Youth Event... coming soon

Mission Impossible

**** Youth Lock In ***

for our Middle School/High School Students

Friday 8th January through Saturday 9th January 2010

8:00 p.m. Friday – 8:00 a.m. Saturday.

Games, Movies, Discussion, Mission Project, Snacks, Breakfast!

Bring a Sleeping Bag and a pillow.

See, call or e-mail the pastor to register.

WOW!

Luke 1:37-55 tells us about Mary visiting her cousin Elizabeth. It was a ‘Wow!” moment. It causes Mary to break into song. “My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior!” Life brings along ‘Wow!’ moments to us all. Our sermon can be found here.

As we approach Christmas reflect on some of the “Wow!” moments in your own experience. Think about your earliest Christmas memories, your first job, your first kiss or your first car. Remember those times that have taken your breath away. An unexpected surprise. A precious gift. A milestone that has helped you be who you are today.

Think of the way people around you have blessed your life and helped you through the difficult times. Be thankful for the mentors, the teachers, the family members and friends… who often never realized they were having such a profoundly positive influence on your life.

Above all be overwhelmed for a moment as you consider God’s greatest gift… Jesus Christ. Consider the influence that small bay in the manger was to have, the lessons He bought that have changed the world for the better, the teaching He gave that we still strive to follow.

Think on His sacrifice and the promises Scripture makes regarding His death securing our salvation. Reflect on the mystery of His resurrection and the empowering of the Holy Spirit that can be born into your daily life.

And as you reflect pause for a moment to consider the ‘Wow!’ factor in all of the blessings that God has invested into our lives. It’s Christmas.

Prayer. “Lord, You truly are an awesome God. Thank You for every blessing that has transformed my life and shaped my destiny. Help me never to take such things for granted, but out of thankfulness may I seek to be a means of blessing and joy to others. Amen.”

JOY TO THE WORLD

The prophet Zephaniah ben Cushi is not exactly a household name. He writes words that are mostly gloom and doom to the unfaithful folk of his nation during the reign of King Josiah. But amongst his words are also some tremendous ‘Good News’ verses.

One that stands out is Chapter 3: Verse 17; ‘The LORD your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." The Sermon can be found here.

Words of encouragement right here!

God walks through our troubles with us. We may not always sense God’s presence, but the promise remains. ‘The LORD your God is with you’.

God battles on our behalf. ‘He is mighty to save’. Zephaniah pictures God as a warrior who fights for His peoples salvation.

God is crazy, madly in love with us. The prophet tells us that we are the apple of God’s eye. "He will take great delight in you"

God desires that we rest in His love. In the midst of our worlds craziness God invites us to take a breath and find the assurance that our lives are safe when committed to His care. ‘He will quiet you with His love’

God sings a love song over us. God loves us so deeply God has even composed a song in our honor and loves to sing it! Don’t take my word for it… I’m just passing on what the prophet said. ‘He will rejoice over you with singing.’

The song that began with Zephaniah ben Cushi gained new harmony when Jesus Christ was born in Bethlehem and angels filled the sky with glorious song. Take some time out during this advent season to thank God for the Good News!

Prayer "Lord, in the midst of the discouraging headlines and Christmas rushing, remind us that You are the God who is for us… not against us, the God who is not trying to catch us out but to catch us up in His arms, the one who comes not to condemn us but to save us, the One whose very name and nature are a love song. Amen."

OUTLASTING THE ENERGIZER BUNNY

My adapted version of Isaiah 40 verse 8 reads; "The Grass Withers, the flower fades, the energizer bunny eventually runs out of gumption; but the Word of our God will stand for ever." The sermon that goes with it can be found here.

Our mortality cannot be avoided. The clock keeps ticking. Even the energizer bunny has a battery that eventually dies. How do we build stuff into our lives that has a lasting quality?

Welcome life’s seasons. We are all just passing through this life. We need to make the most of every step of the journey. Embrace every stage of life for what it is! Each season carries its own special beauty. Every day brings its particular challenges. We recharge our batteries by acknowledging that ‘This is the day that the Lord has made".

Build on God’s Word. According to Isaiah the only thing that really lasts for ever is the Word of God. There is all sort of stuff we can build our hopes on, but a lot of it ultimately leaves us flat. But if we seek to apply the principles of God’s Word to our daily lives then it really makes a difference.

To reiterate some words from the sermon:- "If we seek for our lives to be molded by the teaching of the One who came to us as a baby in a stable in Bethlehem all those centuries ago, then we are allowing principles and forces and dynamics with eternal reverberations to shape who we are and what our life will be and where our lives will take us."

Accept the empowering of the Holy Spirit. We are not called to make this journey alone. Jesus promised His disciples that He would send His Holy Spirit to be their helper and their guide. We fall and fail time after time. By God’s love we are forgiven and renewed. By God’s Spirit our batteries are recharged and... we… saved by grace through faith… can outlast energizer bunnies!

Prayer: "Lord in this season of Advent we can become over tired and down hearted. Our strength and patience can run out. Help us to take the time to build into our lives the eternal principles of Your Word and to turn to You for the renewing power of Your Holy Spirit to refresh and renew our lives for Your Service." Amen.

LOOK DOWN THE ROAD

Our reading for the first Sunday of Advent came from Jeremiah 33:14-16. The sermon that went along with it can be found here.

Jeremiah is a forward looking prophet who was travelling through some difficult days. He realized that things would get worse before they would get better.

When we are in such situations, where can we find hope? Here are a couple of Jeremiah’s suggestions.

Realize that God never gives up on us.

The people were well aware that their desperate circumstances were the result of their own failure. God had spoken but they hadn’t listened. God had directed them and they had headed in the opposite direction. God had called and they had searched for another voice to follow. What they had not realized was that God never gives up on God’s people.

It is the same for us. We mess up time after time. We know the right, yet do the wrong. We get ourselves into situations where we can point the finger of blame at nobody other than ourselves. At such times it is good to remember that though we may just about be ready to give up on ourselves, God never gives up on us. God is always ready to restore us and renew our lives.

Rely on God, not on our own efforts.

Recall Jeremiah’s words of hope to his hopeless ones. ‘Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safely. And this is the name by which it will be called: “The LORD is our righteousness.” (Jeremiah 33:16)

Salvation would come to the people, not because of their own efforts, but because of what God would do. Though they couldn’t see it, the time they were travelling through was not their final destination. They are to look down the road and anticipate God’s deliverance.

Likewise, as we travel through difficult days God calls us to look down the road and see the possibilities that form if we allow His Spirit to lead us and guide us. No instant fix is offered but through sticking with God real change can come. We can join with Jeremiah in declaring “The LORD is our righteousness.”

Prayer: Lord when times are hard, or we have messed up once again, we find it hard to trust in You. Remind us that You never give up on us. Teach us to rely on You, not on ourselves for our salvation. Be our righteousness and so help us to look down the road of our lives with anticipation and hope. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.

Thanksgiving

May God bless you and yours during this special season. As families get together and time is taken to reflect on our many blessings we are reminded that... if nothing else... we're still alive and kicking! Enjoy.

Christ the King – Music Celebration

This coming Sunday (November 22nd) our worship service will take the form of a musical celebration. Musical offerings of both a formal and informal nature shall ring forth as we celebrate that Jesus Christ is our Lord and King!

FAITH IN CHANGING TIMES

"In a New York minute everything can change’ comes the song over the radio. (The Eagles). A visit to Ground Zero poignantly reminds us the truth of such a statement. In our bible reading from Mark 13:1-8 Jesus speaks to his disciples of how even the great temple that they were admiring would one day soon be nothing but rubble, a prophecy that came true when the Romans ransacked Jerusalem in AD70.

The sermon can be found here

Holding onto faith in the midst of a world that often seems to spiral out of control is a challenge for believers of any generation. Jesus suggests a way through.

Don’t be led astray. In every age there are those who seek to provide us with the answers that will save us all. Atheists suggest religion is the problem, politicians blame each other, economists blame the market, and everybody has an opinion! The challenge for one seeking to be a disciple of Jesus Christ is to allow His truth to be the lens through which we view all other beliefs.

Don’t be alarmed. There has yet to be an age that has not been characterized by wars, rumors of wars and other such disastrous events. Such has always been the way of the world, and will continue to be so. Reformed theology relates the chaos to the inherent sinfulness of our human condition. Notice how when a crisis comes along there is always somebody to say; "Here’s yet another sign that the end is near!" Jesus strongly suggests that we need to take care interpreting signs of the times lest we reach the wrong conclusions. The ‘Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy’ offers a great perspective. "Don’t Panic!"

Do be alert. Whilst encouraged to find our peace in God, we are also cautioned to be awake to the changes that are around us. If we are going to put our faith in something, better put it in something that is tried, tested and true. The Christian gospel has proved remarkably resilient. A personal faith in Jesus Christ provides resources that cannot be found elsewhere. God’s Spirit can bring to the center of our existence a hope that transforms our worldview and helps guide us through the maze.

For sure others will come suggesting they have a better way.
For sure there will be wars and rumors of wars.
For sure nothing stays the same. Even temples turn back to dust.
In the midst of a changing world Jesus invites us to hold fast to His love!

Prayer: ‘Lord let us not be led astray, let use not be alarmed. Keep us in Your love and guide us through the changing circumstances we encounter each day. Amen.

THE WIDOWS MITE

It’s one of those stories that whenever you hear it you can’t help but be challenged. The one where the rich person drops some money in the collection box, then along comes a poor widow who puts only two pennies in. Jesus asks the people who gave the most? But I’m ruining the story!

Mark 12:38-44 is the biblical passage and the sermon that goes with it can be found here.

Last week I challenged us to consider our stewardship, particularly in regard to our financial giving. I even suggested that we consider what portion of our income we may give to support our church. Now along comes a passage that tells us that its not about portions!

So what it is about? Well… … mostly THANKSGIVING! (Which conveniently is also the next celebration that will gather families together across the nation). And most of us have a lot to be thankful for.

Even if we didn’t;

• as may have been the case with the widow…


• or certainly was the case with the prophet Habakkuk who declared the crops had failed and the cattle had died…


• and even those hardy pilgrims who after sailing on the Mayflower faced trouble, trouble and more trouble… still we are invited to join with the prophets prayer;

"Yet, I will exult in the Lord, I will be thankful, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength." (Habakkuk 3:18-19)

So as our official stewardship season moves into the season of thanksgiving let me say again what I said in the sermon:- "Giving is a spiritual practice and an expression of a life that knows itself touched by the Grace of God. It is not a duty but a delight. It is not a requirement but a heart response to the love of God … It’s not about ‘making a donation’ but everything to do with ‘overflowing with thankfulness’."

Prayer: Lord, in my heart of hearts I know I have so much to be thankful for. Help me to express my thanksgiving in ways that bring joy to others and which help to grow Your Kingdom. Teach me to be a faithful steward of all that You have blessed my life with. Amen.

THE RIGHT ANSWER

In Mark 12:28-34 a scribe praises an answer that Jesus has given regarding the commands of God. "You are right, Teacher; you have truly said that 'He is one, and besides Him there is no other'; and 'To love Him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the strength,' and 'to love one's neighbor as oneself,' --this is much more important than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices."

In our church we are currently in stewardship season. Seeing how this answer relates to the use of the many gifts God has blessed our lives with forms the core of this weeks sermon which can be found here.

Some thoughts about Biblical Stewardship.

1. Giving is related to our perception of what we have received. If we feel God has dealt us blow after debilitating blow then we are not likely to be overflowing with generosity towards the things of God. However if we feel our life is abundantly blessed, then we abundantly give in return.

2. Giving is about spiritual growth. The church is neither a social club nor a philanthropic cause. The Church is the family of the people of God. Within that community we are joint heirs of God’s promises as we seek to encourage each other to be faithful servants. Our financial input (along with the commitment of our time and the way we use the spiritual and natural gifts God blesses our lives with) is a barometer of our spiritual progress. Giving is an expression of our devotion.

3. Giving is about our values. The things we value in life are the things we invest in. Nobody throws thousands of dollars away on things they have no connection with! If we believe in our faith community it is the most natural thing in the world to commit ourselves in tangible ways to the growth of that community.

The Stewardship Challenge This weeks sermon invites us to do something specific. To personally consider what portion of our income God is inviting us to be giving in order to enable our Church community to thrive. Such is a challenge for us to prayerfully consider with an open heart and an open bible.

Youth 'Bash' at Baldwin

Sunday Night (1st of November) we held an event for our youth and were delighted with a good turnout of some of our own and their friends. Pizza and Brownies were consumed, time was spent just hanging out and a few wild games ensued! We also were able to talk about things we'd like to commit to in the future. Our next youth meet will be on Sunday 15th November at 7:00.p.m.

Prior to our youth meeting our confirmation class began in earnest with 10 youth embarking on what we hope will be a year long journey towards confirmation.

Some weeks ago I sought your prayers for the development of programs for our youth and children. With Kingdom Kids, Confirmation and a Youth Bash we can surely rejoice that God is good and pray that the works we have begun will prosper and grow! Please keep these ventures and their leaders in your prayers.

Visit of Moderator of the Church of South India

We were privileged this past Sunday to be addressed by Rev Dr. John Wilson Gladstone, the current moderator of the Church of South India, who spoke to our adult forum following morning worship. He talked of the challenges and joys of ministry in his nation.

Amongst the challenges were the predominance of other religions, particularly Hinduism and the fact that in some districts whilst religions were permitted to spread their message, conversion was not acceptable! Even though some faced persecution, the church was growing and new congregations were being added every month.

He shared some of the history of his nation, and in particular the caste system which still held great influence on peoples lives. When asked about the strengths of the church that produced growth he emphasized personal experience of Jesus Christ, a vibrant faith that trusted in God for the salvation of the whole person, and the deep commitment of its leaders.

More about Rev Dr. J.W Gladstone can be found at Wikipedia (and also links of interest regarding the Church of South India)

BARTIMAEUS

Mark 10:46-52 gives us the story of Bartimaeus, a blind beggar man sitting by the road, pushed aside by the crowd. He cries out in desperation for Jesus to meet his need and finds healing.

The sermon can be found here.

1. Blind. Consider situations in your life where you are finding it hard to see. Maybe in a relationship that seems headed nowhere. Or changes in work. Or dealing with a particular issue. Blindness is not only a physical issue. It can very much be a spiritual condition. Prayerfully ask God to renew your vision.

2. Pushed Aside by the Crowd. Have there been voices in your life that suggest God is not interested in your particular circumstances? When Bartimaeus cried out for his need to be met he was met with the response that Jesus would have more important things to do than to deal with him. Don’t believe it! Don’t listen to the negative voices that belittle God’s love. In prayer thank God that His love is so awesome that if you were the only fallen creature in all creation Jesus would still have gone to the cross to set you free!

3. Keep Shouting. Bartimaeus didn’t listen to the voices that sought to silence him. He, in scripture’s terms “prayed without ceasing”. An important aspect of his prayer was its reality. It was whole hearted. Such is the kind of prayer that always seems to get results. When prayer life becomes barren, it is worth challenging ourselves to seriously consider the depth of our commitment. Ephesians 6:18 instructs us; “Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying…”

Final Thought: It takes courage to go against the crowd. But in an age where the crowd seems to be heading away from God, we need to stand our ground and wholeheartedly pursue the reality of the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.

What do you want?

Our reading today came from Mark 10:35-45. It’s a passage in which James and John request to be seated at Jesus side when He comes to reign in power and glory.

The sermon can be found here

Today’s lesson challenges us to consider, not only what we want in life, but how our desires can be achieved.

1. It speaks to us about prayer. Our prayers can be self-focussed rather than God focussed. We tell God what we think God should give us. Sometimes we are even 'James and John-like' in that we have a sense that we deserve to have our requests answered in the way we feel they should be. That is not praying! Prayer is seeking what God desires for our lives and seeking the strength to achieve it. Of course we pray about our needs, but we need to first discern the difference between needs and wants.

2. This passage speaks about perseverance. Jesus asks the disciples if they are capable of drinking the cup that He will have to drink. His life is about to be submerged into deep suffering. They desire a crown, but fail to see that Christ’s glory came through a Cross. The Christian life does offer great things. But they do not often come easy. Spiritual life is the long haul option!

3. This passage is also about pride. “Everybody wants to rule the world”. (Or at least their small corner of it.) Jesus us calls to the abandonment of our quest for personal gain and towards embracing a servant lifestyle that keeps the needs of others always in our minds eye. Now that is not easy! It doesn’t grab the attention in the way winning a race or gaining a promotion may do.

Prayer. Lord Your Word invites us to consider what we want from You. By asking the question it challenges us to consider our motives. Teach us how to pray in a way that sets our life on the path You wish us to follow. Through your Holy Spirit preserve and protect us on our journey. Save us from the kind of misplaced pride that takes away our desire to serve others. All these things we ask in our Saviors name, our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

CAMELS AND NEEDLES

This past Sunday we looked at a passage from Mark 10:17-30. Jesus made the statement that it was easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Such an observation is the kind of thing that’s bound to raise some questions!

The sermon can be found here

In his book ‘A GOSPEL TREASURY’ - Poems Based on Lectionary Gospels, Andrew Daughters has the following reflection on today’s passage.

Lord, I almost wish You hadn’t said the words you said that day,
How it would be hard for those with wealth to climb the heavenly way.
For the people You were seeing had so little when compared
With what I just take for granted in the worldly things I’ve shared.

I’ve a home, a place more comfortable then any You had seen.
And I probably live better than the average King or Queen
Lived when You were on the earth and teaching people what to do.
Yet we think that we don’t have enough though real wants are few.

We own things that were not dreamed of. We enjoy them every day.
And they make our lives so easy. Yet we seldom think to pray
In thanksgiving for the much we have we don’t appreciate.
And that’s too bad. For if we did then we would really celebrate.

But, at least, Lord, I am grateful that You said it’s not for us,
In the end, to earn our heaven. I would never make it thus.
Though a rich man can’t buy heaven, still according to Your word,
As a gift he can receive it, like a poor man, from the Lord.

Lord, when I am taken home, I know that I can only take
what my lifeless hands can carry as that final trip I make.
Help me, Lord, convert my treasure into heaven’s currency.
That way, I won’t be a pauper when this life is gone from me.

Scratching For Peace

Our reading for today, (which here in Baldwin was also World Communion Sunday and the Sunday we received a Peace Making Offering) came from the Old Testament Book of Job 1:1, & 2:1-10.

In these early passages the situation of Job is put before us. He is suffering, not because of any action he has taken, but due to forces beyond his control. Such is the situation of many people throughout our world. In the midst of such a dilemma, how is Job to find peace?

The sermon can be found here.

We are confronted daily with issues that we have no control over. War, hunger, injustice, and poverty to name but a few. Most of the time they seem so overwhelming we feel there is nothing we can do. As Billy Joel sang, “We didn’t start the Fire”.

Job gives us some guidelines towards action.

1. Scratching for peace. Job is covered in sores. Naturally he begins to scratch. Such is where a search for peace or justice usually begins with us. Something gets under our skin and we can’t ignore it any longer. It becomes personal and we start to take action.


2. Questions for peace. Job is challenged to believe the conventional wisdom of the day. Bad things happened to bad people; therefore Job must be a bad person. He protests his innocence. His wife suggests he should curse God and die. Job expresses surprise that one so close to him had been taken in by such shallow arguments. He will not curse God but rather protests that God was not subject to the same ground rules as mortals! We should not stop at scratching, but start to ask questions about the issues that draw our attention.

3. Surrender for peace. Job s powerless to change the events that have befallen him through his resistance. Instead he seeks a path of surrender in the hope that through his situation God would work some unknowable purpose. In a similar way, our hopes for change must rest in God, not in our own self-sufficiency. It is through ordinary lives such as our own that the Kingdom of God is being constructed.

Prayer. “Thy will be done on earth as in heaven”. Lord, as we pray such words help us to respond to the challenge of being Kingdom builders, of bringing Your perspective and love to bear on issues that trouble and disturb our lives. Create within us a servant heart. Help us to accept that whilst we can never fully understand, there is still so much we can do! Amen.”

World Communion Sunday, Peacemaking Offering and Crop Walk.

This coming Sunday there's a lot to enjoy!

First of all it's WORLD COMMUNION SUNDAY. We'll be opening worship with different translations of John 3:16 before sharing around a table laid with bread and wine with folk all over the world. Following our service will be a chance to sample breads from around the world in the Beyer Hall.

We'll also receive during worship our Peacemaking Offering. The Peacemaking Offering was created in 1980 to support the efforts of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to live out a deeper commitment to peacemaking as part of our faithfulness to God. It is one of four special offerings designated by the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s General Assembly.

In the afternoon a number of folk are taking part in the 'Crop Walk' at Baldwin Park (From 1 till 3) supporting the work of the Church World Service in seeking to eradicate hunger around the globe.

Hope you can be an active part of the day!

Who’s in Charge?

In Mark 9:38-50 the disciple John comes upon a group of religious people doing the work of God. He hears them pray “In Jesus name”. This makes him mad. Who did they think they were? He was the disciple! What right did they have to be doing disciple stuff!

The sermon can be found here.

1. Today we’d probably call John’s problem a control issue. Somebody was in his space, operating in his personal domain and he did not like it. Maybe we can identify areas or issues in our own experience where we feel threatened because we feel that the particular area is all about us. Jesus suggests to John that it is never all about us. That it’s all about God and God’s purposes being done.

2. This passage also gives us what critics suggest are some of the harshest words spoken by Jesus. “If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.” Plainly this is not a passage to be interpreted literally! A less dramatic way of interpreting these verses about cutting off hands and gouging out eyes would be to say; “If something is damaging your life, cut it out!” As I suggest in the sermon, Jesus is here saying, ‘John, if you want to control something, then work on controlling yourself”

3. The passage closes with a call for Christians to ‘Have salt in themselves, and be at peace with one another’. When a person has a sense of their own worth before God and a desire to live in the will of God they exert a positive influence on those around them. They are not afraid to seek peace. They look for the image of God in others.

Prayer: Lord we all have control issues. Help us to realize that it’s not all about us and allow You greater room to move in and through our lives. Where we are involved in practices that may be damaging to ourselves or others, help us to take Your advice and ‘cut it out’. Teach us what it means to be ‘salt’ in our world and live at peace with one another. Amen.

Bike Ride Rescheduled

Due to the rainy day the bike ride had to be rescheduled. We did however enjoy hot-dogs and hamburgers, birthday cake for Matt Wilson and much singing in the Beyer Hall! On the afternoon of Sunday October 18th we shall attempt once more to put pedal power into action!

Bike Ride and Picnic

This coming Sunday (Sep 27th) we have an all-church bike ride and picnic at Bethpage State Park. Riding begins at 2:00… hot dogs and light supper follow. If you don’t want to bike, that’s fine! Just come along and enjoy a time of fellowship.

Hope to see you there :-)

Who is the Greatest?

We often measure greatness in terms of personal achievement. The great ones are the ones who have become noticed and the ones whose names we all remember. Even in our own lives we can fall prey to seeing our own greatest moments as those when we were the center of attention or the most noticed.

In Mark 9:30-37 Jesus redefines the notion of greatness by placing a child before us, and teaching us "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me."

The sermon can be found here.

1. Think of the people you most admire. What are the qualities that inspire you about their lives? How do those qualities match up with the qualities of greatness that Jesus spoke of?

2. We are called to have a childlike (but not a childish) faith in God. Where in our life are we living like a child of God? Where may we need to make some changes?

3. "Then Jesus sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, "If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all." (Mark 9:35 NAB). What might it mean to place our selves last of all? In what ways are we expressing our service to God both in our personal life and in the life of our community?

Kingdom Kids

Our first Kingdom Kids meeting took place this past Tuesday, attracting 8 children who played, sang and ran around like crazy things as well as listening in to the story of Jonah. Please pray for the growth and success of this new venture.

If any folk would be interested in helping out, either through arts and crafts or with other skills they think the kids would enjoy, then please do be in touch!


Kingdom Kids is a group for children, grades 2 thru 5. that meet on Tuesdays from 4-5 p.m in the Beyer Hall.

What Sort of Messiah?

In Mark 8:27-38 the expectations that the disciples have for Jesus as the Messiah appear very different to those that Jesus lays before them. They seem to be expecting somebody to take away all their woes and bring them to some significant position of worldly prestige whilst Jesus proclaims; ""The Messiah must go through great suffering. Even the elders and religious authorities will reject Him. He will be killed and in three days rise again."

Time after time Jesus goes beyond our expectations, throws us a curved ball and everything becomes pear shaped! Things do not become easier when He lays down the requirements for true discipleship.

The sermon can be found here.

Think on each of these invitations Jesus offers. Prayerfully seek for God to show us how these verses apply to our own situation.

"If any want to be my followers let them take up their cross and follow me." "Lord, what does taking up a Cross look like for me in my life, right now? What are the things I need to do today that will enable me more faithfully to follow You?"

"For those who seek to save their life will lose it, yet those who lose their life for me and the Gospel will save it." "Lord… help me discern the things I need to let go of in order for Your love to truly be in charge."

"For what do you gain if you gain the whole world and lose your life?" Lord… teach me to place greater value on the things that outlast this life rather than be consumed by the passing things of the moment. AMEN!

Baldwin Herald Article

Click on the picture for a readable view.

Rally Day Reminder

Don't Forget...

This coming Sunday is Rally Day. Worship will be at 10:00, followed by a chance to register for Sunday School and a picnic in the park. Come and join the fun!!!

Ephphatha – "Be Opened"

Our reading came from Mark 7:24-37. In the healing of a man born deaf and mute Jesus uses the phrase ‘Ephphatah’ (meaning "Be Opened") to speak to the mans condition. Prior to this account we have the deliverance of a Gentile women’s daughter, following a conversation she has with Jesus that reveals her faith in God. The sermon can be found here.

The initial part of the passage is an encouragement for disciples of Christ to be open to find faith in unexpected people and places. The woman is described as a Gentile. Jesus plays on this fact, even using for her the derogatory term that some Jews used for such folk, calling her a ‘dog’. She turns the phrase around and reminds Him that even the puppies under the table were able to enjoy the crumbs! Acknowledging her faith, Jesus responds, and healing comes into the situation.

The second part of the passage concerns the healing of a deaf/mute man. Jesus takes him aside, and prays (with a sigh) "‘Ephphatah’, which as we’ve seen means, "Be open". Again healing comes into the situation.

In an age when Christianity is increasingly becoming marginalised and many congregations have witnessed more prosperous days, surely Jesus invites us to "be opened". To stretch our faith and believe that this is a time when He is still working in unexpected ways through unexpected people in unexpected places.

We may, like Jesus, make this prayer with a sigh. It would be easier if there were a comprehensive, one size fits all blueprints to follow, but discipleship has never worked that way!

We can apply this to our personal lives.

• Are there situations where we have very little expectation of God working?
• Where are we in need of ‘being opened’?
• What is there in our lives that would cause Jesus to sigh?
• To what or to whom are we blind?
• Where should we be speaking out instead of remaining mute?

Prayer: Lord, in our lives together as Your people and in our individual journeys of faith guide us to be opened to the possibilities of change and renewal that Your love can bring. Amen.

Human Precepts or Holy Doctrines?

The prophet Isaiah brings stinging words. "This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching human precepts as holy doctrines.' In our Scripture passage from Mark 7:1-23 Jesus pulls no punches. He accuses the Pharisees of ‘play-acting’ religion and going through the motions without their hearts really being in it.

Sermon can be found here.

How can we avoid falling into the traps Jesus condemns?

1. Listen and understand.
Go beyond what people say and look to the Scriptures. We live in a day when people read a lot about the Bible without actually going to the source to understand for themselves. The most important commentary is that which comes to us through the Holy Spirit as we apply ourselves to prayerful reading of God’s Word.

2. Look around and don’t be afraid.
God is at work in our world in so many different ways and places. God remains the awesome Creator, Redeemer and Sustainer of all that is! As we engage with others in reflection and conversation it can be surprising where God shows up. Be open!

3. Let God be God
Mark 7:21-23 "For it is from within, from the human heart, that evil intentions come: fornication, theft, murder, adultery, avarice, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, folly. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person."

Never try and put God out of a job. God knows how messed up we can be. God knows how to fix things. The only way to change the human heart is to let God be God.

Prayer: Lord, save us from making ourselves the center of our own tiny little worlds. Teach us to read Your Word with anticipation, to recognize your love at work in those around us and to allow you the space to accomplish those things You desire in our lives. This we ask in Jesus name. Amen.

RALLY DAY APPROACHES - Prayers needed!

Rally Day will be observed here in Baldwin on Sunday September 13th when we shall celebrate the beginning of our full schedule of Sunday School for our Young folk and Adult Forum for the not so young by sharing together in a picnic after worship. Rally Day also marks the beginning of a new season in our churches life.

Three things I would ask you to pray about in particular during the coming months.

1. Kingdom Kids. Starting Tuesday 15th of September, from 4-5 p.m, we are launching an activity hour for kids (2nd thru 5th Grade). Aimed at our own church kids and hopefully their friends, we aim to provide an evening of games, songs, activities and stories to build both fellowship and faith amongst our youngest ones.

2. Youth and Adult Study. I would dearly love to start some kind of youth meeting for our older youth… both Middle School and High School. I’m currently thinking of having something on a Sunday evening… and seeing how that works. I realize so many of our youth have overflowing schedules that the last thing I want is to place more burdens on their time. Hopefully we can create a space in their week that brings the kind of spiritual growth that enables them to better use the time they have!

Also some adult folk have mentioned the possibility of a bible study group… again the major difficulty appears to be making room in our schedules. Please keep listening for announcements and praying God will guide us as to how best we can be in fellowship around His Word.

3. Stewardship. It goes without saying that in order for God’s Kingdom to grow there has to be a corresponding commitment of our time, talents and treasures. You may have noticed in your own life how God’s blessings are related to our willingness to offer our lives to God. We cannot reap the rewards of that which we are not prepared to sow. In order for there to be a great harvest there has to be an overflowing of sowing!

Thanks for your prayers, concerns and suggestions. Let us continue to trust in God to guide us and lead us.

To Whom Can We Go?

Sermon can be found here.

In our bible passage (John 6:56-69) Jesus is offering the people some difficult teaching. Many, who came flocking when free bread was on offer, are now turning away from Him. He continues to lay down the challenge, asking those closest to Him if they also were going to hit the road. Peter gives the reply: "Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that You are the Holy One of God.”

Some insights gained from this passage:
We may have to travel through days of decline before we see growth.
It seems crazy that somebody seeking followers would be acting in such a way as to drive people away from Him! Yet with hindsight we see how Jesus was sorting out the true followers from the fair weather ones. Stormy days were ahead and disciples whose faith was not genuine would be lost.

Spiritual growth has those times when we seem like we are taking more steps backward than we are forging forward. God has to weed out of our lives habits or tendencies that further down the road may cause us to lose our devotion. Times of dryness or struggle are not necessarily a sign of a lack of faith. There are times when faith only grows by being put to the test.

Knowing who and what we believe is so important
Peter’s confession reveals that he had truly grasped the significance of who Jesus was:- the Holy One of God who gave to his life an eternal dimension that he could never find anywhere else.

The routines of bible study and prayer are a discipline to help us deepen our relationship with God. They remind us of who God is and what we are called to do. When we let such disciplines go by the wayside, our faith suffers and we start searching for other things to be our ‘daily bread’.

Our calling is to be faithful.
In a culture where everybody has more of everything than they could ever need, being a disciple (and calling others to discipleship) is never going to be easy. Yet we must persevere. Why? We have the words of eternal life. We have the message of Jesus Christ’s love for all people. We have something to offer that people can’t find anywhere else.

A prayer “Lord, we would like our spiritual journeys to be plain sailing. Yet we are very much aware that it doesn’t work that way. You want to dig deep down into our motives and desires and we don’t always want to go there! You call us to depend on You for all things yet we go seeking other sources for our daily bread. Bring us to that place of confession where we can say with Peter “Lord, To whom else can we go? You alone have the words of eternal life. Amen”

Forever Bread

This past week we returned to the Gospel Lectionary passages and focussed on John 6:51-58. The sermon can be found here.

The scripture deals with the proclamation of Jesus as being "the living bread that came down from heaven." We are told; "Whoever eats of this bread will live forever". Such a statement is obviously open to misinterpretation!

The passage makes a link between the bread of which Jesus speaks and the manna that the Israelites were sustained by in the wilderness during the Exodus from slavery in Egypt. Just as God sent manna down from heaven, to feed them and sustain them, God sent Jesus, to walk amongst them and to be the One through whom they could find real life.

Question to consider: ‘How does God sustain our lives? How do we find the ‘real life’ Jesus spoke of’
A re-occurring theme in John’s gospel is that the old has gone and, in Jesus, the new had come. This was not a comforting thought for the religious folk of the day, who thought they had a handle on all things God related!

Question to consider: ‘How open are we to do things in new and different way? Are there any preconceptions that we hold that could prevent God working in and through our lives?"

A great hymn of William Williams (Pantecelyn), much loved by Welsh folk, , has the refrain ‘Bread of heaven, bread of heaven, feed me till I want no more, feed me till I want no more ‘. The hymn reflects that Jesus IS our forever bread and invites us to feed our lives and our spirits upon His love. Here’s the Choir at the Morriston Tabernacle, Swansea, Wales, with an inspirational rendering of this classic hymn.

Oh Absalom

This past Sunday’s Lectionary reading from 2 Samuel 18:5-9+15+31-33 gave us the account of the rebellion and death of David’s son Absalom. Weaving in and out of the story are various power struggles that have come into play because of David’s sin with Bathsheba… an event that broke trust with his family and with his colleagues, such as the army officer Joab (who witnessed the betrayal of Bathsheba’s husband, Uriah). The sermon can be found here.

Some lessons from this scripture.

1. People are imitators rather than listeners. They pay more attention to our Christian walk than our Christian talk. Critics of Christianity draw attention to our historical failings no matter how much we talk of the good that is being done in Christ’s name today.

Matthew 5:16 "Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven."

2. It’s important to find a balance in our life between our commitment to our work and a commitment to our relationships. David failed to give his family the attention he should have done. As a result things happened that could have been avoided. Relationships on the home front are seriously important!

1 Corinthians 7:3 "A husband must give to his wife what she has a right to expect, and so too a wife to her husband."

3. God loves us with the depth of a parent’s love for a child. David cannot but grieve the loss of his son. Although that son is in rebellion, David sees only his lost child. So it is with God. God looks at us with a perfect Father’s eyes.

Matthew 7:9-11 "What man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? "Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!"

A prayer: "Thank You Father for Your inestimable love! Help me to find a balance in my life between my work and the relationships I have with those who are closest to me. Help me to be a disciple of Jesus, not just by word, but by my actions. Strengthen me for Your service through Your Holy Spirit this day. Amen"

Trinity Youth Conference

Last week Brian Achille and myself travelled to Schellsburg, PA, to participate in TYC, a Youth Conference hosted by the Synod of the Trinity. This years theme was 'Always Loved'.

A typical day at TYC begins with morning watch, a devotional time for thought and prayer before breakfast. After breakfast some warm up songs are usually shared before folk head off to participate in two morning workshops. My particular responsibility was a class investigating World Religions.

A significant part of the afternoon is spent in small groups known as 'Heads Together' (or just HT) where people get a chance to know each other and discuss how the week is going. Whilst the groups follow a pre-prepared syllabus there is also a lot of flexibility so each HT takes on a life of it's own!



Afternoon free time offers a chance to participate in games, hang out or take a nap.

Each evening an all-camp activity takes place. An all-camp game, a skit night, and Talent show all featured as part of the week. Central to the evenings is also a time of worship, the preacher this year being Heather Schoenewolf, associate pastor at East Liberty Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh. Much singing, under the leadership of Max Keefer, kept things moving along!

Wednesday afternoon we all head out to Shawnee Lake where swimming and volley ball are amongst the attractions to enjoy. A picnic is followed by an outdoor worship service amongst some beautiful scenery.

It was a good year. Our faith was refreshed. Old friendships were renewed and new ones made. And it's only 51 weeks till the next time!

David and Bathsheba

2 Samuel 11:1-15 is one of the saddest phases of David’s life. Having reached a level of success and complacency he stupidly succumbs to temptation after spying on Bathsheba from a distance. As Sir Walter Scott, Scottish author & novelist, (1771 – 1832) once penned "Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive!"The sermon can be found here.

Some thoughts to ponder

1. Our temptations may not be the same as David’s, nor our station in life be as prominent as that which David had attained, but whenever we compromise on our beliefs it creates waves. What are our personal struggles?

2. David fell badly and went through a process of denial before there could be restoration. Are there areas in our own lives where we struggle to face the truth of our situation?

3. Through repentance the unexpected took place. God forgave David. For sure there was a price that he paid for his wrongdoing, but the final word rested with God. Be assured that our God is in the business, not of condemnation, but rebuilding. Because Christ died for our sins, there truly is hope for us all to overcome whatever may drag us down.

Psalm 51 includes the introduction "To the chief Musician, A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet came unto him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba." It is one of the greatest prayers of repentance in the whole Bible. Here’s some excerpts from ‘The Message’ transliteration by Eugene Petersen. It’s a wonderful prayer that we can all relate to.

"Generous in love—God, give grace! Huge in mercy—wipe out my bad record. Scrub away my guilt, soak out my sins in Your laundry. You're the One I've violated, and You've seen it all. You have all the facts before You; whatever You decide about me is fair.

Enter me, then; conceive a new, true life. Soak me in Your laundry and I'll come out clean, scrub me and I'll have a snow-white life. Tune me in to foot-tapping songs, set these once-broken bones to dancing. God, make a fresh start in me, shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life.

Bring me back from gray exile, put a fresh wind in my sails! Commute my death sentence, God, my salvation God, and I'll sing anthems to Your life-giving ways. Unbutton my lips, dear God; I'll let loose with Your praise.

Going through the motions doesn't please You, a flawless performance is nothing to You. I learned God-worship when my pride was shattered. Heart-shattered lives ready for love don't for a moment escape God's notice"

C.S. Lewis - From Theism to Christianity

Amazing Grace

The hymn Amazing Grace has featured in a number of our recent events, both joyful and solemn. Here's a video about it's author.

The Big Picture

This weeks sermon THE BIG PICTURE

In our reading from 2 Samuel 7:1-14 David seeks to build a temple to house the Ark of God. At first it seems like a grand idea. But God had bigger ideas than just building a temple. He was building a Kingdom.

We learn important lessons for our own spiritual journeys from this passage.

1.Attempting the small things leads to the bigger things. Whilst David didn’t have his focus entirely correct, he at least attempted to do something! It often seems that way in our spiritual journeys. Doing something is always better than doing . God can use that ‘something’ in ways we never expected.

Is there a project you have been putting off? Maybe it’s time to launch out and test the waters. It may not turn out exactly as you planned, but if you allow God to lead and guide you then there is no telling where it may lead!

2. Accomplishments are stepping stones not standing stones. A journey is a journey. In Christian life we never arrive. We reach milestones along the way but our final destination is not of this world. Wherever we are now (however good or bad it may seem) is a stepping stone towards further growth.

Be thankful to God for where life has led you thus far. You have learnt many lessons. You have had your share of accomplishments and failures. But don’t allow yourself the luxury of thinking ‘that’s it’. Ask God to continue to lead you and guide you through His Holy Spirit.

3. Appetizers are good, but the dessert is out of this world! One of the re-occuring messages of Scripture is that ‘The best is yet to come.’ We are encouraged to live as though all of the experiences that come our way are a prelude to something greater.

Try and think things through from the perspective of a bigger picture… namely the framework of the love and grace of Jesus Christ. You are a deeply loved child of a God whom knows all that you are travelling through and has your ultimate best in mind.

Davids Dizzy Dance

Our reading from 2 Samuel 6: 12-19 gave us an account of the return of the Ark (a symbol of the Presence of God) to Jerusalem and a procession in which David danced for joy, much to the disapproval of his wife Michal. The sermon is here: "David's Dizzy Dance"

Some thoughts to ponder…

1. David appeared to have a paralyzing fear of the Ark… and by implication of God. In our day many profess an over familiarity with God (For example I met somebody the other day wearing a T-Shirt declaring ‘Jesus is my homeboy’). How do we maintain a healthy balance between living in awe of God whilst also entering into a personal relationship with God?

2. David danced ‘with all his might’ before the Ark. At the same time the procession was one which had form and order. Both were expressions of worship. How can we find a balance in worship between form and freedom?

3. David’s embittered wife Michal was so focussed on David that she failed to see the significance of the occasion. How can we avoid focussing on people and remain focussed on God?

A Prayer.
Lord our God, all powerful and glorious, we seek to have a sense of awe in Your presence whilst knowing You in a real and personal way through Jesus Christ. Help us to have neither a paralyzing fear of Your ways, nor an over familiarity with Your love. Teach us what it means for us to worship You ‘with all our might’. Help us to always keep our focus where it should be, on You, not upon each other. Amen.

Answer that Call

Sermon can be found here... Answer that Call.

Our reading from 2 Samuel 5:1-10 gave us the account of David’s ascendancy to Kingship. Some reflections on the passage.

1. God calls people. All of us have a calling on our life. We are called to general things. To love God and love others. To worship. To change from doing things our way to doing things God’s way. There are also particular calls. To some particular role in secular service or in our working life. To serve as an elder or deacon. To preach or teach. There are as many different calls as we are different people!

2. When God calls people, people confirm the call. The people around David recognized him as the one who should take on the mantle of leadership. When God calls us to particular acts of service, that call is confirmed through those around us. There are also usually voices of dissent. Discernment is needed!


3. When God calls us to something, God helps us to meet the challenge. We are never called to work independent from God but always to work with God. God provides the resources we need and strengthens us to face the challenges through His Holy Spirit.

Prayer: Ask God to help you discern the call that is over your life. Trust that God is able to guide you through the actions of others, both positive and negative! Believe that as Jesus calls you to follow, He also equips you for service through His Holy Spirit.

Hecksher Park Camping Weekend

This coming weekend a number of folk are heading out to Hecksher Park for a camping weekend. Guests are also invited to join them for the day on Saturday, or just stay part of the time. Call the Church Office if you need more details :-)

First Visit to a Long Island Presbytery Meeting

Tuesday I had my first taste of L.I. Presbytery, attending their stated meeting at First Presbyterian Church of Greenlawn. Much business was accomplished, decently and in order. There was much food for thought. One highlight for myself was the examination of a Korean born candidate for ministry, associated with the church in Bethpage; Jungsuk Seo.

He spoke of how in Korea, whilst they had great enthusiasm for mission, sometimes they lacked training and expertise such as we have in the West. It was such insights that he hoped to gain through training for ministry in the USA. I could not help but think that we had a lot to learn from his experiences. He had served in numerous situations including time as a missionary in Kazakhstan.

We have more than enough training, information and programs, but what we sophisticated Westerners plainly lack is the enthusiasm and passion for the things of God's Kingdom so evident in this young mans life.

The sermon at Presbytery was given by Rev. Pamela Szurek who spoke on Jesus calming the storm. She mentioned the dangers of relying on our self-sufficiency in dealing with our fears... when what was really needed was to wake Jesus up! Thankfully, the option of allowing Christ to reignite our spiritual life, is always there :-)

Of course there was a whole lot more reporting and discussing... but its good amidst all the business to find those little inspirational nuggets.

See How the Mighty have Fallen

Click here for sermon "See how the Mighty Have Fallen"

Our scripture today gave us a eulogy composed by David following the death of King Saul and his son (David’s best friend) Jonathan. Although Saul had treated David disgracefully David recalls all that was best about Saul, alongside expressing his grief over Jonathan’s loss.

Some important lessons from this passage:

1. Look for the best in situations and people, no matter how they have treated us.
“Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything is worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things” (Phillipians 4:8)

Action: Think of somebody we are not getting along with or a situation that we are finding it hard to deal with. Ask God to show us the positives that are there amongst the negatives. Pray that God will help us deal with that person or situation in the light of the good rather than the bad.

2. Acknowledge that God’s hand has guided us through our opponents. The Book of Proverbs teaches us ‘Iron sharpens iron”. David found the grace to recognize God at work in those who troubled him as well as in those who blessed him.

Action: Consider how in our past we have traveled through times when everything seemed against us. But here we are still telling the story! Thank God not just for those who have encouraged us, but also for the way those who opposed us have forced us to focus on things we might otherwise have avoided.

3. Speaking of our pain and our loss can break their power over us.
Central to Christian faith is a painful, undeserved and ugly blood-stained Cross. The forces that crucified Christ are still at work in our world. Recognizing and naming the hurt they cause is a positive step towards healing. In his eulogy David does not hold back from expressing his pain.

Action: Prayerfully bring to the Cross the painful places and open wounds that still haunt us. See how in Christ God enters into sharing our pain. Seek for His Holy Spirit to renew and recreate that which has been broken.

Sting in the tale.
The time will come for us when we will attend our own funeral. What then will the preacher say? Or maybe we will be blissfully unconcerned because the only words that we hear are from God. ‘Well done thou good and faithful servant!”

Michael Jackson "Man in the Mirror" 1988

Luke 6:45 "The good person out of the good treasure of the heart produces good, and the evil person out of evil treasure produces evil; for it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks."

Bringing Down the Giants

Click here for text of "Bringing Down the Giants" sermon

The Apostle Paul wrote “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). As a boy David found confidence, not in outward appearance, but in his relationship with God. Outwardly things looked hopeless. Goliath was seemingly unbeatable. David’s faith allowed him to look beyond the problem, to something greater.

1. Are there any situations we are facing that seem overwhelming? Ask God to help us see beyond how things appear and to help us find the will of God in that situation.

David had confidence that God had a plan for his life. He was content therefore to be himself and felt he had no need to live up to other people’s expectations. He rejected the armor of Saul in favor of 5 smooth stones and a sling.

2. Are there any situations in which we are allowing other peoples expectations to make our decisions for us? What would change if we did it God’s way?

David trusted that God would supply the strength and wisdom he needed to deal with a giant that blocked the way to God’s blessings. It was not David’s power, but God’s power that changed everything.

3. Think of situations where you feel powerless. Acknowledge your weakness and seek God’s strength to help you overcome.

Recall some of God’s promises:
“I will be with you always even to the end of all ages”
“I am the Lord Your God and you are my people”
“I will never leave you or forsake you”
“The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble”.

Faith and Johnny Cash

I found this video clip, from Mars Hill church, and wanted to share! I guess we all wrestle with our own demons. Johnny seemed to have more than his fair share... but God still broke through.

Bread for the World- letter writing campaign - June 21st

Bread for the World is calling on Congress "to rework U.S. foreign assistance to make it more effective in reducing poverty - starting by ensuring that poverty reduction is the primary goal of foreign assistance". Following worship on June 21st we will be meeting in the Beyer Hall to sign prepared letters to be sent to our Senators and House Representatives. Last year a record 80 letters were mailed. This year we hope to top that!

Summer Sermon Series - The Life of David

Beginning July 21st (Which is also Fathers Day and our day for honoring our Graduates) I'll be beginning a series on the life of David, based on the Old Testament Readings suggested by the Lectionary. Our first passage to be considered will be 1 Samuel 17:32-49 -"Bringing Down Giants". We all face 'giant-size' problems in our lives. David was a person of faith who didn't let such things bring him down.

Seeds of Faith

Click for 'Seeds of Faith' sermon.

As part of our reflection the story was told of 'John', a young man whose bad experiences led him to embracing a racist ideology. A change came into his life when his friend Jill invited him to attend her church. Seeds of hatred gradually began to be replaced by seeds of faith. One of the images given us by Jesus is that the 'Word' is a 'Seed'. By inviting others to worship with you there is a chance that seeds may also be sown in their lives.

1. Pray that God will open doors of opportunity for inviting others to share in the life of our Church.

Mention was also made of the fact that seeds grow at their own pace. The Kingdom of God, as Bob Dylan sang, is 'A Slow Train Coming'. But it is coming, as a comparison between life in our day compared to that of previous centuries seems to show. We should remember to thank God for those who sowed the seeds of the Kingdom in our past, seeds that have led us to where we are today.

2. Who were the people who sowed seeds of faith in your own life? Thank God for them.

We are called to carry on sowing! Not only as a Church community, but also to nurture our own spiritual growth. "Be Patient. God hasn't finished with you yet!"

3. Ask God to show you areas in your own life where spiritual growth is needed.