LEIGH BAPTIST CHURCH “MESSENGER” OCTOBER 2023
VERNON ST / CHURCH ST . LEIGH. WN7 1BH
Website : www.leighbaptistchurch.org.uk Contact: admin@leighbaptistchurch.org.uk
Pastoral Leader – Val Hulme ( Day Off Fridays)
email : pastoral.leader@leighbaptistchurch.org.uk TEL 07817142192
Check LBC website for updates and info also LBC FACEBOOK page
DIARY DATES:
Sunday 1st October 10:45 am: Harvest Service Val Hulme
Sunday 8th October 10:45am: Open service (bring along a Bible reading, reflection, song or prayer)
Sunday 15th October 10:45am: Worship Service Revd. Neil Brighton
Sunday 22nd October 10:45am: Communion Service Val Hulme
Sunday 29th October 10:45 am: Worship Service Revd. Neil Brighton
Wednesdays 4th, 11th and 18th October Prayer Meeting 10:00 - 11:00 am Meet at 9:45am for tea/coffee/chat (Please note that there is no prayer Meeting on 25th October)
Saturdays 7th, 14th, and 21st October Walking With You Mutual Support Network 10:00 am - 12:00 noon (Please note the new name for the group) No meeting on 28th October
Deacons' Meeting: Wednesday 18th October 11:15 am
Strategy Group Meeting: Thursday 12th October 1:15 pm
Saturday28th October 6:00 - 9:00pm: Harvest Supper and Social. Tickets £5.00. We will start at 6:00pm with a hotpot supper, followed by a quiz and games. (Rearranged date)
Other groups using our building:
Wednesdays 4th, 11th and 18th October All Singers Great and Small Community Choir 7:30pm
Thursdays in October 10:00 - 12:00 Atherton and Leigh Foodbank
Thursday 12th October 7:30 - 9:30 pm Aglow
Friday 20th October Pensioners' Link 12:00 onwards
Our next Church and Congregation Meeting will be on Sunday November 19th. It will be a Worship Service with Church and Congregation Meeting, starting at 10:45 am.
Our Pastoral Leader will be on annual leave from Monday 23rd October - Sunday 29th October inclusive.
October 2023. Harvest Time.
Harvest Festivals are held in schools and churches at this time of the year, as we move from Summer into Autumn, the season of mists, harvesting of grain, vegetables and fruits. It is a time of thanksgiving and praise for God’s provision for us. It is wonderful to see the colourful displays and to be reminded that the seeds that were sown earlier in the year have yielded their crops. But above all we are reminded that we owe all to our loving God who has given all the conditions for growth.
There are many references in the Bible to the planting, growing and harvesting of produce. I came across some verses in Ezekiel recently on that subject. Ezekiel was a priest and a prophet living in exile in Babylon with the people of Judah who had been taken there as captives. His prophecies covered the time before and after the Babylonians invaded Jerusalem. God spoke of his plans for His people through Ezekiel as he continued to prophecy while there, sometimes using the sowing, growth and harvesting of crops as illustrations. In chapter 34 of his Old Testament book we read in verses 26-27 that there would be “showers of blessing” upon the land of His people, Israel, then “The trees of the field will yield their fruit and the ground will yield its crops, the people will be secure in their land. They will know that I am Lord when I break the bars of their yoke and rescue them from the hands of those who enslaved them.” Ezekiel 36: 8&9 say, “—you, o mountains of Israel will produce branches and fruit for my people Israel, for they will soon come home. --- you will be ploughed and sown, and I will multiply the number of people upon you, even the whole house of Israel.” That was good news for the people living in captivity for nearly 70 years. God was soon going to rescue them and enable them to live in their own land once again. That was the fulfilment of the prophecy in Jeremiah 25:11 (GNB & NIV) which says, “This whole land will be left in ruins --- and these nations will serve the King of Babylon70 years.” Also, in Jeremiah 29:10 the Lord says, “When 70 years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfil my promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you, --- plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” I will be found by you declares the Lord and will bring you back from captivity ---- to the land I gave to your forefathers to possess.” So the words quoted from Ezekiel 34:26-27 would be fulfilled. The Jews did return to the land of Israel. There is also reference to a future King who would be a descendent of David. Also in that chapter the Lord says He will look after His people as His sheep, and He will appoint one shepherd over them whom He calls His servant David. This seems to look forward to the time when Jesus lived among His people on Earth and spoke those well known words about being the Good Shepherd who cared for His sheep. Isaiah 11:1 tells us that He is the new branch that would sprout from ‘The Stump of Jesse’ who was the father of King David, and the Lord’s Spirit of Wisdom would rest upon Him.
Jesus used vegetation in some of His parables. In Matthew 13 we read about the farmer sowing his seeds, in the way they did without machinery, by throwing handfuls of it on to the field. They did not always land in good soil, so we have the well known parable of the Sower. Some seed fell on the paths, some among thorns and weeds, or on stony ground, so did not come to full growth and produce a crop. The good seed, however, landed on good soil where it produced crops. So it is with the seed of God’s word. Not everyone who hears the good news of Jesus accepts it, but those who do, remain faithful to Him.
In the parable of the wheat and tares it is interesting to note that they need to be allowed to grow together until harvest when the farmer can separate them out and burn the weeds. But the wheat is to be taken into the farmer’s barn. So it is with God’s word. The weeds that grow in some people’s hearts are the seeds of lies and deceit sown by the Devil, but the wheat is those who accept God’s word and “will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father.” Matthew 13:43 This is a warning that we need to turn to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, trust in Him and commit our lives to Him if we want to be in God’s Everlasting kingdom where Jesus, King of kings and Lord of lords sits on the throne.
Many prophecies from the Old Testament have been fulfilled, but there are still some from both Testaments that are still to take place. This is why it is so important for us to know what is written in the whole of the Bible and to know the teachings of Jesus.
Kathie. Quotes from NIV
LEIGH BAPTIST CHURCH “MESSENGER” OCTOBER 2023
VERNON ST / CHURCH ST . LEIGH. WN7 1BH
Website : www.leighbaptistchurch.org.uk Contact: admin@leighbaptistchurch.org.uk
Pastoral Leader – Val Hulme ( Day Off Fridays)
email : pastoral.leader@leighbaptistchurch.org.uk TEL 07817142192
Check LBC website for updates and info also LBC FACEBOOK page
DIARY DATES:
Sunday 1st October 10:45 am: Harvest Service Val Hulme
Sunday 8th October 10:45am: Open service (bring along a Bible reading, reflection, song or prayer)
Sunday 15th October 10:45am: Worship Service Revd. Neil Brighton
Sunday 22nd October 10:45am: Communion Service Val Hulme
Sunday 29th October 10:45 am: Worship Service Revd. Neil Brighton
Wednesdays 4th, 11th and 18th October Prayer Meeting 10:00 - 11:00 am Meet at 9:45am for tea/coffee/chat (Please note that there is no prayer Meeting on 25th October)
Saturdays 7th, 14th, and 21st October Walking With You Mutual Support Network 10:00 am - 12:00 noon (Please note the new name for the group) No meeting on 28th October
Deacons' Meeting: Wednesday 18th October 11:15 am
Strategy Group Meeting: Thursday 12th October 1:15 pm
Saturday28th October 6:00 - 9:00pm: Harvest Supper and Social. Tickets £5.00. We will start at 6:00pm with a hotpot supper, followed by a quiz and games. (Rearranged date)
Other groups using our building:
Wednesdays 4th, 11th and 18th October All Singers Great and Small Community Choir 7:30pm
Thursdays in October 10:00 - 12:00 Atherton and Leigh Foodbank
Thursday 12th October 7:30 - 9:30 pm Aglow
Friday 20th October Pensioners' Link 12:00 onwards
Our next Church and Congregation Meeting will be on Sunday November 19th. It will be a Worship Service with Church and Congregation Meeting, starting at 10:45 am.
Our Pastoral Leader will be on annual leave from Monday 23rd October - Sunday 29th October inclusive.
October 2023. Harvest Time.
Harvest Festivals are held in schools and churches at this time of the year, as we move from Summer into Autumn, the season of mists, harvesting of grain, vegetables and fruits. It is a time of thanksgiving and praise for God’s provision for us. It is wonderful to see the colourful displays and to be reminded that the seeds that were sown earlier in the year have yielded their crops. But above all we are reminded that we owe all to our loving God who has given all the conditions for growth.
There are many references in the Bible to the planting, growing and harvesting of produce. I came across some verses in Ezekiel recently on that subject. Ezekiel was a priest and a prophet living in exile in Babylon with the people of Judah who had been taken there as captives. His prophecies covered the time before and after the Babylonians invaded Jerusalem. God spoke of his plans for His people through Ezekiel as he continued to prophecy while there, sometimes using the sowing, growth and harvesting of crops as illustrations. In chapter 34 of his Old Testament book we read in verses 26-27 that there would be “showers of blessing” upon the land of His people, Israel, then “The trees of the field will yield their fruit and the ground will yield its crops, the people will be secure in their land. They will know that I am Lord when I break the bars of their yoke and rescue them from the hands of those who enslaved them.” Ezekiel 36: 8&9 say, “—you, o mountains of Israel will produce branches and fruit for my people Israel, for they will soon come home. --- you will be ploughed and sown, and I will multiply the number of people upon you, even the whole house of Israel.” That was good news for the people living in captivity for nearly 70 years. God was soon going to rescue them and enable them to live in their own land once again. That was the fulfilment of the prophecy in Jeremiah 25:11 (GNB & NIV) which says, “This whole land will be left in ruins --- and these nations will serve the King of Babylon70 years.” Also, in Jeremiah 29:10 the Lord says, “When 70 years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfil my promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you, --- plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” I will be found by you declares the Lord and will bring you back from captivity ---- to the land I gave to your forefathers to possess.” So the words quoted from Ezekiel 34:26-27 would be fulfilled. The Jews did return to the land of Israel. There is also reference to a future King who would be a descendent of David. Also in that chapter the Lord says He will look after His people as His sheep, and He will appoint one shepherd over them whom He calls His servant David. This seems to look forward to the time when Jesus lived among His people on Earth and spoke those well known words about being the Good Shepherd who cared for His sheep. Isaiah 11:1 tells us that He is the new branch that would sprout from ‘The Stump of Jesse’ who was the father of King David, and the Lord’s Spirit of Wisdom would rest upon Him.
Jesus used vegetation in some of His parables. In Matthew 13 we read about the farmer sowing his seeds, in the way they did without machinery, by throwing handfuls of it on to the field. They did not always land in good soil, so we have the well known parable of the Sower. Some seed fell on the paths, some among thorns and weeds, or on stony ground, so did not come to full growth and produce a crop. The good seed, however, landed on good soil where it produced crops. So it is with the seed of God’s word. Not everyone who hears the good news of Jesus accepts it, but those who do, remain faithful to Him.
In the parable of the wheat and tares it is interesting to note that they need to be allowed to grow together until harvest when the farmer can separate them out and burn the weeds. But the wheat is to be taken into the farmer’s barn. So it is with God’s word. The weeds that grow in some people’s hearts are the seeds of lies and deceit sown by the Devil, but the wheat is those who accept God’s word and “will shine like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father.” Matthew 13:43 This is a warning that we need to turn to our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, trust in Him and commit our lives to Him if we want to be in God’s Everlasting kingdom where Jesus, King of kings and Lord of lords sits on the throne.
Many prophecies from the Old Testament have been fulfilled, but there are still some from both Testaments that are still to take place. This is why it is so important for us to know what is written in the whole of the Bible and to know the teachings of Jesus.
Kathie. Quotes from NIV