I hope that we've all been shocked and upset by the stories and scenes that we have seen coming out of America over the last week. I hope that we're deeply concerned that we still need to state 'black lives matter' and that it's still acceptable to believe and behave as if some people are worth less than others.
A lot has been said on social media over the last days - but is that ever enough? And what can we do? What should we do?
Here are a series of articles and responses from representatives within the BUGB.
https://www.baptist.org.uk/Articles/579501/George_Floyd_our.aspx
Wednesday, 3 June 2020
Pentecost Assembly
Last week was half-term - although it seemed much like the week before - so there was no Wednesday assembly. But today we're back, looking at Peter's story. This week we're looking at Pentecost, as Peter's story moves from the gospels into the book of Acts.
Although Christians now celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Sunday, originally Pentecost was a Jewish harvest festival celebrated 50 days after the Sabbath after Passover - or seven weeks after Easter Sunday. You can find all the details in Leviticus 23:15-22 and similar passages in Numbers and Deuteronomy.
Over time Pentecost became the day when Israel celebrated the giving of the law, which was given to Moses.
The Holy Spirit coming on the day when Isreal was celebrating the giving of the law adds significance to Jeremiah's prophecy in Jeremiah 31:31-34.
“The days are coming,” declares the Lord,
“when I will make a new covenant
with the people of Israel
and with the people of Judah.
It will not be like the covenant
I made with their ancestors
when I took them by the hand
to lead them out of Egypt,
because they broke my covenant,
though I was a husband to them,”
declares the Lord.
“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel
after that time,” declares the Lord.
“I will put my law in their minds
and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
No longer will they teach their neighbour,
or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest,”
declares the Lord.
“For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more.”
Although Christians now celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost Sunday, originally Pentecost was a Jewish harvest festival celebrated 50 days after the Sabbath after Passover - or seven weeks after Easter Sunday. You can find all the details in Leviticus 23:15-22 and similar passages in Numbers and Deuteronomy.
Over time Pentecost became the day when Israel celebrated the giving of the law, which was given to Moses.
The Holy Spirit coming on the day when Isreal was celebrating the giving of the law adds significance to Jeremiah's prophecy in Jeremiah 31:31-34.
“The days are coming,” declares the Lord,
“when I will make a new covenant
with the people of Israel
and with the people of Judah.
It will not be like the covenant
I made with their ancestors
when I took them by the hand
to lead them out of Egypt,
because they broke my covenant,
though I was a husband to them,”
declares the Lord.
“This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel
after that time,” declares the Lord.
“I will put my law in their minds
and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
No longer will they teach their neighbour,
or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest,”
declares the Lord.
“For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more.”
Monday, 1 June 2020
Lessons from the Lockdown
We have been told that this is a very risky time in the fight against coronavirus. The danger is that we mistake a careful relaxing of the rules for a return to normal behaviour and as a result cause a spike in infections.
Depending on our personal situation, today might not have made much difference at all. We've just carried on as we have for the past ten weeks. But for others, things over these next few days may take a few steps back towards 'normality'.
There is another danger with this stage.
During the first few weeks of lockdown, I heard and read many people discovering things that they had forgotten in the busyness of everyday life. For us, some of the positives of this time have included daily walks, daily family devotions after breakfast and playing a lot more board games.
I've had conversations with others about making sure that things don't go 'back to normal' when this is all over - but that we do things differently because of the lessons from the lockdown.
And the danger is that we forget those lessons as the restrictions start to ease. As more things come back into our lives other things will have to make way. That's when we need to ask what we did learn over the last ten weeks? What our priorities are going to be? Because we can't do everything. So if we're going to make space and time for some of the things that we've rediscovered in lockdown, there are going to be other things that we're not going to be able to pick up again, even though we're allowed to.
The danger is that we just drift back to where we were. So now might be a good time to take stock once again. What are the things we want to hold on to from this time? And how are we going to make the space and time for those things to happen?
Depending on our personal situation, today might not have made much difference at all. We've just carried on as we have for the past ten weeks. But for others, things over these next few days may take a few steps back towards 'normality'.
There is another danger with this stage.
I've had conversations with others about making sure that things don't go 'back to normal' when this is all over - but that we do things differently because of the lessons from the lockdown.
And the danger is that we forget those lessons as the restrictions start to ease. As more things come back into our lives other things will have to make way. That's when we need to ask what we did learn over the last ten weeks? What our priorities are going to be? Because we can't do everything. So if we're going to make space and time for some of the things that we've rediscovered in lockdown, there are going to be other things that we're not going to be able to pick up again, even though we're allowed to.
The danger is that we just drift back to where we were. So now might be a good time to take stock once again. What are the things we want to hold on to from this time? And how are we going to make the space and time for those things to happen?
Saturday, 30 May 2020
Midday Prayers Saturday 30th May 2020
Although Thy Kingdom Come doesn't finish until tomorrow (Pentecost Sunday), this is our last midday prayers - as tomorrow at 12pm we will be meeting virtually together as a church after our morning service.Here is the outline of today's midday prayers.
Preparation: As I enter prayer now, I pause to be still; to breath slowly; to re-centre my scattered senses upon the presence of God.
[Pause]
Rejoice: I choose to rejoice in God’s unfailing love today, joining with the ancient praise of all God’s people in the words of Psalm 48.
Great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise,
in the city of our God, his holy mountain.
2 Beautiful in its loftiness,
the joy of the whole earth,
like the heights of Zaphon[b] is Mount Zion,
the city of the Great King.
3 God is in her citadels;
he has shown himself to be her fortress.
…
9 Within your temple, O God,
we meditate on your unfailing love.
10 Like your name, O God,
your praise reaches to the ends of the earth;
your right hand is filled with righteousness.
11 Mount Zion rejoices,
the villages of Judah are glad
because of your judgments.
12 Walk about Zion, go round her,
count her towers,
13 consider well her ramparts,
view her citadels,
that you may tell of them
to the next generation.
14 For this God is our God for ever and ever;
he will be our guide even to the end.
Spend some time worshipping God.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UzNujfU39A
Ask:
Pray the Lord’s Prayer
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.
Spend some time praying together, using the following points as prompts if you want.
• Pray for the Holy Spirit to put on your heart the desires of heaven for your 5
• Pray for those people and situations that are on our WhatsApp prayer board.
• Pray that God will use us – whatever that means (e.g. the courage to open our mouths, the strength to be obedient)
• Pray for our community and nation as we’re all affected by the impact of Covid-19.
• Pray for our government.
Yield:
Lord, we pray that you will show us how you want us to be part of the answer to the prayers that we have prayed.
Father, help me to live this day to the full,
Being true to You in every way.
Jesus, help me to give myself away to others,
Being kind to everyone I meet.
Spirit, help me to love the lost,
Proclaiming Christ in all I do and say.
Amen.
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