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Monday 9th October 2023

“Then the priest shall take from the grain offering a memorial portion, and burn it on the altar. It is an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the Lord. 10 And what is left of the grain offering shall be Aaron’s and his sons’. It is most holy of the offerings to the Lord made by fire. 11 ‘No grain offering which you bring to the Lord shall be made with leaven, for you shall burn no leaven nor any honey in any offering to the Lord made by fire.” Leviticus 2:9-11 NKJV

God Everlasting,

You are a God of the detail and when we take the time to look closely and consider what seems not relevant, can become a taste of what was to come!

Before the command to add salt to all the offerings, showing the need to give with sincerity, you say not to add leaven or honey to the grain offering. It is to be offered just as it is.

Possible reasons to not use honey? It was used in pagan rituals as a gift to foreign gods and idols, something offensive to the one and only God – You. Secondly it was made by bees and not grown from their labour and was sweet pandering to mans tastes? It took no effort? But what about leaven? They did not use leaven during Passover, to remind them of You, saving them from death and slavery over night in Egypt. Leaving time only for unleavened bread! I also read it gave the grain a slightly sour taste?

So, the grain had to be given unadulterated not sweetened in any way. And not with any sourness or bitterness? Jesus spoke of us being like a grain of wheat (John 12:24). So we too need to come to you unadulterated, just plain grain as we are. Not trying to be better than we are and not trying to be puffed up with pride and self. And not with any bitterness in our hearts.

You take us, and adopt us just as we are. And love us enough to help us grow in love. Thank You.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

An outline to prompt Your own prayers . . . .

Lord God,

Today we pray for family, friends, neighbours, our church family.
For Putin and the end of war in Ukraine.
For Gaza and an end to the recent conflict. Not to escalate, for those caught in the middle of the bombardment.
For help, relief and comfort for those affected by the earthquake in Afghanistan, and for the areas still recovering in Libya and Morocco. For all the aid agencies.
For our Government and the King. For sincerity, honesty and openness. Uncover all that is not right.
For our fellowships and church projects here and overseas..
For those on missions overseas to see miracles and be blessed and kept safe.
For our own needs for today and this week. Be our Good Shepherd.

Worship Monday 9th October 2023
Time to come as we are and be welcomed accepted and cleansed.

Just as I am, without one plea,
but that thy blood was shed for me,
and that thou bidd’st me come to thee,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

2 Just as I am, and waiting not
to rid my soul of one dark blot,
to thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

3 Just as I am, though tossed about
with many a conflict, many a doubt,
fightings and fears within, without,
O Lamb of God, I come, I come.

4 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.

Lyrics: Charlotte Elliot



Sunday 8th October 2023

 “No grain offering which you bring to the Lord shall be made with leaven, for you shall burn no leaven nor any honey in any offering to the Lord made by fire. 12 As for the offering of the firstfruits, you shall offer them to the Lord, but they shall not be burned on the altar for a sweet aroma. 13 And every offering of your grain offering you shall season with salt; you shall not allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be lacking from your grain offering. With all your offerings you shall offer salt.” Leviticus 2:11-13

God of all Creation,

Today, Sunday, we offer our sacrifice of praise and bring our first thanksgiving of the week! It is harvest time and many of us will be bringing gifts of food for food banks and fresh fruit and vegetables just to make the church reflect Your bounty.

Now I am not one for turning to Leviticus for encouragement in Bible reading or for assurance or direction. Its not a book Lord I have memorised verses from! But I did find verse 13 interesting, while we are on the subject of salt. Salt should never be lacking from any or all offerings.

From what I can read about it Lord, a salt covenant, was a binding covenant made by sharing salt in some way, usually eating it. It symbolised sincerity. Is it that You do not wants people to “just go through the motions” of worshiping, without being sincere? I suppose it is like empty flattery its quite insulting. You want our hearts to be right with You so then we can make honest sacrifices of praise and worship and honest willing offerings of our finances and service.

No offerings were or are sufficient to cover sin. They are a response to You, who gave Your only Son, the perfect sacrifice for sin (Hebrews 10:12). The offerings we make are a sincere response to what You have done for us and do for us daily.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

An outline to prompt Your own prayers . . . .

Lord God,

Today we pray for family, friends, neighbours, our church family.
For Putin and the end of war in Ukraine.
For help, relief and comfort for those affected by natural disasters in Libya and Morocco.
For Your justice and comfort for those who have lost a loved one through violence and murder.
For our Government and the King for all they need to lead this country and set and example of commitment, honesty and dedicated service.
For those projects our church prays for and supports, that much good would result..
For those on missions overseas that they would see miracles and be blessed themselves.
For my own needs and hopes and direction for the day ahead.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Lord God,

Worship Saturday 7th October 2023
Lord of harvest, grant that we wholesome grain and pure may be and accept our offering of thanks.

Come, ye thankful people, come,
raise the song of harvest home;
all is safely gathered in,
ere the winter storms begin.
God our Maker doth provide
for our wants to be supplied;
come to God’s own temple, come,
raise the song of harvest home.

All the world is God’s own field,
fruit as praise to God we yield;
wheat and tares together sown
are to joy or sorrow grown;
first the blade and then the ear,
then the full corn shall appear;
Lord of harvest, grant that we
wholesome grain and pure may be.

For the Lord our God shall come,
and shall take the harvest home;
from the field shall in that day
all offenses purge away,
giving angels charge at last
in the fire the tares to cast;
but the fruitful ears to store
in the garner evermore.

Even so, Lord, quickly come,
bring thy final harvest home;
gather thou thy people in,
free from sorrow, free from sin,
there, forever purified,
in thy presence to abide;
come, with all thine angels, come,
raise the glorious harvest home.

Lyrics: Henry Alford

Saturday 7th October 2023

Then Lot said to them, “Please, no, my lords! 19 Indeed now, your servant has found favour in your sight, and you have increased your mercy which you have shown me by saving my life; but I cannot escape to the mountains, lest some evil overtake me and I die. 20 See now, this city is near enough to flee to, and it is a little one; please let me escape there (is it not a little one?) and my soul shall live.” 21 And he said to him, “See, I have favoured you concerning this thing also, in that I will not overthrow this city for which you have spoken. 22 Hurry, escape there. For I cannot do anything until you arrive there.” Therefore the name of the city was called Zoar. 23 The sun had risen upon the earth when Lot entered Zoar. 24 Then the Lord rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the Lord out of the heavens. 25 So He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. 26 But his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt. Genesis 19:18-26 NKJV

Lord God,

Salt, while we are on the subject. Lot’s wife, known for becoming a pillar of the white stuff. Even Jesus used her as a warning in Luke 17:32 not to look back! Her history in Genesis reads like a horror movie. Just when we think , happy ending . . .

So what are You saying to me? Did Lot and his two daughters run looking forward together encouraging each other? Did she lag behind and temptation whisper in her ear? Do we need to keep in the company of those who encourage us to look to You?

Was it punishment for her looking back or was it that she lagged behind while looking and was caught up in the destruction? Perhaps we do not have the threat of being turned into salt today but we do not always listen when Your still small voice Holy Spirit corrects or directs us . . . . Help us to trust and obey.

She became salt! I think that is much more of a statement than the newer versions which say she changed into a pillar of salt. They scattered salt to ruin the land. She became part of the dead land of Sodom and Gomorrah. A stark warning to keep our eyes on Jesus. To grow and have Your life in all its fulness, forever more (Hebrews 12:2).

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

An outline of prayer to get you started on those things you need to pray for today:-

Lord God,

Today we pray for family, friends, neighbours, neighbourhood, city and our church family.
For Putin and the end of war in Ukraine. For countries where there is no justice and equality.
For help, relief and comfort for those affected by natural disasters such as Libya and Morocco.
For the many murders in the news. For Your justice and comfort for those who have lost a loved one through violence and murder.
For our Government and the King for all they need to lead this country and set and example of commitment, honesty and dedicated service. To reveal those who have their own agenda.
For those projects our church prays for and supports, that much good would result.
For those on missions overseas that they would see miracles and be blessed themselves.
For the things we are involved in and long to see flourish. For strength for today.

Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Friday 7th October 2023
Two hymns! These words are just as relevant today.

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still
And with all who will trust and obey

Chorus
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey

Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies
But His smile quickly drives it away
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear
Can abide while we trust and obey

Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go
Never fear, only trust and obey

And ‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus
Just to take Him at His Word
Just to rest upon His promise
Just to know, “Thus saith the Lord”

Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
Oh, for grace to trust Him more

Lord oh, for grace to trust You more

Lyrics: John H Sammis Tune: Daniel B Towner
Lyrics: Louisa M R Stead

Trust and obey was inspired in 1886 when Daniel B. Towner, was the music leader during one of Dwight L. Moody’s famous revivals. Daniel says, “Mr. Moody was conducting a series of meetings in Brockton, Massachusetts, and I had the pleasure of singing for him there. One night a young man rose in a testimony meeting and said, ‘I am not quite sure—but I am going to trust, and I am going to obey.’ I just jotted that sentence down, and sent it with a little story to the Rev. J. H. Sammis, a Presbyterian minister. He wrote the hymn, and the tune was born.” Sammis is said to have composed the lines of the refrain upon receiving the letter:
“Trust and obey—for there’s no other way To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”

The song ‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus was inspired by Louisa M.R. Stead’s personal tragedy of losing her husband in a drowning accident. She found solace in trusting Jesus and wrote the hymn’s lyrics, which were later set to music by William J. Kirkpatrick. The song was published in 1882 and remains popular for its message of hope and comfort during life’s challenges.