There was a Church Service on 18 January 2020
The Service was held in St. Peter’s as usual at 11am.
The Opening Prayer was given by
Welcome given
and Worship led by George Henderson who began by reading Psalm 100—come
before him with joyful songs
Hymn 1. Immortal, Invisible, God Only
Wise
Hymn 2. Praise My Soul, The King Of
Heaven
Announcements were given by Kevin Harris and included:
*Next Saturday 25 January the Service will be at 10:30am and we welcome members
of Churches Together during the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. There will be brunch after the Service
*Mrs. Richards funeral was yesterday with over 200 people attending and Mr.
Richard leading the choir and giving a eulogy!
*Stuart Powell is out of hospital and much recovered
*Ron Hitchcock funeral will be Wednesday 29 January at 2:30 in Kings
Langley—see the noticeboard for details
*Kevin read from the US
update and also the Thought for The Week, which are both on the notice board
Hymn 3. Here Is Love, Vast As The Ocean
Intercessory Prayer was led by Geoff Sole and included:
*Charles Haddon Sturgeon said ‘Prayer Meetings are the lungs of the Church” so
let’s exercise our lungs today
*Thank you for the incredible blessings you pour out on each of us. Thank you
that you hear our prayers and for your Holy Spirit in each of us
*Thank you for the Church that we can come in peace and safety to praise and
worship and learn.
*Today is the first day of the Week of Prayer For Christian Unity and we ask
that you help us to work together as one church in unity. Unusual Kindness is
the theme of the week so as we focus on this, help us to set the example of
kindness following you
*We pray for those who do not know you.
*Be with and comfort the family of both Mrs. Richards and Ron Hitchcock
*We remember a number of people who need your help:
David Plumley—you are the one who can heal
Debbie Thomas-encourage, help and heal her
Richard Wright-take away his pain and give him renewed energy
Cliff Neill and Harry Sullivan, both pillars of the Church, both suffering
health difficulties
Andrew Silcox-especially needs your healing of his sight
*Martyn and Wendy’s son, David, has so many health challenges, be with him and
show him your love
Stuart Powell-we thank you for answered prayers and please continue to be with
him
*We pray for the Queen and Royal Family who are having difficulties at this
time
*Be with our fellowship and the leadership. We pray for Greg Williams, our
Denominational President, James Henderson who is responsible for this European
Region and the UK Ministry Team
*Thank you for the rain in Australia and we ask for more rain to put out the
remaining bush fires and end the drought.
Hymn 4. Wonderful Grace
Hymn 2. Lord I Come to You
The Sermon was given Irene Wilson
looking at three parables in Mark 4.Verses 10-20 give the parable of the sower
and Jesus interpreted the parable to his disciples. This parable shows that
people receive teaching in different ways at different times. There are many
parallels that can be drawn such as Jesus Christ being the ‘seed’ that will
grow and fill the earth; our lives can be strewn with boulders and thorns, but
we have access to green pastures when we turn to the soil where the seed can
grow; the sower keeps on sowing even when some falls on the rocks or among the
thorns and in due time the rocks may contain soil and the thorns may be
removed. We can’t take analogies too
far: people are not soil, but thinking,
changing people.
Irene also looked briefly at Mark 4:21-24 to encourage us to put our light on a
stand so people can see, not hide it.
Mark 4:30-33 speaks of the grain of mustard seed and Irene drew the picture of
Jesus coming as a tiny baby who will fill all the earth with his kingdom. Perhaps like a protea which although fire
destroys the tree, the seeks are scattered to germinate.
Don’t worry about the facts and the science, but learn the lessons for us
contained in Jesus parables.
The final Hymn was There Is A Redeemer, after which the Closing Prayer was led by James Esom
Fellowship continued over Refreshments in the church hall.