We are very pleased to host two community groups seeking to help end social isolation and improve emotional and mental health in our communities.

B:Friend meets on Monday afternoons from 1.30 p.m. and offers a befriending service to local residents who often struggle to get out. The Monday afternoon meeting is a social gathering which looks at different activities each week and gives opportunities to meet new people and make new friends.

TADS works with young people who struggle with anxiety, depression and stress and is running a drop-in session for 11-18 year olds on Wednesday afternoons from 3.15-4.45 p.m.

It will also be holding one-off sessions in the half-term holidays (Tuesday 18th February for 11-18 year olds and a mindfulness session on Friday 22nd February for 5-10 year olds.)

We also host Dearne Stay Fit (a gentle exercise class for over 50s) on Tuesdays at 10 a.m. and Slimming World meet in our building on Thursdays at 9 a.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.

In addition, the church runs a youth club on Mondays (6.30 – 8.00 p.m.) and a Parent & Toddler group on Fridays (9.30 – 11.00 a.m.) Please let others know of these groups!

The Rolling Stones sang, ‘I can’t get no satisfaction’, and for many people in life, the idea of total satisfaction seems an unattainable dream. We are people who are easily dissatisfied and our consumerist society fuels this dissatisfaction, always showing us the next best thing. The idea of godliness with contentment (1 Tim 6:6) seems a pipe dream and we often treat God as an accessory, wanting to trade Him in for a newer model in the same way that we upgrade our mobile phones…

In Psalm 36, we find verses which describe the satisfaction God provides: ‘They feast on the abundance of your house; You give them drink from your river of delights. For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light.’ (Ps 36:8-9) One of the frequent images used to describe our union with God is that of marriage, with the marriage supper or feast described (see Matt 22:2, Rev 19:9). The most lavish meal we could ever imagine is as nothing compared to the abundance of God’s house. The food and drink industry is one of the most lucrative in this country; the Food and Drink Federation tell us that food and drink contribute £31.1 billion to the economy and is the biggest manufacturing sector in the country, but this just cannot compare to God’s abundance and supply. God gives us the best food we can imagine and gives us access to drink from His river of delights. There is literally nothing which can satisfy us as God does.

It’s crucially important that we are satisfied with God, because if we are not, we will live miserable lives that don’t recommend Him to anyone! We have to understand that life does not consist of an abundance of possessions (Luke 12:15) and learn to seek God first (Matt 6:33-34). We should be magnets, pulling people towards God because they see in us a quality of life that they don’t have. If we are discontented, materialistic, anxious, miserable people, why on earth should anyone believe us when we say that God is worth knowing? On the other hand, when we are convinced of God’s love, faithfulness, righteousness and justice and protection and preservation, we can live confidently, becoming beacons of light.

The four characteristics of God mentioned by David in Ps 36:5-10 are the wellspring of life:

1. God’s love. David reminds us that God’s love reaches to the heavens (Ps 36:5) and although we cannot actually measure God’s love with a ruler, the Bible reminds us of its vastness (see also Eph 3:17-19). It is priceless (Ps 36:7) and ultimately forms the basis of the security of our relationship with God, since nothing can separate us from His love. (Rom 8:37-39)

1. God’s faithfulness. David goes on to focus on God’s faithfulness, using the same metaphor of height: God’s faithfulness reaching to the skies. Love and faithfulness are frequently linked together in the Psalms (see Ps 40:11, Ps 57:3, Ps 85:10 for example) and remind us that a key part of love is dependability. God promises never to leave us or forsake us (Heb 13:5) and He who promised is faithful. (Heb 10:23) This brings security and stability to our lives, so that even if we are being buffeted by trials and temptation, we can still be sure of God’s faithfulness to us. (1 Cor 10:13)

2. God’s righteousness & justice. God will always do what is right (Gen 18:25) and we can trust Him to deal with the wicked! Habakkuk struggled to understand why injustice seemed to flourish (Hab 1-2); we often feel, like the child, ‘it’s not fair!’ Ultimately, however, we can leave justice to God because we know He is just.

3. God’s protection & preservation. The second half of verse 6 tells us that ‘You, Lord, preserve both people and animals.’ (Ps 36:6) David the shepherd knew what it was to care about the sheep; he fought the lion and the bear to protect the flock (1 Sam 17:33-35). His commitment to his flock and his care of them were simply a reflection of God’s commitment to and care of His people. Jesus, our good shepherd, gave His life for the sheep (John 10:11, 14-15) and we can find refuge under the shadow of God’s wings (Ps 36:7, see also Ps 91:1-2).

When we focus on these things, our lives are given hope and stability, security and joy.

In our ‘Wells of Salvation’ series, we looked at Psalm 36:5-10, a psalm written by David which focuses on the abundance and satisfaction found in God. The psalm talks of God’s ‘river of delights’, a wonderfully evocative phrase which reminds us of God’s generous, giving nature, and of ‘the fountain of life’, a reminder that all life, light and love come from God Himself.

Rivers and fountains are places of refreshment; the river and spring at Fontaine de Vaucluse in the Provence area of France once provided me with refreshment from the hot summer sun and remains a favourite place of mine. Often, we find ourselves jaded, weary and disconsolate due to the pressures of life; like David, we may struggle with questions of how evil seems to flourish and the wicked do not reject what is wrong. (Ps 36:1-4, see also Ps 73.) At times like this, we need to fix our attention on God so that our perspective is changed.

A clear focus on God’s nature – found in God’s word – provides a counterweight to the pressures of life. When we see who God is and what He is like, we are able to take the long view and can have confidence that He will deal with injustice and wrong (see Ps 36:11-12). If we want our lives to be balanced, we need to do as David did and ponder who God is!

Dave spoke this morning from the book of Ruth, which tells the story of an unlikely heroine. Ruth was a Gentile from Moab who would not be expected to be found in Jewish history, yet she is the great-grandmother of David and therefore one of Jesus’s earthly ancestors. Her faith and commitment are an inspiration to all generations.

The story of Ruth is set in the time of the judges, a time when Israel’s faith in God had given way to independence and rebellion (see Judges 21:25). In many ways, these days remind us of today, when personal choices seem to override obedience and everybody thinks their own way is right. Elimelech and his wife, Naomi, left Israel because of famine, intending to buy bread from Moab. Ten years later, all three men (Elimelech and his two sons) were dead and Naomi (whose name meant ‘pleasant’) is found to be bitter and resentful.

The decision to go to Moab was unwise (see Deut 23:3) and Elimelech, depsite his name (‘my God is king‘), seems to have had little deep faith in God as king. He left Bethlehem (the house of bread) and Judah (the place of praise) for Moab, and in stepping out of God’s will, he and his family undoubtedly suffered. What is more stunning, however, is how God was able to restore and bring something wholesome and positive from this sorry story. Ruth’s loyalty to Naomi and her willingness to choose God for herself (Ruth 1:16) and Boaz’s generosity and faithfulness in redeeming all that had belonged to Elimelech show us how God’s mercy and loving-kindness cover all our sins.

The road back to God (repentance) leads to revival. We often think of repentance as being a one-off turning back to God, but it is a process that happens more than once. It starts in the heart and the mind and we have to humble ourselves, pray, turn back and seek God (2 Chron 7:14). Only as we seek God for the end of the spiritual famine in our land and pray for His intervention and blessing will we see the spiritual revival for which we long. We have to be willing to pay the price, as Ruth was. If we are, God is ready, willing and able to send revival to this land.

We want to be a church that is ‘with God in the community, with God for the community’ and our large community room is available for hire throughout the week. As a church, we run two community groups: the youth club on a Monday evening (6.30-8.00 p.m.) which provides a social place for children aged 5-12 years and a Parent & Toddler group on a Friday morning (9.30-11.00 a.m.) where Mums, Grandmas, other relatives and babies and toddlers can meet up and play. I well remember the sense of isolation I felt as a new Mum and it’s good to be able to come together with others ‘in the same boat’ and give our children a place to learn to share and play together. We’re fortunate to have helpers from the Dearne Family Centre at this group who run craft activities and talk with carers about any issues they have or help they need.

If you’re interested in helping with either of these groups, please let us know.

Other groups run various activities held throughout the week which may be of interest to people:

Dearne Stay Fit

This group meets on Tuesdays (10.00-11.00 a.m.) for gentle exercise and Keep Fit for the over 50s. It’s been going for several years now and is well attended and well run. It costs £2 per session.

Slimming World

Slimming World meets on Thursdays, running 3 separate sessions which start at 9 a.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. Often, a community group is a great way to tackle issues together; there is mutual encouragement and help as we face difficulties together.

B:Friend

This is a local charity seeking to provide volunteers who can befriend those who are lonely and isolated (often the elderly and those suffering with mental health issues) and to provide opportunities when people can join together socially and learn new things together. They meet on Monday afternoons from 1.30 p.m. at our church and are hosting an open morning today (Saturday 25th January) from 10 a.m. until 12 p.m.

TADS

This group offers a drop-in service to teenagers struggling with anxiety, depression and stress and will be meeting on Wednesdays (3.15-4.45 p.m.) from 29th January.

Please pray for all these groups which use our building, for our relationships with these groups and for the opportunity to connect with our community in new and different ways.

There are tons of other community groups working in our area, often meeting at the Snap Tin Cafe (you can learn to sew there, attend other craft classes, attend a self-help group for those dealing with anxiety and depression or a social group called ‘Bringing People Together‘), at the local library or at the Salvation Army. If you’re interested in the environment and making our community look better, Twiggs do regular litter picks and tidying in specific areas and are always looking for volunteers. There’s so much we can be involved in as we are salt and light in our community.