Welcome to virtual church today ... let's pray
"Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting."
Psalm 139:23-24
Our sung worship today is led by the congregation at Llanelli Free Evangelical Church which is very strong on its traditional hymns ... but first, here is the Word for the Week
Testing your field (and your heart) ... here's the Word for the Week short video
Here's a great old hymn led by friends from Llanelli Evangelical Free Church to follow this video
Prayer Prompts
- We are looking into how to deliver what we offer from Ty'r Bugail after June 7th when we have been asked to hand the keys back. There is a new sort of short range FM radio licence due to be announced next week that might be just the thing if you guys want a 'drive-in' church experience which gives us sight of one another but maintains spatial distancing in addition to the online things we already provide (this service sheet and all its' components). Please respond to the survey you were sent by email and PRAY that we are led by the Lord to know what direction He wants us to take?
- Good friend of the work of yGRWP, Jeremy Marshall (author of 'Beyond the Big C' which was one of our Book of the Month choices) was recently unwell and they did a scan for that other condition which showed that one of his tumours had grown so he is in good spirits but back on another course of chemotherapy. He says that he takes chemo well but would be glad of our prayers.
- Simon is 'attending' the Forum of Christian Leaders again this year which normally takes place in Poland but is this year online. It started yesterday afternoon and the video of the first plenary session was of such high quality our Welsh internet couldn't cope with it! However, some contacts were made there in Poland last year that have really helped us with the work of Ty'r Bugail and a couple of potentially helpful contacts were made yesterday for us.Please pray for a phone conversation Simon has with an organisation that supplies technology for getting the Gospel out in closed countries and could help us with this during our lockdown too. Please pray about us being able to make the most of this conference this in the situation we have this year?
- Please pray for one another's experience during lock down, that we will stay in good physical and mental health and that we will also benefit from fellowship with the Lord and one another by whatever means we are able. Please pray in particular for those who might not be prioritising fellowship with the Lord and with His people ... that the Great Shepherd will watch over His flock!
- Finally, let us not forget to pray for the army of volunteers of all sorts responding to the special needs of our society at this time; for those in authority over us and for our front line workers from medics to posties and nurses; from teachers to Police officers and delivery drivers.
Let's find ENCOURAGEMENT in this verse of Scripture:
"... if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."
2 Chronicles 7:14
Who doesn't want a closer walk with God? William Cowper's old hymn nails it ...
Ruth 2:1–16 (Listen)
Ruth Meets Boaz
2:1 Now Naomi had a relative of her husband’s, a worthy man of the clan of Elimelech, whose name was Boaz. 2 And Ruth the Moabite said to Naomi, “Let me go to the field and glean among the ears of grain after him in whose sight I shall find favor.” And she said to her, “Go, my daughter.” 3 So she set out and went and gleaned in the field after the reapers, and she happened to come to the part of the field belonging to Boaz, who was of the clan of Elimelech. 4 And behold, Boaz came from Bethlehem. And he said to the reapers, “The LORD be with you!” And they answered, “The LORD bless you.” 5 Then Boaz said to his young man who was in charge of the reapers, “Whose young woman is this?” 6 And the servant who was in charge of the reapers answered, “She is the young Moabite woman, who came back with Naomi from the country of Moab. 7 She said, ‘Please let me glean and gather among the sheaves after the reapers.’ So she came, and she has continued from early morning until now, except for a short rest.”
8 Then Boaz said to Ruth, “Now, listen, my daughter, do not go to glean in another field or leave this one, but keep close to my young women. 9 Let your eyes be on the field that they are reaping, and go after them. Have I not charged the young men not to touch you? And when you are thirsty, go to the vessels and drink what the young men have drawn.” 10 Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground, and said to him, “Why have I found favor in your eyes, that you should take notice of me, since I am a foreigner?” 11 But Boaz answered her, “All that you have done for your mother-in-law since the death of your husband has been fully told to me, and how you left your father and mother and your native land and came to a people that you did not know before. 12 The LORD repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!” 13 Then she said, “I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, for you have comforted me and spoken kindly to your servant, though I am not one of your servants.”
14 And at mealtime Boaz said to her, “Come here and eat some bread and dip your morsel in the wine.” So she sat beside the reapers, and he passed to her roasted grain. And she ate until she was satisfied, and she had some left over. 15 When she rose to glean, Boaz instructed his young men, saying, “Let her glean even among the sheaves, and do not reproach her. 16 And also pull out some from the bundles for her and leave it for her to glean, and do not rebuke her.”
(ESV)
Let's sing ...
Our last hymn from the friends at Llanelli (before we return to a 'good mixture' next week) is a great old hymn by Charles Wesley
Finally ...
Do not forget to continue to pray for the familiar faces you have grown used to seeing at Ty'r Bugail and to do what you can to stay in touch with one another this week. And now, let's finish by praying this Biblical prayer for one another:
"To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy – 25 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."
Jude 1:24-25