To be played as we are gathering
Welcome to you all today. To all who’re watching on line, or following the service on our service sheets. Jesus said. “I have come that you may have life, life to the full.†Let’s pray.
Lord thank you for that great promise of not only eternal life through You, but of the blessings of life now, life to the full. Amen.
The King of Love
Let's continue to worshiping our unchanging faithful Lord. Faithful One, So unchanging.
My Lips shall praise you
Last week Eileen had an email from The Leprosy Mission, thanking us for our continued support. When Ian and Pauline Jepps came to share the work of TLM back in March, they shared with us the work that was going on in Myanmar, (formerly Burma,) at Mawlamyine Hospital. By way of a thank you the staff have put together a short film for us to watch
Read Psalm 84
Read Psalm 84. How lovely is your dwelling place, LORD Almighty.
We don’t know who the writer of Ps 84 was, but he was obviously someone who loved the Lord with all his heart, and yearned to worship Him in Zion’s Temple. He even envied the home the sparrows had made in God’s house, and the nest the Swallows had made near the altar, and the blessings of those who dwell in the presence of the Lord, praising Him forever.
Here’s a man who knew the blessings of always being in God’s presence and of seeking God in prayer (v 8-9)
A man who in humility says how he would rather be a door keeper in the house of his God, than to dwell in the tents of the wicked. Through the Lord Jesus Christ, we can worship Him wherever we are today, we no-longer have to make a journey to go and worship Him. The same God the Psalmist, says is our Sun and shield. The one who bestows His favour on us, and no-good thing does He withhold from those who through His blood shed for us, belong to Him.
Prayers
Lord Jesus, we come before you in prayer today, and echo the desire of a puritan believer to know that the work of prayer is to bring our will in line with Yours. Amen.
Lord we thank you today that the scriptures reveal that “where sin abounds, then Your Grace is more abundant.†Father may we not see this as a licence to ignore Your word, and fall into sin, but to give grateful thanks, that when we do fail You, then Your desire is to restore the broken relationship with You, that our sin has caused. Amen.
Lord; we thank You for Your promise to us that through You, Our Good Shepherd, the one who laid His life for us, we can have life, and have it to the full. The great promise of eternal life, but also life now receiving all the blessings God wants to bestow on us as His children. Lord thank You for the reality of this promise. Amen.
We continue to pray for the rising numbers of those testing positive for Covid 19 today especially in the North of England, and we pray that this won’t again necessitate a nationwide lockdown. Lord; we’ve seen again over the past week or so, how many seem intent on dismissing the advice and guidance given to keep them, and others safe. We would pray for the many young people who will be going off to Universities in the next week or so. For some, this will be their first time away from the security of family. Father we would pray that, through such Christian organisations as CU, You will be made known to these young people, and they will see You as their heavenly Father, and their fellow believers as their new family. Amen.
Lord, we ask You’re continued healing for Eileen North. For Peter, and Tee Wright. For John Morgan, Alan Jones, John Seale, Pat Easley, Edwina Hill, Sheila, Jacqui Sandercock, and Chris Graham. Amen.
Finally; we pray for The Leprosy Mission and for the work they’re engaged in, in the hospital in Myanmar. We pray also today for MAF, as they mourn the loss of one of their co-founders Stuart King. Stuart once wrote in prayer “Lord we thank You for Your peace, protection and provision.†Amen
We come now to God’s word so please turn to John Ch 10 v 1-11, and after reading these words, and praying let’s either read, or listen to what God has to say to us today.
Message
In Christ alone
Please don’t forget to bring some non-perishable food items for our Harvest Celebration service.
As in past years, what we have we’ll share with City Mission, and hopefully bless one or two people in and around the Church. Thank You.
Closing prayer:
“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy- to the only God our Saviour be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and for evermore.†Amen