There was a Church Service held on Pentecost Sunday, 9 June 2019
The Service was held at St. John’s in Radlett at 2pm.
The Opening Prayer was given by Roger Fowler
Hymns were
led by Nancy Silcox:
Hymn 1. Be Still for The Presence of
the Lord
Speaking of Life was Dr. Joseph Tkach on video about the Power of the Holy Spirit
Hymn 2. Lift Up Your Heads, Ye Mighty Gates
Hymn 3. By Faith
The Offertory was given by George Henderson who began by giving an update on Mike Hustwaite who is out of hospital and in a rehabilitation unit. He may return home soon with care in place.
Cold calls can be annoying, like the car dealership who invited George to a car event on Sunday, but can be an opportunity for evangelist. George sad, sadly, that he neglected to ask ‘Don’t you know it’s Pentecost?!’ In ancient Israel offerings were made on the Holy Days and instructions decreed it to be a freewill offering given with rejoicing and in proportion to the blessings God had given (Deuteronomy 16:9-10). Today, the offerings help with the running and the work of the church—preaching the gospel and making disciples. The motivation of cold calls is to get money, while our offerings are to give, in gratitude and service to others.
During the Offering a Hymn of Special Music was played called Surely the Presence of the Lord is in This Place.
The Blessing on the Offering was given by Mike Barlow
Hymn 4. Love Divine, All Loves’ Excelling
Hymn 5. Give Me Oil In My Lamp
The Sermon was given by David Silcox
after he showed a few photos—of Peter Buckley’s funeral, Paul Gunning’s
funeral, and a photo of Richard Plache who died recently.
In Christian history, this day changed everything! It was a most momentous event that birthed
the Christian Church with the coming of the Holy Spirit. Jesus’ Ascension
heralded the coming of the Holy Spirit with a rushing, mighty wind—the word
from which we derive dynamite! Powerful
and noisy, that everyone heard—can’t miss it.
A sound and light show with tongues of fire! Acts 2:16 God poured out
his spirit on all flesh and nothing was ever the same. It is the name of Jesus that unites and
changes. This was a turning point in
history, the antidote to the Tower
of Babel where language
was confused so they could not understand one another—at Pentecost their
language was miraculously understood by all!
Peter, who weeks before had denied Jesus, was filled with the Power of the
Spirit and boldly stood and preached.
This sermon had a great impact; people were convicted, converted and
acted—they were baptised as Christians.
What impact did this event have on ME? We were all at baptism clothed
with Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit and it fives us those gifts listed in
Ephesians, joy, gentleness, long-suffering, etc. We are to walk worthy of our calling with
love to God and love to our neighbour the sign of our Christianity
The final Hymn was Shine, Jesus, Shine after which the Closing Prayer was led by Phillip Halford
Fellowship continued over Afternoon Tea together.
