Newsletter Issue 4 by David Wells

Harlestone Road Seventh-Day Adventist Church

Newsletter Issue 4 - April 2015

â&#x20AC;&#x153;The winter is past, the rain has gone, the flowers appear on the earth.â&#x20AC;? Song of Soloman 2:11-12

Called from Darkness to Light Pastor Paul

But the good news is that we are no more in darkness when we are called according to His purpose. Therefore we need to walk in the light. Now that we are in the light, we need to introduce others to this marvellous light. Jesus lived among the people, moved among them, reached their needs, healed the sick, cast out the devil, fed the hungry. Nothing was done with a plan of self-glory, but to help others. When we are in the light, we will also be able to accomplish that same ear Church, Christianity is about mission. We are expected to walk in that moving from darkness to light. We light. When we really know Him, our vision who were in darkness are now in light, will be improved and we can see perfectly so we have the responsibility to bring others well what our real condition is. Beholding who are in darkness to that light. This is our Him we will be changed into His likeness. commission. It’s the duty of all of us and we He was full of kindness to everyone who was are accountable in darkness. Many a time we are proud, bold and responsible and self-serving, without being aware of it. as children of Unless we give them up, we will remain in the light. The darkness. When we surrender self willingly Bible says, “But “..we become a new creature, old things are you are a chosen passed away...” 2 Corinthians 5:17 generation, a royal priesthood, If we are going to reach people for Christ, an holy nation, a then we must seek out lost people, care for peculiar people them, fellowship with them, share the truth that you should and teach them how to live and how to give show forth the praises of Him who has called their lives to Christ. Follow the example of you out of darkness into his marvellous light” Jesus and you will be an effective witness for 1 Peter 2:9. We were in darkness before God Christ! From the pen of inspiration — ‘Let called us into his light. every worker in the Master’s vineyard study, plan and devise methods to reach the people When we are in darkness we do not know where they are. We must do something out of what is happening around us. We are totally the common course of things. We must arrest ignorant. To be precise, we are in our sinful the attention. We must be deadly in earnest. nature. We feed our selfish desires no matter We are on the very verge of times of trouble what happens to others and this becomes our and perplexities that are scarcely dreamed of ’. ultimate purpose. This is all because we have Evangelism 122, 123. no connection with the LIGHT - Jesus, who has called us to be the light of the world. Paul “Let your light so shine before men that says, “They were filled with all manner of they may see your good works and honour unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. and praise your Father which is in Heaven.” They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, Matthew 5:16. May God bless us richly as we maliciousness.” Romans 1:29 reach to others. Blessed campaign!

Malawi Floods

Fundraising Concert

e have been honoured to host 2 fundraising concerts in the past few months. On the 14th February, we hosted the first of these concerts, with proceeds going to the Malawi Floods Disaster Appeal. Our very own brother Moses helped to arrange the event along with the Malawi Adventists of the UK. The audience, who had gathered together from all over the UK, brought a lot of energy and sang with much joy, whilst showing compassion for the plight of friends and family back home in Malawi. The fundraising efforts on the night were definitely innovative and they clearly worked as over £1000 was raised! It’s not too late to donate to the cause either, as they have a separate fundraising page setup for all who would like to contribute to the aid that is still needed in stricken parts of Malawi: http://www.gofundme.com/m6tge4

Monies raised will be used to buy food for many of the victims, in conjunction with ADRA Malawi who are already assisting over 30,000 flood victims. To find out more about the Malawi Adventists in the UK, see their website: http://www.mau.org.uk/

The Lord shall enlighten my darkness. 2 Samuel 22:29 2

Meet the Deaconesses We are happy to be invited to introduce ourselves and to give a brief overview of the role we undertake within the Harlestone Road Church, here in Northampton. At the head of the team is Sister Juliette Fuller who has held this post for the past 7 years, although she has been a deaconess for 9 years. The team comprises: Sister Maxine Crossley, Sister Maxine Barrett, Sister Perpetua Rangarira and Sister Ingrid Sharpe. Each one has served the Church as a deaconess for a number of years. The total number of years they have served between them is almost 30!

We are reminded of the work of Dorcas before she died (and afterwards was resurrected) which the Bible says of her, “this woman was full of good works and alms deeds which she did... and all the widows stood by him(Peter) weeping and showing the coats and garments which Dorcas made while she was with them.” Acts 9:39-43. Whilst we do not claim such things for ourselves we seek to follow our Saviour in reaching out to others for their benefit and His glory. Much work is done in visiting the members who are sick or housebound and doing what we can to help and cheer. Bible readings and prayers are offered on their behalf so that members do not feel left out or forgotten. Visiting the sick in hospital, whether members or not, is also work carried out, as is giving Bible studies, along with accompanying the Pastor on pastoral visits. Not only do we work outside the Church, but within its precincts too. One of our main functions is to organise and prepare equipment and facilities for the Holy Communion service and the Service of Humility (the feet washing service prior to Holy Communion). All the table linen, towels and serviettes are specially laundered and the unleavened bread is baked and the wine made ready prior to the service, to ensure the smooth running of both services. This is so that during these special and sacred services, which remind us of our Lord’s suffering and death for our sins, the Church can immerse itself in the solemnity of the services. The aim is to bring about re-consecration of ourselves to our Saviour. After these services we visit (with the Pastor) the sick and housebound so that they can also partake in the Holy Communion. Thereby we engage with those brethren who are unable to attend Church.

The professional backgrounds of the deaconesses, apart from being wives and mothers, encompasses a range of professions such as Bible worker, Social worker, Mental Health professional, as well as teaching, nursing, child care and general care work. All such training, qualifications and experience informs and enhances our work as deaconesses. The team are committed to the Church as baptised Seventh-Day Adventists and undertake our duties in such a way as to uphold the beliefs and values of our beloved Church. We believe that the Seventh-Day Adventist Church is the “Remnant Church” of the Bible, called to “Keep the commandments of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ” Revelation 12:17, in these last days before Jesus comes again. Consequently, the focus of our work is to help and encourage the brethren in the faith, both practically and spiritually. 4

Other duties include making full preparation for baptismal services (along with the deacons). Much preparation is needed to make these services special and memorable for the candidates, their families and friends and for the Church as a whole. Baptism is the public declaration of a person’s acceptance of Jesus as their personal Saviour and not as a rite or just a Church sacrament. Acts 2:38,41 shows baptism signifies repentance and remission for sin, the gift of the Holy Spirit and membership into the Church. Romans 6:3,4 tells us, “That as many of us as were baptised into Jesus Christ were baptised into His death. Therefore, we are buried with Him by baptism into death, that like as Christ was raised from up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” It is our prayer that God will teach and guide us in the way we should go and that our ministry will be a blessing to every member and our Church friends. We seek to show the love of Jesus for every person and for His prayer to be fulfilled in our Church, that we may be one as He is with the Father, (John 17:11,21) in reaching out to each other and those in our community. 5

Highlands Avenue Happy Adventists! Aubrey Davis

hen I was asked by the editor to contribute again to the newsletter, I promised that the topic would be a little lighter than the previous one on the importance of time keeping.

for a number of reasons (certainly not to make anyone feel puffed up in anyway) but more for an opportunity of self-reflection. People may have asked the question of themselves: Do I look happy? Am I happy? What is happiness? Why am I not happy? Do I need to change? How can I change? What impression do visitors have when they see me/us?

Not for the first time in my experience I witnessed how the Lord can work to orchestrate What could be lighter than talking about Happy outcomes. That same Sabbath the Moyo Sisters Adventists!? presented the special item. It was one they had not planned but were inspired to sing. The Seventh Day-Adventists, above all people, should title was ‘I won’t have to cross Jordan alone’. be the happiest in all the world! Why? We believe Jesus Christ came down to earth to die to save us from our sins. We also believe that Jesus is coming again soon. Research has proved time and time again that our health and temperance practices, taught in the Bible and expanded upon through the writings of Ellen G White, have resulted in a life expectancy of 10 years more than the average person! I could go The preacher for the day was Elder Dayo who on and on. So why then do so many of thanked the Moyo twins by saying that his us have faces as long sermon had been preached through their song as he was covering exactly the same topic! Later in as horses? the sermon, Elder Dayo said that it was the topic Well, I say many of us.....but not all of us! On of this article, which I had submitted in an email Sabbath 14th March 2015 the Highlands Avenue earlier in the week, that had inspired him to Seventh Day-Adventist church was asked to vote preach as a topic for the message of the hour! All for the person they perceived to be the happiest this to say that God is in control! (and another person in the Church. This question was asked reason to be happy!) 6

Not to keep you in suspense for any longer, the person who received the highest nominations for the Happiest Person in Highlands Avenue Seventh-Day Adventist Church was Sis Elvida Hildyard (pictured below). “Congratulations to you our dear Sister!” I’m sure anyone who knows Sis Elvida, even in passing, cannot disagree or feel that the vote may have been rigged! Many will now know that Sis Elvida and her dear husband Victor have been working tirelessly over 10 years to develop the Nyotastar Christian Charity, to transform the lives of many adults, but especially children in a poor remote region in Tanzania. This influence of kindness and happiness has been felt, not only 6000 miles away in east Africa, but evidently here in Northampton too.

In 2 Corinthians 9:6-8 the following counsel from Paul is given: ‘But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purpose in his heart, so let him give not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.’ Below is a picture of me to remind you that I don’t always have a face like a horse that has finished the Grand National in last place! Be Happy in the Lord! “You won’t have to cross Jordan alone.”

Abington Park

Salcey Forest

fellowship lunches By David Wells

Coton Manor Gardens

ne of the many great traditions that abound within Seventh-Day Adventism is the beloved fellowship lunch. Many people know it as ‘Potluck’, but I personally prefer the name we have given to it. So what is it and why do we do it? Pot Luck basically means ‘a meal, esp. for a large group, to which participants bring food to be shared’.

Places to visit in Northamptonshire As we get many visitors to Harlestone Road, I thought it would be a good idea to showcase some of the local places that exhibit God’s awesome creation, especially with the spring and summer months ahead of us!

As for why we do it? I guess each church and individual have their own answers to this question. I for one am so glad that Harlestone Road has these lunches. It has helped me get to know and love our church family, with whom I share pews (or school seats in our case) each Sabbath morning. It’s a place where many friendships have formed, sermons discussed, plenty of debates had and many a comforting word and prayer offered. It’s also a place that we can get to know our visitors and answer any questions they might have, instead of just greeting them with a ‘Happy Sabbath’, swiftly followed by ‘Hope to see you again soon’. So long may our Fellowship Lunches continue

Althorp

Brixworth Country Park

Castle Ashby

and thanks to all those involved behind the scenes. I know a lot of work goes on to make these happen.

Message from The Kitchen We have received a message from the kitchen help which I would like to share with you all. Church - There are 3 requests we would like you ALL to consider: 1. It always seems to be the same people helping to tidy up each week, so if others could help occasionally then that would be great. 2. Can we ask church members to please bring something. Things like drinks and garlic bread are always needed. Or maybe even bring a dessert? That way we can have enough to serve not only ourselves but more importantly our visitors. It’s always good to have a variety of foods available to serve. 3. Please can parents make sure that children don’t take ANY food into the corridor areas. That includes desserts (especially cakes) as a lot of mess is often made.

Thank you.

Experiencing God’s Blessings Sarah DeVos

That’s a broad summary of the blessings I received during my year in New Zealand, however God also blessed me in some very n the last Harlestone Road Newsletter specific ways. My new employers provided (Issue 3) I shared with you some of my experiences of God’s guidance and goodness me with accommodation for the first 2 weeks, in my life. This time I’d like to build on that by but after this I needed to make my own sharing some of the blessings I received during arrangements. On my first Sabbath in New Zealand, I went to church and was talking my year in New Zealand. Ultimately I’d like to a couple of members about my living to encourage you. If God has done and will arrangements. I only had accommodation continue to do great things for me, why not provided for just 9 more days, but after this trust that He similarly can and will do great I would be homeless... (well, not quite – but things for you? I would have to start paying to stay in the hotel!) My concern was that letting agents Prior to getting to New Zealand, God blessed worked Mon to Sat, but I worked the same me with amazing answers to prayer such as hours as them (Mon-Fri) and on Saturday I obtaining my working visa within just a few days. On arriving in New Zealand the blessings didn’t want to break Sabbath. I was sharing my predicament with these church members, not continued. God showed me in very real ways expecting a solution, when they commented that He cares for me (1 Peter 5:7), that I just that they knew 2 young Adventist women who have to give all my worries and concerns to had a spare bedroom they wanted to fill. The Him (Psalm 55:22) and trust He is working things out for my good (Romans 8:28) and His members took my contact details to pass on and later that day I had an email from one of glory. the women. We arranged to meet and 8 days later I moved in! The major blessing God provided was people: the opportunity to meet, get to know, learn from and be blessed by multiple people. God allowed me to experience tremendous love and generosity during my year away. I had experienced these blessings previously, however I think God used my year in New Zealand to open my eyes and make me more aware of and receptive to the blessings I have been receiving throughout my life. I specifically prayed for: a positive experience professionally, a church that I could serve at and good female friends. God provided these and so much more. I learnt and grew considerably, both professionally and personally. I gained a beautiful and loving church family in Brentwood Avenue SDA Church and I gained some friends that I feel privileged to share life with.

ow, not only was the accommodation shared with 2 Adventist women, it was on a direct bus route to the hospital and the city centre, so I could get to and from work easily. The house was around 2 miles away from Mission Bay, Kohimarama and St Helier’s Bay, three beautiful east coast beaches, meaning when I went for a jog, I could run alongside the Pacific Ocean for a few miles! The rent was cheaper than anything I had seen advertised, yet the house was great. One of the women also had 2 cats, helping me miss my family cat less (who was at my parents’ home in England). My room in the house was unfurnished – but I ended up only having to buy a bed. Between church family and colleagues I was provided with everything else I needed: a chest of drawers, bedside table, bedside lamp, desk, and a full length mirror – all were given or lent to me! As I mentioned earlier, I was struck by the generosity and helpfulness of others – God met my needs through people who were willing to be used by Him. Through all of this, I could see God caring for me (1 Peter 5:7). He knew I needed accommodation, but I wouldn’t have thought to ask Him for a place to rent that was cheaper than anything I had seen, in a nice area, on the bus route to my hospital, with 2 Adventist women. He provided exactly what I needed (Philippians 4:19), down to the smallest details. He showed me I didn’t have to worry about anything, because He was (and is) looking out for me (Matthew 6:25-34) – I just needed to keep seeking Him first and His righteousness, and He would provide all I needed (Matthew 6:33).

A month later, I was looking for a car to buy, as getting around Auckland by public transport can sometimes be challenging. Again God provided – this time through a church member whose brother owned a car dealership. He sold me an affordable, economical and reliable vehicle which worked well for my year, helping me travel the length of the North and South Islands of New Zealand. It was also far better than anything else I had seen advertised for a similar price, and I was subsequently able to sell it on when I was leaving.

These are just a few examples of how God blessed me; however my year away wasn’t all smooth-sailing. There were rough patches and difficult times. There were times when I felt alone and struggled with challenges, but God repeatedly showed me that beyond the shadow of a doubt, He cares (1 Peter 5:7) and He answers prayers (Matthew 7:7,8). He cares about the small details of our lives as well as the big picture. He provides for us no matter where in the world we might be (Psalm 139:9,10). Also, as described above, He does IMMEASURABLY MORE than we can ask, hope or even imagine! (Ephesians 3:20,21). I’ve barely scratched the surface of the blessings I received during my year in New Zealand, but I hope the sample I’ve shared with you will encourage you to try for yourself how good following God can be. As Psalm 34:8-10 says: ‘Taste and see that the Lord is good, blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him’ and those who fear the Lord and seek Him lack nothing – I can certainly testify to that. Like all of us, I am undeserving of God’s kindness and mercy, but He freely bestows it – so, just seek Him first, ask Him and be prepared to be blessed... beyond your wildest dreams! 11

Sanctification Journey - Part 2

Nyatostar Fundraising Concert

he 2nd concert that we recently hosted was on Saturday 7th March, when the recipient of our fundraising efforts was the Nyatostar Christian Centre in Tanzania. It’s a Christian orphanage which Sister Elvida (from Highlands Avenue Church) has worked tirelessly alongside her husband Victor, to establish and support. Another enjoyable and blessed evening was had by all. Guests included The Golden Chords, The Tuckley Twins, Essence of Grace and the Northamptonshire Youth Praise Team. Compare for the evening was the ever dependable Brother McKenzie. Food was served afterwards and the total raised on the night was £730. We pray that the Lord will bless this money and help it to reach the young children in Tanzania.

Working Towards Spiritual Perfection

By Sheryl Lawrence The whole Bible supports the idea of progressing toward spiritual perfection in our Christian lives. It is what Paul longed for and spoke about in Phil 3:12, “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus”. Spiritual perfection has everything to do with Jesus Christ. Not with rules and regulations. Not with how we dress or what we do or do not do. It is about being absolutely committed to following after Christ Jesus. To be more like Him. To think like Him. To act like Him. To love like Him. This spiritual growth happens by the grace of God as He blesses our efforts. Philippians 2:12-13 “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Thus we work and God works – we cooperate with God. Our work involves the personal struggle with the world, the flesh, and the devil. We need to be intentional in taking on sin patterns and defeating them by the power of the Spirit and to the glory of God. We need to make ambitious strides in: • Scripture memorisation/meditation • Prayer • Character development We should yearn to reach the end of our days here on earth knowing that we never rested in our efforts to grow to maximum Christlikeness. We should fear lying on our deathbed and groaning, knowing that we let some lust or sin habit rob us of the best years of our lives on earth.

This is God’s will, that we make progress after conversion, on a journey towards being like Christ, that we call ‘sanctification’.

Sabbath in Transylvania By Beti Soos

I am the kind of person who loves to travel, visit different countries and get to know the people, the food and the culture. When I came to the UK it was a culture shock for me. People’s mentality, their lifestyle and quality of life is totally different.

around the Sabbath. We make sure the Sabbath is the most special time of the week, therefore we cook special food. Wherever you go in this world, Food that you don’t usually cook on weekdays. We bake cakes and have a one thing you can be certain of, special Friday night dinner (this can be the Seventh-Day anything that you don’t necessarily eat Adventist Church during the week to have that special feel to it, something that the whole family is your family. This wasn’t any different when Lori and I first visited Harlestone Road Church. We felt at home instantly. There are a few differences though, in the way of Sabbath observance and I would like this time to tell you about how we prepare for the Sabbath in Transylvania. We plan our Sabbaths and our meals way before. We organise our whole week 14

enjoys), a special Sabbath morning breakfast (this includes bread and different home-made spreads: aubergine, lentil,

chickpea, beans etc) and a special Sabbath lunch, which includes a soup and a second course followed by dessert (usually some kind of home baked cake or fruit salad). We don’t have pot luck’s at church, therefore everyone cooks enough, just in case there are people visiting the church that we can invite home for lunch. This is good to get to know people and you can be sure if you ever visit any Seventh-Day Adventist church in Transylvania, that you The church has got a choir that sings most certainly get invited to somebody’s every Sabbath before and after the divine home for lunch. service. This is an important part of the church service and you will not find an SDA church in Transylvania without a choir and also no divine service passes without a performance from the choir.

We do have a Friday night divine service in church, lasting for an hour. We then have the Sabbath morning service that starts with the prayer hour (this is a half-hour sermonette, meditation on a Scripture, followed by prayers). This is followed by the Sabbath School in groups and the divine service at 11 o’clock.

After that you go home for lunch and return to church one hour before sunset (in the winter) for another divine service and to close the Sabbath. In the summer the latest gathering time for the afternoon divine service is from 7 pm to 8 pm. The sun sets a bit later than that but people usually stay in church and spend time together to catch up or go to the park for a walk. Very often the young people would have a social after sunset which is held at the church in a different room and is supervised by the pastor or the youth leader. They play interactive games and also bring some nibbles. They sing together and chat. I miss those times when I was part of all this, but life takes us to different places and it is good to be in the House of the Lord wherever we are. 15

BE STILL AND KNOW THAT

Answered Prayer

I AM GOD By Louisa

hink of a loving shepherd. He loves his sheep more than any other thing he owns - but one of his sheep has a broken leg. It looks so shaggy and bedraggled and as it bleats pitifully on the top of a cliff, the shepherd looks on and groans inwardly.

birdwatcher whispers reassuring words to the robin. He says that she will have to lie still in his hand if she wants him to take away this pain, to fix her broken wing. If we are hurting, or have a broken wing or leg, then we will have to lie still so that the Master Shepherd and the Master Birdwatcher can mend all of our brokenness. He whispers to us softly, in His word, that he can take away all of our pains. Jesus had His heart broken, so He is the only one who can totally heal our broken hearts. Once you have fully surrendered yourself to Him you will realise that you wouldn’t want to be anywhere else in the entire world. In fact, you will realise that if your wing was fixed completely you would fly away.

The shepherd will have to wait to rescue his little pet from the top of the cliff because it will have to be still for him. It has to stop struggling and seeking to rescue its self. He knows that once it is still, it will lose the danger of hurting itself any more.

But what does it mean to lie completely still in the arms of Jesus?

We must fully surrender our whole life to Him. That means surrendering our sinful tendencies to take on the godly characteristics of Jesus. Once we give our lives to Him He will help us through a divine miracle to become like Him. What is Finally, the sheep realises that there is no point in God’s character like? struggling and it sinks down, totally helpless and exhausted. It is now that the shepherd can help ‘And the LORD descended in the cloud, and the sheep back onto safe and sure ground and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name can mend its broken leg. of the LORD. And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD Think of an attentive God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, birdwatcher. He loves and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping his birds more than any mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and other thing he owns transgression and sin, and that will by no means but one day he finds that clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers a small robin has broken upon the children, and upon the children’s its wing. It looks so children, unto the third and to the fourth battered and rough and generation.’ Exodus 34:5-7 the birdwatcher wants to help it so much. So what will happen when God’s character is displayed in His people? He reaches down to pick her up so that he ‘When the character of Christ shall be perfectly can fix her broken wing, reproduced in His people, then He will come to but the little bird only feels the pain and doesn’t claim them as His own.’ Christ Object Lessons know that the birdwatcher is helping her. The p69. 16

By Michael Davis

t is said that all of a sudden there were no Atheists when the Titanic was sinking. In the immediate terror of facing virtually certain death in a freezing sea, thousands of travellers were desperately calling on God, Allah, Father, Yahweh for any kind of protection and safety. “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions we asked of Him.” (1 John 5:14,15 NKJV) Folks around the world pray in many various ways and God assures us in the text above that he hears our prayers on this one condition: that what we ask is in accordance with His Will. There are times we pray earnestly and with honest intentions yet the things we yearn so prayerfully for just don’t seem to come our way at the time when we want or need it so badly. Why? Why do our prayers seem to pass so often, unanswered? Maybe this verse ‘Answered Prayer’ might hold a clue:

I asked for strength that I might achieve; I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey. I asked for health that I might do greater things; I was given infirmity that I might do better things. I asked for riches that I might be happy; I was given poverty that I might be wise. I asked for power that I might have the praise of men; I was given weakness that I might feel the need of God. I asked for all things that I might enjoy life; I was given life that I might enjoy all things. I got nothing that I had asked for, but everything that I had hoped for. Almost despite myself my unspoken prayers were answered; I am, among all men, most richly blessed. 17

A Community Prayer By Maxine B

Public Prayer 101 - Part 1 Submitted by Joan Fuller

’m always fascinated by some of the prayers I hear. Have you ever said one like this? “And Father, we want to remember Sister Johnson who went on vacation to Zimbabwe and caught Malaria while she was there. She was admitted to the University Hospital on Wednesday and although she’s in ward 5B, she is not receiving visitors at the moment. Please remember her in her moment of crisis.”

the elder’s daughter fell asleep whilst kneeling! Usually, when the 10-15 minute prayer finally winds down, after numerous hopeful, but false endings, and we hear the welcomed words, ‘’We ask these things through the name of Jesus” indicating that it is finally finished, the congregation sighs, offering the ‘amen of relief ’, and we begin rubbing our sore knees and return to our seats. A few people have been known to make a mental note of who was praying and What is happening in this prayer? It sounds as determine to step outside whenever he or she if God is completely oblivious to Sister Johnson’s is scheduled to pray again. This shouldn’t be situation. He did not know that she was on though. The intercessory prayer is one of the vacation and had contracted the illness there and most significant aspects of corporate worship. has since been hospitalised. So we have to inform Yet, it is rarely taught. It is perhaps the most Him. Or, in the middle of our prayer, we cease intimate aspect of worship when the entire talking to God and use the prayer to inform the congregation is of one mind, everyone focussed congregation of Sister Johnson’s situation. on the words used to express our adoration, praise, thanksgiving and desires to the Creator, When I hear prayers like this, they throw off my our heavenly Father. Instead, it seems a chore to concentration because the person saying the get through, a burden to set aside. The wonderful intercessory prayer in worship is supposed to privilege of worshipping God through the approach God as our spokesperson. I want him intercessory prayer is missed and the experience or her to be speaking the sentiments of my heart; of drawing close to Him and being filled with His otherwise, how can I say the ‘amen of agreement’ Spirit is lost. at the end? As with all true worship, the most meaningful Far too often intercessory prayers seem to and fulfilling experience, when it comes to be long recitations of well-worn clichés, worshipping God through prayer, is realised meanderings or even sermonettes. The bulletins when prayer is a response to who God is. In the may as well list some of them as sermons next issue of the newsletter we will expand on because the person praying is preaching to the that thought. We will also look at how we should congregation. In one church, it was so long that be praying.

Bless our eyes dear Lord that they may be opened to the needs of others in our community. Bless our ears dear Lord that we hear your words of truth as the Holy Spirit directs our path to the needs of others in our community. Bless our mouth dear Lord that as we speak you will season our words with the sweetness of heaven as we proclaim the gospel message of salvation meeting the needs of others in our community. Bless our hands dear Lord that we may use them to labour and distribute personal invitation from you to others in our community. Bless our knees dear Lord as we pray before your throne of grace earnestly pleading for others in our community. Bless our feet dear Lord that they will be beautiful as we bring peace glad tidings of good things from you to others in our community. Bless our minds body and soul dear Lord fill us with your Holy spirit and use us as your vessel to reach out to others in our community. Thank you dear Lord for the breath of life that you have breathed into us, all because of your love. And that is what everything is all about… LOVE. Love for God and love for others in our community. 19

Church Info and Contacts Join us on Sabbath (Saturday) mornings. Bible Study (Sabbath school) from 10am Divine Worship from 11.15am. Fellowship Lunch from 1pm Afternoon Programme from 2pm -------------------------------------Pastor - Paul Dhanaraj - 07445 318778 Church Elder - Lloyd Sterling - 01604 591117 Newsletter Editor - David Wells - dwells1972@hotmail.co.uk

St James CEVA Primary School, Harlestone Road, Northampton, NN5 7AG http://northampton.adventistchurch.org.uk