Notes of Meeting Sunday 3rd January 2021

Lee Street Church

Notes of Meeting on 4^th January 2021

The Worship time was led by Sue Clarke.

In these times of Covid and lockdown, it can be very difficult to look ahead and see the light at the end of the tunnel. I’m sure we all missed seeing our family and friends over this Christmas season but, as Brian said last week, we all survived it.

The queen in her Christmas Day speech said “Let the light of Christmas, the spirit of selflessness, love and, above all, hope guide us in the times ahead.”

 We’ve recently thought a lot about the light of Christ coming into our dark world. He really is the light of Christmas and our hope for the future. As Christians we are so privileged to have the assurance of the bible promises to turn to, and we have the knowledge of an incredible future of an eternity with God.

Lamentations 3 v24 “The Lord is my portion and my inheritance,” says my soul; “Therefore I have hope in Him and wait expectantly for Him.”

JESUS, HOPE OF THE NATIONS;

Jesus, comfort for all who mourn,

You are the source

Of heaven’s hope on earth.

Jesus, light in the darkness,

Jesus, truth in each circumstance,

You are the source

Of heaven’s light on earth.

In history, You lived and died,

You broke the chains, You rose to life.

You are the Hope, living in us,

You are the Rock, in whom we              trust.

You are the Light,

Shining for all the world to see.

You rose from the dead, conquering fear,

Our Prince of Peace, drawing us near.

Jesus, our Hope,

Living for all who will receive,

Lord, we believe.

God doesn’t promise us an easy life, but He does promise us that He will always be there for us- and He will equip us for any trial life throws at us.

2 Corinthians 12 v9-11“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Isaiah 40 v31 “But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”

Psalm 119 v114“You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.

My hope is built – Cornerstone

Than Jesus' blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly trust in Jesus' Name

Christ alone
Cornerstone
Weak made strong
In the Saviour's love
Through the storm
He is Lord
Lord of all

When darkness seems to hide His face
I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil

 No matter how bad this life might seem, as we look forward in our current situations, as Christians we can and should start this New Year with renewed hope

Philippians 1v6 “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Romans 15 v13  “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Come, people of the Risen King,
Who delight to bring Him praise;
Come all and tune your hearts to sing
To the Morning Star of grace.
From the shifting shadows of the earth
We will lift our eyes to Him,
Where steady arms of mercy reach
To gather children in.
REFRAIN
Rejoice, Rejoice! Let every tongue rejoice!
One heart, one voice; O Church of Christ, rejoice!

Come, those whose joy is morning sun,
And those weeping through the night;
Come, those who tell of battles won,
And those struggling in the fight.
For His perfect love will never change,
And His mercies never cease,
But follow us through all our days
With the certain hope of peace.

Come, young and old from every land -
Men and women of the faith;
Come, those with full or empty hands -
Find the riches of His grace.
Over all the world, His people sing -
Shore to shore we hear them call
The Truth that cries through every age:
"Our God is all in all"! REFRAIN
REFRAIN
Rejoice, Rejoice! Let every tongue rejoice!
One heart, one voice; O Church of Christ, rejoice!

Words and Music by Keith and Kristyn Getty and Stuart Townend
 

Copyright © 2008 Thankyou Music/ Copyright Control

As is usual for the first Sunday in a New Year, we give the opportunity for people to share some of the blessings they have experienced during the year past, and to give thanks to God for His gracious hand upon us.

Contributions included:

• Paul – thanks for being now out of hospital, following tests and treatment for a minor heart attack, including having a stent installed.
• Tessa – thanks for having been able to keep contact with family and friends in far-away places during the pandemic
• Brian reminded us about being thankful – Ephesians 5: 20 “…always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ”
• Connie expressed her thanks for support by friends in the church throughout the year.
• Jacqueline Brewell – thanks for healing, and for the way God has shown His power in her school – amazing changes.
• Jan – thanks for safe birth of Tommy (Sue Clarke’s grandson)
• Ken – spoke about a perceived culture change across our country, where the Kingdom of God is coming in to various aspects of our national life, and bringing change in education, politics, modern slavery. Changes in our culture will come with revival, as God’s glory fills the earth. We need to enlarge our vision, remember God’s kingdom IS coming, as Jacqueline has seen in her school.
• Bryan M reminded us that whilst a single twig has little strength and can easily be broken, a bunch of twigs tied tightly together can be quite strong. So we sang “Bind us together”

BIND US TOGETHER, Lord,

Bind us together

With cords that cannot be broken.

Bind us together, Lord,

Bind us together,

Bind us together with love.

There is only one God,

There is only one King;

There is only one Body,

That is why we sing:

Made for the glory of God,

Purchased by His precious Son;

Born with the right to be clean,

For Jesus the victory has won.

You are the family of God,

You are the promise divine;

You are God’s chosen desire,

You are the glorious new wine.

Bob Gillman.

Copyright © 1977 Kingsway’sThankyou Music.

• Judy read the wonderful chapter on LOVE in 1 Corinthians 13

Closing thoughts

Brian read Hebrews 10: 23 – 25, which is particularly relevant to us all as a Church Family through this pandemic.

We closed with an old song: “I do not know what lies ahead”

I do not know what lies ahead,
the way I cannot see;
yet One stands near to be my guide,
He‟ll show the way to me:

I know who holds the future,
and He‟ll guide me with His hand;
with God things don‟t just happen,
everything by Him is planned.
So as I face tomorrow,
with its problems large and small,
I‟ll trust the God of miracles,
give to Him my all.

I do not know how many days
of life are mine to spend;
but One who knows and cares for me
will keep me to the end:


I do not know the course ahead,
what joys and griefs are there;
but One is near who fully knows,
I‟ll trust His loving care: