Previous Service
Welcome
We give thanks to You our Sovereign Lord for the life and reign of Queen Elizabeth II. Comfort her family and all, as we mourn her passing. Our Lord and God be with King Charles III and bless his reign and may he also stand for You and Your truth, justice, peace and righteousness, in Jesus Christ, Amen.
Worship
Word
Please read: Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd
Psalm 23:1
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
Ps 23:4
I’ve sometimes heard it said by a believer going through trying and difficult times, words to the effect, “I don’t know how people who don’t have Jesus in their lives, and who don’t have the support of God’s people, especially their prayers, get through these types of things.” But the fact is they don’t get through and the sudden realisation of their mortality causes them to break down and cry out in desperation for help.
The passing of Queen Elizabeth has brought home to the nation that even the lives of the most faithful and longest serving monarchs come to an end here on earth. At funerals people break down and weep profusely as the line is sung of the above hymn:
Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see;
O Thou who changes not, abide with me.
Truly life passes swiftly, it is a little day! What is the glory of this life about? We can all think back to trying times in our lives, harrowing times, painful times, maybe many years ago, but as we look back, we have to agree that the Lord brought us through. The Lord our Shepherd guided us through those dark days and deep valleys and more than that He actually used it all to strengthen and purify our faith in Him so that we can also help others going through similar difficulties:
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in … trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
2 Cor 1:3-4
Who else but Jesus can say these words with such confidence:
I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.
John 16:33
Only Jesus, through dying on the cross and rising again, has overcome this sin-sick world and conquered the grave and death itself. If you have never accepted Jesus into your life but believe it is now time you did then please pray this short prayer to the Good Shepherd who laid down His life for the sheep:
Lord Jesus Christ, thank You that You so loved me that You gave Your life for me dying on that cross for my sin. Forgive me Lord for all the wrongs I have done and come and live in my life by Your Spirit to help me begin a new life, where I no longer live for myself and this world but for You and Your Kingdom, in Jesus Christ’s Name, Amen!
Quote of the week
“Death is but the dark valley opening out into an eternity of delight with God. It is not something to fear, but an experience through which one passes on the paths to a more perfect life”
Phillip Keller
Verse of the week
Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? … You know the way to the place where I am going … I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
John 14:1-6