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Friday 14th November 2025

 “Then the two from Emmaus told their story of how Jesus had appeared to them as they were walking along the road, and how they had recognized him as he was breaking the bread. 36 And just as they were telling about it, Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. 37 But the whole group was startled and frightened, thinking they were seeing a ghost! 38 “Why are you frightened?” he asked. “Why are your hearts filled with doubt? 39 Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me. Touch me and make sure that I am not a ghost, because ghosts don’t have bodies, as you see that I do.” 40 As he spoke, he showed them his hands and his feet.” Luke 24:35-40 NLT

 “One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. 25 They told him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he replied, “I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.” 26 Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!”” John 20:24-27

Father God,

I love hearing testimonies not just about meeting You for the first time but of how You are working in peoples everyday lives. These two disciples walking along together. Their hearts burned as they listened to scripture and understood it. Thank You that sometimes scripture speaks directly to our situation. The first disciples discovering for us that they could trust You and have no need to fear whether in a storm on a boat or gathered together in grief and confusion.

And it shows us that we can have doubts and voice them and ask for Your help. You know anyway, we are just being truthful! You are there for the church and for each one of us in our own situation. And being united together even with our doubts can help us grow stronger by looking to You. Questions are good, you said we should ask, seek and find (Matthew 7:7). I am so glad I do not have to know everything, I can have weak moments and am allowed to have times when I need help in understanding. I never need fear You whether You need to correct, direct or comfort me.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Friday 14th November 2025
I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. ( Song of Solomon 2:1

I have found a friend in Jesus,
He’s ev’rything to me,
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul;
The “Lily of the Valley,” in Him alone I see,
all I need to cleanse and make me fully whole.
In sorrow He’s my comfort, in trouble He’s my stay,
He tells me ev’ry care on Him to roll;
He’s the “Lily of the Valley, the Bright and Morning Star,”
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.

He all my grief has taken, and all my sorrows borne,
in temptation He’s my strong and mighty tow’r;
I have all for Him forsaken, and all my idols torn
from my heart, and now He keeps me by His pow’r.
Though all the world forsake me, and Satan tempt me sore,
through Jesus I shall safely reach the goal;
He’s the “Lily of the Valley, the Bright and Morning Star,”
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.

He will never, never leave me, nor yet forsake me here,
while I live by faith and do His blessed will;
A wall of fire about me, I’ve nothing now to fear,
with His manna He my hungry soul shall fill.
Then sweeping up to glory, to see His blessed face,
where rivers of delight shall ever roll;
He’s the “Lily of the Valley, the Bright and Morning Star,”
He’s the fairest of ten thousand to my soul.

Lyrics: Charles W Fry

Thursday 13th November 2025

“But very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. 3 So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes. 5 The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? 6 He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.” 8 Then they remembered that he had said this. 9 So they rushed back from the tomb to tell his eleven disciples—and everyone else—what had happened. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and several other women who told the apostles what had happened. 11 But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn’t believe it. 12 However, Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings; then he went home again, wondering what had happened.” Luke 24:1-12 NLT

Father God,

Not expected, shock and offense that someone had desecrated the tomb after only a day. It took some time to believe Jesus was not there because he had risen. It still is difficult for some people to believe today and they need their own experience of You, in their own life, Lord to believe. No-one believed the women at first. Peter rushed to check and what did he believe? Well he believed the tomb was empty but he didn’t have an angel to tell Him Christ had risen. He believed Christ had risen when he encountered the risen Jesus himself (John 20:19). The Roman soldiers guarding the tomb probably believed before Simon did!

When I doubt or am going through something I don’t understand I am grateful for those “I know” moments that I can look back on. Times I knew You were there. I may not have been able to reach out and put my fingers in Your nail prints but there have been times I have known Your presence or felt Your touch. And between times You are still there and have not left me. Help me to remember that when I witness about You Lord, You are the one that proves Your resurrection to the listener. And help me trust You.

In Jesus name we pray

Worship Thursday 13th November 2025
Sometimes worship just needs to be simple

When I feel the touch of Your hand upon my life,
It causes me to sing a song that I love You Lord,
So from deep within my spirit singeth unto Thee,
You are my King, You are my God and I love You Lord.

Lyrics: Keri Jones, David Matthew

Wednesday 12th November 2025

“It was nine in the morning when they crucified him.” Mark 25:9 NIV

 “At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. 34 Then at three o’clock Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” which means “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” 35 Some of the bystanders misunderstood and thought he was calling for the prophet Elijah. 36 One of them ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, holding it up to him on a reed stick so he could drink. “Wait!” he said. “Let’s see whether Elijah comes to take him down!” 37 Then Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed his last. 38 And the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. 39 When the Roman officer who stood facing him saw how he had died, he exclaimed, “This man truly was the Son of God!” Mark 15:33-39 NLT

“Joseph of Arimathea took a risk and went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. (Joseph was an honoured member of the high council, and he was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come.) 44 Pilate couldn’t believe that Jesus was already dead, so he called for the Roman officer and asked if he had died yet. 45 The officer confirmed that Jesus was dead, so Pilate told Joseph he could have the body. 46 Joseph bought a long sheet of linen cloth. Then he took Jesus’ body down from the cross, wrapped it in the cloth, and laid it in a tomb that had been carved out of the rock. Then he rolled a stone in front of the entrance.” Mark:15:43-47 NLT

Our Loving Father,

I cannot tell how silently He suffered wrote the hymnist. I agree. Or how You kept Yourself from stepping in God and saving Jesus. How love for us, persistent sinners, kept You committed to seeing it through. And scripture does not leave anything to the imagination. It narrates the events clearly. Jesus was whipped, crucified, he died and was buried. There was no skulduggery, that is no dishonest or underhand events. He was dead. A done deed.

It is a dichotomy that something so horrific could be so beautifully generous at the same time. Many of us, on a Sunday, recite the creed which begins with, “I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.” It is easy to read. Sometimes we may be distracted or it becomes rote. Then sometimes it pulls us up sharp. There is no Christian life without Jesus death. Before we move on to the resurrection it is good to pause and understand the depth of His commitment. From the garden of Eden to the garden of Gethsemane to heaven . . .

I believe in Jesus Christ, Your only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. It could have been the end. The Chief Priests bribed the Roman soldiers to say it was. (Matthew 28:12). There has to be grief before hope rises from the grave. Lest we forget the sacrifice.

In Jesus name we pray.

Worship Wednesday 12th November 2025



I cannot tell why he, whom angels worship,
should set his love upon the sons of men,
or why, as Shepherd, he should seek the wanderers,
to bring them back, they know not how or when.
But this I know, that he was born of Mary
when Bethl’em’s manger was his only home,
and that he lived at Nazareth and laboured,
and so the Saviour, Saviour of the world, is come.

I cannot tell how silently he suffered,
as with his peace he graced this place of tears,
or how his heart upon the cross was broken,
the crown of pain to three and thirty years.
But this I know, he heals the broken-hearted
and stays our sin and calms our lurking fear
and lifts the burden from the heavy laden;
for still the Saviour, Saviour of the world is here.

I cannot tell how he will win the nations,
how he will claim his earthly heritage,
how satisfy the needs and aspirations
of east and west, of sinner and of sage.
But this I know, all flesh shall see his glory,
and he shall reap the harvest he has sown,
and some glad day his sun will shine in splendour
when he the Saviour, Saviour of the world, is known.

I cannot tell how all the lands shall worship,
when at his bidding every storm is stilled,
or who can say how great the jubilation
when every heart with love and joy is filled.
But this I know, the skies will thrill with rapture,
and myriad myriad human voices sing,
and earth to heav’n, and heav’n to earth, will answer,
‘at last the Saviour, Saviour of the world, is King!’

Lyrics: W Y Fullerton