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Friday 24th October 2025

“Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once. 31 So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them. 32 At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed. 33 And the whole city was gathered together at the door. 34 Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him.” Mark 1:29-34 NKJV

 Now in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon. And he cried out with a loud voice, 34 saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” “But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him in their midst, it came out of him and did not hurt him. 36 Then they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, “What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.”” Luke 4:33-36 NKJV

The nobleman said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies!” 50 Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your son lives.” So the man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him, and he went his way. 51 And as he was now going down, his servants met him and told him, saying, “Your son lives!” 52 Then he inquired of them the hour when he got better. And they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.” 53 So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives.” And he himself believed, and his whole household.” John 4:49-53 NKJV

Father of Compassion,

We see in Jesus Your heart. Every one who came into contact with Jesus received their healing. They received what man could not give. Not because they deserved it but out of compassion and kindness. and what only the divine could give. No man could do what Jesus did. How could anyone reading these reports think Jesus was just a good man. Well He was good. And yet Jesus said why do You call me good? Only God is good. He was constantly referring us back to You so we could see You in Him.

Jesus is You come as a man, human and divine. How can we ignore Him, turn Him away or negate what he tells us. Surely the creator of the world knows best. Surely the One who created time and seasons and is omniscient (knows everything) knows what the future holds. As the disciples trusted You so can we. Help us trust amidst our history. As they knew You, so can we. As they sought to live for You, we desire to too.

Help us to live this life in Your fulness (John 10:10) and look for You. Thank You that You still touch men and women and children as they come into contact with You. With Your love, Your life and compassion.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen

Worship Friday 24th October 2025
A salvation Army song from the musical ‘Jesus Folk’, first performed in 1972.

He came to give us life in all its fullness,
He came to make the blind to see,
He came to banish death and doubt and darkness,
He came to set His people free.
He liberating love imparted,
He taught men once again to smile;
He came to bind the broken-hearted,
And God and man to reconcile.
He came to give us life in all its fullness,
He came to make the blind to see,
He came to banish death and doubt and darkness,
He came to set His people free.

We wonder why Christ came into the world
A helpless, homeless child;
We wonder why He tolerated men,
The tainted and defiled.
We wonder why! We wonder why!
The Son of God as man came down,
What does this signify?

We wonder why Christ came into the world
And let men hurt Him so;
We wonder why the Christ should have to die,
Does anybody know?
We wonder why! We wonder why!
The Son of God as man came down,
What does this signify?

Lyrics: John Gowans

Thursday 23rd October 2025

“There was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. 2 This man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You are a teacher come from God; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.” 3 Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” 4 Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?” 5 Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 9 Nicodemus answered and said to Him, “How can these things be?”” John 3:1-9 NKJV

 “A woman of Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.” 8 For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food. 9 Then the woman of Samaria said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask a drink from me, a Samaritan woman?” For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans. 10 Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.” 11 The woman said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep. Where then do You get that living water? 12 Are You greater than our father Jacob, who gave us the well, and drank from it himself, as well as his sons and his livestock?” 13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” 15 The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, that I may not thirst, nor come here to draw.”” John 4:7-15

Our Father God,

How much we learn from reading about Jesus and about You and about ourselves. A man comes undercover of darkness to question Jesus. And every answer gives rise to a another question, how and how? A woman comes across Jesus in the middle of the day because she is ashamed to come earlier with the other women. She should not really be talking to him. But as he explains who he is and what gifts God has for her she simply asks if she can have it.

Regardless of whether male of female we see she knows her need and recognises Jesus as from God. Both her mind and her heart is persuaded. Nicodemus seems to want theological arguments and proof, perhaps just using his head?

Help us come to You, not be afraid of asking questions, but with open hearts and minds to all You have to say and give us.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen

Worship Thursday 23rd October 2025

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“Come unto Me and rest;
Lay down, O weary one, lay down
Thy head upon My breast.”
I came to Jesus as I was,
Weary, and worn, and sad;
I found in him a resting-place,
And he has made me glad.

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“Behold, I freely give
The living water; thirsty one,
Stoop down, and drink, and live.”
I came to Jesus, and I drank
Of that life-giving stream;
My thirst was quenched, my soul revived,
And now I live in him.

I heard the voice of Jesus say,
“I am this dark world’s Light;
Look unto me, your morn shall rise,
And all your day be bright.”
I looked to Jesus, and I found
In him my Star, my Sun;
And in that Light of life I’ll walk,
Till travelling days are done.

Lyrics: Horatius Bonar

Wednesday 22nd October 2025

“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! 30 He is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘A man is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’ 31 I did not recognize him as the Messiah, but I have been baptizing with water so that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 Then John testified, “I saw the Holy Spirit descending like a dove from heaven and resting upon him. 33 I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I saw this happen to Jesus, so I testify that he is the Chosen One of God.”” John 1:29-34 NLT

Good Shepherd,

I love verse 29 and the picture of Jesus, that John gives, as the Lamb of God. It fills my mind with all those lambs sacrificed for sin and transgressions needed before the one spotless lamb.. The Passover lamb that was slaughtered to keep the Israelites safe from the angel of death in the last plague before they left Egypt. The picture of You, our God as Shepherd in the Psalms.

No human sacrifice could attain forgiveness, pay for sin or deliver us from death. But John reminds us that this lamb, this Jesus, he saw Your Holy Spirit resting on and knew He was the Messiah.. He was the only lamb that could fulfill the prophesies of a messiah.

The gentle Lamb of God but who would smite death, conquer sin and transgression, obey You His Father and fulfill all that was foretold of Him. The lamb of God who takes away sin. Not covers it up, not reminds us of our failures to keep us in our place (that’s the enemy). The Lamb who removes it, scorns the shame of it, and presents us blameless at Your throne God (Romans 12:2 and Jude 24). With great joy! Behold the Lomb of God who takes away my sin and yours . . .

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Wednesday 22nd October 2025
I am reminded that every meal can be a time of communion as we break bread and drink . . . and give thanks.

Behold the Lamb who bears our sins away,
Slain for us: and we remember:
The promise made that all who come in faith
Find forgiveness at the cross.
So we share in this Bread of life,
And we drink of His sacrifice,
As a sign of our bonds of peace
Around the table of the King.

The body of our Saviour, Jesus Christ,
Torn for you: eat and remember
The wounds that heal, the death that brings us life,
Paid the price to make us one.
So we share in this Bread of Life,
And we drink of His sacrifice
As a sign of our bonds of love
Around the table of the King.

The blood that cleanses every stain of sin,
Shed for you: drink and remember
He drained death’s cup that all may enter in
To receive the life of God.
So we share in this Bread of Life,
And we drink of His sacrifice,
As a sign of our bonds of grace
Around the table of the King.

And so with thankfulness and faith
We rise to respond: and to remember
Our call to follow in the steps of Christ
As His body here on earth.
As we share in His suffering,
We proclaim: Christ will come again!
And we’ll join in the feast of heaven
Around the table of the King.

Lyrics: Stuart Townend, Keith & Kristyn Getty