Worship led by Dawn Budd
A little humour to begin….
Three women die together in an accident and go to heaven. When they get there, St. Peter says, 'We only have one rule here in heaven: Don't step on the ducks!'
So they enter heaven, and sure enough, there are ducks all over the place. It is almost impossible not to step on a duck, and although they try their best to avoid them, the first woman accidentally steps on one. Along comes St. Peter with the ugliest man she ever saw. St. Peter chains them together and says, 'Your punishment for stepping on a duck is to spend eternity chained to this ugly man!'
The next day, the second woman steps accidentally on a duck And along comes St. Peter, who doesn't miss a thing. With him is another extremely ugly man. He chains them together with the same admonishment as for the first woman.
The third woman has observed all this and, not wanting to be chained for all eternity to an ugly man, is very, VERY careful where she steps. She manages to go months without stepping on any ducks, but one day St.Peter comes up to her with the most handsome man she has ever laid eyes on..... very tall, long eyelashes, muscular. St. Peter chains them together without saying a word. The happy woman says, 'I wonder what I did to deserve being chained to you for all of eternity?' The guy says, 'I don't know about you, But I stepped on a duck.
Now I've no idea of what heaven’s going to be like, there may be ducks?, but one thing I do know, is that it's where I'm going…so I'll ask you a couple of questions? Do you have all your ducks in a row? Have you organised where you are going? I have!! Matthew 24 v 44 “ So you must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at a hour when you do not expect him” John 1 v 12 “ Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God”
SING 958 O the mercy of God
Revelation 21 v 4-7 “He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children “
SING 1541 There is a higher throne
In an online post I found, the author asked what people thought heaven would be like. Lots of people mentioned no more suffering or tears or pain, one said “A garden with lots of flowers and hot, warm and cool pools to swim in. Birds and fish and animals too. Nothing ever gets sick, hurt or old. You don't have to sleep or eat, no work and no money.” but this was my favourite: “We are limited by our imagination. God is not. He is limitless in everything good. So it definitely won’t be boring”
The next song is one of my favourite worship songs. I make no apologies for having used this previously as its a great song! The best line in it for me is "I can only imagine when all I will do is forever worship you” It blows my mind that that will be my eternal life- worshipping Jesus!! YOUTUBE CLIP - I can only imagine https://youtu.be/DU0MwNpRq6M?si=l-exNOvLcRLZnT28
John 14 v 2-6 “In my Father's house are many rooms, if it were not so I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you with me that you will also be where I am. You know the place where I am going. Thomas said to him “ Lord, we don't know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus 9answered “ I am the way and the truth and the life. No-one comes to the Father except through me”
John 3 v 16. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life “
Let's pray. Lord Jesus, We can't even begin to imagine what eternity spent in your presence will be like. To sit at your feet in worship, to sing your praises. Thank you, Heavenly Father for giving us the most precious gift of your Son, despite knowing how he would be treated, so that we can come to you in repentance for our sin and guarantee our place in heaven with you. Let our lives be full of praise and gratitude for all you have done for us. Amen So, now, when you see that little duck you were given at the beginning, let it be a reminder to make sure you've got all your ducks in a row!!
Let's close by singing
1041 There's a place where the streets shine
ALPHA video and study on the subject: How does God guide us?
Notices
- Wednesday at 10.30am – Coffee Morning
- On Thursday the Churches for Horley Lent Course on “True Freedom” continues – 10.15am at HBC, Court Lodge Road.
- Ken Cowell will be the speaker at 10.15am next Sunday: the meeting will be followed at about 12 noon by our Annual Church Meeting.
- Reminder – World Day of Prayer is on Friday 1st March. Horley meeting is at 11.15am at the Methodist Church.
- C4H are setting up a choir to sing at the joint Good Friday service. Volunteer singers needed – please contact B Legg for details if you are interested in taking part.
- Please pray for the Trustees as they meet on Tuesday evening.