Today we are joining Newport Methodists (Quay Street) at 10.30 for morning worship led by Street Pastors (including Kevin). No service at Gunville. Transport can be provided: ring 529697.
Next Sunday (10th August): We have a Tea Service at 4.00. Preacher Rev Dr Ruth Midcalf (who came a few weeks ago), leader Martin. Informal worship, tea afterwards. Please see Anne if you can bring along scones, cakes, whatever. Again, we have no morning service.
Birthdays this week: None!
Bookings this week:
Wed. Wed: Nellie’s in the hall 2-4 Fri. 9.30-11.30 in the church: Bonny Babies
Wed: Line Dancing (church) 5.45-6.45 Sat 12-3 in the hall: Bonny Babies
Church Council: Ignore previous dates – it’s on Thursday 2nd October.
THIRTY Following The Ark’s 30th anniversary, here are some Bible 30s (as in the NIV). You will know some, but you will need your Bible for others.
| 1. Which Judge had 30 sons? (Judges 10:3-4) | |
| 2. Which Judge had 30 grandsons? (Judges 12:13-14) | |
| 3. Who was seated at the head of 30 invited guests? (1 Samuel 9:22) | |
| 4. Who was 30 when he became king? (2 Samuel 5:4) | |
| 5. How many men were in David’s band called “The Thirty”? (2 Samuel 23:39) | |
| 6. Of which Temple items returned by King Cyrus were there 30? (Ezra 1:9-10) | |
| 7. What are the first 4 words of Psalm 30? | |
| 8. What had the writer written 30 of in Proverbs 22:20 ? | |
| 9. What was forbidden for 30 days in Daniel 6:7 ? | |
| 10. Which parable includes the numbers 100, 60, 30? (Matthew 13:3-8) | |
| 11. Who was given 30 silver coins? (Matthew 26:14-15) | |
| 12. Who was about 30 when he began his ministry? (Luke 3:23) |
Street Pastors
At today’s service at Newport, we shall hear about the work of Street Pastors on the Island. You can read more at: https://iowstreetpastors.org.uk/our-work/street-pastors/. There you will find out why these are some of the items of equipment they carry:
| Flip-flops | Chocolates | Lollipops | Bottles of water | Foil blankets |
You can also read about how you can support the work. Please pray for all the team, and remember especially Kevin. Perhaps you will understand why he is occasionally bleary-eyed in the morning!
Praying for the community: We have been talking to Kerith about praying and prayer walking together for our community. There is the possibility that we could meet together for a short prayer meeting followed by some prayer walking either on Sunday evening 7th September or Wednesday evening 10th September. Please let Martin know if you could come on either of these dates.
SONG SPOT
An old one this time: “Love divine” by Charles Wesley. Probably because of the first line, it’s a favourite at weddings, but it’s not about love as such: if you read the words carefully, you will see that it’s about Jesus, the joy of heaven who for love came to earth.
What may not be always realised is that it’s Wesley’s Christian rewriting of a song in Purcell’s opera “King Arthur”, with words by John Dryden. The first verse goes:
| Fairest Isle, all isles excelling, Seat of pleasure and of love. Venus here will choose her dwelling And forsake her Cyprian grove. | In other words, Venus, the Roman goddess of love, forsakes her island paradise to come to England. Wesley turns this into the Christian message of the incarnation, the Son of God coming to earth. |
Because of this link, John Wesley originally set Purcell’s tune “Fairest Isle” to his brother’s hymn. This tune reappeared in “Hymns and Psalms”, the 1983 Methodist hymn book, though not many churches used it, and it’s not in “Singing the Faith”.
The tune we usually use, Blaenwern, comes from the Welsh revival, and appeared in English hymn books only in the 1950s. I remember first hearing it as a revolutionary alternative to the traditional Victorian setting by Stainer.
Making Decisions
Our “Day by Day with God” Bible readings have recently been about making decisions, with Bible examples starting from Eve and the forbidden fruit. Advice in the notes has ranged from having a cup of tea before deciding (only half in jest) to the work of the Holy Spirit in guiding us (John 14), and to getting familiar with God’s word, “a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105).
The notes included St Ignatius’ advice on making good decisions. He offered 3 questions:
– “For me?” The road might be a good one, but is it right for me?
– “For now?” Is this road right for me now, or should I wait?
– “For good?” Will this road bear good fruit and draw me closer to God?
There is also this little story: Connie had been in the study for over an hour. Armed with a cup of tea, Gerry knocked on the door. He pushed it open to find his wife surrounded by a sea of lists, charts and Post-it notes. “What on earth are you doing?” he asked. “Oh, I’m just trying to work out whether we should paint the front door forest green or moss green. I’ve thought it through carefully and the most logical choice is moss green.” Gerry’s wistful silence drew a frustrated sigh from his wife. “What on earth is the matter?” “Nothing, it’s just that green makes me feel rather glum. Can’t we choose a shade of blue instead?”
– The point is, we may need to use our heads and our hearts to make the right decision. L&M
THIRTY – ANSWERS
| 1. Jair | 5. 37 | 9. Praying to anyone but the king |
| 2. Abdon | 6. Gold dishes & gold bowls | 10. The Sower |
| 3. Saul | 7. I will exalt you | 11. Judas Iscariot |
| 4. David | 8. Sayings | 12. Jesus |