Hello and a very warm welcome to our church.
Growing Joy and Hope
Come and join us, as we explore who God is,
and how we can encounter and grow in Him.
February 5th 2023
Sermon Series:
4: Gifts of the Holy Spirit Part one
9.00am
Common Worship
Holy Communion
Preaching: Rev'd Pippa Ford
Presiding: Rev'd Pippa Ford
10:30am
We have set up a Spotify account for the worship group and congregation to help your worship and learning the songs we use at church. Here is a QR code to it:
And a link: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3CTCXi4iTw7gLsks1lJ6QS?si=e67f7fcaf29e4e51
8.50am Morning Prayer - Monday to Friday
Visit the Church Calendar on this website for the Zoom link for each dayWe are meeting to pray together every
Wednesday
in Church at 9.00am
Pippa Ponders
Yesterday we celebrated Candlemas – marking the time when Jesus was presented at the temple as a young baby. This was part of the religious custom of that time and waiting for him there were two people. Simeon and Anna – both advanced in years and both waiting to see the promised Messiah - the Saviour of the world.
Simeon’s response is recorded in what is known as the Nunc dimittis, the song of Simeon, found in Luke’s Gospel chapter 2: 29-32
“Sovereign
Lord, as you have promised,
you may now dismiss your servant in peace.
For my eyes have seen your salvation,
which
you have prepared in the sight of all nations:
a light for revelation to the Gentiles,
and the glory of your people Israel.”
God had promised Simeon that he would see the Messiah before he died and God fulfilled that promise.
It is very significant that Simeon recognises that the Messiah, Jesus, was the light for the Gentiles too – those who were not Jewish. Simeon is declaring that Jesus’ salvation is for the whole world. But how often as churches do we keep the wonderful love of God, that we have encountered through Jesus, to ourselves? Often we forget that we each have our own specific circle of people that we know and we have the opportunity to shine the light of Christ into those relationships.
We looked yesterday in our preaching at how God uses people in the church to equip us to do just that, by using the gifts he has given us. And we will be exploring this more over the next couple of weeks.
But there are some really easy ways to share the light of Jesus:
Send a card to someone you know is finding life tough and ask God to give you a verse to put inside the card for them
Offer to buy the person in the queue next to you their coffee
Offer to have some friends round for a meal – ask them to contribute so that you don’t have to bear all the cost, as this shows vulnerability and a desire to share together. Then pray before they come and ask God to help guide the conversations – you will be amazed at what happens
Our faith is supposed to be an adventure – let’s have some fun sharing the light of Christ - ask God each day to show you who you can bless with his love.
Pippa
Rev'd Pippa Ford at St Michaels Church Camberley
--------------------------------------------------------------------
CONTACT US / FEEDBACK