1

Sunday,29thAugust2021DearFriends,Ihopeeveryoneiswellasweheadintoabeautifulweekend.Theweathermanactuallysaid,‘weatherinthewestisbest!’.Somefestivalsarebackontrack.WearelovingParalympics,watchingathleteswithextraordinarydeterminationandfortitude.Theblackberriesareripeningasschoolsheadbackthisweek.OurlittleladyinTokyoloveseating,shecan’tmanagethespoon,sogoesstraightintothebowl!Agreatvideotoshowwhensheturnseighteen.ThisweekwehavebeenstunnedbytheunfoldingtragedyinAfghanistan.Weprayearnestlyfor freedom and protection for thosewho are suffering there. In the 13th century BC, theIsraelitesweresufferingundertheirpoliticalmastersinEgypt.TheycriedouttoGod,wholedthem through thewatersof theRedSea to freedom in thepromised land. InBaptism,GodleadsusfromthedeathofsinthroughthewatersofBaptismtonewnessoflife.

INTRODUCTIONTOOURBAPTISMSERVICE

OurLordJesusChristhastoldusthattoenterthekingdomofheaven

wemustbebornagainofwaterandtheSpirit,andhasgivenusbaptismasthesign

andsealofthisnewbirth.HerewearewashedbytheHolySpirit

andmadeclean.HereweareclothedwithChrist,dyingtosinthatwemaylivehisrisenlife.AschildrenofGod,wehaveanewdignity

andGodcallsustofullnessoflife.

2

BaptismisafundamentalpartofbeingaChristian.TomorrowisBaptismSundayinourbeneficewithfourBaptismServicesandsevenchildrenbeingbaptised(movingforwards,baptismswillbeon5thSundaysinthemonth).Jesushimselfwasbaptisedandimmediatelybeforeheascendedbacktohisfatherinheavenhecommandedhisfollowerstogoandbaptiseothers.

JESUSFINALWORDSTOHISFOLLOWERS

“Ihavebeengivenallauthorityinheavenandonearth.Go,then,toallpeopleseverywhereandmakethemmydisciples:baptisetheminthenameoftheFather,theSon,andtheHolySpirit,andteachthemtoobeyeverythingIhavecommandedyou.AndIwillbewithyou

always,totheendoftheage.”(Matt28.18-20))

Duringtomorrow’sBaptismServicestherearefoursignswhichhelpustounderstandwhatbaptismisaboutandwhatfollowingJesusinvolves.PouringwateroverthecandidateisaboutGodwashingawayoursinsandgivingusnewlife;anointingwithoilremindsusthatGodhasapurposeforeachoneofus;signingwiththecrossremindsusthatJesusdiedforusandroseagain,thatthereisalwaysanewbeginninginlifewheneverythingseemslost,andthatdeathisnottheend;thegivingofalightedcandleremindsusthatJesusisthelightoftheworld,thatheiswithusalwaysandthatifwefollowhimwewillnevergetlost.

FAVOURITEVERSEFROMTHEBIBLE

“IaloneknowtheplansIhaveforyou”,saystheLord,“planstobringyouprosperityandnotdisaster,planstobringaboutthefutureyouhopefor.”(Jer.29.11)

DuringourbaptismGodtouchesusdeepwithinoursouls.GodgivesushisHolySpiritandwearebornagaintolifeinallitsfullness.Godpromisestobewithusalways,inthislifeandinthelifetocome

PARTOFFINALPRAYERINOURBAPTISMSERVICE

N,todayGodhastouchedyouwithhisloveandgivenyouaplaceamongsthispeople.

Godpromisestobewithyouinjoyandinsorrow,

tobeyourguideinlife,andtobringyousafelytoheaven.

InbaptismGodinvitesyouonalife-longjourney.

3

Ifyoucan,docomeandjoinusatoneofourBaptismServicestomorrow–11.00am,12noonand1pmatChristChurchandat2pmatStMary’s.(WeareplanningBaptismServicesatStMichael’son31stOctober.)

VERSEFROMAFAVOURITEHYMNWEWILLBESINGING

Lord,thelightofyourloveisshiningInthemidstofthedarkness,shining

Jesus,Lightoftheworld,shineuponusSetusfreebythetruthyounowbringus

Shineonme,shineonme

TherewillbesaidcommunionfromtheBookofCommonPrayeratSt.Michael’sat9.30amtomorrow,29thAugust,and,asalways,zoomSundayWorshipat11:00am.DoletJudyormeknowifyouwouldlikeazoominvite.Youwillfeelverywelcome.

COVIDrestrictionsarenowlessinChurch.Therewillbesingingandafter-servicecoffee.Wearingmasksisonlyrequestedwhilewecomein,gooutofandmoveroundthechurch.Wesitinalternaterowstokeepsomesocialdistancing.Ouraimistoreducerestrictionssensiblyandcautiously.

4

AsmanywillknowBillBadgerysadlypassedawaylastweekend.Hewasapolite,well-spoken,caringgentlemanandatruefriendtomany.BillwasaloyalsupporteroftheChurch,servingaschurchwardenformany,manyyears.BillandMurielworkedcontinuouslytoraisemoneyforPendlesideHospiceandtosupporttheChurch.Theywerealwaystheretohelpoutandsupportfolkwheneverneeded.Hewasadearmanandwillbeverymuchmissedbymany.

WethinkofWinnie’sfamilyandfriendsthisweekafterherfunerallastThursday.Wesawlovelyphotosandheardstoriesofherlong,richandfamilycenteredlife.Averyspecialperson.

Hereisareminderofournewservicepatternstarting5thSeptember.SundayCommunionisatraditionalcommunionserviceforall.SundayWorshipoffersalternativewaysofworshippingGodforall.

5

PRAYER

GodofHosts,rebuildyourChurchonlivesofthankfulnessandpersistentprayer.Amen

TheenticingaromaofsausagesandbaconwillgreetthosewhoattendtheserviceatChristChurchon5thSeptember.Itwillbesowonderfultobemovingoninournewfuture.Wealsohaveourfirst‘sitdown’LunchClubtolookforwardtothiscomingThursday.Itwillbeveryspecial.AnextratreatthisThursdaywillbetheopportunityforus,havingenjoyedadeliciouslunch,towatchafilmtogether.Muchtolookforwardto.AsalwaysIamthinkingandprayingforfolk.Ifthereisanythingyouneedpleasecall.Ifyouhavespecialprayerrequestspleaseletmeknow.Ilovetoprayeachdayandifyouarehappyforustodoso,weprayforfolkeachweekatcompline.Withloveandblessings,RevJohnMobile:07845790421.john.knott51@iCloud.com

ATRADITIONALBAPTISMPRAYERHeavenlyFather,bythepowerofyourHolySpirit

yougiveyourfaithfulpeoplenewlifeinthewaterofbaptism.GuideandstrengthenusbythesameSpirit,

thatwewhoarebornagainmayserveyouinfaithandlove,andgrowintothefullstatureofyourSon,JesusChrist,

whoisaliveandreignswithyouintheunityoftheHolySpiritnowandforever.Amen.

SHINE,JESUSSHINE

Lord,thelightofyourloveisshiningInthemidstofthedarkness,shining

Jesus,Lightoftheworld,shineuponusSetusfreebythetruthyounowbringus

Shineonme,shineonme

Shine,Jesus,shineFillthislandwiththeFather'sglory

Blaze,Spirit,blazeSetourheartsonfire

Flow,river,flowFloodthenationswithgraceandmercy

6

SendforthyourwordLord,andlettherebelight

Lord,IcometoyourawesomepresenceFromtheshadowsintoyourradiance

BythebloodImayenteryourbrightnessSearchme,tryme,consumeallmydarkness

Shineonme,shineonme

AswegazeonyourkinglybrightnessSoourfacesdisplayyourlikenessEverchangingfromglorytoglory

MirroredheremayourlivestellyourstoryShineonme,shineonme