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Sunday,29thAugust2021DearFriends,Ihopeeveryoneiswellasweheadintoabeautifulweekend.Theweathermanactuallysaid,‘weatherinthewestisbest!’.Somefestivalsarebackontrack.WearelovingParalympics,watchingathleteswithextraordinarydeterminationandfortitude.Theblackberriesareripeningasschoolsheadbackthisweek.OurlittleladyinTokyoloveseating,shecan’tmanagethespoon,sogoesstraightintothebowl!Agreatvideotoshowwhensheturnseighteen.ThisweekwehavebeenstunnedbytheunfoldingtragedyinAfghanistan.Weprayearnestlyfor freedom and protection for thosewho are suffering there. In the 13th century BC, theIsraelitesweresufferingundertheirpoliticalmastersinEgypt.TheycriedouttoGod,wholedthem through thewatersof theRedSea to freedom in thepromised land. InBaptism,GodleadsusfromthedeathofsinthroughthewatersofBaptismtonewnessoflife.
INTRODUCTIONTOOURBAPTISMSERVICE
OurLordJesusChristhastoldusthattoenterthekingdomofheaven
wemustbebornagainofwaterandtheSpirit,andhasgivenusbaptismasthesign
andsealofthisnewbirth.HerewearewashedbytheHolySpirit
andmadeclean.HereweareclothedwithChrist,dyingtosinthatwemaylivehisrisenlife.AschildrenofGod,wehaveanewdignity
andGodcallsustofullnessoflife.
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BaptismisafundamentalpartofbeingaChristian.TomorrowisBaptismSundayinourbeneficewithfourBaptismServicesandsevenchildrenbeingbaptised(movingforwards,baptismswillbeon5thSundaysinthemonth).Jesushimselfwasbaptisedandimmediatelybeforeheascendedbacktohisfatherinheavenhecommandedhisfollowerstogoandbaptiseothers.
JESUSFINALWORDSTOHISFOLLOWERS
“Ihavebeengivenallauthorityinheavenandonearth.Go,then,toallpeopleseverywhereandmakethemmydisciples:baptisetheminthenameoftheFather,theSon,andtheHolySpirit,andteachthemtoobeyeverythingIhavecommandedyou.AndIwillbewithyou
always,totheendoftheage.”(Matt28.18-20))
Duringtomorrow’sBaptismServicestherearefoursignswhichhelpustounderstandwhatbaptismisaboutandwhatfollowingJesusinvolves.PouringwateroverthecandidateisaboutGodwashingawayoursinsandgivingusnewlife;anointingwithoilremindsusthatGodhasapurposeforeachoneofus;signingwiththecrossremindsusthatJesusdiedforusandroseagain,thatthereisalwaysanewbeginninginlifewheneverythingseemslost,andthatdeathisnottheend;thegivingofalightedcandleremindsusthatJesusisthelightoftheworld,thatheiswithusalwaysandthatifwefollowhimwewillnevergetlost.
FAVOURITEVERSEFROMTHEBIBLE
“IaloneknowtheplansIhaveforyou”,saystheLord,“planstobringyouprosperityandnotdisaster,planstobringaboutthefutureyouhopefor.”(Jer.29.11)
DuringourbaptismGodtouchesusdeepwithinoursouls.GodgivesushisHolySpiritandwearebornagaintolifeinallitsfullness.Godpromisestobewithusalways,inthislifeandinthelifetocome
PARTOFFINALPRAYERINOURBAPTISMSERVICE
N,todayGodhastouchedyouwithhisloveandgivenyouaplaceamongsthispeople.
Godpromisestobewithyouinjoyandinsorrow,
tobeyourguideinlife,andtobringyousafelytoheaven.
InbaptismGodinvitesyouonalife-longjourney.
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Ifyoucan,docomeandjoinusatoneofourBaptismServicestomorrow–11.00am,12noonand1pmatChristChurchandat2pmatStMary’s.(WeareplanningBaptismServicesatStMichael’son31stOctober.)
VERSEFROMAFAVOURITEHYMNWEWILLBESINGING
Lord,thelightofyourloveisshiningInthemidstofthedarkness,shining
Jesus,Lightoftheworld,shineuponusSetusfreebythetruthyounowbringus
Shineonme,shineonme
TherewillbesaidcommunionfromtheBookofCommonPrayeratSt.Michael’sat9.30amtomorrow,29thAugust,and,asalways,zoomSundayWorshipat11:00am.DoletJudyormeknowifyouwouldlikeazoominvite.Youwillfeelverywelcome.
COVIDrestrictionsarenowlessinChurch.Therewillbesingingandafter-servicecoffee.Wearingmasksisonlyrequestedwhilewecomein,gooutofandmoveroundthechurch.Wesitinalternaterowstokeepsomesocialdistancing.Ouraimistoreducerestrictionssensiblyandcautiously.
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AsmanywillknowBillBadgerysadlypassedawaylastweekend.Hewasapolite,well-spoken,caringgentlemanandatruefriendtomany.BillwasaloyalsupporteroftheChurch,servingaschurchwardenformany,manyyears.BillandMurielworkedcontinuouslytoraisemoneyforPendlesideHospiceandtosupporttheChurch.Theywerealwaystheretohelpoutandsupportfolkwheneverneeded.Hewasadearmanandwillbeverymuchmissedbymany.
WethinkofWinnie’sfamilyandfriendsthisweekafterherfunerallastThursday.Wesawlovelyphotosandheardstoriesofherlong,richandfamilycenteredlife.Averyspecialperson.
Hereisareminderofournewservicepatternstarting5thSeptember.SundayCommunionisatraditionalcommunionserviceforall.SundayWorshipoffersalternativewaysofworshippingGodforall.
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PRAYER
GodofHosts,rebuildyourChurchonlivesofthankfulnessandpersistentprayer.Amen
TheenticingaromaofsausagesandbaconwillgreetthosewhoattendtheserviceatChristChurchon5thSeptember.Itwillbesowonderfultobemovingoninournewfuture.Wealsohaveourfirst‘sitdown’LunchClubtolookforwardtothiscomingThursday.Itwillbeveryspecial.AnextratreatthisThursdaywillbetheopportunityforus,havingenjoyedadeliciouslunch,towatchafilmtogether.Muchtolookforwardto.AsalwaysIamthinkingandprayingforfolk.Ifthereisanythingyouneedpleasecall.Ifyouhavespecialprayerrequestspleaseletmeknow.Ilovetoprayeachdayandifyouarehappyforustodoso,weprayforfolkeachweekatcompline.Withloveandblessings,RevJohnMobile:[email protected]
ATRADITIONALBAPTISMPRAYERHeavenlyFather,bythepowerofyourHolySpirit
yougiveyourfaithfulpeoplenewlifeinthewaterofbaptism.GuideandstrengthenusbythesameSpirit,
thatwewhoarebornagainmayserveyouinfaithandlove,andgrowintothefullstatureofyourSon,JesusChrist,
whoisaliveandreignswithyouintheunityoftheHolySpiritnowandforever.Amen.
SHINE,JESUSSHINE
Lord,thelightofyourloveisshiningInthemidstofthedarkness,shining
Jesus,Lightoftheworld,shineuponusSetusfreebythetruthyounowbringus
Shineonme,shineonme
Shine,Jesus,shineFillthislandwiththeFather'sglory
Blaze,Spirit,blazeSetourheartsonfire
Flow,river,flowFloodthenationswithgraceandmercy
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SendforthyourwordLord,andlettherebelight
Lord,IcometoyourawesomepresenceFromtheshadowsintoyourradiance
BythebloodImayenteryourbrightnessSearchme,tryme,consumeallmydarkness
Shineonme,shineonme
AswegazeonyourkinglybrightnessSoourfacesdisplayyourlikenessEverchangingfromglorytoglory
MirroredheremayourlivestellyourstoryShineonme,shineonme