Monday Spot (1 June 2009)
What sort of a weekend have you had? For us the sun has been shining from a clear blue sky for several days and this has been one of the nicest weekends for a long time as far as the weather is concerned.
a colourful garden in summer
Yes, there’s no doubt that things look better when the sun shines. Nevertheless we have the sad news that Ellen Wilson passed away last Friday, 29 May. Her funeral will be on Friday 5 June at 10am at the Medway Crematorium.
Being whitsun there are some very significant things to consider as far as the church is concerned and our day was no exception to that rule. Both meetings followed themes concerning the Holy Spirit, as you would expect. In the morning we considered the ‘Flow of the Spirit’ and used songs 192, 215 and 471 from the Salvation Army Song Book together with 955 and 12 from Songs of Fellowship. The chorus ‘Guardian of my Soul‘ was also used.
The meeting opened with ‘Pentecost Rap’ performed by four of the children and later Major Beverley spoke to the children about the unexpected effects wind can have in aerodynamics and liked it to the ‘wind of the Spirit’.
The Rappers and the Wind Tunnel
The musical ministry was provided by the Singing Company and Songsters who brought ‘Shackles’ and ‘With wings as Eagles’ respectively.
‘unshackled’
Using Acts 2 as the scripture basis Major Beverley spoke about our vision (Ezekiel 47) in conjunction with Pentecost. She said water flowed out of the south door of the temple and God flows out through Pentecost. As it flows the water gets deeper and deeper. Paddling in shallow water is pleasant but God takes us beyond standing depth and eventually to the point where the river goes over the edge of the waterfall to the place where life can begin. The Holy Spirit will release this river in our lives as He did with the disciples. Many were added to the numbers of the church on a daily basis. The presence of God had begun to flow. God is drawing us forward to the edge, to follow the river, and as we go forward we will understand where He is wanting to take us. Get in the river. Not the shallows but the flowing stream. Go over the edge to bring the presence of God to those who are lost. let the Spirit come. Let the river flow.
Major Beverley
In the evening we asked the question ‘what does the Spirit say to the churches?‘ There was plenty of singing, a feature of our meetings, also using songs 215 (again), 212 and 438 from the Salvation Army Song Book and 1013, 935, 1 and 226 from Songs of Fellowship. Testimonies were given on the subject of ‘the changes God has made in us’. The Band (Consecration Hymn) and Songsters (Spirit Divine) provided musical contributions.
Revelation 2:1-7 was the chosen scripture and Major Drew said this reading is really part of a sort of Jesus report on the seven churches of Asia Minor. What would Jesus say to the church in Chatham and what does this letter have to say? At Ephesus there were some good things. They were hard working, disciplined, discerning and devoted. But for all their qualities Jesus said they had forgotten their first love, not doing some things they once did. Their love for each other had seemed to wane. Jesus said ‘remember, repent and do’. In our case what He has done in us He will bring to fruition so we must ask for the power to make this possible. We cannot overcome by ourselves but we can with the power of God. This is the way back. Hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches.
Major Drew
Over the next few weeks a number of our young people will be involved in examinations and we wish all of them the greatest of success. So much seems to depend on academic achievement in this modern age and they need all the encouragement we can give them. So, we say go for it and do your very best. We shall be praying for you, as ever.
full of life’s possibilities
Oh, and by the way, they tell us that the summer will be long and hot. Don’t forget the sunscreen, especially next Sunday afternoon when we will meet for a BBQ at Teston Bridge Country Park, near Maidstone (3pm onwards).
Finally we offer our congratulations to ‘Diversity’ who won ITVs ‘Britain’s got Talent’ show on Saturday evening. But diversity always was a winner. All those years ago eleven ordinary guys, from various walks of life, spoke to crowds of ordinary people in languages they had never learned, and large numbers were added to the church every day. How talented is that? And how diverse?