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Saturday 4th October 2025

“I assembled them at the canal that flows toward Ahava, and we camped there three days. When I checked among the people and the priests, I found no Levites there. 16 So I summoned Eliezer, Ariel, Shemaiah, Elnathan, Jarib, Elnathan, Nathan, Zechariah and Meshullam, who were leaders, and Joiarib and Elnathan, who were men of learning, 17 and I ordered them to go to Iddo, the leader in Kasiphia. I told them what to say to Iddo and his fellow Levites, the temple servants in Kasiphia, so that they might bring attendants to us for the house of our God.  8 Because the gracious hand of our God was on us, they brought us Sherebiah, a capable man, from the descendants of Mahli son of Levi, the son of Israel, and Sherebiah’s sons and brothers, 18 in all; 19 and Hashabiah, together with Jeshaiah from the descendants of Merari, and his brothers and nephews, 20 in all. 20 They also brought 220 of the temple servants—a body that David and the officials had established to assist the Levites. All were registered by name. 21 There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. 22 I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, “The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him.” 23 So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.” Ezra 8:15-23 NLT

Gracious God,

Ezra prophesied from afar in exile, and now he actually returns to Jerusalem. Leading a large group of essential people to get the Temple up and running to worship You, God. He checked and made sure he had everyone necessary. No Levites! But Your gracious hand Lord God brought them to join them. Travelling was very dangerous and took some time on foot. Especially with their belongings and the valuable goods they had for the Temple. But as Ezra says, again Your gracious hand God was upon them and so they travelled safely. They fasted and petitioned You. But then they had to trust You. Trust daily, that as each mile went by, Your gracious hand still protected them by day and by night!

Your gracious hand. Not a benevolent presence but active present help and provision. The pagan king Artaxerxes had not just given them permission to return in large numbers but had given gold and silver, letters outlining his permission for timber and help. Your gracious had provided and protected. Your gracious hand ( Ezra 7:6, 7:9, 7:28, 8:18, 8 :22, 8:31) appears 6 times in two chapters. Ezra wanted everyone to know it was all because of You.

Lord we would want to know what work You are doing in our day so we can help. Help us to do our best and look to You to enable us and to trust in Your gracious hand. And like Ezra to give all the praise and honor to You and not take any of the glory for ourselves.

And to worship You for Your gracious hand provides and protects us because You came and laid down Your life for us (1 John 3:16).

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Saturday 4th October 2025

Standing on the edge of night
I feel the weight of empty hands
But I hear a whisper deep inside
Saying all shall be made right

My times are in Your hands O Lord
You turn the darkest nights to dawn
I’ll trust You now and evermore
For with You I am reborn

When shadows creep and dreams do fade
In Your light I find my way
Every step though fear invades
You guide me come what may

Chorus

No matter storms may gather round
You hold me fast, You keep me sound
For ashes beauty You have found
By Your grace I am crowned

Chorus twice

Lyrics Simon Byai

Friday 3rd October 2025

 “Esther again pleaded with the king, falling at his feet and weeping. She begged him to put an end to the evil plan of Haman the Agagite, which he had devised against the Jews. 4 Then the king extended the gold scepter to Esther and she arose and stood before him. 5 “If it pleases the king,” she said, “and if he regards me with favor and thinks it the right thing to do, and if he is pleased with me, let an order be written overruling the dispatches that Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, devised and wrote to destroy the Jews in all the king’s provinces. 6 For how can I bear to see disaster fall on my people? How can I bear to see the destruction of my family?” 7 King Xerxes replied to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, “Because Haman attacked the Jews, I have given his estate to Esther, and they have impaled him on the pole he set up. 8 Now write another decree in the king’s name on behalf of the Jews as seems best to you, and seal it with the king’s signet ring – for no document written in the king’s name and sealed with his ring can be revoked.” Esther 8:3-8 NIV

Lord God Almighty,

The king was in a hard place. His document sent by Haman and sealed with his royal ring could not be revoked. Yet he desperately needed to stop his wife and the man that had saved his life being put to death at his command! So he gave them permission to gather and to defend themselves. We may think it a terrible loss of life but we do not live in their kingdoms.

But even if we find the ending a little bloodthirsty for our liking. It does speak about making oaths and promises at another’s request without checking their motivation and consequences. Perhaps the king should not have been so rash in the first place to put a people to death? Perhaps we should be careful not to be motivated unknowingly by someone else’s selfish motivation. Give us eyes and ears to see what is really going on. Stand for the right. Revoke bad decisions when we are wrong and humbly change our behaviour. Can I admit it when I am wrong? Lord with Your help I pray so.

In Jess name we pray, Amen

Worship Friday 3rd October 2025
No other way to come . . . even after many years of growing and knowing Jesus . . .

Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bid’st me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come! I come!

Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind;
Sight, riches, healing of the mind;
Yes, all I need, in Thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve;
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

Just as I am, (Thy love unknown
Has broken every barrier down);
Now, to be Thine, yea, Thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!

Lyrics: Charlotte Elliot

Thursday 2nd October 2025

Esther replied, “My petition and my request is this: 8 If the king regards me with favor and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for them. Then I will answer the king’s question.” “Haman went out that day happy and in high spirits. But when he saw Mordecai at the king’s gate and observed that he neither rose nor showed fear in his presence, he was filled with rage against Mordecai. 10 Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home. Calling together his friends and Zeresh, his wife, 11 Haman boasted to them about his vast wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored him and how he had elevated him above the other nobles and officials. 12 “And that’s not all,” Haman added. “I’m the only person Queen Esther invited to accompany the king to the banquet she gave. And she has invited me along with the king tomorrow. 13 But all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate.” 14 His wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Have a pole set up, reaching to a height of fifty cubits, and ask the king in the morning to have Mordecai impaled on it. Then go with the king to the banquet and enjoy yourself.” This suggestion delighted Haman, and he had the pole set up.” Esther 5:9-14 NIV

Lord God,

This passage in Esther does remind me of Romans 12: 19-20 where it states we should let You avenge us and we should do good to our enemies. And Matthew 5:33-38 where Jesus tells us to love our enemies (not what they do), so we can be seen to be like You more and more.

Esther makes Haman feel special. She used only the truth with the King. So Mordecai could be thanked for his past deeds. It is Haman’s own wickedness, nothing to do with Esther, that leads to him suffering what he wanted to do to Mordecai. You troubled the King’s sleep so he read the Chronicles of his reign. And there was reminded of Mordecai’s loyalty. It was You, Lord that moved the King and Esther to then find a way to counteract an unchangeable law.

Sometimes we are not recognised for what we have done. Sometimes others are jealous of what we have achieved. Sometimes we do good and our own situation seems to get worse. Sometimes several things go wrong one after the other when we have done nothing to deserve them. You remind us in Peter t to be alert and of sober mind. Because our enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour (5:8). Help us to use our common sense and our faith and seek You first. I have been wronged and unable to put it right even with the truth – but You know God and it is in Your hands. I must keep on forgiving and not allow it to poison my heart.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Thursday 2nd October 2025
One hymn I can usually remember most of the verses of! And which reminds me You are always there restoring us.

Dear Lord and Father of mankind,
forgive our foolish ways!
Reclothe us in our rightful mind;
in purer lives Thy service find,
in deeper rev’rence, praise.

In simple trust like theirs who heard,
beside the Syrian sea,
the gracious calling of the Lord,
let us, like them, without a word
Rise up and follow Thee.

O Sabbath rest by Galilee!
O calm of hills above,
where Jesus knelt to share with Thee
the silence of eternity,
interpreted by love!

Drop Thy still dews of quietness,
till all our strivings cease;
take from our souls the strain and stress,
and let our ordered lives confess
the beauty of Thy peace.

Breathe through the heats of our desire
Thy coolness and Thy balm;
let sense be dumb, let flesh retire;
speak through the earthquake, wind and fire,
O still small voice of calm!

Lyrics: John Greenleaf Whittier