'The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the works of His hands.'
Psalm 19:1
BURNS NIGHT
Our Burns Night will be held on Saturday 28th January from 6pm until 9pm at Queens Hall.
Haggis, Neeps and Tatties will be served alongside a showcase of 'homegrown' talent (i.e. you are the concert).
There will also be a free will offering for 'GOATS'.
Entrance is FREE, but tickets need to be allocated for catering purposes.
Only 60 tickets are available, so get yours fast!
There will be a virtual service on both Maundy Thursday and Good Friday as well as a service on Easter Day (more details to follow).
If you would like to join any or all these services you will need access to a laptop or smart phone and download the Zoom app and contact John Parker (jandmparker45@gmail.com) for a code to “get” in. to each service.
For Maundy Thursday – please have bowl with water and sop and a towel handy. Following either foot or hand washing (you will be doing it!) please have a piece of bread and something liquid to drink as we will be celebrating at the Lord’s Table.
Good Friday – will be a time of reflection, of being together in the quiet and listening to scripture and gentle music.
Easter Sunday – if you could have bread and some form of drink ready so we can Praise the Risen Lord Jesus together.
Rev. Helen brown has prepared a lovely Holy Week series and I hope you find it inspirational, thank you Helen.
Rev'd Sheila MacInally
Today's Service
Our Sunday morning worship will be held over ZOOM again this morning!
Please click
link to find out
how to log on and join us.
Hope to see you there!
Sunday Morning
Worship
25th April
Our Sunday morning worship will be held over ZOOM this morning!
Please click
link to find out
how to log on and join us.
Hope to see you there!
Sunday Morning
Worship
19th April
Do you have some free time on your hands? Why not check out 'Spring Harvest Home' . . .
It's free! Details are below.
Don't forget to check out our daily 'Pause for Thought' too!
If possible, before joining us online for our service have ready a small amount of oil (baby oil, olive oil, crisp & dry, marg, I can't believe it's not butter, WD40!!).
If you don't have any, water will do just fine. See you soon!
DAY 9 ~ CELEBRATE
Reflection:
How joyful God is when He welcomes
us back. We can have such skewed ideas
of God as if He is an angry dictator or fault-finding headteacher. But actually,
God is love and His attitude towards us is compassion and grace. Even when we are far from Him, He is willing to run and meet us, the way this father did.
Look how it says, ‘But while he was still
far off ’ – the father didn’t wait for the son to come all the way to him, but he went and made up the distance. God does that. God doesn’t just wait – He comes out to us in His love and He stretches His arms in welcome.
God is stretching His arm out right now, moving down the road waiting for your friends to come home.
So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his slaves, ‘Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!’ And they began to celebrate.
Luke 15:20-24
Prayer:
Loving God, please get my friends on the road where they see You running to meet them. Thank You that You welcome us with joy however far or however long we have been away.
Action:
Think of how you have been hurt by someone, or disagreed with them. How could you reach out and meet them where they are, just as Jesus does for us?
Taken from www.thykingdomcome.global
PAUSE FOR THOUGHT
5 Powerful Prayers for
Restoration of a
Broken World
Prayer 2 ~ Prayer to Restore
Broken Relationships
“Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise”
Dear God,
Thank you for being a restorer of broken friendships, marriages, family divisions, and peers. As we surrender our inadequacies and shortcomings to you, you will intervene for us. Give us the wisdom and reassure us that you are our ultimate provider and will equip us with all we need to restore our broken relationships. Remind us that we cannot restore anything or any relationship without the power of the Holy Spirit. Provide us with a willing heart, patience, forgiveness, and strength to trust You with all aspects of restoring relationships. You are in control. Help us to seek Your Word and way for direction.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
DAY 10 ~ SILENCE
Reflection:
Silence has always been a big part of spiritual practice, but many have never tried it!
Solitude and silence can help us hear from God, because we can easily lose sensitivity to that still, small voice in all the noise and activity of our lives. In silence, you realise how little you hear that voice at other times.
Silence can be hard. Life is busy and finding a space and time for silence can be difficult. You have a thousand thoughts, like “what’s for dinner?”! But the beauty of silence is that it’s not God speaking through someone else, such as in a sermon or a Christian book, but God speaking directly to you.
He said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
1 Kings 19:11-13
Prayer:
...[be silent]...
Action:
Try silent prayer for five minutes – even if it’s difficult! Make a note afterwards of anything God seemed to say to you, through thoughts or feelings that came into your mind.
Taken from www.thykingdomcome.global
15th April 2020
A PRAYER FOR DELIVERANCE
By Pete Greig (27/7 Prayer)
Lord Jesus Christ,
we ask you to protect us from the spread of the coronavirus. You are powerful and merciful, let this be our prayer;
Response:
“Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.” (Psalm 57)
Jehovah Shalom, Lord of Peace,
we remember those living in coronavirus hotspots and those currently in isolation. May they know your presence in their isolation, your peace in their turmoil and your patience in their waiting. Prince of Peace, you are powerful and merciful: let this be their prayer:
Response:
“May your mercy come quickly to meet us, for we are in desperate need. Help us, God our Saviour, for the glory of your name.” (Psalm 79:8)
God of all Comfort and Counsel,
we pray for those who are grieving, reeling from the sudden loss of loved ones. May they find your fellowship in their suffering, your comfort in their loss, and your hope in their despair. We name before you those known to us who are vulnerable and scared - the frail, the sick and the elderly ...... God of all Comfort, you are powerful and merciful: may this be our prayer:
Response:
"He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us." (2 Corinthians 1:10)
Jehovah Rapha, God who heals,
we pray for all medical professionals dealing daily with the intense pressures of this crisis. Grant them resilience in weariness, discernment in diagnosis, and compassion upon compassion as they care. We thank you for the army of researchers working steadily and quietly towards a cure -give them clarity, serendipity and unexpected breakthrough today. Would you rise above this present darkness, Sun of Righteousness, with healing in your rays. May this be our prayer:
Response:
"Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you." (Jeremiah 32:17)
God of all wisdom,
we pray for our leaders: the World Health Organisation, national governments and local leaders too - councils, hospitals, schools etc. Grant them wisdom beyond their own wisdom and faith beyond their own faith. God of all Wisdom and Counsel, you are powerful and merciful: may this be our prayer:
Response:
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear." (Psalm 46:1-2)
May El Shaddai, the Lord God Almighty who loves you, project you. May Jesus Christ, His Son who died for you save you. And may the Holy Spirit who broods over the chaos fill you with his presence, intercede for you and, in you, for others at this time.
Response:
"The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen." (2 Timothy 4:18)
PAUSE FOR THOUGHT
ENCOURAGEMENT
10th May 2020
Dear Friends,
Who has influenced you?
I have been reading a biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and was amazed at the powerful effect that his mother had upon his life. The influence was pivotal in his becoming such an amazing man. I then thought about John Wesley and wondered what sort of man he would have been if he’d had a different mother than Suzannah? What about Samuel? Hannah agonised over her childlessness for many years and once her prayer was granted and Samuel was born, she dedicated him to the LORD. “The LORD has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord for the whole of his life.” (1 Samuel 2:1-10) Hannah prepared Samuel in his early years so much so that he is one of the great prophets of the Bible. Barnabas is known as the “encourager” of the New Testament – we all need someone in our corner encouraging us to step out in faith and do what we are called to do.
Who took time with you to nurture you and encourage you? It might have been a family member, perhaps a schoolteacher, a Guide or Scout leader; perhaps a work colleague. Someone at some time in your life has been instrumental in influencing you profoundly.
who have you encouraged?
Who have you taken under your wing because you could see that they had potential, talent or gift or grace which needed encouraging? MY mother always said that her mother-in-law, my Granny, was her encourager. My mother could not cook, not even boil an egg when she married my father. Yet my Granny, took time to help and show her many things about being a good wife and mother. From my Granny, my mother learnt to treat each of her four children equally and that lesson I too have learnt, you do not give to one without the other! An encourager challenges but supports and helps the person to flourish and grow, physically, emotionally, intellectually, C FCDDC and spiritually. An encourager helps the person to break loose and become independent and fly and reach the heights that are before them.
Colossians 4:6 says, “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt…” Everything we say and do is influencing those around us – our children, family, friends, work colleagues and church family. We have the possibility of making a creative, powerful, and life-changing difference in someone’s life. Will we? Are we? If so, I pray that you continue to pray and support the person, and if not, perhaps you should be praying and asking God to give you someone to encourage. For each and everyone of us has received – let us now give!
The greatest influencer in all our lives is Jesus, our Lord and Saviour – let us encourage not just with worldly gifts but let us encourage with the love and joy and peace and forgiveness and mercy of Jesus.
Blessings
Sheila
PAUSE FOR THOUGHT
Dear Friend,
In this time of crisis it is good to know that the best is yet to come! The weather has been lovely throughout most of the last nine weeks and looks set to continue, especially now the “lockdown” is gradually being relaxed. Summer is around the corner, the days have lengthened and hope is a very present expectation that life might return soon to some sort of normality.
Revelation 22:12 says, “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me and I will give to each person according to what they have done.”
The final chapters of the Bible answer conclusively all those who have asked throughout history, “Why doesn’t God do something about this mess?” We are certainly in a mess during this Covid 19 pandemic. I wonder, have you asked this question? Has someone you love contracted the virus? Has someone died who meant a lot to you? Have you found the “lockdown” difficult, emotionally, physically, or spiritually? Not everyone has “sailed” through this time. Separation from work, family and friends and from many leisure activities has coursed many problems for people. Are you one of them?
The best is yet to come! There will be a vaccine found, the virus will eventually die out, life will find its balance once more for each and every one of us. So, if the best is yet to come, how will it be achieved? John is the writer of Revelations and he is shown, by God, that he and we, will all know about the “best” when it comes. Life often throws us a curved ball and suddenly we are unable to see the future. But with Jesus in the last chapters of Revelation we see that there will be a time of rejoicing after the hardship faced at the end times. We don’t know when those times will be but we are called to live by faith resting upon the testimony of Jesus and believing when he said he will come again and take us to be with him ( John 14:1-6).
The best is yet to come, can refer to the end of this virus, or a situation you find yourself in BUT it does also mean that Jesus is going to come again and the things of this world will pass away and those who name Jesus as their Lord and Saviour will live for ever in heaven with Jesus and our Father, God for all eternity. Now that is something I’m looking forward too! Many people have been accessing worship service sites and prayer sites recently, looking for answers, Friends, the final answer to all our problems is Jesus. It doesn’t mean we will suddenly cease to have troubles, illness, or suffer disasters, no, what it means is that with Jesus we have the blessed assurance that we will live with HIM for ever because we have asked him into our lives.
We say why does God allow tragedy to happen? Why doesn’t God intervene? God has given each one of us free-will. We can choose to make our own decisions. Wherever this Covid 19 pandemic came from, whether it be bats at a live animal market or escaped for a laboratory, its genus is man, not God. But we can step out from the blame culture and be restored by asking Jesus into our lives and have the assurance the best is truly yet to come – life eternal in heaven with God the Father, Christ Jesus, our Lord and Saviour, the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Yes, the best is yet to come.
Do you want this peace?
Do you want this assurance?
Do you want to know that Jesus loves you?
Do you want to be forgiven of the past and your sins?
Jesus can do all this for you. Yes, for you!
Please phone me, Sheila on 01695 628033if you would like to speak with me.
I pray the healing love of Jesus in your lives, now and always.
Sheila (Minister of Queens Hall)
THE BEST IS YET TO COME
'Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me and I will give to each person according to what they have.'
Revelation 22:12
''For God did not give us a spirit of timidity (fear),
But a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline.'
2 Timothy 1:7
PAUSE FOR THOUGHT
To the Church family,
An encouragement for us all
from Joan Noonan
AS THE WORLD GOES THROUGH THIS DEVASTATING TIME, WE KNOW THAT GOD IS IN CONTROL, AND HAS A PLAN.
LET US PRAISE, WORSHIP AND GLORIFY HIM IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, GOOD OR BAD.
2 TIMOTHY 1:7
FOR GOD DID NOT GIVE US A SPIRIT OF TIMIDITY (FEAR),
BUT A SPIRIT OF POWER, OF LOVE, AND OF SELF-DISCIPLINE. AMEN.
AFTER I HAD ALREADY WRITTEN THIS, SHEILA POSTED A CARD TO ME WITH DAILY READINGS OF THE BEATITUDES – I WILL BLESS THE LORD AT ALL TIMES: HIS PRAISE SHALL CONTINUALLY BE IN MY MOUTH. (PSALM 34:1) - WHAT A CONFIRMATION…
REVELATION 22:21
THE GRACE OF THE LORD JESUS BE WITH GOD’S PEOPLE. AMEN.
29th April 2020
PAUSE FOR THOUGHT
‘For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.’
Corinthians 1.16
Last Saturday morning, I went out for my Government-mandated daily exercise. I ran out on the back road from Southport into open countryside - a road that is normally too busy to run on, but was now beautifully still and quiet. I took time to notice the beauty of God’s creation all around - plants and flowers in bloom, green trees, the warmth of the sun and a gentle cooling breeze. I noticed crops sprouting that would feed and nourish us all, and gave thanks for the blessings the Lord gives us daily. As I ran on, an awesome thought struck me. I had seen a wide range of the wonders that God had created, and yet...this was one small road, on the edge of one small town, in one small county, in one small country, on one small planet, in one small galaxy in a colossal universe...and God had created it all. A thought that took my breath away (not always the best thing when running!) An awesome, universe-shaping God - and yet a God who cares for every little part of His creation, right down to you and me. The care and precision with which He formed stars and planets went into the creation of each of us. We are not processed on an assembly line, churned out as an identikit model, but as a unique treasure, made with a love deep enough to conquer death. We are praying for the well-being of everyone at Queens Hall, and also that you know how deeply you are loved by our Creator.
Phil Robinson
Dear Friends,
At last we hear that we have reached the peak of the Coronavirus infections. The number of people presenting to hospital with symptoms seems to have levelled out. We are all distressed to be told of the number of people in Care Homes who have died, whilst testing seems to have reached to “magic” number of 100,000 per day. Many people, especially in the NHS and in the Care Sector have been going the extra mile in serving the community whilst wearing inadequate PPE, yet they continue to serve. Thank you.
What comes next? Social distancing in the main seems to be the norm and people are conforming to the rules which the government have issued. So, we turn our minds to supporting those who are grieving, to those who were not able to say good-bye to loved ones or give them the funeral they wanted. We need and must support those who have experienced trauma at work as they have sort to help in hospital or in Care Homes. The aftermath of this virus, yet unknown, will be serious, and not just for you and me at home, but for all who in one way or another have been personally touched by this pandemic. I was speaking to a mother who was very proud of her daughter who works 13 hour shifts at a hospital in full PPE and when after 13 hours of wearing it she takes it off and her face is swollen with the pressure and heat of wearing it. She is so drained that often she needs someone to help her take off her PPE as she has no energy left, either physical or emotional. Thank you to those who are on the frontline.
If we are now thinking about relaxing the “lockdown” what is the future?
What is the future for you?
Are you going to pick up the threads of your life and continue as before?
Has this time of isolation confirmed your lifestyle or are you going to do “things” differently?
Serious and life changing decisions we all need to make.
Whether the virus was from bat-droppings or from a lab in Wuhan, the world has changed, and we need to decide if we must change too. Whether we are a Christian or not we all must re-evaluate our lives. Psalm 51:10 says, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.”
This is a psalm of King David. David has been wonderfully blessed by God, he has been granted wealth, position, authority and wisdom and yet David becomes bored. When spring comes, instead of being at the head of his army, he is at home in the palace in Jerusalem twiddling his thumbs, ripe for mischief! Please do not blame Bathsheba, she thought David was away with the army, like her husband, Uriah. No, David was at home and he saw her bathing and as they say the rest is history! David is challenged about his behaviour by the prophet Nathan in 2 Samuel 12:7-12 and has his eyes opened to his failures, his sins. Psalm 51 is a cry of David to God to be forgiven. With forgiveness came the understanding of verse 10. David is seeking a new clean and pure heart and a steadfast spirit, not to sin again but be faithful to God and do the correct things and not what he wants to do.
I am NOT saying that the virus is judgement from God for the sin of the world, truly, I am not. What I am saying is that with this opportunity it is a good time for each one of us to look deeply into our own lives, the physical, emotional and yes, the spiritual and reflect as to whether we like what we see. If not, we have time, “lockdown” time to do something about it.
Another conversation was about a family who were for one reason or another distant from each other. One brother not speaking to another and a daughter-in-law never visited her father-in-law. The daughter-in-law is now making Sunday lunch each week for her father-in-law and the brothers are planning a reunion party when it is safe to do so! All because this family had time to search their emotions and courage to do something about it.
Is there something you need to do; someone you need to contact? Please, do it, and do it now. Do not hesitate or prevaricate, do it now!
Do you need to be right with God? Have you ignored him? Have you denied him? Are you a believer who is a backslider? Do not waste any more time, change today! Ask to be forgiven, ask to be included in the Kingdom of Heaven with Jesus for all eternity, the opportunity for SALVATION is now, don’t waste it, the offer is open to all, “ask and it shall be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you.” (Matthew 7:7) You have to do it. Do it now. Jesus is waiting to help you from darkness into light.
Salvation doesn’t mean that you will never again have difficulties or troubles. NO, it means you will never ever be alone, for God in Christ Jesus will be at your side helping and through the Holy Spirit guiding you – isn’t that true freedom, not just an arbitrary directive from government about when we can go out but to have the blessed assurance of life eternal waiting for you and the protection of the Holy Spirit now, well Friends, what are you waiting for!
If you’d like to talk do phone me, I’m available most evenings on 01695 628033 or email me shekinahshining@gmail.com
Blessings in the name of the Risen Lord Jesus Christ
Sheila MacInally (Minister)
PAUSE FOR THOUGHT
“Ask and it shall be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you.”
Matthew 7:7
25th April 2020
PAUSE FOR THOUGHT
JESUS LOVES THE LITTLE CHILDREN
This is one of my favourite Sunday School songs.
Jesus shows us the importance of coming to him as little children. This requires us to humble ourselves, and in doing so, he lifts us up.
Susan Sharples
PAUSE FOR THOUGHT
BE STILL
For many the lock-down is an often dark and anxious or sad place, a lonely place.
But it is also a wake-up call for some and an opportunity for us all to re-assess what occupies so much of our time normally. There are interesting, exciting testimonies among us of family members returning to God, or at least searching – this time in the right place! Praise God for these accounts. And praise God for this once-in-a-lifetime gift of TIME.
Distractions are probably at the highest level ever: constant TV or radio, gadgets pinging to demand our attention, teen-agers adept at handling 2 or 3 `screens` at the same time; box sets, Netflix, Amazon Prime and non-stop entertainment of all kinds. But God won`t shout or raise his voice above the incessant noise. He wants us to be STILL … available … listening … to be at peace in his company. As I look back on over 40 years as a Christian, I have picked up various `nuggets` of wisdom from anointed Christians, via sermons or Christian conferences but – more often – books. I give a flavour for you to “taste and see” if it works for you.
1. Joyce Hugget`s “Listening to God” was food to my hunger for a deeper life with God during my early years as a Christian, but also juggling being a busy wife & mother of 3 children, and
novice Local Preacher. Joyce highlighted Jesus`s words in John 10 “I am the Good Shepherd. I
know my sheep and my sheep know me.” v.14 and “the sheep listen to his voice and He calls his own sheep by name.” v.3. So that was a lesson on the importance of LISTENING. The other very important, practical, tit-bit was to minimise distractions during my morning `quiet time` of Bible reading and prayer: by having a piece of paper and pen by my side to make a note of any distracting thought – an item to add to my shopping list, one of the children needing something for school, the need to ring a friend or to pay a bill. Distractions come but we note them down and return to stillness before God.
2. Margaret Silf`s book `Taste & See` was also very helpful. I quote from p. 10:
“ A friend once told me an interesting fact that if you can imagine yourself in a stormy sea, and
then imagine yourself ten feet below the trough of the highest wave, the water would be perfectly calm. The picture appealed to me, and helps me to come to prayer. Like most people, I live most of my life on the `surface` of myself. My conscious journey through a typical day is mainly occupied with the `waves` - sometimes manageable, sometimes storm-force and at the end of the day I can feel exhausted and fraught.” So to imagine that stillness and quietness ten feet down also helps me when prayer and stillness seems difficult.
3. Roger Foster & Gayle Beeb`s `Longing for God` (journeying to the heart of God) examines the lives of inspirational Christians going back to the early church. It has broadened my learning and adjusted my pre-conceptions of right and wrong ways to approach God.
4. Pete Greig`s “How to Pray” (my current book, used alongside The Prayer Course). The
book`s early advice is to `Pause`, as Susan has already mentioned in `Pause for Thought` on the Queen`s Hall webpage. Pause, be Still. Just this morning the book got my attention when the author quoted from Psalm 23, the verse after the very familiar “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want` …… v.2. `He makes me lie down in green pastures.” Is Jesus persuading us to be still and to find time to relax peacefully with him? TIME is something we have a lot of at the moment.
Margaret Parker
PAUSE FOR THOUGHT
Whether great of small, God and his gospel can do the impossible and transform lives.
Who could have thought that the assassin Saul could become the apostle Paul? Such graces occurred then, and still do today.
Who would ever have thought that a man now called David, who was once called Abu Bakr, the son of a grand Mufti, himself a Muslim imam and doctor Sharia law, would ever encounter Christ in a vision in a mosque at prayers, and become a preacher of the gospel to Muslims in the UK?
That is what the gospel does, for that is what God does.
In the Gazette number 6, Rev Sheila passionately encourages to fix our eyes on Jesus and pray. Let’s do so and include transformation of souls in our prayers.
John Parker
25 April 2020
