Today ...
Apologies for the slightly different format today which is for 'reasons beyond our control'!
There is no Word for the Week video ... but there is something else really helpful from Mike Betts who leads a very different sort of church grouping to us but has something interesting and relevant to share with us just below.
But first ...
Let's pray
Lord we thank you that you have preserved us in the health and strength, the means and the motivation to gather virtually - together in spirit while apart in bodily terms today - to worship you, to pray and to hear your Word.
Help us to adapt to the circumstances you Providentially provide and to (both) reform our thinking and our living because we have been part of this online gathering today.
In Jesus Name - Amen.
In this video Mike takes just 17 minutes to put an interesting perspective on handling racial tensions amongst believers (would you believe that?!)
So what do we think of that?
Feel free to let us know in the comment box below!
Mike Betts sets out a pretty amazing vision for church there ... so now Michael Eldridge makes a return to help us to join in exaltation TOGETHER for the Lord's wonderful inclusive plan of salvation!
Romans 3:21–31 (Listen)
The Righteousness of God Through Faith
21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it—22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
27 Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.
(ESV)
Let's sing Psalm 16
Prayer prompts
Give thanks for members of the rural community who either have no church link or no Gospel church link who continue to reach out to the Market Outreach team. Clive has had someone recovered from illness reach out to him this week and Simon has had another bereaved (Welsh-speaking) family seeking his help.
Give thanks for answers to prayer for health to be restored.
Give thanks for our AM writing a lovely letter about our work to the First Minister requesting that we should be allowed to hold drive-in, face-to-face services for those currently un-served and isolated from Christian fellowship, based initially in Llandovery. And let's PRAY for a favourable response!
Let's pray for Christians in England who will very soon be free to meet with restrictions in place. Pray that what is wise will be done and that no-one will be pressured who shouldn't be, that no-one who shouldn't be there will be there and that grace will prevail in that land.
Let's continue to pray for literature, for good books, for New Testaments and for Daily Bible reading Notes that have been distributed to bear fruit for God - that people might be helped in their hearts as they hear the voice of God speaking in His Word. And that we will be able to get more of these tremendous resources out there to more people!
And there's absolutely no point beating about the bush so let's also please pray that God will continue to build the outreach team that is 'y GRWP' and actually bring people to saving faith in Christ. That'd be excellent. Thanks!
Here are the All Souls singers and orchestra urging us all nearer to our God
Sermon podcast
You can go to the sermon podcast on Ruth 4:1-12 now by clicking on the blue green bar below
Given what Ruth 4 foreshadows for us of all the Lord has done, let's sing ...
Finally, let's pray
"May God be gracious to us and bless us
and make his face shine on us –
2 so that your ways may be known on earth,
your salvation among all nations.
3 May the peoples praise you, God;
may all the peoples praise you."
Psalm 67:1-3
Get in touch ... you can use the WhatsApp icon on this page or email us with this form ...
ZOOM
Those 'reasons beyond our control' we started with mean we can't manage a ZOOM meeting today.
Sincere apologies but please feel free to use that WhatsApp icon or the contact form to be in touch for a chat.
Let's pray for reality to return next week?!
