Hymn of the Holy Spirit – Start The Day

Thursday 27th February 2025

“‘From the day after the Sabbath, the day you brought the sheaf of the wave offering, count off seven full weeks. ¹⁶Count off fifty days up to the day after the seventh Sabbath, and then present an offering of new grain to the Lord. ¹⁷From wherever you live, bring two loaves made of two-tenths of an ephah of the finest flour, baked with yeast, as a wave offering of firstfruits to the Lord.‘” Leviticus 23:15-17 NIV

Lord God Almighty,

Leviticus is proving meaty Lord. You give this festival 50 days to come to fruition! The longest wait and counting for any festival on the Jewish calendar. It speaks of the first fruits giving and then waiting and presenting loaves from the harvest. Patience.

I had never really noted that Acts 1:1-3 tells us that Jesus spent 40 days following His resurrection travelling with the disciples and ministering. He told them to tarry in Jerusalem and wait for the gift of the Father, the Spirit to come (Luke 24:49, Acts 1:4). I had not noticed that it says the Holy Spirit came on the 50th day to fulfill the promise and a great harvest followed. 3,000 added to the number of believers (Acts 2:41). 50 days and a harvest!

For some reason Pentecost does not appear to be celebrated as it was. With some is almost unnoticed. But the ministry of Your Holy Spirit is what gave the church Your life. He brings all the gifts and fruits that You, God wish to bestow on us and in us. He is You with us, God. And Jesus said He would come to us (John 16:13).

And in the promised land, the loaves have leaven! Jesus likened the Kingdom of heaven to yeast that a woman took and mixed into flour until it worked all through the dough (Matthew 13:33). A symbol of the kingdom of heaven, starting with small beginnings till it works its way through the whole batch, having a profound impact on all sectors of society. May we and our church be part of that.

In Jesus name we ray, Amen.

Worship Thursday 27th February 2025
It just seems right to have this again.

Holy Spirit, guide my vision
Help me see the way You see
Always Jesus, ever Jesus
Christ in all is Christ in me

Holy Spirit, guide my speaking
Words of grace in truth abound
Let my lips be filled with stories
Of the mercy that I’ve found

You’re the light, You’re my path
You’re the shepherd of my soul
All I am, All I have, Holy Spirit, lead me on

Holy Spirit, guide my hearing
Wake my ears to words You speak
In the thunder and the stillness
Let Your voice be clear in me
Let Your voice be clear in me

You’re the light, You’re my path
You’re the shepherd of my soul
All I am, All I have, Holy Spirit, lead me on
Oh, You’re the light, You’re my path
You’re the shepherd of my soul
All I am, All I have, Holy Spirit, lead me on

Holy Spirit, lead me onward
Walking through the great unknown
Trusting, leaning, holding, clinging
Till the day You lead me home

Oh, guide my feet, Oh, guide my feet
Lead me on, Lead me on, Lord
Holy Spirit, open up my eyes
Holy Spirit, open up my heart
Open up my ears
O would You show me where You lead me
I will follow

You’re the light, You’re my path
You’re the shepherd of my soul
All I am, All I have, Holy Spirit, lead me on

Lyrics: Brenton Brown / Chris Tomlin / Jason Ingram / Pat Barrett

Saturday 15th February 2025

“Then God gave the people all these instructions:
²“I am the Lord your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery.³“You must not have any other god but me.
⁴“You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. ⁵You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. ⁶But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands.
⁷“You must not misuse the name of the Lord your God. The Lord will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name.
⁸“Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. ⁹You have six days each week for your ordinary work, ¹⁰but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the Lord your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. ¹¹For in six days the Lord made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.
¹²“Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you.
¹³“You must not murder.
¹⁴“You must not commit adultery.
¹⁵“You must not steal.
¹⁶“You must not testify falsely against your neighbor.
¹⁷“You must not covet your neighbor’s house. You must not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.” Exodus 20:1-17 NLT

Lord God,

A society which keeps to these commandments. Would it be healthy, prosper and be wise? And reading the first commandment and knowing Your deliverance God, Your provision and guidance I do find myself beginning to judge the children of Israel . . . we know they turned from You just 12 chapters on. Then I remember I once did not believe the first commandment was true and when I did . . . I found I have broken many others too. I will never be perfect no matter how harder I try! But I know Your law in person and Jesus love because of the cross. Love and boundaries.

Thank you for giving us boundaries, we need them. They keep us safe first and then keep us from wandering and then help us grow good. You still went before your people as a pillar of light or fire. Thank You that You go with us today by Your Holy Spirit. Not before or behind but within. What a miracle. As Jesus promised, The Spirit guides us in Your truth. He speaks only what he hears from You, and tells us. (John 16:13). The commandments still stand.

Help us keep it simple, do what is right and ask Your Spirit to help us. Deliver us from temptation and evil. And when we slip, trip or flounder we thank You for Your indescribable gift of forgiveness – in Jesus.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Saturday 15th February 2025

Holy Spirit, lead me onward
Walking through the great unknown
Trusting, leaning, holding, clinging
Till the day You lead me home

Oh, guide my feet, Oh, guide my feet
Lead me on, Lead me on, Lord
Holy Spirit, open up my eyes
Holy Spirit, open up my heart
Open up my ears
Onwards You show me where You lead me
I will follow

You’re the light, You’re my path
You’re the shepherd of my soul
All I am, All I have, Holy Spirit, lead me on

Holy Spirit, lead me on

Lyrics: Brenton Brown / Chris Tomlin / Jason Ingram / Pat Barrett

Wednesday 29th May 2024

Then one of the Pharisees asked Him to eat with him. And He went to the Pharisee’s house, and sat down to eat. ³⁷And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, ³⁸and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. ³⁹Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying, “This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.” And Jesus answered and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” So he said, “Teacher, say it.” Luke 7:36-40 NKJV

Omniscient (all knowing) God,

We read again today about what Jesus did and said at Simon the Pharisees house. A story of every day events. Like being invited to a meal. Jesus took up the invitation. And as the scene unfolds someone uninvited arrives, and not one of Simon’s circle. Would I have responded like Simon to a dubiously dressed gate crasher? Then I notice in verse 39 that Simon did not speak out loud. But we hear his thoughts! Luke would not have explained this unless it was important. Simons inner dialogue is not mentioned like this in the other gospels (Matthew 26:8-9; Mark 14:4; John 12:4-5).

Then I remembered Simeon who said to Mary Jesus mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against ³⁵(yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”(Luke 2:34-35).

Our talking to ourselves, our internal monologue helps us know our thoughts and emotions and gives us time to assess them before we say anything! And these thoughts You know all about. You, Lord used the opportunity to teach Simon not to judge and showed it by Jesus loving reaction to the repentant woman.

Help us be aware of our inner dialogue and let You correct it so we can learn like Simon not to take our forgiveness for granted or jump to conclusions or take the high ground.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen

Suggestions for prayer . . .
Omniscient (all knowing) God,

For our family and friends and neighbours. Each one individually a touch from You.
For our Ministers, lay leaders, church members. Opportunity to share the gospel.
For the royal family. To be able to plan and execute their duties in this run up to the election.
For our nation and Government at this time of words and more words. Truth and honesty.
For Ukraine, show Your power for peace and disassemble this war. Deal with Putin and His advisors.
For Gaza, and the Middle East. We despair but turn our hopes to You for a way to peace.
For families in half term to be able to do things together and teachers to be rested and refreshed.
For the overseas missions we support to prosper and grow. Give vision to the leaders.
For those who do not see people as unique and valuable. Who enslave, bully, abuse. Interrupt their inner dialogue, change hearts.
For those who liberate and offer sanctuary to endangered men and women and children.
For us to invite You to be with us and remind, restore to us the joy of Your salvation (Psalm 51:12)

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Wednesday 29th May 2024
One traditional hymn and one more recent – take your choice or both . . .

Lyrics: Edwin Hatch 1878
The simplicity of this profound hymn belies the education and knowledge of its author, Edwin Hatch (1835-1889). It was inspired by John 20:21-22: “Jesus said to them again, ‘Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even, so send I you.’ And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.’” (RSV) The passage in John correlates with Genesis 2:7 where “the LORD God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.” The author invokes the Holy Spirit to come into his life and transform it. Using the first-person perspective adds to the hymn’s power to all who sing it to seek the breath of God (Genesis 2:7) as a source for life and renewal.

Lyrics: Jason Ingram, Chris Tomlin, Brenton Brown, Pat Barrett 2021