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.