Let's celebrate the love of the Lord ...
We're having a Drive-In service this Sunday August 23rd. at Llandovery Livestock Market - 2.30 to arrive in good time for 3 - 4 p.m.
Let's give thanks for everyone who came last time ... there were many people there we hadn't seen before on a Sunday and everyone took a helpful book as they left.
Let's pray that those the Lord is at work in will be able to come again this week and that the Lord will speak personally to them.
Would you please pray that everyone will stay safe from unwanted germs and that the stewards will once again do a good job of their duties.
And will you please pray that the technology will work well, that everyone will adapt easily to it and that the weather will be good enough for car windows to be opened enough to hear the public address system clearly.
Finally will you please now pray also for the preaching of God's Word, that it will be clear, short, helpful and 'to the point'.
Ah ... yes ... and if you could come along, that would be GREAT!
Please pray that people across our rural area will be helped by the Word for the Week video which 'premieres' on Sunday morning at 10.30 a.m. on YouTube
Let's prepare to read God's Word
Romans 15:1–13 (Listen)
The Example of Christ
15:1 We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” 4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 7 Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
Christ the Hope of Jews and Gentiles
8 For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,
“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles,
and sing to your name.”
10 And again it is said,
“Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.”
11 And again,
“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles,
and let all the peoples extol him.”
12 And again Isaiah says,
“The root of Jesse will come,
even he who arises to rule the Gentiles;
in him will the Gentiles hope.”
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
(ESV)
Prayer prompts
We have been praying in the last few weeks for the West African country of Mali. This week, stimulated by the activities of a leading Moslem Imam and as a reaction against what is seen as widespread corruption, there was a military coup there.
- Let's pray for the people of Mali, for an end to the armed conflict in the north along the border with Niger, for the influence of world powers in the region to be used to the benefit of the Malian people, for the freedom of the Gospel, the security of the small number of the Lord's people and for peace with justice to come to Mali.
- Let's pray for the peace and security of our country, that the pandemic will remain under control, that we might be well and wisely governed and tat the return to school will be safe and sustained.
- Let's pray too for those students who received their exam results this week under strange and sometimes distressing circumstances, as well as for those BTEC students doing practical subjects, many of whom are still waiting for their results which have been delayed.
- We have been helped and supported in the coffee shop work in the past by the good people of Sarang Community Church in Seoul, South Korea. I am hearing of a serious spike in COVID cases there associated with a particular church but I have heard no more. There is talk of the whole country being put back on lockdown. Let us pray for our brethren and their leaders out there?
- Let's continue to pray for Gabi's Mam in Romania who has been diagnosed with a serious condition, came through major surgery on Thursday and must now have chemotherapy. Please also remember Gabi here and the family in Romania in their concern for her.
- Please continue to pray for the future of the Chaplaincy at Carmarthen Livestock Centre. We have no idea what is happening there. The place is empty and deserted but everything in the building has just been left in place, but the power is switched off. Please pray that we will be reaching out to large numbers of farmers there again soon with the love and mercy of God.
- After a particularly busy six months during COVID, Simon is taking his annual leave for the next four weeks to try to renew strength and deal with things that haven't been attended to during this period of more intense ministry activity. Please pray that the Lord would continue to care for His flock and that we would all be able to care for one another until normal service is resumed!
(Obviously we are our own 'cover' - but in emergencies, use the contact form below or phone him!)
Now for a little of the Celtic worship of Jesus, the Word of God in person
The sermon
By clicking the blue-green box below you will get taken to the sermon for this week which is on Romans 15:1-6, the sixth in our series 'Solitude's Spiritual Survival Kit'.
Let's celebrate the privilege God's Word is to us ...
Thanks for worshiping with us today.
And now ...
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."
(Romans 15:13)
