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Monday 22nd September 2025

“Thus the work on the house of God in Jerusalem came to a standstill until the second year of the reign of Darius king of Persia. At that time the prophets Haggai and Zechariah son of Iddo prophesied to the Jews in Judah and Jerusalem. They prophesied in the name of the God of Israel who was over them.” Ezra 4:24, 5:1

“On August 29 of the second year of King Darius’s reign, the LORD gave a message through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Jeshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest. 2This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: The people are saying, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the house of the LORD.’” 3Then the LORD sent this message through the prophet Haggai: 4“Why are you living in luxurious houses while my house lies in ruins? 5This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you! 6You have planted much but harvest little. You eat but are not satisfied. You drink but are still thirsty. You put on clothes but cannot keep warm. Your wages disappear as though you were putting them in pockets filled with holes! 7“This is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies says: Look at what’s happening to you! 8Now go up into the hills, bring down timber, and rebuild my house. Then I will take pleasure in it and be honored, says the LORD. ” Haggai 1:1-8 NLT

God of Israel,

I love the prophet Haggai. No flowery language, no illustrations with parables and stories. Just a straight forward message. You simply say through him, never mind building posher houses look at my Temple. And then the command – just get on with building it!

I would rather a friend come and be honest with me than faff around the problem. I may not like it at the time but then as Solomon says, “Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy” (Proverbs 27:6). Sometimes we have to learn the accept discipline.. Jesus told us not to worry about the trivialities of everyday life just to get on and seek first the Kingdom of God.(Matthew 6:25). Find out what You are doing and help? And not give You our second best?

Haggai’s message stands the test of time. God’s people had been called to return and to rebuild the Temple. He told them to get on with it and stop being distracted. Another ‘dis’. We need to find out what we need to be doing or see what he has put in front of us to do (We don’t all get Damascus Road callings . . . ) and get on with it.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Monday 22nd September 2025
Unchanging prayer.

Master, speak! thy servant heareth,
waiting for thy gracious word,
longing for thy voice that cheereth,
Master, let it now be heard.
I am list’ning, Lord, for thee;
what hast thou to say to me?

Speak to me by name, O Master,
let me know it is to me;
speak, that I may follow faster,
with a step more firm and free,
where the Shepherd leads the flock,
in the shadow of the Rock!

Master, speak! tho’ least and lowest,
let me not unheard depart;
Master, speak! for oh, thou knowest
all the yearning of my heart,
knowest all its truest need;
speak! and make me blest indeed.

Master, speak! and make me ready,
when thy voice is truly heard,
with obedience glad and steady,
still to follow ev’ry word.
I am listening, Lord, for thee:
Master, speak, oh speak to me!

Lyrics:Francis Radley Hivergal

Sunday 21th September 2025

“When the enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were building a temple for the Lord, the God of Israel, 2they came to Zerubbabel and to the heads of the families and said, ‘Let us help you build because, like you, we seek your God and have been sacrificing to him since the time of Esarhaddon king of Assyria, who brought us here. 3But Zerubbabel, Joshua and the rest of the heads of the families of Israel answered, ‘You have no part with us in building a temple to our God. We alone will build it for the Lord, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia, commanded us. 4Then the peoples around them set out to discourage the people of Judah and make them afraid to go on building.  5They bribed officials to work against them and frustrate their plans during the entire reign of Cyrus king of Persia and down to the reign of Darius king of Persia.” Ezra 4:1-5 NIV

Lord God ,

We cannot always read people. Sometimes we can see that a smile is only on the lips and not in the eyes. But You told us to love our neighbours anyway (Matthew 5:44). But in Israel’s day the neighbours could turn to war. (Sadly much like it still appears today). The leaders of Israel did not believe the change of heart in their enemies offering to help. And sent them away.

But the enemies started a war without as they would have done from within. Usig very powerful weapons. The ‘dis’s. Discouragement, despair, disablement, disgruntlement, disatisfaction . . . They are all contagious and easily spread and caught. Nobody told the Israelites it would be easy. They chose to return, they were not forced. And they had God with them.

But sometimes it is hard to shake off the negatives especially if they are consistent as these enemies were. For us today is Sunday a Christian Sabbath. When we can rest, get together and be encouraged. Take communion and remember what You have done for us. And be encouraged, enabled, satisfied that You God are with us (John 14:16-17). You are for us in the fight (Romans 8:31). Sometimes Sunday is a day to praise, sometimes Sunday is a day to be restored, sometimes Sunday is a day to be realigned. Or all three. What do I need Lord God?

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Sunday 21st September 2025

Your eye is on the sparrow
And Your hand, it comforts me
From the ends of the earth to the depth of my heart
Let Your mercy and strength be seen

You call me to Your purpose
As angels understand
For Your glory, may You draw all men
As Your love and grace demands

And I will run to You
To Your words of truth
Not by might, not by power
But by the Spirit of God
Yes, I will run the race
‘Til I see Your face
Oh, let me live in the glory of Your grace

You call me to Your purpose
As angels understand
For Your glory, may You draw all men
As Your love and grace demands

And I will run to You
To Your words of truth
Not by might, not by power
But by the Spirit of God
Yes, I will run the race
‘Til I see Your face
Oh, let me live in the glory of Your grace

Repeat chorus

And I will run to You
To Your words of truth
Not by might, not by power
But by the Spirit of God
Yes, I will run the race
‘Til I see Your face
Oh, let me live in the glory
Oh, let me live in the glory
Oh, let me live in the glory of Your grace

Lyrics: Darlene Zschech

Saturday 20th September 2025

“8Now in the second year of their coming unto the house of God at Jerusalem, in the second month, began Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Jeshua the son of Jozadak, and the remnant of their brethren the priests and the Levites, and all they that were come out of the captivity unto Jerusalem; and appointed the Levites, from twenty years old and upward, to set forward the work of the house of the Lord. 9Then stood Jeshua with his sons and his brethren, Kadmiel and his sons, the sons of Judah, together, to set forward the workmen in the house of God: the sons of Henadad, with their sons and their brethren the Levites. 10And when the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, they set the priests in their apparel with trumpets, and the Levites the sons of Asaph with cymbals, to praise the Lord, after the ordinance of David king of Israel. 11And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the Lord; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. 12But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy: 13So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.” Ezra 3:8-13 KJV

God of faith and works,

Ezra arrived in Jerusalem before Nehemiah. Both sent by You, God. To inspire the people who had returned to Jerusalem .Ezra to teach the Torah and rebuild the community (Ezra 7-10). Nehemiah, to lead the rebuilding of Jerusalem (Neh. 1-7). After a full year of hard work there was a joyful praise meeting organised to celebrate the relaying of the foundation. But unfortunately there was an equal number weeping as there were rejoicing and it was a terrible discordant noise across the land. Sad that they wept for the past glory of the Temple and not for their sin and the sins of their fathers that caused it. And they had been granted a miracle to return and build by a pagan king!

I remember visiting a church where half the congregation were from a church that had to be closed. Some resettled well. Some never stopped talking about ‘their’ church, now gone, not realising they were missing the future by trying to stay in the past. Grief can be a good thing. It gives time to remember and heal and begin to see the light of the future. Perhaps Your people in Jerusalem were still tied to faith in the Temple’s past glory rather than faith in You for their future. Help us be grateful for buildings, memories of events and people. But help us to keep our eyes fixed on You and the future. We need to look after our buildings but they are not the foundation of our faith. And You ask us to give thanks in all situations. (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Saturday 20th September 2025
Remember this? Simple but profound.
Written by an American Henry Smith (b.1952), who suffered from a degenerative condition that made him legally blind. He wrote many songs, but this was the only one which became widely known. A visiting military officer took it away with him and introduced it in Europe. It was inspired by a reference by Smith’s pastor to how Jesus made himself poor to make others rich (2 Corinthians 8:9).

Give thanks with a grateful heart,
give thanks to the Holy One;
give thanks, because he’s given
Jesus Christ, his Son.
Give thanks with a grateful heart,
give thanks to the Holy One;
give thanks, because he’s given
Jesus Christ, his Son.

And now let the weak say ‘I am strong’,
let the poor say ‘I am rich’,
because of what the Lord has done for us;
and now let the weak say ‘I am strong’,
let the poor say ‘I am rich’,
because of what the Lord has done for us.
Give thanks…

Lyrics: Henry Smith