Come thou long expected Jesus

Thursday 5th December 2024

“This is the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah the son of David, the son of Abraham: . . . “
” . . . Boaz the father of Obed, whose mother was Ruth, Obed the father of Jesse, ⁶and Jesse the father of King David. David was the father of Solomon, whose mother had been Uriah’s wife, ⁷Solomon the father of Rehoboam, Rehoboam the father of Abijah.” Matthew 1:1 and 5-7 NIV

God of Love,

The year seems to have rushed past yet scientists tell us that time goes at a regular measured speed! We read these genealogies of years long past and forget they were life times with all the emotions, daily normalities and unexpected events that we also have! Each name representing a biography of loss, hardship, poverty, generosity, love and maybe a happy ever after ending like for Ruth. The life of Ruth the Moabitess, an outside and foreigner marrying a man from the tribe of Judah. Happy ending for her, her mother in law and us!

I love the seemingly random and yet planned history. Right here in Your genealogy a coming together of a couple who would not usually even meet. Not coincidence but Your, God led incidence. Leading to the birth of a baby boy in Bethlehem. A shadow of another baby to come.

An amazing story. So many life times till the fulness of time when Jesus was born (Galatians 4:4). So many just see the cradle at Christmas. A sort of happy ending when there was no room in the inn. But You came once and for all. The fullness of the Deity living in bodily form (Colossians 2:9). The image of You, the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation (Colossians 1:15). To be before all things, and to hold all things together (Colossians 1:17). To be the head of the body, the church; and the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, and have supremacy over everything (Colossians 1:18).

Thank You, Lord, You fulfilled all Your promises in many planned lifetimes So Jesus could be born and so we could be born again in Jesus and know Your life in all its fulness (John 10:10).

In Jesus name we give thanks and praise, Amen.

Suggestions for prayer . . .
God of love,

For our family, friends, neighbours, those we promised to pray for.
Thank You for our forefathers and those to come in our family.
For our Christian family and the plans for Christmas in our churches to draw in new people.
For our king and His family and all those in authority (1 Timothy 2:2).
For our Government and wise judgements for the future and the present.
For South Korea, their democracy and public and political unrest..
For Ukraine and Russia. A miraculous end to war.
For all the conflict in the Middle East to ceasefire and find an end to the conflicts.
For all those expecting to give birth to have a safe place to live and all they need.
For maternity units the nurses and staff to see safe deliveries.
For those who suffer the loss of a child at birth or before. To know Your comfort.
For church to be the family of those who are alone or lonely.
For us to believe, with certainty, our birth was planned and our life has meaning and purpose. Whoever we are, where ever we are, whatever age we are. It’s not what we do that makes You love us.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Thursday 5th December 2024
It has been said that the last line of the first verse may have come from Wesley being inspired by 17th century philosopher Blaise Pascal’s claim that, “There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of every person that cannot be filled by any created thing, but only by God, the Creator.”

Come, thou long expected Jesus,
born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us,
let us find our rest in thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation,
joy of every longing heart.

Born thy people to deliver,
born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever,
now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit
rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all sufficient merit,
raise us to thy glorious throne.

Lyrics: Charles Wesley

Friday 8th December 2023

“When Abram was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, “I am the Sovereign God. Walk before me and be blameless.²Then I will confirm my covenant between me and you, and I will give you a multitude of descendants.”” Genesis 17:1,2

“Then Abraham bowed down with his face to the ground and laughed as he said to himself, “Can a son be born to a man who is a hundred years old? Can Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?” ¹⁸Abraham said to God, “O that Ishmael might live before you!” Genesis 17:17,18

“Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him.^“ Genesis 18:18

Father,

We laugh with Abraham and Sarah at having a child in their 90’s. Yet we also smile because we see how You proved You keep Your promises. You kept making promises and covenants and they kept breaking them. But the miracle is You stuck with them even after they sinned trying to make it come true through a maidservant. You kept showing them the best way forward.

Israel would rebel and turn to idols like the golden calves in the dessert because they were impatient (Exodus 32). They would complain and moan continually about being fed up of manna, needing water. Complaining was easier than humbly asking for help from You. They demanded an earthly king to be like other people, got one, and still turned away from You. Your patience was tested beyond human endurance, generation after generation! But You, are slow to anger and great in mercy (Psalm 145:8).

Man has done his worst and still does! And yet You sent Jesus and forgive those who turn to You through Him. You kept Your promises. You keep Your promises. Some are yet to come, and we can trust You. Jesus will come again in power and majesty, and we will spend eternity in heaven, and there will be much joy and no pain. Help us keep our promise to follow You.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Suggestions for prayer . . .
Father,

For all our family, friends and neighbours. For each one and their personal individual needs.
For churches as they prepare advent services and carol services for those who will come at this season. Pray seeds of faith will be sown.
For our Government, for less disagreements, an uncovering of the truth and good governance.
For King Charles, the Queen and their families and reconciliation. A healing of words and hearts.
For Gaza and the Middle East, for a miraculous way forward to peace.
For Putin and Ukraine. An end to war, conflict and bloodshed.
For all those who need to know they are loved with Your everlasting, unfailing love today.
For all those who delivering help and aid in difficult times, war zones and places where there is famine, flood or poverty.
For those who need to forgive themselves for mistakes made in the past as You forgive them.
For those sick from desire for vengeance to hand over judgement to You, God who judges.
For ourselves, we pray You will keep us standing firm on Your promises, content in Your love and generous with our prayers..

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Friday 8th December 2023
Worship for the past, the present and the future.

Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel’s strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Joy to those who long to see Thee
Day-spring from on high, appear.
Come, Thou promised Rod of Jesse,
Of Thy birth, we long to hear!
O’er the hills the angels singing
News, glad tidings of a birth;
“Go to Him your praises bringing
Christ the Lord has come to earth!”

Come to earth to taste our sadness,
He whose glories knew no end.
By His life He brings us gladness,
Our redeemer, Shepherd, Friend.
Leaving riches without number,
Born within a cattle stall;
This the everlasting wonder,
Christ was born the Lord of all.

Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

Lyrics: Charles Wesley

Tuesday 28th November 2023

“‘The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah. ¹⁵In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David’s line; he will do what is just and right in the land. ¹⁶In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. This is the name by which it will be called: The Lord Our Righteous Savior.’” Jeremiah 33:14-16

“There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. ²⁶People will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. ²⁷At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. ²⁸When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” Luke 21:25-28

Lord of the past, present and future,

Advent – starts next Sunday as we also break into December. Though the Santa Clause season has started already in gardens! And the TV has endless Christmas movies on the film channels! We know that Christmas is more than a feel good factor. It is heaven breaking in to human history. It is the fulfilment of Your many promises to send a Saviour. And it gives us the faith to trust You will keep those of Your promises not yet fulfilled. You will come again.

The first time You came was humbly to be among us, one of us and serve us. To show the depth of Your love in dying for our sin. Death could not hold You. And now seated at God’s right hand, You are able to be with us by Your Holy Spirit. And You speak into every generation. Sometimes like Noah, we think that people do not want to know about Jesus the Saviour. But some do! The church, unlike the locked up boat of Noah, is taking people on board to safety every day.

When You come back again it will be different. It will be with power and glory. We do not know when. We have seen a global pandemic, natural disasters, wars, famine, evil. The wold is suffering from our sin, in the environment, politics and economically. But we do not know when You will return. So help us walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise (Ephesians 5:15). Knowing we have a future secure in You if we are faithful.

In Jesus name, Amen.

We pray,
For all our family, friends, neighbours, and our church family. For their many individual needs and hopes. Keep them from evil and open their eyes to good.
For ministers, pastors, congregations and all that is done by those belonging to churches. May You keep them safe in You and from all harm and evil.
For our Government, that You would root out any evil, selfish intentions and bless each person with clean sight for the good of the nation.
For our King and Queen and their family. Healing for any broken relationships and forgiveness.
For Iceland where the land is unsettled and dangerous.
For Gaza and the Middle East, Lord continue the pause and the sending of aid and release of hostages.
For Putin and Ukraine. An end to this war, conflict and bloodshed.
For those with evil intentions to harm, murder or hurt. Thwart their intentions, convict them of sin and show a better way forward.
For all those who need to know they are loved with an everlasting, unfailing love today.
For ourselves, thank You for a new day. For all the blessings today holds. Giving thanks for the coming of Jesus and that He is coming back again and our names are written in heaven.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Tuesday 28th November 2023