Lee Street Church
Notes of on-line meeting held on 5th July 2020
We welcomed about 21 people to our on-line service, including our guest speaker Malcolm Campbell
Sue led our worship time.
Song of Songs
In the midst of this messy world, God's voice calls to us. Whatever the difficulties or sadness we are facing today, we can know contentment and security in His faithful, loving embrace. The Song of Songs is about God’s love for us.
How much more pleasing is Your love than wine (4 v10)
I am my beloved’s and He is mine (6v3)
Many waters cannot quench love (8 v7)
We are called away from the everyday world into a relationship with Jesus. “Come away” (8 v14)
Let’s celebrate His exquisite gifts of joy and love as we commit ourselves to Him now.
JESUS, WE CELEBRATE YOUR VICTORY:
Jesus, we revel in Your love.
Jesus, we rejoice, You’ve set us free;
Jesus, Your death has brought us life.
It was for freedom that Christ has set us free,
No longer to be subject to a yoke of slavery;
So we’re rejoicing in God’s victory,
Our hearts responding to His love.
His Spirit in us releases us from fear,
The way to Him is open, with boldness we draw near;
And in His presence our problems
disappear,
Our hearts responding to His love.
John Gibson.
Copyright © 1987 Kingsway’s Thankyou Music.
Used by Permission CCL3227
Invaluable love
If you believe in God, it is not too difficult to believe that He is concerned about the universe and all the events on this earth. But the really staggering message of the bible is that this same God cares deeply about you and your identity and the events of your life.
We have missed the full impact of the gospel if we have not discovered what it is to be ourselves, loved by God, irreplaceable in His sight, unique among our fellowmen.
There are so many verses in the bible that shout out God’s love for us.
John 3v16
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
1 John 4 v9-11
This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
1 John 4 v8
God is love.
1 John 4 v16
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.
Romans 8 v35
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.
We are valuable because God loves us. How are we responding to that love?
Love is the response of our hearts to the overwhelming goodness of God. Words can fail us when we think of the awesomeness of His love for and to us.
SONG: Beautiful One
Wonderful, so wonderful, is Your unfailing love
Your cross has spoken mercy over me
No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart could fully know
How glorious, how beautiful You are
Beautiful One I love You
Beautiful One I adore
Beautiful One, my soul must sing
Powerful, so powerful, Your glory fills the skies
Your mighty works displayed for all to see
The beauty of Your majesty awakes my heart to sing
How marvellous, how wonderful You are
Beautiful One I love You
Beautiful One I adore
Beautiful One, my soul must sing
You've opened my hearts to wonders anew
You've captured my heart with this love
'Cause nothing on earth is as beautiful as You
Jesus
And You've opened my eyes to wonders anew
You've captured my heart with this love
'Cause nothing on earth is as beautiful as You
Jesus
Beautiful One I love You
Beautiful One I adore
Beautiful One, my soul must sing
Oh, my soul, my soul must sing
My soul, my soul must sing
My soul, my soul must sing
Beautiful One
Oh, my soul, my soul must sing
Oh, my soul, my soul must sing
Oh, my soul, my soul must sing
Beautiful One
God’s love for you is unfailing.
Some extracts from Psalm 107:
“Give thanks to the Lord for He is good; His love endures forever. Let the redeemed of the Lord say this...
They saw the works of the Lord, they cried to the Lord in their trouble and He brought them out of their distress.
Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love. Let them exalt Him in the assembly of the people.”
James 1 v17 says “Every good and perfect gift comes from God above”. Everything we enjoy today, and everything we’ll need tomorrow, is a ‘gift from God’.
Consider the great love of the Lord!
Song:
When I was lost you came and rescued me
Reached down into the pit and lifted me
O Lord, such love:
I was as far from you as I could be
You know all the things I've ever done
But Jesus' blood has cancelled every one
O Lord, such grace,
to qualify me as your own
There is a new song in my mouth
There is a deep cry in my heart
A hymn of praise to Almighty God - hallelujah!
And now I stand firm on this Rock
My life is hidden now with Christ in God
The old has gone and the new has come - hallelujah!
Your love has lifted me
Now I have come into your family
For the Son of God has died for me
O Lord, such peace: I am as loved by you as I could be
In the full assurance of your love
Now with every confidence we come
O Lord, such joy to know that you delight in us
Many are the wonders you have done
Many are the things that you have planned
How beautiful the grace that gives to us all that we don't deserve
All that we cannot earn but is a gift of love
Prayer Time
Prayer please for:
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Debate in Parliament on Monday, in which key abortion legislation may be amended.
Notes from Malcolm’s Message
Malcom brought greetings from Crawley Community Church.
Reading: Matthew 5: 1 – 16
Note who are blessed by God – the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, the merciful, the peacemakers, the persecuted. But these need to be visible to others (v16 “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds…).
Our church buildings are in some ways a safe refuge for us – we feel safe inside. But what is needed is for us to take our faith to the world outside.
Malcolm shared a picture he had been given – seeing a lone man standing outside our Church in Lee Street. All over the country, there are beautiful but empty church building at this time. Perhaps we should be outside with that lone man.
Malcolm showed us a small red box – when opened, it revealed what was meant to be seen – a lovely ring. In some ways, we are all in our own little boxes – the boxes don’t matter, but it’s what is inside that is important.
We do need to be seen. The Church is of course the people, and we need to break out of our buildings, and let our God-given gifts be seen by people in the town. People are increasingly open to listen, so we need to take hold of every opportunity to make Jesus known to others.
This needs to be a permanent change of focus – getting our hearts and minds out of our buildings to where people are. As v14 says, “A light on a hill cannot be hidden”. Darkness is the absence of light. We have to be seen, bringing light into the darkness of the world.
It is of course still good to get together (one day!), but our hearts and minds need to be outside our boxes. We are to be salt and light in the world outside. So we need to break out of our comfort zones and shine God’s light on those around us. Try it this week - phone someone you’ve not spoken to for some time – speak God’s blessings over them – give them some real encouragement.
We need to break out – the choice is ours to stay inside, or to step out in faith. Just imagine what God can do, when we become true lights in the world outside.
Maybe we need first to ask God to shine His light over us, as we come to the cross and get right with Him.
Malcolm summed up with this prayer for us, as individuals and as a church:
“Lee Street Church – you are the light of the world. A fellowship built in Horley that cannot be hidden. Don’t put your light back in a box. Put it over your lives and homes, that all may see all you do for the glory of God. Amen.
Notices
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If this comes to you by email, please look out for another email regarding possible arrangements for future meetings.
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Next Sunday we will share in the Breaking of Bread as part of our worship time. – please be prepared!