蜜芽传媒

MUSIC: CONGREGATIONAL HYMN
PRAISE MY SOUL THE KING OF HEAVEN听 (Tune: Lauda Anima)

MAJOR JO MOIR: Introduction

Good morning and welcome to Sunday Worship at Bellshill Salvation Army in North Lanarkshire.
I鈥檓 Major Jo Moir, and our Message this morning will be brought to us by Colonel Peter Forrest.听 We will be considering what it means to trust God in times of uncertainty.

The Bellshill Band under the leadership of Yvonne Ferguson will be accompanying our congregational singing this morning.
And the International Staff Songsters of The Salvation Army are helping us in our service today. Founded in 1980, the Songsters reach thousands of people right across the UK and around the world presenting words and music inspired by scripture to enhance personal devotions and our worship together.听

As we continue in worship let鈥檚 first join together in prayer.听

RUTH:听 Opening Prayer

Father God, thank you for this new day.
Thank you for the opportunity we have to gather in the name of Jesus, to share in worship both in this place and with those listening far afield.
We welcome your Holy Spirit into worship and ask that you will give us open hearts and receptive minds to receive from you.
May everything we offer this morning be used for your glory, for you alone are worthy of the praise. In Jesus name we ask it. Amen听

MIRIAM: SCRIPTURE READING 1 (Jeremiah 29:10-14)听

Our first bible reading this morning is taken from Jeremiah Chapter 29, Verses10 to14.听

10听This is what the听Lord听says: 鈥淲hen seventy years听are completed for Babylon, I will come to you听and fulfil my good promise听to bring you back听to this place.听11听For I know the plans听I have for you,鈥� declares the听Lord, 鈥減lans to prosper听you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.听12听Then you will call听on me and come and pray听to me, and I will listen听to you.听13听You will seek听me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.听14听I will be found by you,鈥� declares the听Lord, 鈥渁nd will bring you back听from captivity.[]听I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,鈥� declares the听Lord, 鈥渁nd will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.鈥澨�

MUSIC: INTERNATIONAL STAFF SONGSTERS
HAIL, HOLY LIGHT (Tune: St Clement)听 Words: Edwin Pond Parker / Music: C C Scholefield arr. Howard Helvey.

JO:

That was 鈥楬ail, Holy Light鈥� based on the hymn tune St Clement, sung by the International Staff Songsters directed by Dorothy Nancekievill and accompanied by Richard Phillips.

Bellshill Salvation Army has a long tradition of supporting their community as an expression of God鈥檚 love. We hear now from Olywn Mathie of the Bellshill congregation, about her work in the neighbourhood and how it鈥檚 inspired by her faith.听

OLWYN MATHIE TESTIMONY听

MUSIC: INTERNATIONAL STAFF SONGSTERS
PRECIOUS JESUS听 (Tune: Ae Fond Kiss)
Words:听 Attr. 听Francis Bottome / Music: Scottish Traditional / Arranged: Leonard Ballantine听

JO: That was Precious Jesus, based on the traditional Scottish tune 鈥楢e Fond Kiss鈥� - with beautiful words reminding us of the power of sacrifice, commitment and surrender.听听

We move now into a time of prayer for all of our brothers and sisters everywhere.听

HAZEL:听 Prayers听

Lord God, we come to you in humility to pray for our communities, our nations and our world.听

Would you, in your mercy, reach out your hand to those who are in need of your love, healing and grace.听

Would you enable us to share your light and your hope with those we live with, work with and share life with.听

Lord for our nations, would you give wisdom to those in leadership, and grant discernment to those who govern, protect and serve us.听

May we ever seek to be people of unity for your name鈥檚 sake.

Father would you bring justice and reconciliation in our world.

Where there are wars would you bring your peace, where there is grief bring your comfort and where there is division bring your Holy Spirit鈥檚 power to unite and restore.听

May we, in your power and by your strength, work to be bearers of the light of Christ. In Jesu鈥檚 name, Amen.听

COLONEL PETER FORREST:听 Bible Reading (2) 2 Corinthians 5: 7:听

Good morning, My name is Col. Peter Forrest and it is a joy to be here with the International Staff Songsters along with the Band and congregation in Bellshill.听

Our second Bible reading this morning is taken from 2 Corinthians chapter 5: 听The Apostle Paul suggests that even in the frailty of life and our earthly home we have the Holy Spirit of God as a deposit guaranteeing what is to come, and in verse 6 he writes:
'Therefore, we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in听the body we are away from the Lord. For we live by faith, not by听sight.鈥櫶�

PETER:

Before we look more deeply into these words, let鈥檚 sing together again.

Stuart Townend and Keith Getty's powerful hymn 鈥業n Christ Alone鈥� is a song of hope and assurance; God is a firm foundation, and our solid ground.听

MUSIC: CONGREGATIONAL HYMN: IN CHRIST ALONE (Townend/Getty)听

PETER:听 Message Part 1

This Sunday, May 25th, historically known up to the late 19th century as Whitsunday term day, was significant in parts of the country for the signing of legally binding contracts. These contracts often related to employment or property leases that commenced on this day. According to some accounts, it eventually became known as Flitting Day in Scotland.

Leading up to May 25th families renting properties had to decide whether they would sit or flit.听 If flit was the resolution, the days following would be filled with 鈥榟ouse to let鈥� signs going up, then the excitement of viewing the various new properties and being viewed themselves by others in the same position, and the challenging decision on whether you could afford the rent.
For the more fortunate, there were questions about whether the carpets would fit? Would the curtains be the right shape for the new windows? Would the furniture be too big? And for the children - who was going to have the big bedroom and who would have to have the small one!

Then the day came, the only thing left to do was to flit. The morning is spent packing up, the afternoon is spent pushing in. Upholstery meeting upholstery in deadly contention, footpaths covered with tables and armchairs blocking the way for the 鈥榩asserby鈥� taking full advantage, of course, of the sight of their neighbours鈥� prized and sacred possessions exposed for all to see!

Then following the flit, the novelty of the occupation, the marks of the torn down brackets and departed pictures on the walls are covered over and the first 24 hours of the new settlement begins.

There is a certain charm in stories of the occasion, but flitting was seldom spoken of as a time of beauty but sheer hard work, and certainly a great time of uncertainty for the many families who had scarce options and resources.

Uncertainty can come in so many disguises, whether you are flitting or simply sitting - life is full of uncertainties that can affect us all in so many different ways. The Old Testament prophet Jeremiah offers reassurance and a glimmer of hope amidst such times. In Jeremiah 29 verse 11, it states; 鈥淔or I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future鈥�. Jeremiah underscores, even in times of uncertainty - God's overarching plan is one of hope and assurance.

Listen to the International Staff Songsters as they sing a beautiful song that picks up on those times of uncertainty in our lives. It鈥檚 entitled 鈥楽hare my Yoke鈥�.听

MUSIC: INTERNATIONAL STAFF SONGSTERS
SHARE MY YOKE (Composer: Joy Webb)听

PETER:听 Message Part 2

鈥楨ven in times of uncertainty God鈥檚 overarching plan is one of hope and assurance.鈥�

The writer of the song "Share My Yoke," Major Joy Webb, was a Salvation Army officer who founded the Salvation Army pop group 'The Joystrings.' In April 1964, while the Beatles were at the top of the Singles Charts with "Can't Buy Me Love," the 'Joystrings' reached number 32 with "It's an Open Secret." Joy Webb's writing included both adult and some famous children's songs known well outside The Salvation Army鈥檚 sphere of music.

That particular song 鈥楽hare my Yoke鈥� was written at a difficult time for Joy when she was uncertain of her own future and questioning God about the direction of her own ministry. While on holiday in the south of France Joy sat alone praying one day when she observed two oxen in a field close by 鈥榶oked together鈥� moving in unison, observing that where one went the other followed. To Joy, the Lord spoke about being yoked together with him simply asking her to be so yoked that where he was leading, she would follow.

And so, the inspiration for the words came鈥�

Share my yoke and find that I am joined with you.

Your slightest movement I shall feel and be there too!

Share my yoke and come the way that I must go

In our togetherness my peace you鈥檒l know;

The world beholding us will see it so!

In the uncertainties of life whether you are deciding to stay 鈥榮itting鈥� or consider 鈥榝litting鈥�, whether you are in a situation that causes you to consider the future remaining where you are or deciding to make a change, whatever that may look like, take from scripture Jeremiah鈥檚 words - 鈥楩or I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper and not to harm鈥�, or from the apostle Paul who writes to Christians in Corinth acknowledging the uncertainties of life when he declares on behalf of Christians everywhere (2 Cor 5:7) 鈥榳e live by faith and not by sight鈥�. Or to the words of Jesus as Matthew records them (11:30) 鈥楩or my yoke is easy and my burden is light鈥�.

During uncertain times, I suggest whether it鈥檚 a flitting day or a sitting day, as with Jeremiah, Paul and Jesus - stay strong, stay focused on your relationship with Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit and may the blessing of God be with you all.听

PETER: Prayer

Now let us pray;听 Heavenly Father, creator and preserver of life we pray for strength to follow you whether we are facing turmoil in our lives, or we consider ourselves to be in a good place. May your Holy Spirit minister to us in these days. May we feel your presence as we consider what it means to be yoked to you. To move together as one. Lord lead the way for us, and as disciples of the living Christ may we know your presence in our lives. Amen

Let鈥檚 say together the familiar words of the prayer that our Lord taught his disciples to pray.听

ALL:听 Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name

Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done

On earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts听 as we forgive our debtors

And lead us not into temptation, But deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, The power and the glory

For ever and ever Amen.听

Jo: Our thanks to Col Peter Forrest for his challenging and timely words.听

Now we lift our voices in a final congregational hymn - a declaration of assurance and courage 鈥� I鈥檒l Go In The Strength Of The Lord.鈥�听

MUSIC: CONGREGATIONAL HYMN
I鈥橪L GO IN THE STRENGTH OF THE LORD听

JO:听 And now a benediction:

May the grace of Our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all, Amen.听

MUSIC: INTERNATIONAL STAFF SONGSTERS

THE LORD WILL BLESS AND KEEP YOU (Words: Robert Street / Music: Lee Fisher)