Dear
friends,
Worship from the Heart - Where is the year going?
Here we are already in June, half way through the year and almost at the
end of the Methodist Connexional year. Clearly I am getting older as I have joined the group of people who say “oh isn’t
the year gong quickly!”
It’s also amazing to think of the new things we have done in our churches:
At Bold Street:
New Song Café on behalf of the circuit – 4th Sunday evening contemporary worship
@ 7pm in the hall
Book Club continues to inspire as members read and chat together
sharing thoughts.
Coffee Shop Paintings continue to provide a canvas for local artists to display their
work and skills.
Coffee and Chat provides an opportunity for members to have a informal conversation
and idea sharing.
Fellowship lunches are a wonderful reminder of the togetherness of our church family.
At
Latchford
Discipleship meets once a month for an informal discussion on various
issues and themes. Subjects covered include Methodism, Prayer, Reading the Bible and Change .. more to follow.
Singing
for Fun is a weekly get together of singing and fun – each Tuesday at 4pm in the Guild Room – led by
Gill and Barbara … Songs from the shows etc.
Shoppers Café provides a Saturday morning
drop in for coffee, chat and bacon sandwiches.
Kids Connecting and KC Kidz on Wed night offers a safe
space for our young people.
In both churches "Worship at home" - a monthly resource for all who cannot
physucally attened our church on a Sunday.
On the way – Street Pastors, Community Outreach Programme, Storytelling
@ Latchford, Midweek Luncheon, Home Groups, Monthly Communion and other ideas…all ways of reaching our community
and showing that our God cares and adores us and all who we seek to serve.
In addition to all our activities our worship is crucial. Worship is one of the most important activities
that we can engage in as Christians. Through worship
we are making a direct connection with God. As I expect you will know, the word “worship” comes from the old English
meaning - “Worth-Ship.” In 1 Chronicles 16:25 it says “For Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise”.
The God who made the universe and everything in it. The air
we breathe, the food we eat, the very life we have – God DESERVES our Worship.
Yet as Christians of course, we have even more cause to Worship God because even
when we were far from God and separated in our sinfulness – God sent Jesus to die for us upon the cross, to save us
from our sins and to call us His Children.
And
if that doesn’t inspire us to worship God, I’m not sure what will. So Worship is not primarily for us but for God. And fundamentally it is a response
from the heart. There
is a quote that says “God does not love you because you are thankful. You are thankful because God loves you.”
In other words Worship must never simply be an activity we
do because we have to. We
worship because it’s the way we give expression to the thankfulness in our hearts. If
worship ever becomes dull or boring – don’t simply blame the preacher or the hymns.
Look
instead into your heart.
May our God bless you
Jackie
