Week beginning 25th October

 Forgiveness.

God forgave my sin in Jesus’ name

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

Reading Luke’s gospel, chapter 6, verses 37 to 42.

God how can we forgive

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zuBTuh4CsyE

There is no doubt that the world is a stressful place for many people at present. People are worried about their health, their finances, or their job. In some cases, all three. There are people who have lost their source of income, and who fall through the gaps in the support systems. Some were furloughed from their jobs, only to be made redundant when the situation did not improve as quickly as was hoped.

For others, the stress manifests itself in new and strange ways of having to do things which are necessary for life; standing in queues to get in to shops, toilets or other premises because of restrictions on how many people may be in at one time; not being able to meet up with friends, family, or business associates; working from home; wearing masks, or working behind screens which make communication difficult.

People are trying to perform unfamiliar tasks in their jobs, often attempting to make difficult, new, rules work in unfamiliar situations. Often these people are receiving abuse and threats of violence from members of the public, unused to having their routines altered, their freedoms curtailed.

People are having to make difficult decisions about their businesses, perhaps having to close down, after many years in the same trade, or having to make staff redundant who have worked with them for a long time. Such decisions often make people weep with frustration.

Times like this bring out the best, and worst in people. Modern technology makes it so easy to publish thoughts, sometime too easy. Any of you who have access to the modern phenomenon called “Social Media” must be aware of how easy it is for people to tell the world what has happened to them, or what they think about something.

At the moment, many people are experiencing the frustrations described above, and this is resulting in people making errors in their work. Errors, which in more normal times would pass with little comment, but now seem much more important. We read of how excited people get, when errors are made by tradespeople, shopkeepers, administrators and the like. Much verbal venom is expressed, about errors which can actually be rectified quite simply.

James Herriot, in his books about the life of a vet inYorkshire, describes the response of a typical farmer to life changing problems in his life. “Aye well, these things happen.” was his response. We seem to have lost some of this grit, or stoicism, in our modern world. Perhaps there needs to be a “Delay” setting on our social media devices, giving us a period of time to re-consider whether we really want this tought to be published to the world! In the past, when prompted to write a letter on some matter or another (in one case a resignation) I wrote the letter, addressed it, but did not sign it, and left it on my desk overnight. Only then, after some time had passed, did I decide whether or not to post it, usually deciding not to and tearing the letter up!

You may be familiar with the Latin phrase "Errare humanum est, perseverare autem diabolicum." It translates to: "To err is human, but to persist [in error] is diabolical." The saying is often attributed to Lucius Annaeus Seneca (6B.C. to 65 A.D.)

A better known saying is “Errare humanum est, ignoscere divinum.” To err is human, to forgive is divine. Attributed to Alexander Pope. (1688 to 1744)

Both writers grasp the essential truth that error is a part of the human nature, indeed, my father used to say that anyone who has never made an error has never made anything else either.

Jesus knew that we all make errors. He knew that we all need forgiveness and that God would offer that forgiveness. He urged us to forgive others when they make errors. He even went on to say that the standard we use when forgiving others, is the standard that God will use for us!

“Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” is what we are urged to pray. It may not be easy, it may involve us in swallowing our pride, but next time we have to queue for something, or someone makes a mistake in something we have asked them to do, remember that if you forgive, you are acting in a God-like (divine) manner.

Forgive our sins as we forgive

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kv0sXSBH2ks

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, we still think of ourselves as more important than others, and squabble like children about who is the greatest.

We like to think that people look up to us, and that we really are better that they.

But you upset our ideas, and offend against all protocol by rolling up your sleeves and coming to serve us.

Help us to forget our old ideas about precedence; let our dignity look after itself, and let us find the joy of being useful to others

It is good to know that our place is to serve, and that this is our usefulness.

You do not ask us to worry over motives or results, but quietly, unpretentiously, to do our job in trusting obedience.

Thank you for inviting the church to play its life in this minor key, and yet to enjoy the full music of your role.

Amen

Taken from “More Contemporary Prayers”

SCM Press, 1970.

We are one in the Spirit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LcU5ENgutpE

May I take this opportunity of reminding our U.K. readers that you should have put your clocks and watches back one hour.

Week beginning 18th October 2020

 The Lords Prayer

Psalm 69: 30 I will praise God’s name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving.

Praise the Lord! Ye heavens,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eAxiXfBaas

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name.

Isaiah 63: 7 – 16

I will tell of the kindnesses of the Lord,   the deeds for which he is to be praised,   according to all the Lord has done for us— yes, the many good things   he has done for Israel,  according to his compassion and many kindnesses.8 He said, “Surely they are my people,   children who will be true to me”;  and so he became their Saviour. 9 In all their distress he too was distressed,   and the angel of his presence saved them.In his love and mercy he redeemed them;
 he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. 10 Yet they rebelled   and grieved his Holy Spirit. So he turned and became their enemy   and he himself fought against them.

11 Then his people recalled  the days of old, the days of Moses and his people—where is he who brought them through the sea, with the shepherd of his flock? Where is he who set  his Holy Spirit among them, 12 who sent his glorious arm of power  to be at Moses’ right hand,
who divided the waters before them,  to gain for himself everlasting renown,13 who led them through the depths? Like a horse in open country,  they did not stumble; 14 like cattle that go down to the plain,   they were given rest by the Spirit of the Lord. This is how you guided your people     to make for yourself a glorious name.15 Look down from heaven and see,   from your lofty throne, holy and glorious. Where are your zeal and your might?   Your tenderness and compassion are withheld from us. 16 But you are our Father,  though Abraham does not know us  or Israel acknowledge usyou, Lord, are our Father, our Redeemer from of old is your name.

One of the Comandments from God in Exodus 20:7 You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

Most of us are given a name by our parents; some of us are named after someone in the family, a name we sometimes shorten or get shortened by others. God we are instucted to call Father by Jesus, when he taught his disiples to pray. God most holy is His name.

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

The will of God will never take you,
Where the grace of God cannot keep you.
Where the arms of God cannot support you,
Where the riches of God cannot supply your needs,
Where the power of God cannot endow you.

This next song helps to understand the will of God. Hope you find it helpful as you listen to it.

"This is the will of God”

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

Prayer: Dear Lord, I believe that You uphold the creation by the strength of Your mighty power and Your great wisdom, and that in Your Word You have laid out all that we need to live godly lives that are pleasing to You.

 I desire to do Your will oh God, and I pray that I may serve You in the manner that You require. Lord, in humility of heart I admit that I can do nothing of myself, but only as You give me Your sufficient grace, Your wisdom and Your strength. 

Help me I pray, to live each day of my life in holiness and righteousness, in humility of heart and with self-control. Help me to walk in spirit and in truth and to do only those things that I have heard from You, through the Word of God and the gentle promptings of Your Holy Spirit in my inner soul.

May I look to You and not to the ways of the world. May I grow in grace and in a knowledge of the Lord Jesus, and may I apply myself diligently to pursue You greater plans and purpose in my life, willingly accepting correction, eager to forgive others and enjoying sweet fellowship with You day by day. This I ask in Jesus' name,

 Amen.

Give us this day our daily bread.

Exodus 16: 4 – 7a

4 Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. 5 On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days.’

6  So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, ‘In the evening you will know that it was the Lord who brought you out of Egypt, 7a  and in the morning you will see the glory of the Lord,

Guide me, O thou great Jehovah

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wT4n1hGjDDg

Jesus said that he was the bread of life, Jesus obeyed and trusted God his father and Jesus wants us to trust him with all of our being. God gives us our daily food to eat and the Word of God, our spiritual food for our souls

And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.

Father forgive Father forgive

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBq94CUNp-0

If we expect God to forgive us, then we should also forgive those who say they are sorry to us.

This is Gods will and teaching.

And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.

Ask God in your prayers to save you from temtptaions. Ask him to deliver you from the things that stop you from doing things His way

Yield not to temptation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNOt9OUsiP0

1 Chronicles 29:11-13

New International Version

11 Yours, Lord, is the greatness and the power
    and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
    for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
Yours, Lord, is the kingdom;
    you are exalted as head over all.
12 Wealth and honor come from you;
    you are the ruler of all things.
In your hands are strength and power
    to exalt and give strength to all.
13 Now, our God, we give you thanks,
    and praise your glorious name.

For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.

For thine is the Kingdom and the glory forever and ever. Amen

For thine is the kingdom

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pB84OR5Gzbs

Luke 11: 1 – 10

1 One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”

2 He said to them, “When you pray, say:

“‘Father,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come.
3 Give us each day our daily bread.
4 Forgive us our sins,
    for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
And lead us not into temptation.”

5 Then Jesus said to them, “Suppose you have a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; 6 a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have no food to offer him.’ 7 And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Don’t bother me. The door is already locked, and my children and I are in bed. I can’t get up and give you anything.’ 8 I tell you, even though he will not get up and give you the bread because of friendship, yet because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need.

9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

The Lords prayer sung most movingly by Andrea Bocelli

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8jImIjg4UY

Week beginning October 11th

 Amos 7: 1-9

God is building ahouse

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lCoVYriZb0

Matthew 5: 13-16

The next hymn (below) is set to the tune Leoni.

Tune: Leoni

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0x_Lom_8_Dw

A little bit of salt will quickly show its worth;
A little bit of faithfulness will change the earth.
God, make us worth our salt — a church that's glad to be
The change that you desire in each community.

A lamp that's in a house gives safety, warmth and light;
It's set upon a table where it shines so bright.
God, make your church a light that bravely takes a stand
To bring your love and justice into all the land.

A garden is a place where so much beauty grows,
Where flowers bloom and food is raised and water flows.
When worship leads us out to care for the oppressed,
O God, you say we're like a garden at its best.

When worship leads us out to love and serve the poor,
To welcome in the immigrant at our own door,
O God, then we'll be called "repairers of the breach,"
And we your church will be "restorers of the streets."

It's tempting to remain well-hidden, quiet, bland —
Yet, God, you make us salt and light to change this land.
You send us out to love, to build and to repair,
Till peace and justice flourish here and everywhere.

Carolyn Winfrey Gillette (born 1961)

It is about 60 years since I started going to church. In that time, I must have heard thousands of sermons. I have been in the congregations of many learned and telented preachers, the learned and the experienced, and yet I can remember only a few. Only one really stands out in my memory. Perhaps you may expect that it was delivered by one of the greats, a learned name from amongst the preachers of the era. Well you would be wrong. The sermon was delivered by a Methodist local preacher in Pately Bridge Methodist Church, sometime in the mid 1970s. A group of us from the Methodist Society at university had gone to Ramsgill Youth Hostel for our annual retreat, and we were at Sunday worship. I’m afraid that I do not remember the name of the preacher, but his trext was “I will set up a plumbline against my nation Israel”. He told a story of how he had been building a wall, and had enlisted the help of a friend who knew what he was doing. The day was set, the stone delivered, and his friend appeared. “Where’s your plumbline?” was his the first question. “Why do we need a plumbline?” he asked, “We’re only going up a few feet!” “We can’t build a wall without a plumbline, even if we are only going up a few feet” came the reply.

The preacher then went on to explain how important a standard was in our lives, however high we were planning to go.

Many years ago, I wanted to wallpaper my bathroom. Against my father’s advice, I opted for a wallpaper called “Tiling on a roll.” My bathroom at the time was extremely small, every piece of wallpaper had to be fitted round one fitting or another. I really did use a plumb line on every single piece of wallpaper. I was congratulating myself on how good it looked, right up until I put the last piece of paper in to the last corner, when it was clear that the tile courses were about 1cm out of alignment! The job looked good until I had something to compare it with.

Jesus tells us that we are to be salt and light to the world.

Salt changes things. Years ago, I was an officer on a Boys’ Brigade camp, and asked a boy to make the porridge. We munched our way through some rather tasteless, slightly sweet, wallpaper paste. I asked the boy how much salt he had added, and he said “None”. The reason for the tastelessness was revealed.

If you went to a friend’s for a meal, and you said after the meal “That was lovely salt”, they would think that you were trying to be funny. But the small amount of salt has made a big difference to the meal.

We are called on to change things, we are called on to give the world its flavour. We are to improve the world, to stop people’s lives from being poor insipid shadows of what they ought to be. If we don’t do these things, if we fail to give the world its flavour, then the salt has lost its savour, it is only fit to be thrown away. Quite an indictment of us.

When I was at school, we put on a performance of Macbeth. In one scene, Lady Macbeth comes on stage rubbing her hands together with blood on them. Backstage, we had a tin of red paint which the actor had to dip hands in for this scene. Unfortunately, we had several tins of paint, and it was dark so it was inevitable that one night, the wrong tin would be used. It was only when on stage, in the light, that the error could be seen. Only when there was light could mistakes be seen. We are called on to be the light that enables the world to see its mistakes.

We often become disheartened that we cannot do much in the face of overwhelming evil. But, in darkness, even a very small amount of light will shine out. In a photographic darkroom, when a roll of sellotape is unrolled, a glow is visible. If a sugar cube is crushed, a blue glow can be seen. A small amount of light will change darkness.

We are called on to be the salt, the light, the plumbline.

When I moved to Grimsby I came across a saying that I had never heard before “An ounce of help is worth a pound of sympathy”

There is a story of a businessman who was moving his stock on a cart which broke a wheel and the stock fell down and was broken. As usual at such events, a crown gathered and people stood round saying how sorry they were. An elderly man pushed his way through the crowd, looked at the scene, took his wallet out and opened it . He took £5-00 out and gave it to the businessman saying “I’m sorry £5-00,” and looked at the crowd saying “How sorry are you?”

Little deeds of kindness,

little words of love,

Make our earth an Eden

like the heaven above.

Julia A. Carney, (1823 – 1908)

Brighten the corner where you are

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0gb4wTEmtGU

Prayer:

Father, we thank you for your witnesses in the past, and we remember those who are your witnesses today. We thank you for those who have gone to lands other than their own. Help them to understand the people they live among, to be true to you and by the way they live and the words they speak tom point men and women to Jesus Christ.

We think of all bible translators, especially those putting languages into to a written form for the first time. Help them in their task, so that through the written testimony provided by scripture men and women may come to faith in Jesus Christ.

We think of all ministers of the gospel. By the way they live, the words they speak, and the love they have for people, may they be a living demnonstration of your love and power.

We think of those who suffer opposition or persecution because of their witness to you. Keep them faithful, so that their patience is suffering may point people to the suffering and patience of Christ.

Father, we are your people, and you appoint us all to be your witnesses before the world; it is we who provide the evidence on which the world judges. May we provide the evidence that is needed, so that others may come to believe in you, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Jesus bids us shine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9_ZMQ7x_R0

Week beginning October 4th

 Virtual Harvest Festival

* (If youtube asks you to join, click no thanks. Then click the play button again .)

John Rutter: For the Beauty of ther earth ( listen)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTOfSKXkRa0

The land has yielded its harvest: God, our God has blessed us. Psalm 67:6

Come ye thankful people come

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imK0j7eBJsc

Prayer

Lord of the Harvest, thank you for creating this world, thank you for all that we gather from earth, the seas, and rivers.

Lord of the Harvest. Thank you for food that nourishes our bodies and for spiritual food that fills our souls. Thank you for life-giving water, and for the air we breathe.

We thank you for the seasons, for the sunshine, rain, snow, and wind.

Lord of the Harvest. We give you thanks for all of your gifts you have given to us. Amen

The parable of sower Mathew 13: 1 - 23 read, watch or both

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

1That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 Whoever has ears, let them hear.”

10 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?”

11 He replied, “Because the knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see;     though hearing, they do not hear or understand. 14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:

“‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding;  you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. 15 For this people’s heart has become calloused;    they hardly hear with their ears,   and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes,
    hear with their ears,   understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ 16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For truly I tell you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. 18 “Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. 22 The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. 23 But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.” NIV Bible

About the next hymn

"We Plough the Fields and Scatter" is an English translation by Jane M. Campbel of the German hymn, "Wir Pflügen und Wir Streuen" written by Matthias Claudius in 1782. The tune, 'Wir Pflügen' was published anonymously in the Hanover collection Lieder für Volksschulen in 1800. It has been credited to Johann A. P. Schulz. This performance is by The London Fox Choir. Video backgrounds by Video by Tuur Tisseghem, Kelly Lacy and Rick Coyle; all from Pixabay.

We plough the fields and scatter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccVEjKFkAV4

Harvest - A Short History

Harvest is from the Anglo-Saxon word hærfest, "Autumn". It then came to refer to the season for reaping and gathering grain and other grown products. The full moon nearest the autumnal equinox is called the Harvest Moon. So in ancient traditions Harvest Festivals were traditionally held on or near the Sunday of the Harvest Moon. This moon is the full moon which falls in the month of September.

An early Harvest Festival used to be celebrated at the beginning of the Harvest season on 1 August and was called Lammas, meaning 'loaf Mass'.

Farmers made loaves of bread from the fresh wheat crop. These were given to the local church as the Communion bread during a special service thanking God for the harvest. Nowadays the festival is held at the end of harvest, which varies in different parts of Britain. Sometimes neighbouring churches will set the Harvest Festival on different Sundays so that people can attend each other's thanksgivings.

Farmers celebrated the end of the harvest with a big meal called a harvest supper. Some churches and villages still have a Harvest Supper.

The modern British tradition of celebrating Harvest Festival in churches began in 1843, when the Reverend Robert Hawker invited parishioners to a special thanksgiving service at his church at Morwenstow in Cornwall. Victorian hymns such as "We plough the fields and scatter", "Come ye thankful people, come" and "All things bright and beautiful" but also Dutch and German harvest hymns in translation helped popularise his idea of harvest festival and spread the annual custom of decorating churches with home-grown produce for the Harvest Festival service.

This year is a little different it is the first time that I can remember when we have not been able to meet for worship and to decorate the Chapel. So today I ask you if you are able to send a small monetory gift to charity or to a cause close to you heart in lieu of the harvest produce you would have brought to the Chapel.

Sowing the seed by the dawn-light fair,

* https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9WaqnckaBg

1 Sowing the seed by the dawn-light fair,
Sowing the seed by the noonday glare,
Sowing the seed by the fading light,
Sowing the seed in the solemn night:
O what shall the harvest be?

O what shall the harvest be?

Refrain:
Sown in the darkness or sown in the light,
Sown in our weakness or sown in our might,
Gathered in time or eternity,
Sure, ah! sure, will the harvest be.

2 Sowing the seed by the wayside high,
Sowing the seed on the rocks to die,
Sowing the seed where the thorns will spoil,
Sowing the seed in the fertile soil:
O what shall the harvest be?

O what shall the harvest be?

Refrain:

Sown in the darkness or sown in the light,
Sown in our weakness or sown in our might,
Gathered in time or eternity,
Sure, ah! sure, will the harvest be.

3 Sowing the seed with an aching heart,
Sowing the seed while the tear-drops start,
Sowing in hope, till the reapers come,
Gladly to gather the harvest home:
O what shall the harvest be?

O what shall the harvest be?

Refrain:.
Sown in the darkness or sown in the light,
Sown in our weakness or sown in our might,
Gathered in time or eternity,
Sure, ah! sure, will the harvest be.

Sure, ah! sure, will the harvest be
Source: The Song Book of the Salvation Army

Prayer

Heavenly Father be with me as I go through days of uncertainty. May I feel your love and presence with me . I ask that you will help the scientists to find an antidote to Covid 19 virus . We ask that you be with those who are poorly, for those in hospital, for the front line services. Be with those who have lost loved ones. Be with all the medical services through the world. Be with those who are working to bring peace. And for those who are working to bring and end to injustice. Father God, may Governments and world leaders work together for the good of all. Lord of the Harvest, let the food parcels reach the hungry that they may be fed. Lord of the Harvest, bless the charities that are working to bring clean water and aid to every one in this your world. Help me always to be thankful and see you in the good that is around me and in the splendour of your creation. Father God in your mercy hear my prayers, For I ask them in the holy name of your Son Jesus Christ . Amen.

Listen to this song: Lord of the harvest

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qd6XGvqNGVc

Bible Reading 2 Corinthians 9:6-15

6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written: “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;   their righteousness endures forever.” Psalm 112:9

10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 

A photo of an Aero Broadcast Seed Sower D.L.K

Have you ever wondered where the word broadcaster came from?

It was a device that spreads seeds over a wide area using a cord and bow that spun a wheel that span out the grain or seed. It did not always go where the farmer wanted it to land. Some of it was eaten by the birds, some would land on stoney soil or among the weeds. And lots would land on good soil. It would them germinate and later in the year it would be ready to be harvested.

The modern word for broadcaster is associated with television and radio,

usually to do with the NEWS. North East West South.

Jesus came to spread or broadcast the good news of God and His wonderful goodness and love. Jesus Sat in a boat to Broadcast the news of the parable of The Sower.

The disiples came to spread the Good news of Jesus and how He died that we may through him have life in full abundance. Jesus asked his disiples to follow him, he asks this of us still today.

One way of looking at harvest is througth the eyes of Jesus as he talked about the meaning of the sower story to his disiples .

To day we we look at God’s word in the Bible. The word is the seed.

Preachers missionaries & Belivers Spread the word.

Another way of looking at harvest, is on a personal leavel. When we received the word with in us, did we nurture it? Have we propagated it with the warmth of God’s love , fed it with food from the Spirit, illuminated by the Light of Christ , and quenched it with water of eternity? have we weeded around it? Or has life’s calling smothered it? Did the seed grow only for a short time? Did someone take it from you ? Only you can answer these questions. The good news is that there plenty more seeds God will always be there beside you. If you have decided that you would like to have the word of God’s love planted in your heart this harvest then listen to the “Lord of the harvest” again while it is playing say “Lord of the harvest enter in to my heart, become real to me, that I may feel your presence, your love and your Peace”.

Have you ever watched seeds of a dandelion clock? You may have picked one and blown the seeds off. When I was a child I was told that when you blow them and count the puffs it takes to empty the head that is what the time was in fairy land. Even today some fifty years on I love watching the seeds being carried on the wind. God’s word is carried on the wind by the holy spirit. When the fruits of the spirit fall on us we must not make excuses for not wanting to spread His word.

As we know Covid 19 is flexing its strength, we cannot meet together so what can we do? Some one may be hoping for a letter or phone call from you,

Something may have happened and we feel we want to share it, We are here for each other.

Please do not sow your seed sparingly. Pick the phone and chat to some one, drop them a line or card. Love generously.

12 This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. 13 Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. 14 And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. 15 Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

All things bright and beautiful.

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

For a few months now we have been putting services on line for you to follow but I never thought for one moment that folk like your selves would be reading this from all corners of the earth. So friends, May The Lord of the harvest fill you with His Love and Peace this day and always. Amen

God bless you.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUtll3mNj5U