Rev John's Letter for Christ Church 29 August 2021
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1 Sunday, 29th August 2021 Dear Friends, I hope everyone is well as we head into a beautiful weekend. The weatherman actually said, ‘weather in the west is best!’. Some festivals are back on track. We are loving Paralympics, watching athletes with extraordinary determination and fortitude. The blackberries are ripening as schools head back this week. Our little lady in Tokyo loves eating, she can’t manage the spoon, so goes straight into the bowl! A great video to show when she turns eighteen. This week we have been stunned by the unfolding tragedy in Afghanistan. We pray earnestly for freedom and protection for those who are suffering there. In the 13th century BC, the Israelites were suffering under their political masters in Egypt. They cried out to God, who led them through the waters of the Red Sea to freedom in the promised land. In Baptism, God leads us from the death of sin through the waters of Baptism to newness of life. INTRODUCTION TO OUR BAPTISM SERVICE Our Lord Jesus Christ has told us that to enter the kingdom of heaven we must be born again of water and the Spirit, and has given us baptism as the sign and seal of this new birth. Here we are washed by the Holy Spirit and made clean. Here we are clothed with Christ, dying to sin that we may live his risen life. As children of God, we have a new dignity and God calls us to fullness of life.
Transcript of Rev John's Letter for Christ Church 29 August 2021
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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.
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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.
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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.
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AsmanywillknowBillBadgerysadlypassedawaylastweekend.Hewasapolite,well-spoken,caringgentlemanandatruefriendtomany.BillwasaloyalsupporteroftheChurch,servingaschurchwardenformany,manyyears.BillandMurielworkedcontinuouslytoraisemoneyforPendlesideHospiceandtosupporttheChurch.Theywerealwaystheretohelpoutandsupportfolkwheneverneeded.Hewasadearmanandwillbeverymuchmissedbymany.
WethinkofWinnie’sfamilyandfriendsthisweekafterherfunerallastThursday.Wesawlovelyphotosandheardstoriesofherlong,richandfamilycenteredlife.Averyspecialperson.
Hereisareminderofournewservicepatternstarting5thSeptember.SundayCommunionisatraditionalcommunionserviceforall.SundayWorshipoffersalternativewaysofworshippingGodforall.
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PRAYER
GodofHosts,rebuildyourChurchonlivesofthankfulnessandpersistentprayer.Amen
TheenticingaromaofsausagesandbaconwillgreetthosewhoattendtheserviceatChristChurchon5thSeptember.Itwillbesowonderfultobemovingoninournewfuture.Wealsohaveourfirst‘sitdown’LunchClubtolookforwardtothiscomingThursday.Itwillbeveryspecial.AnextratreatthisThursdaywillbetheopportunityforus,havingenjoyedadeliciouslunch,towatchafilmtogether.Muchtolookforwardto.AsalwaysIamthinkingandprayingforfolk.Ifthereisanythingyouneedpleasecall.Ifyouhavespecialprayerrequestspleaseletmeknow.Ilovetoprayeachdayandifyouarehappyforustodoso,weprayforfolkeachweekatcompline.Withloveandblessings,RevJohnMobile:[email protected]
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
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SendforthyourwordLord,andlettherebelight
Lord,IcometoyourawesomepresenceFromtheshadowsintoyourradiance
BythebloodImayenteryourbrightnessSearchme,tryme,consumeallmydarkness
Shineonme,shineonme
AswegazeonyourkinglybrightnessSoourfacesdisplayyourlikenessEverchangingfromglorytoglory
MirroredheremayourlivestellyourstoryShineonme,shineonme
