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Monday 13th November 2023

 “Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him and said, “Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here.” 13 He replied, “You give them something to eat.”
They answered, “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish—unless we go and buy food for all this crowd.” 14 (About five thousand men were there.) But he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” 15 The disciples did so, and everyone sat down. 16 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people. 17 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.” Luke 9:12-17 NIV

Father God,

In these cold wet windy days it is lovely to linger on the outskirts of Bethsaida and sit, metaphorically speaking, with the crowds who were listening to Jesus. We do thank You for those warm days last summer when we could eat in the garden with friends or throw open the windows and doors. Some of the best pleasures cost the least. But, most of us have not had to feed 5,000!

You, Lord through Luke want us to see and understand who Jesus really is. Not just a good man, great teacher, compassionate leader. He is able to do anything. Nothing is impossible. He challenges them to provide food, so there is no doubt, He performs the miracle. When it looks impossible or desperate, and we cannot do – remind us You can.

You, Lord God also wanted the disciples to see where Jesus and therefore Your heart is. He does not take the opportunity to teach more, he does not command everyone to go away and look after themselves. He meets them where they need. He lets them sit, rest and feeds them. He is not in it for fame, riches, an easy life or the accolade. He has compassion on people in need and also was demonstrated how it would be in His coming Kingdom when we will sit down and feast in Heaven.

William Booth, Founder of the Salvation Army said, “You cannot warm the hearts of people with God’s love if they have an empty stomach and cold feet.” A cup of tea and a biscuit for a friend, food for the man outside the supermarket or maybe donations for the Food Bank. Help us to be compassionate here and now.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Father God,

We pray,
For all our family, friends, neighbours, and our church family. For them individually, for their needs to be met, to know they are loved and kept safe in Your care.
For our ministers, pastors and youth workers and all that is done by those belonging to churches to support, help and bless their local communities and support overseas projects.
For our Government, that You would guide and shape it, for the good of the nation. Uproot that which is not good, true and above reproach.
For our King and Queen and his family as they work for the good of our nation.
For Gaza and the Middle East, Lord a miracle of peace.
For Putin and Ukraine. An end to this conflict soon.
For those who in these days just want to be celebrities and those who do not like themselves or do not feel good enough. Help them see Your values and love more precious than fame.
For those who use their position to help charities, missions and start new initiatives.
For ourselves, that we would find joy in helping others, giving to projects that change other peoples lives.

In Jesus name we pray Amen.

Worship Monday 13th November 2023
Wonderful to see all these young worshippers. Wonderful words. Wonderful truth.

How I long to breathe the air of Heaven
Where pain is gone and mercy fills the streets
To look upon the One who bled to save me
And walk with Him for all eternity

There will be a day when all will bow before Him
There will be a day when death will be no more
Standing face to face with He who died and rose again
Holy, holy is the Lord

And every prayer we prayed in desperation
The songs of faith we sang through doubt and fear
In the end, we’ll see that it was worth it
When He returns to wipe away our tears

Oh, there will be a day when all will bow before Him
There will be a day when death will be no more
Standing face to face with He who died and rose again
Holy, holy is the Lord

And on that day, we join the resurrection
And stand beside the heroes of the faith
With one voice, a thousand generations
Sing, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain”

And on that day, we join the resurrection
And stand beside the heroes of the faith
With one voice, a thousand generations
Sing, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain”
“Forever He shall reign”

So let it be today we shout the hymn of Heaven
With angels and the saints, we raise a mighty roar
Glory to our God who gave us life beyond the grave
Holy, holy is the Lord

So let it be today we shout the hymn of Heaven
With angels and the saints, we raise a mighty roar
Glory to our God who gave us life beyond the grave
Holy, holy is the Lord

Holy, holy is the Lord
Holy, holy is the Lord.

Lyrics: Brian Johnson / Phil Wickham / Bill Johnson / Chris Davenport

Sunday 12th November 2023

“Late in the afternoon the Twelve came to him and said, “Send the crowd away so they can go to the surrounding villages and countryside and find food and lodging, because we are in a remote place here.”13 He replied, “You give them something to eat.” They answered, “We have only five loaves of bread and two fish—unless we go and buy food for all this crowd.” 14 (About five thousand men were there.) But he said to his disciples, “Have them sit down in groups of about fifty each.” 15 The disciples did so, and everyone sat down. 16 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke them. Then he gave them to the disciples to distribute to the people. 17 They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces that were left over.” Luke 9:12-17 NIV

God, Lord,

Today many will be walking to cenotaphs around the country in memory of those who died in wars. Today I turn my thoughts to sunnier days and a crowd who walked to hear Jesus speak. A simple story, we know well, set late afternoon on a busy day. Probably up with the sun at daybreak, and to get to the remote place they were in, they would have walked miles. By now a little weary and in need of sustenance!

They could even represent a picture of mankind. Men, women, boys and girls, all ages. All weary and in need of something meaningful to feed them. Not just satisfy them for the day or the hour, but in need of something that will fully satisfy mind, body and soul.

Today we rejoice because this scripture shows us that You are able to feed all that come to You. As the hymnist says, “Feed me ’till I want no more.” The spiritual food that we need to live and be satisfied. Only You can satisfy our hunger for forgiveness and inner peace with both You, God, and with ourselves. Only You can satisfy that yearning to belong to You, our creator, know You and know where we are going. To have a reason to be, and to belong to a great fellowship of like-minded people, Your family in Christ Jesus.

You are in the detail. 12 baskets left over for the Disciples. Today You feed us and one day we will feast together with You in Heaven, face to face. Today we remember and give thanks that there is war, there is peace.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Wonderful God, Almighty Lord,

We pray,
For all our family, friends, neighbours, and our church family. For them individually, for their needs to be met, to know they are loved and to be kept safe in Your care.
For our ministers, pastors and youth workers and all that is done by those belonging to churches to support, help and bless their local communities.
For our Government, that You would guide and shape it, for the good of the nation.
For our King and Queen and those who work for the best future for our nation.
For Gaza and the Middle East, Lord a miracle of peace.
For Putin and Ukraine. An end to this conflict.
For our armed services. For our emergency services and all those who keep our nation functioning.
For those in the midst of conflict, whose share their faith, to see people choose Christ Jesus.
For all the official remembrance services and parades today. That there would be no trouble.
For ourselves, that we would be open to receiving Your Word, Your peace and Your joy wherever we may be found today.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Sunday 12th November 2023
Says it all . . .

Break thou the bread of life, dear Lord, to me, 
as thou didst break the loaves beside the sea. 
Beyond the sacred page I seek Thee, Lord; 
my spirit pants for Thee, O living Word. 

Thou art the bread of life, O Lord, to me, 
Thy holy word the truth that saveth me. 
Give me to eat and live with Thee above; 
teach me to love Thy truth, for Thou art love. 

O send Thy Spirit, Lord, now unto me, 
that he may touch my eyes and make me see. 
Show me the truth made plain within your Word, 
for in your book revealed I see you, Lord. 

Bless Thou the truth, dear Lord, to me, to me,
As Thou didst bless the loaves by Galilee.
Then shall all bondage cease, all fetters fall,
And I shall find my peace, my all in all.

Mary A. Lathbury (1877)

Saturday 11th November 2023

“Just as the Father has loved me, I have also loved you; remain in my love. 10 If you obey my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 11 I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you, and your joy may be complete. 12 My commandment is this—to love one another just as I have loved you.13 No one has greater love than this—that one lays down his life for his friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command you.” John 15:9-14

God Almighty, Victorious,

Today is a historic day. The eleventh day of the eleventh month 1918. An armistice was signed ending world war 1. A day of mixed emotions. A day to rejoice, a day of sorrow, a day to remember and a day to give thanks. Some of the young generation may not think much about it.

But the cost has to be counted. World wars cost billions of dollars (made up of all the nations currencies) and plunged the world into economic misery. More importantly the cost in lives. Roughly 9.4 million men and women died. 15 million returned home disabled and thousands more were mentally traumatised. Regardless of whose army they were in. The life I live today is because men and women laid down their lives for friends, family and our future. And many didn’t get a choice.

We mourn that there are still wars today. Man’s sin, greed for power and to rule over others remains. Still costing so much in innocent lives.

But today we look up, and beyond war, to You. Today, we are eternally grateful for Your Son who laid down His life for us. Giving us true freedom and peace. We will never forget and will be eternally grateful. It cost us nothing, it cost the world nothing. It cost Jesus everything. When we’ve been here, and there (heaven) ten thousand years we will still be singing Your praises. Peace will win in the end.

Today we remember the many who died. But above all we remember the One, Jesus, who died that we might have life and we give You thanks.

In Jesus name we pray.

God Almighty Victorious,

We pray,
For all our family, friends, neighbours, and our church family. For their needs, some we know, some are urgent and some are known only to You. Bless them.
For our ministers, pastors and youth workers and all that is done by those belonging to churches to support, help and bless their local communities. For food banks and social gatherings and care and that the Good News will be shared.
For our Government, that You would shake it up, so that those with the good of the nation would be seated there.
For our King and Queen, their family and all they do for our nation.
For Gaza and the Middle East, Lord a miracle of peace, and wisdom from world leaders to speak for peace.
For Putin and Ukraine. An end to this conflict as soon as possible.
For our armed services. Whether they are deployed, helping keep peace in troubled areas or serving and training in the UK.
For those who lost loved ones in more recent wars, in the Gulf, Bosnia, Kosovo, Falklands, Afghanistan, Ukraine.
For those in the midst of conflict, whose share their faith, to see people choose Christ Jesus.
For ourselves, to appreciate the peace we have in our nation and to give thanks for the peace the world cannot give us and which is only found in You. (John 14:27).

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Saturday 11th November 2023

Amazing grace
How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I’m found
Was blind, but now I see

‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed

My chains are gone
I’ve been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood, His mercy rains
Unending love, Amazing grace

The Lord has promised good to me
His word my hope secures
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures

My chains are gone
I’ve been set free (been set free)
My God, my Savior has ransomed me (ransomed me)
And like a flood (like a flood)
His mercy rains (mercy rains)
Unending love, oh, Amazing grace

When we’ve been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we’d first begun

My chains are gone
I’ve been set free
My God, my Savior has ransomed me
And like a flood, His mercy rains
Unending love, Amazing grace (grace)
I once was lost, but now I’m found
Was blind (was blind), but now (but now) I see