There was a church Service on 16 January 2016
The Service was held in St. Peter’s as usual at 11am
The Opening Prayer was given by Linda Halford
Announcements were given by George Henderson and included:
*Monday 18th January begins the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. A daily service will be held in Watford by adifferent denomination each day. Please contact George for more details, or check the ‘Coming Up’ page on this website. Today begins the Pulpit Swap. We have a guest speaker here, Roy Young, Pastor of Garston Community Church, and David Silcox will speak at Beechen Grove Baptist Church tomorrow, Sunday 17th.
*Next Saturday 23rd January, Day 7 of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, we host the daily service and invite members from Churches Together to our service which will be followed by a brunch. The service will begin half an hour earlier than normal at 10.30a.m.
*St Luke’s Church in Watford will hold a Ceilidh on 13th February. This is a fundraising event for Churches Together. George has more details.
*Jack Stokes remains very seriously ill in Watford General Hospital. Please pray for Jack and Rosemary and their family.
*Paul Zehetmayr’s brother-in-law Colin Haynes, died from lung cancer last Sunday. Please pray for all his relatives.
*We all signed a card to congratulate Mayor Dorothy Thornhill on becoming a Baroness.
Hymns were led by David Silcox
Hymn 1 – Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
Hymn 2 – Stand up Stand up for Jesus
Hymn 3 – Amazing Grace
Intercessory Prayer was led by Sueann Henderson
*Sueann asked us to pray for a health problem that she has. She has a neurological condition that affects her right arm and especially her hands, and it is getting worse. As she can’t hold things properly. It is making cooking very difficult.
*We have so much to be thankful for. We know you are always there to help us. Jesus paid the price for us and all humanity.
*We ask your blessing on this Week of Prayer, and thank the Church in Latvia who has arranged these services for us. The churches do work together. Help them to reach out to this world and the people we meet.
*There is hate and trouble in this world. In Syria people are starving. Please stop the war and show a better way. Help those who are persecuted, and give them faith and comfort. We have no need to fear.
*We ask you to give peace and comfort to Jack and please help and support Rosemary and family.
*Please help those unwell in this congregation. George Campbell, Blossom who is unable to sleep and now feels very tired. Please help Rebecca to make good progress and support Caroline and her family. Please let Valerie Philo and Peter Buckley get the very best care.
*Help those who mourn for their loved ones. The relatives of Phyllis Kelly and Colin Haynes. Please give them a clear vision of the future.
*Thank you for all the people here who do so much for this church.
*Thank you for your blessings Father, we need you in our lives every day.
Hymn 4 – The Lord’s my Shepherd
Hymn 5 – What a Friend we have in Jesus
The Message was given by – Roy Young Pastor of Garston Community Church.
Before Roy began his message, together with some members of our congregation, laid hands on Sueann and prayed for her healing.
The purpose of unity is to love one another, not in a lovey-dovey way, but so that we can agree with each other. We need all to pray, “Thy Kingdom Come”, and God wants to answer our prayers. Churches Together are helping to transform Watford into a better town. There about 50 congregations in Watford. We are all part of the body of Christ. Colossians 1:18. Ephesians 1:22.
Recently Roy had a problem with his toe which gradually became much worse and he had to go into hospital for a few days. It made him think about the importance of each part of the body. Read 1 Corinthians 12-27. Churches are all part of the body of Christ. There is one head and one body. The Bride of Christ. Revelation 21:2. Our hope of glory. We all share the same Spirit as God dwells in us. When all function together, our prayers can be very effective. Unity is not uniformity.
There is to be weekly and hourly prayer planned for Watford to make it heaven on Earth. Prayer is essential for God’s purpose and for church unity.
The Final Hymn was The Churches One Foundation after which the Closing prayer was given by Irene Wilson.