CHURCH @ HOME

We had a service that included some unique additions this week. The service was led by James with Hannah and Bel joining him to lead the morning’s music. We welcomed 2 new deacons, Brenda and Michelle, and a new elder, Mark, onto the leadership team of our church and we had a special item… a rap written and performed by Doug. Stephen led us around the communion table before Rob delivered his sermon from 1 Kings entitled Elijah in the crucible. Ephesians 4:1-6 – I, therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit - just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call - one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

The service this week was led by Ian Fields with James continuing his series on Hebrews during the sermon time. Bek read the scriptures for us and Ben brought us the communion message. The new technology continued to give us learning opportunities and this week we managed to record the audio for the entire service but only had visuals for the sermon so the first half of this week is an auditory experience only. The service was so encouraging that we decided to upload it anyway despite the hiccups. We pray it is a blessing to you. Chronicles 29:11: "Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; Yours is the dominion, O Lord, and You exalt Yourself as head over all."

Harlan led the service this week with ben, Aaron, Hannah and Marcia leading the music. Valda bought the bible reading from 1 John and Steve P lead us around the communion table before James brought the sermon. James continued his Hebrews series this week cover Chapter 12 - Facing the battle of suffering, trials and hardship and experiencing the grace of God in it. Hebrews 12:14-16 - Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many.

Vision Sunday 2024. Mark led the service with Marcia, Bel, Shona and James leading the morning’s music. Hannah read the bible, reading from Ephesians 4 to fit in with our Vision Sunday theme, Rob ked us around the communion table before both Harry and James brought us segments of the sermon inspiring us towards a deeper connection with each other and reminding us afresh of our aim… to know Christ and to make Christ known together. 1 Corinthians 1:10 – I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather be of one mind, united in thought and purpose.

The technical issues continued as we attempted to work out the new equipment that we have at church and so once again we will only be uploading the sermon portion of the service and this week the entire recording came just of the camera’s microphone so the sound is not as clear as usual but hopefully you can hear enough to understand the message from Harry’s sermon which this week was based in Romans’s chapter 12. Romans 12:9-12 - Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honour. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit,[g] serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Due to technical issues and health issues the services for this week and next week will just contain the sermon from Harry's series, Romans on the Run. This week Harry covers Romans Chapter 8. Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Tech issues and health issues have led to the lengthy delay in getting this service uploaded but it is finally happening. Marcia led the service and, due to James's absence, that morning the singing was done to videos on songs we have previously used so Marcia led the singing alone but sang with various combinations of singers on video. The bible reading was done by Shona and Michael led the communion segment of the service before Harry continued his series Romans on the Run this time covering chapter 7. Romans 7:6 But now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code.

Mark led the service this week and with James away Geoff stepped in to play guitar and was joined by Hannah and Marcia to lead the morning’s music. Jaden read the bible reading from 1st John to us and Jon led the time of communion before Harry continued his series in Romans. This week’s message was from Romans 6 and was entitled “Paul’s mandate for living. He taught on sin and the flesh and our response to them and the response required by us to take our position as a slave to Jesus Christ. Romans 6:1-4 Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? 4For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.

Steve led the service for the first time today and he had James and Bel join him in leading the music and Joel also conducted for us. The bible reading was done for us by Neil and Bed led the communion potion of our service before James returned to his series on Hebrews today taking us to Chapter 11 and into Chapter 12 focusing us on Faith and reminding us to run the race before us as we look to Jesus who founded our faith. Hebrews 12:1-2 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the [a]author and [b]finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.