Weekend 23^rd – 24^th January 2021

 

Just be still before God for a few moments

Think about –

John Stott wrote, "Contentment remembers the stark truth that we brought nothing into the world and we can take nothing out of it. Life, in fact, is a pilgrimage from one moment of nakedness to another. So we should travel light and live simply. Our enemy is not possessions, but excess. Our battle cry is not 'Nothing!' but 'Enough!' We've got enough.”

 

Song          I will lift my hands     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KI0HtGWhcsU

I lift my hands

to the coming King

to the great I Am

to You I sing

for You’re the one

who reigns within my heart

 

And I will serve no foreign God

Nor any other treasure

For You are my heart’s desire

the Spirit without measure

 

Unto Your name

I will bring

my sacrifice

 

Prayer

Oh Lord, You are my shepherd and I should not be in want, but so often I struggle to be content and do want; forgetting that you have graciously provided me with every spiritual blessing in Christ and everything I need for life and godliness.

Thank you for often not giving me what I want because my desires would draw my heart from being satisfied in You. Help me to be content in You with what You have given me and to not be focused on what my flesh wants or the world tells me I should have.

Father, I give all praise and glory to Your most Holy name. Help me today as I seek contentment in everything I do. For your glory. Amen

 

 

Hymn         When peace like a river          https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKPvBV4xqVw

When peace like a river attendeth my way

When sorrows like sea billows roll

Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say

It is well, it is well with my soul

 

It is well (it is well)

With my soul (with my soul)

It is well, it is well with my soul

 

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come

Let this blest assurance control

That Christ (yes, He has) has regarded my helpless estate

And has shed His own blood for my soul

It is well (it is well)

 

My sin, oh the bliss of this glorious thought (a thought)

My sin, not in part, but the whole (every bit, every bit, all of it)

Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more (yes!)

Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

 

is well (it is well)

 

And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight

The clouds be rolled back as a scroll

The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend

Even so, it is well with my soul!

 

It is well (it is well)

 

 

Reading       Philippians 4:10-13

 

Prayer Reflection (Ann Nias)

 

“There are days when you lend a hand;

there are days when you need a hand”

 

So said Joe Biden, the 46^th president of the United States of America,

in his inaugural speech on Wednesday.

 

 

Sometimes we need to give help; sometimes we need to accept help.

 

Jesus said, “I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.........Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for Me.”

                                                                                                            (Matthew 25:35,36,40)

 

During these restricted days, those words of Jesus may seem a tall order. We can't visit anyone, touch anyone, let alone lift anyone. Or can we??

We CAN touch anyone on earth right now by praying for them, because our God is not restricted. Maybe we can't visit, but we can write, ring, email, text, or leave cake on their doorstep, to give them a lift, like many are already doing. This fulfils Jesus' commands and pleases Him.

 

All of us are struggling at the moment, but Jesus calls us to make a difference to someone else’s struggles, whilst we let them make a difference to ours.

“Carry each other's burdens, and in this way, you will fulfil the law of Christ.”

                                                                                                                        (Galatians 6:2)

and,

 

“Love your neighbour as yourself.” (Mark 12:31)

 

     If we all play our part, lending a hand, and accepting a hand, we will get there!!

 

 

Ask God to show you how you can obey Jesus' command to love and help others.

 

Song            Listen to: 'When I Needed a Neighbour Were You There?'  https://youtu.be/N6osdbgExLU

 

When I needed a neighbour were you there, were you there?

When I needed a neighbour were you there?

 

And the creed and the colour and the name won't matter, Were you there?

 

I was hungry and thirsty, were you there, were you there?

I was hungry and thirsty, were you there? Chorus

 

I was cold, I was naked, were you there, were you there?

I was cold, I was naked, were you there? Chorus

 

When I needed a shelter were you there, were you there?

When I needed a shelter were you there? Chorus

 

When I needed a healer were you there, were you there?

When I needed a healer were you there? Chorus

 

Wherever you travel I'll be there, I'll be there,

Wherever you travel I'll be there.

And the creed and the colour and the name won't matter, I'll be there.

 

Just be still  in His presence

 

Sermon on the Website  -    https://magorbaptistchurch.org.uk/Media/AllMedia.aspx

 

Hymn         The Lord’s my Shepherd

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pN4tPkX0MG0

The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want;

He makes me lie in pastures green.

He leads me by the still, still waters,

His goodness restores my soul.

 

And I will trust in You alone,

And I will trust in You alone,

For Your endless mercy follows me,

Your goodness will lead me home.

 

He guides my ways in righteousness,

And He anoints my head with oil,

And my cup, it overflows with joy,

I feast on His pure delights.

 

And though I walk the darkest path,

I will not fear the evil one,

For You are with me, and Your rod and staff

Are the comfort I need to know.

 

Blessing

Let us look for Christ wherever we go

Let us never stop seeking

Believing that there is a light that shines in the darkness

Which the darkness shall not overcome

And may the love of the Creator

The joy of the Spirit

And the peace of Christ

Be with you …Amen!

 

 

Zoom Social Thursday 21st January @7pm
 

We are planning a Zoom Social for Thursday 21st January. We hope this will be a good, fun time, open and interactive to share and chat, but also one of testing your knowledge, speed of collection together with spot the member!

Regarding the latter we would like you to electronically send to  minister@magorbaptistchurch.org.uk a photo of when you were a baby/toddler and we will ask people to guess who it is!

 

Renewed call to persevere in prayer across Baptist churches in the UK

As Covid-19 threatens to overwhelm our health service and continues to inflict pain and loss, we stand together with many others and renew our commitment to sustained prayer. 

You may like to join virtually with friends to pray, perhaps in small groups or as a wider congregation.  You might like to spend time in solitude praying for our nation at this time of crisis. 
 
Here are some pointers to help you and your friends as you pray.  These have been written by a senior A&E nurse in a large teaching hospital:

1. Pray for all the NHS staff for their own safety, energy and peace in dealing with each and every patient.
2. Pray for those in hospital leadership, for wisdom and for good decisions to give the best outcomes for patients.
3. Pray for patients; for healing, for peace and ultimately to fight this disease and get home and pray for their relatives who feel helpless.
4. Pray for the vaccine, that it will and is working against this latest strain of Covid-19.
5. Pray for a reprieve and an end to Covid-19.

You may know people who are currently working in the NHS in your area, please let them know you are praying for them and ask them how you can pray specifically.

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.   Ephesians 3:20-21

 

CHURCH MOTTO 2021

Sudbrook Mission Project Description – December 2020                                                    Jeremy Lock

 

Mission summary - (Initially based in Sudbrook).

“for I have many in this city (area) who are my people” Acts18:10

 

Why Sudbrook?

I believe the Lord has called us back to South Wales to minister to the homes and housing estates within the South Eastern corner of Wales.

This started about three years ago when God clearly spoke to me and said “I have place before you an open door” (based on Revelation3:7,8).

Over time this has been confirmed and resulted in Ruth and myself moving back to South Wales.

Most recently I have been reminded again of this promise.

The reminder has come in the shape of a key that I found (I’m still trying to trace the owner).

This is not the first key that I have spotted abandoned but those are other stories.

This key however reminds me of the one who holds the key, Jesus himself, and he is the one who opens doors and confirms that he has placed that open door before us!

My gifting is in leadership and would want to engage with Christians in the area and to seek to encourage them to be involved in the work, initially with a focus on the new housing estates in Sudbrook, and then extending to the surrounding area.

I am also studying at the South Wales Baptist College in Cardiff.

           

 

 

 

Figure 1: Pictures of Sudbrook including the chapel that we plan to use.

 

We have recently started a prayer meeting for the work in Sudbrook, there is a website and, we have the use of the Presbyterian chapel.

We have started to contact residents to establish those who are interested in being part of a church in Sudbrook.

 

Please pray with us that:

God will place Christians in Sudbrook who would be involved in this exciting work.

God will be at work in the community and will guide our prayers, contacts and activities.