Message from our Minister
Throughout Jesus’ ministry he was being challenged continually by the religious leaders of his time and questioned as to ‘who was in, and who was out’; who were acceptable and worthy to receive God’s love and who were expected to remain on the margins of society, largely forgotten. Jesus powerfully answered these questions, not only by what he said, but also by what he did. His mandate was to be founded upon the very passage of scripture that he read in the synagogue at the beginning of his ministry. It was from Isaiah 61:1-2.
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.”
In replying to the persistent questioning of Jesus as to who was important to God, the unequivocal answer was and is – everyone. God our Father takes the initiative and seeks us out, meets us where we are and shows us the depth of his love for us. We are indeed all special.
The late Queen Elizabeth II knew that she was special. Not only because she was a member of the Royal Family with all the privileges and responsibilities that come with the role; she knew that she was special because she had experienced God’s love for herself and made a commitment to follow Jesus Christ all of her life in every respect.
At her Coronation on the 2nd June 1953 in Westminster Abbey, before she was crowned, she went to the High Altar to pray alone and knelt before Almighty God. What a powerful witness of faith. Our late Queen Elizabeth II will be forever remembered as, ‘The Servant Queen’; unwavering in her commitment to her role and steadfast in her Christian faith in serving the King.
Her Christmas broadcasts of recent years increasingly gave witness to her Christian faith which shone through whatever situation she was experiencing personally or the country was facing. She wanted people to know from where her strength came. She referred to Jesus as being her anchor and her role model.
The anchor on a sailing vessel is able to dig in deep to the sea bed to keep it safe and secure – especially when being buffeted by the storms and gales that come its way. The Queen found Jesus to be her anchor and steadfast strength in the storms and challenging times that came her way during her life.
There have been many stories shared of ‘an audience with the Queen’, either formally or informally. People can remember word for word the conversation that was shared. She made everyone feel special; she gave them time and connected with them. Her smile radiated the love of Jesus. She lived out her faith in her words and actions.
The late Queen Elizabeth II will undoubtedly be remembered for what she did and for what she said, but will most powerfully be remembered for who she was and her unshakeable, unmovable and resolute Christian faith.
God’s richest blessings to you all,
Rev John Izzard
Today
We conclude our series on God’s creative work with “I am doing a new thing”, from Isaiah 43:9. The speaker is Jane Dronfield.
Next Week
We begin a series on the Book of Daniel, “Faithful to God”. In chapter 1 Daniel does it God’s way, not the world’s way. Our speaker will be Rev John Izzard, who will also lead us in Holy Communion.
Thanks Be To God!
Prayer Meeting Saturday, 1st October at 8.30 am in the church.
Jokes have returned! These are from Simon.
My teacher always said not to worry about correct spelling, because the computer has autocorrect. And for that I am infernally grapefruit.
My doctor told me that I’m colour blind. That was such a bolt out of the purple.
Wife: Stop being an idiot, just be yourself. Me: Just make up your mind.
THE UNENDING WORSHIPPER
The Unending Worshipper is the tenth and final worshipper in Matt Redman’s book “The Unquenchable Worshipper” which we have been dipping into.
He quotes Melody Green (©Ears to Hear Music, CCLI 5573):
“When I stand in glory, I will see his face,
And there I’ll serve my King forever in that holy place.”
Here and now, we don’t see clearly (1 Cor. 13:12). But one day we shall see God face-to-face.
And he quotes CS Lewis: “Meanwhile we are merely tuning our instruments. The tuning up of the orchestra can be itself delightful, but only to those who can, in some measure, however little, anticipate the symphony.” The tuning of our instruments [is] a curious, formless noise, and yet strangely charming, because we hear something of our eternal destiny resounding in it.
An eternity with Jesus in our sights, we are all unending worshippers.
DO YOU have a Christian book you would like to share a passage from? Tell Martin.
