LEIGH BAPTIST CHURCH “MESSENGER” JULY 2024
VERNON ST / CHURCH ST . LEIGH. WN7 1BH
Website :www.leighbaptistchurch.org.ukContact: admin@leighbaptistchurch.org.uk
Pastoral Leader – Val Hulme ( Day Off Tuesdays and Fridays)
email : pastoral.leader@leighbaptistchurch.org.uk TEL 07817142192
Check LBC website for updates and infoalso LBC FACEBOOK page
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Sun 7th July 10.45am Worship service with Revd Neil Brighton
Sun 14th July 10.45am Open Service
Sun 21st July 10:45am Sunday Bible Study with Church & Congregation meeting
Sun 28 July 10.45am Communion Service & Dedication Val Hulme
Sat 6th July 10.am-12pm Chat’n’a Brew
Monday 22nd July 7:00 – 8:30pm Music Group
Tuesdays 4:00 - 6:00pm Guitar Group
Wednesdays 10:00am -11:00am Prayer Meeting (drinks at 9.45am)
Wednesday3rd July 11.15am Deacons’ meeting
Thursday18th July 1:00pm-3.30pm Coffee+
Thursday 25th July 1.15pm Strategy Group
Saturday 27th July 10:00am-12:30pm “Walking with You” Group
Other Users of building:
Tue 2nd July. Ladies Luncheon Club 11.30am- 2.15pm
Tuesdays (except 2nd) 1:15pm – 3:00pm Private Support Group
Wednesdays 7.30pm -9:00pm All Singers Great & Small Community Choir
Thursdays 10:00am-12:00pm Atherton and Leigh Foodbank
Thursday11th July 7.30pm-10:00pm AGLOW
Saturday 20th July 4pm- 8pm Ebenezer Christian Church
NEXT CHURCH MEETING SUNDAY 21st July. Please note the changed date. Change due to Dedication service on 28th July where we will share in the thanksgiving and joy for of Afi, a new son to Success and C.J. within the morning service.
We were saddened to hear of the death of Joe Gilman. His funeral Service will be held at LBC on Fri 5th July at 11am led by our Pastoral Leader ,followed by burial at 12.pm.Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Joan and the family.
Our Pastoral Leader will be on annual leave from Sunday 7th July – Monday15th July (inclusive).She returns to work on Wed 17th July
“Do not merely listen to the Word ---- Do what it says.” James 1:22
How often have we listened to God’s word being read, or even read it ourselves, but have not really taken much notice of what it meant or was saying to us? I know that, over the years, I have been guilty of that on many occasions.
When I recently read about John the Baptist’s preaching on repentance, I noticed that he warned the people that being the ‘children of Abraham’ would not save them from the ‘wrath to come’, or judgement. He said, “The axe is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire”, a message also given by Jesus about the vine and its branches in St John 15:6. John the Baptist also went on to give practical examples of what people should or should not do, such as, “Don’t accuse people falsely.” Luke 3:14
I have been aware in recent years of the way in which people in all walks of life have been judged, especially in the media and in news bulletins and newspapers. Over and over again there are interviews and comments repeating an accusation, mistake, or misdemeanour; or something a person has said or done, but has genuinely apologised for. They are still being accused and judged, but more than that, it is still being kept in the minds of the public and can influence many people in a negative way. There seems to be no forgiveness. Also, what has happened to ‘Innocent until proved to be guilty’? We need to remember that no-one knows the real circumstances behind anyone’s actions. Also, when people’s minds are set on one particular attitude they are biased and very often do not listen to what is actually being said. So what did Jesus say about that kind of thing? We can read his words in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 7:2: “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” I read those words and realised that I need to be aware of when I am judging someone. It is so easy to criticise. Vs 3-5 say, “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?”
It then says that we need to remove the plank from our own eye first. The Bible makes it plain that the only person who has ever lived and is fit to judge is Jesus, who committed no sin, but paid the price for our sins on the cross. In 1 Corinthians 4:4-5 Paul wrote, “My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore judge nothing before -- the Lord comes. -- He will -- expose the motives of men’s hearts.” When will that be? We turn to Revelation 5-8 and read about a scroll that no-one was worthy to open, except the ‘Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David who has triumphed’ and is therefore ‘able to open the scroll and its seven seals.’ John saw ‘a Lamb looking as if it had been slain, standing in the centre of the throne, who took the scroll. Four living creatures and twenty four elders sang a song, “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open the seals because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe, language, people, and nation.” Then verse 12 says that thousands of voices sang, ”Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power --,” The Lamb opened the first of the seven seals, then, one by one, the other six.
Matt 25:31-46 tells of when ‘the Son of Man comes in great glory’, ‘All the nations will gather round Him to be judged as He sits on His throne and separates the sheep to eternal glory from the goats who will go to eternal punishment.’ Although we need the legal system on earth to keep law and order, Jesus is the final Judge and people have to be careful not to make unfair judgements. We need to be aware of what God’s Word says to us, do as it says, and be ready to forgive others, as we pray in the Lord’s Prayer, “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Kathie Williams