Our Sunday Morning meeting was led by Major Ian Payne
and was titled ‘I’ll Fight’
The Band opened the meeting by playing a March called – Down the Street
Following the announcements by CSM Paul Scoulding , which included a reminder for us to pray for our neighbours ( a reference to last Sundays meeting )
we were played a recording of the Founder William Booths Speech , a recording of it i have added below
Our first song of the morning was
Song 389 Rejoice Rejoice
Tune 807 Rejoice
Quickly followed by Song 363 Give thanks to the Lord
Tune 620 Forever
We are still in our time of Self denial , and this week we watched video number 4
Self Denial Film Week 4
The Singing Company gave us the song ” The Great Downpour ”
The Scripture Reading’s this morning were from Deuteronomy ch 1 :26-31
and Exodus 14:14
Our next Song was 345 To be in your presence
Tune 764 This is my desire (Piano)
The Songster message this morning was ” That Sacred Place ” by Rob Little / Andrew Mair .
The Song really changed the mood in the Hall , and the congregation were visibly moved by the words
The Message ‘I’ll Fight’ Major Ian F Payne
Major Ian spoke of being made to go to Boxing lessons as a young boy , after some bullying at school, and he told us he really did not like Boxing, and had one match which was enough for him. On one occasion , when being bullied he punch a boy , and then was horrified by the outcome, a cut lip etc..
We however want to go to the sacred place. We know God fought for Joshua & Nehemiah , and God Promised to protect & Fight for us ( Exodus 14:14 ).
The Battle we find ourselves in is a constant one , as the Evil one does not want people to love each other . We must remember we are commanded to love our neighbour as ourselves.
The Issues referred to in William Booths speech ” I’ll Fight ” in 1912 referred to many issues of the day , All of which are still problems today , and Major Ian read out the comparable statistics from 1912 to the present day . We still have a fight on our hands
Major Ian quoted 2 Corinthians 10:4 and even in this age of the technical revolution where we have many means of contacting people & keeping in touch – People are still lonely, we can offer practical help ……..but need to make sure we offer the Lord
Our final two songs of the morning were
Song 999 Every Moment
Tune 329 Healing Christ
Song 990 We’re a band
Tune 455 We shall win
Holiness Meeting 5pm
‘Be Holy for I am Holy’
Major Ian opened the meeting with a reading from Leviticus 9:1-3
a Command from the Lord to Moses
Our first song of the morning was Song 31 Holy Holy Holy
Tune 771 Nicea (Band)
Our Scripture reading was 1 Peter 1:13-23
Our second song of the meeting was
Song 87 Jesus What a Beautiful Name
Tune 718 “ “ “ (Piano)
Major Ian’s Prayer was that as we look at Holiness, may we re-kindle or hear afresh your peace & presence
The Band Message this evening was an arrangement of My Jesus I love thee- song 878, a beautiful piece of music
Song 635 When the Music Fades
Tune 858 Heart of Worship (Band) Was a our next song , and this was followed by a Testimony from Heather Scott
Heather told us of a week which included a TV documentary on the Holocaust , by David Baddiel , who explained he lost his faith as he could not understand where God was during the Holocaust, and Heather told us later in the week a friends Daughter committed suicide, and nobody could make sense of this and where asking “where was God”
Heather remembered an example of a colleagues Hindu Husband who also had lost his faith , due to the abject poverty he could see in India, and he set up a fund for an Orphanage to look after the children . Heather saw this as proof of the presence of God , Where God was working through the Husband , proving that God cares
Heather explained that she does not have all the answers , but turned to the Bible and found Psalm 14 to have been previously marked by Tim ..
The Songsters message for the evening was “ Down Where The waters Flow “
Message ‘Be Holy for I am Holy’ Major Ian
Major Ian Spoke of Holiness as , God in the everyday stuff of life..not focusing on a Religious or text book Christian life, but aiming for it to be a natural thing you do. How you speak and engage with people is key to this
Major Ian Quoted Commissioner Samuel Brengle , who said he feels under a solemn obligation to tell people that Jesus is alive ,and that Holiness is not about perfection
Major Ian closed by saying that Jesus wants us to be Sanctified& live a life of Holiness, but Holiness is not Maturity – It’s purity.
Do we want to live a spotless life ?
our final two songs of the day were
Song 704 Give me a Holy Life
Tune 171 Marshall (Piano )
and
Song 578 Christ of Glory
Tune 275 Christ in me (Band)
Thank you to all who made worship possible today .
please not this forthcoming event on Saturday