Listen on YouTube to: His Mercy Is More Matt Papa
Use these lyrics to lead you into a time of Prayer.
Amazing grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me
I once was lost, but now I'm found was blind, but now I see
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear and grace my fears relieved
How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed
Through many dangers, toils and snares, I have already come;
‘tis grace has brought me safe this far, and grace will lead me home.
(John Newton 1725-1807)
Only 23 people responded to my request for you to tell me your two most helpful descriptions of God, so it wasn’t the extensive survey I had hoped it would be.
The results were a tie for 1st place, and a tie of 4 descriptions for the next place!
God is… a rock Deuteronomy 32: 4
a light Psalm 27: 1
an eagle Deuteronomy 32: 11
a hiding place Psalm 119: 114
a father Deuteronomy 32: 6
a shepherd Psalm 23: 1
These other descriptions were also at least one person’s favourite:
God is… the sun Psalm 84: 11
the morning star Revelation 22: 16
a shield Psalm 84: 11
a fire Hebrews 12: 29
a fountain Psalm 36: 9
a king Isaiah 33: 22
Perhaps one of the surprises for me was the popularity of ‘God is our hiding place.’ The reference quoted in the list was Psalm 119: 114, which in the NIV translation talks about God being our refuge – a place of safety. It is in Psalm 32: 7 where we the same Hebrew word is translated as Hiding Place. In this psalm we are also told that in this hiding place God will surround us with songs of deliverance! In this safe-place God will encourage us and remind us of all he has done for us.
Early in the Old Testament book of Isaiah, we find another occasion where God is referred to as our hiding place. Isaiah is describing God as seen by his ancestors during the Exodus. Throughout that journey God’s presence was seen as a fiery, cloudy pillar, but here Isaiah sees that comforting presence of God as being over Jerusalem – mount Zion. Read Isaiah 4: 5-6
While the idea of God as a comforting place of safety was a popular choice, the illustration used by Jesus to describe that same concept wasn’t chosen by anyone. In Matthew 23: 37 Jesus describes God’s desire to take care of us and make us feel secure - as being like a mother hen sheltering her chicks under her wings. God want to be that perfect parent to us, protecting us and sheltering us, giving us a hiding place.
But just as popular as ‘Hiding Place’ was a very different bird to a hen – an eagle, which brings to us a very different aspect of perfect parenting to the one we see in a Hen. Many of us find the phrase at the end of Isaiah ch.40 inspiring where we are told that ‘those who hope (trust) in the Lord will renew their strength and soar on wings like eagles’ but the reference for Eagle on our list is Deuteronomy 32: 11.
This description relates to a very different aspect of perfect parenting to the one we see in a Hen. Very early on in the life of a baby eagle their parents nudge them out of the nest, they all fall, but some learn how to fly! Those who don’t immediately learn this lesson are saved by the adult eagle swooping down and catching the youngster on their back. The parent repeats the process until the infant learns to fly, until they learn to use the thermal-currents to lift them up and soar over any turbulence below. God doesn’t ‘just’ care for us, he teaches us ways to overcome life’s difficulties.
Based on Psalm 32: 7 these lyrics were very popular for a short while (& still available to listen to on YouTube). Let them lead you into a time of thanking God for his never-ending love and care;
You are my hiding place,
You always fill my heart with songs of deliverance,
whenever I am afraid I will trust in You. I will trust in You,
let the weak say: ‘I am strong in the strength of my God’
(Michael Ledner © 1981 Word Music)
Listen on YouTube to: Rock of ages lyrics Colin Webster
SUNDAY WORSHIP The Government recently announced changes to the regulations regarding the opening of places of worship, which now means we are hoping to hold gatherings on church premises this Sunday (5th July). By offering 2 identical sessions at 10:30am and 6:30pm we should be able to accommodate everyone who wants to attend, but we will need to know if you are coming! Between the 2 sessions, the premises will be well ventilated and cleaned.
Thing to consider:
- We will be maintaining 2 metre distancing, but the Government guidelines still ask people to wear face masks. (a limited number of masks will be available if you don’t have your own mask)
- If someone has previously given you a lift to church, you cannot assume it will happen this Sunday as they might not feel comfortable sharing the confined space of their car, even with the wearing of masks. You need to have a conversation with them and may need to consider using a taxi or other means of getting to church.
- We are not allowed to sing (or shout?!) or have instruments playing, but we will hum along to videos of worships songs, pray together and I will share some thoughts on a passage of scripture. I will also continue to post on the website/Facebook a summary of that message.
- Regardless of what the temperature is the windows will be open and the heating will NOT be switched on (it blows re-circulated warm air). Please come dressed appropriately for the conditions.
- Just because church is opening, do NOT feel obliged to attend, all the previous ways of staying in touch will continue for the foreseeable future.
Your usual Leader will contact you on Thursday to see if you want to book a place at our Sunday gathering – there are 2 identical sessions at 10:30am and 6:30pm so the leader will want to know if you have a preference, although we might not be able to accommodate it.
I’m hoping for a guest writer on Friday (maybe you?) and I look forward to seeing some of you on Sunday, but I will also write a summary of Sunday’s message for those who don’t feel able to attend - Stephen