LEIGH BAPTIST CHURCH “MESSENGER” NOVEMBER 2020
VERNON ST / CHURCH ST . LEIGH. WN7 1BH
Website : www.leighbaptistchurch.org.uk Contact: admin@leighbaptistchurch.org.uk
Pastoral Leader – Val Hulme ( Days Off Wed and Fridays)
email : pastoral.leader@leighbaptistchurch.org.uk TEL 07817142192
Check LBC website for updates and info also LBC FACEBOOK page
The Judge of all the earth.
As I listen to the news about Greater Manchester going into tier 3, the more I realise how frustrated and anxious many people are at the prospect, especially those with businesses. Many have had to suffer restrictions for months and many fear their businesses will never reopen. Other people have not seen their families for many months and many people have been confined to their homes, very often just a small flat.
We all have our opinions about what should be done to bring down the number of covid-19 cases. We criticise those making decisions either nationally or locally, and we point our fingers at those not abiding by the rules. In other words we blame others and judge them. This is a natural reaction. We all want to know why the numbers have risen so sharply in our own area of the country.
But how should those who are Christians react? In His Sermon on the Mount Jesus said, “Do not judge others, so that God will not judge you.” Matthew 7:1, GNB. He goes on to warn that we will be judged in the same way that we judge other people.
In verse 3 Jesus says, “Why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, and pay no attention to the log in your own eye?”
With reference to the fate of Sodom & Gomorrah in Genesis 18:25 NIV, Abraham asked the Lord, “Will not the judge of all the Earth do right?” Who is the Judge of all the Earth? Psalm 50:6 NIV states, ‘—the Heavens proclaim his righteousness, for God himself is judge. ’Psalm 96:13 NKJV tells us that ‘He (The Lord) is coming to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, and the peoples with His truth.’
When Jesus was explaining to the Jews that he had been sent by His Father, and that he did whatever God the Father wanted Him to do, He said that His Father had committed all judgement to him, the Son, and ‘has given Him authority to execute judgement also, because He is the Son of Man.’ John 5: 22, 27. NKJV. He also said in chapter 10:30, I and My Father are One”. Paul wrote to Timothy about Jesus judging the quick and the dead, and to the Corinthian Church about ‘appearing before the judgement seat of Christ.’ 2 Corinthians 5:10. NKJV.
If our God is the one who judges all things, in the past, the present and the future, then surely we need to leave Him to judge who is right and who is wrong, and not worry ourselves about it. We have enough to think about in our day to day living. In the mean time we need to obey those in authority and pray for them to be given the wisdom needed to make necessary decisions.. Those decisions may not be to our liking, but there are ways in which we can help ourselves to cope with them.
In ‘Word for Today’ on October 17th the title was ‘Laugh More’. It is said that Laughter is the best medicine’. It can relax us and bring about a feeling of happiness. Another way to have that feeling is to read verses of scripture giving praise to God, such as some of the Psalms telling of God’s help and faithfulness at all times, and remembering to praise and thank Him for the ways in which He has led us and helped us in our lives. Even when things are hard there are things each day that we can give thanks for, such as things we have seen or been able to do that day. The more we are thankful, the less time we have to be fearful, critical, worried and upset.
So let us keep our eyes on the Lord, and ‘Give thanks to the Lord for he is good. His love endures for ever.’ Psalm 136:1 NIV.
‘Cast all your care upon Him for He cares for you.’ 1 Peter 5:7.
May you know the Peace of God at this time, Kathie.
PASTORAL LEADER’S NOTES:
We had hoped to re-open the building for Sunday morning worship last month, but due to rising numbers of positive cases and local lockdown, the decision was taken to delay this. As we are now in Tier 3 restrictions, our building will still be closed for worship. We will continue to post services to our You Tube channel and Facebook page on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month, to hold a Zoom Coffee Morning on the second Saturday of the month and a Zoom Communion service on the 4th Sunday of the month. Scattered Church Musings will be posted on our Facebook page each Wednesday and Sunday, emailed to those who request them and a hard copy will be delivered to those who do not have an internet connection. If you fall into this category and are not receiving them, please contact our Pastoral Leader. We also post a weekly singing and music session on our closed Toddler group Facebook page during term-time.
The NWBA are continuing to provide Sunday morning worship on their You Tube channel at 10:30am each week and a reflection each Wednesday. These can also be accessed via their website on the day and later as a recording.
Operation Christmas Child
We usually support Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child appeal. They are still going ahead with this and there are some local drop off points. I (Val) would be willing to take any boxes to one of these. They have to be dropped off between 9th - 16th November, so it only gives you a week to prepare a box. If you decide to go with this option, please contact me so that I can collect your box. You can, however, go to the Samaritan's Purse website and choose to build a shoebox online.
Advent Prayer Meetings
Wigan and Leyland Baptist Churches are organising a daily Advent Prayer Meeting at 12 noon via Zoom, and we have been invited to join with them. There is no obligation to join every day, just as and when you can. There will be no meeting on Sundays.
Advent Bible Study
During Advent, we will be offering a Zoom Bible Study each Tuesday at 7:30 pm, starting on December 1st. The link will be sent out weekly. If you don't receive it and would like to join in, please contact me. pastoral.leader@leighbaptistchurch.org.uk
We were saddened to hear of the death of Mrs. Lilian Ackers on 12th October. Our Pastoral Leader conducted the funeral service at Howe Bridge Crematorium on 29th October. Our thoughts and prayers are with her daughter Pauline, grandson John, his partner Carla, and their daughter Opal.
Polite Reminder: Our Pastoral Leader's days off are Wednesday and Friday. Please could you avoid contacting her on these days, unless it is an emergency.