Monday Spot (27 July 2009)
This has been the first weekend since the schools break up for the summer and there seems to be quite a number already on holiday. We pray that they will have a great time wherever they may have gone. Majors Drew and Beverley McCombe are amongst those taking a well earned break.
Majors Drew & Beverley McCombe
So, for the next three weeks, we have substitute leaders and this week it was the turn of Nigel Day, leader of our Discipleship Purpose Group, together with daughter Sarah Butler and husband Matt. Captains Matt and Sarah are officers currently in charge of The Salvation Army’s Carmarthen Outreach Centre in Mid-Wales (worth contacting if you’re in the area).
Captains Sarah & Matt Butler
The morning meeting was opened by Matt with Psalm 78:1-8 and songs chosen were 707 and 734 from the Salvation Army Song Book and 955, 441 and 1015 from Songs of Fellowship. The Singing Company and Songsters were both able to provide musical ministry though both groups were depleted. The Singing Company brought ‘There’s a Way’ and the Songsters ‘Know my Heart’. Sarah was in charge of the children’s spot.
Further scripture from Matthew 4:18-22 formed the basis of the message which was in two parts entitled ‘You’re hired’ and ‘You’re fired’. ‘You’re hired’ was in the form of a dramatic presentation depicting how God takes us all, just as we are and however unsuitable we may be for our task as Christians. Nigel went on to develop this in part 2, ‘You’re fired’, when he said ‘God will take anyone, no one is left out. But what about those who fail. Scriptural examples are King Saul, Judas Iscariot and the Rich Young Ruler. They all failed to see the bigger picture. Sometimes we also want to do things in our own way, not that of God. Sometimes power corrupts us and we do not always obey God. We want something different. We think we know better than God himself. for us to live in God’s love we must accept His sovereignty.
Nigel
The evening meeting opened with Isaiah 61:1-6 and continued with ‘Worship in Song’ comprising 699 from the Salvation Army Song Book with 894 and 111 from Songs of Fellowship. ‘Worship in Music’ was brought by the Songsters, with ‘They shall come from the East’ and ‘This is my Desire’ by the Band. ‘Worship in the Word’ featured Revelation 3:14-22 and was followed by prayers of intersession on a number of different topics.
Songs of Fellowship 79 and 483 formed the section entitled ‘Worship in Testimony’ which also included five personal testimonies speaking about experiences of God in the lives of the individuals concerned and how God had answered prayer.
The address was again given by Nigel who said the Bible is full of wonderful stories. In our reading tonight the Leodicean church is told ‘you make me sick’. What had it done? The truth is it was lukewarm and therefore not Christlike. As individuals the members were well off and self made and acted as if they no longer needed God. But God knew what they were like, that they were disobedient to his will, and hence the condemning statement. He knew they were spiritually poor and urged them to repent. It is not too late, he said. He offered them the ultimate reward of being at his side in heaven. How would we react if God rebuked our church as he did the Laodiceans? What is needed in our church? Why is it here? The answer is to prove God is love and to make a difference in our community.
The meeting concluded with more ‘Worship in Song’ including 522 from the Salvation Army Song Book and 955 from Songs of Fellowship.
A number of our midweek activities, mainly the section rehearsals, are now in abeyance until September and these are known to the relevant people.
Steve & Mel Scoulding
Steve and Mel Scoulding will be our leaders next Sunday, perhaps the last time before they enter the William Booth College to train as Salvation Army officers. We look forward to a good day. As previously announced, both meetings will be held in our Church Street hall at the usual times of 10am and 6pm as our building alterations do not start until Monday 24 August.
Wherever you are and whatever you are doing, whether you are at work, at home or on holiday, have a great week.