil on top of it. ¹⁹And he called the name of that place Bethel; but the name of that city had been Luz previously. ²⁰Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, ²¹so that I come back to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God. ²²And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.”” Genesis 28:18-22 NKJV

God of generosity,

Jacob was changed. He acknowledged that You, God, are real and he had to respond to You when he awoke. He made a request and an agreement with You, the God of his life. And now he was not running away but on a journey that would at some time enable him to go back and make peace. And he promises to tithe. To give from that which God would provide. Most likely a sacrifice of livestock, the most valuable commodity he had.

So Jacob begins to change. Not overnight. He is still able to scheme and cheat as we read about the sheep breeding schemes later . . . (Genesis 30:37-43). But he keeps the promises to You God. When he returns, he makes peace with Esau and You continue to be his Lord and God.

Help us recognise it is a journey to holiness. To be patient with ourselves and others, but to make progress. And to remember if we have made promises to You, God, to write them down or keep them to mind so we honour them just as You, God are faithful. Help us not to make rash promises or just admit when we cannot keep them. And to give whatever You, God give us and lay on our hearts to give.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Sunday 118th January 2026

Father of kindness
You have poured out of grace
You brought me out of darkness
You have filled me with peace
Giver of mercy
You’re my help in time of need
Lord I can’t help but sing

Faithful You are
Faithful forever You will be
Faithful You are
All Your promises are yes and Amen
All Your promises are yes and Amen

Beautiful Savior
You have brought me near
You pulled me from the ashes
You have broken every curse
Blessed redeemer
You have set this captive free
Lord I can’t help but sing

Chorus Twice

I will rest in Your promises
My confidence is Your faithfulness
I will rest in Your promises
My confidence is Your faithfulness
I will rest in Your promises
My confidence is Your faithfulness
I will rest in Your promises
My confidence is Your faithfulness

Chorus twice
All Your promises are yes and Amen
All Your promises are yes and Amen

Lyrics: Christopher Andrew Mcclarney, Nate Moore, Tony Brown

Saturday 17th January 2026

Now Jacob went out from Beersheba and went toward Haran. ¹¹So he came to a certain place and stayed there all night, because the sun had set. And he took one of the stones of that place and put it at his head, and he lay down in that place to sleep. ¹²Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it. ¹³And behold, the Lord stood above it and said: “I am the Lord God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie I will give to you and your descendants. ¹⁴Also your descendants shall be as the dust of the earth; you shall spread abroad to the west and the east, to the north and the south; and in you and in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed. ¹⁵Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.” ¹⁶Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” ¹⁷And he was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven!” Genesis 28:10-17 New King James Version

Lord God,

Long day travelling to place he has never been. Family he has never met. Carrying the weight of regrets for the past and concern about the future. Tired in mind, body and soul. At his moment of weakness – an encounter with You. The real answer to His problems.

Many of us can relate that. At a moment of weakness, You gave us an encounter or experience that led us to know You. There are as many occasions as there are Christians. Each experience is individual, personal and precious. Jacob, needed to see that You, the God of his Father was not imagined and not a tame God, but the mighty God of creation and of his future. And he was afraid.

Not a bad place to start – in awesome fear. Fear is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the Holy One, understanding.(Proverbs 9:10). Jacob discovered he was not the centre of the universe, was not the one carrying everything, he had You, God. A God to worship, rely on give him a purpose and a future.

Thank God we do not have to rely on ourselves. We have a purpose and a future in You through Your Son. Give us encounters with You. Moments when we are reading Your Word, praying, in dreams or in our day. And remind us that even a schemer, is loved by You, and needs to hear the gospel.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Saturday 17th January 2026
I found this hymn which for me just rounded up my thoughts and prayers.

As Jacob with travel was weary one day,
At night on a stone for a pillow he lay;
He saw in a vision a ladder so high
That its foot was on earth and its top in the sky:

Alleluia to Jesus, who died on the tree,
And has raised up a ladder of mercy for me,
And has raised up a ladder of mercy for me.

This ladder is long, it is strong and well made,
Has stood hundreds of years and is not yet decayed;
Many millions have climbed it and reached Sion’s hill,
And thousands by faith are climbing it still:

Come, let us ascend! All may climb it who will;
For the angels of Jacob are guarding it still:
And remember, each step that by faith we pass o’er,
Some prophet or martyr hath trod it before:

And when we arrive at the haven of rest,
We shall hear the glad words, “Come up hither, ye blest,
Here are regions of light, here are mansions of bliss.”
Oh, who would not climb such a ladder as this?

Lyrics: Anon

Friday 16th January 2026

“So Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father blessed him, and Esau said in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then I will kill my brother Jacob.” ⁴²And the words of Esau her older son were told to Rebekah. So she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said to him, “Surely your brother Esau comforts himself concerning you by intending to kill you. ⁴³Now therefore, my son, obey my voice: arise, flee to my brother Laban in Haran. ⁴⁴And stay with him a few days, until your brother’s fury turns away, ⁴⁵until your brother’s anger turns away from you, and he forgets what you have done to him; then I will send and bring you from there. Why should I be bereaved also of you both in one day?” ⁴⁶And Rebekah said to Isaac, “I am weary of my life because of the daughters of Heth; if Jacob takes a wife of the daughters of Heth, like these who are the daughters of the land, what good will my life be to me?” Genesis 27:41-46 NKJV

God who makes peace,

There seems to be a time for keeping the peace and a time for making peace. Here Rebekah seeks to keep the peace by separating the two brothers. Esau is not ready and Jacob would rather run away. Well it is a coping mechanism that I know well. Trouble, avoid. Someone angry with me, avoid. Don’t want to deal with now, avoid. Sometimes that is right. And when both sides have cooled, apologies can be made or points of view aired calmly.

One thing I have learned, from You Lord, is that it is not all black and white. Sometimes You lead us to avoid and at other times You ask us to stand. And another thing I am learning, that if I try and pretend there is not a problem You Lord keep reminding me of it till I humble myself. So I will ask You to help me resolve it. Unless it is one of those things that someone else is not willing to deal with.

But Jacob runs to somewhere safe. And eventually he is ready to return. I know there is a lot more happens in between, but Esau has mellowed over the years. Accepted his part and peace can be made. Help me, in the variety of circumstances in life, to know when to avoid conflict and when and if it is Your time to resolve it. And help us with the how. Better that these things did not arise but life is not that simple . . . Thank You Lord for being my Prince of Peace.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Friday 16th January 2026

With ev’ry morning I will kneel to pray,
To be a blessing in this coming day
In ev’rything I say and ev’rything I do,
To wholly honour you.

At noon remind me through this day to give
My full attention to the ones I’m with,
Be mindful of those things around and those within,
And fully enter in.

Teach me the wisdom of remembering,
And give me the wisdom to forget.
Lead me, Oh, teach me to live each day for you.

And in the evening as my thoughts retell
This passing day let me remember well;
So that no bitterness takes root within my soul,
Help me to let them go.

Chorus

And in the night-time may my mind be free
To truly rest and be refreshed in sleep;
And by releasing every worry, every strain,
Be free to start again.

Chorus

Christ be with me, Christ within me,
Christ behind me and before;
Christ beside me, Christ to win me,
Christ to comfort and restore.

Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ in peace and Christ in storm;
Christ in hearts of all who know me,
Christ in friend and stranger all.

Lyrics: Mark Edwards, Stuart Townend.