Coming Soon…

Sep 6, 2024

Today (Friday) we have our Parent & Toddler group this morning and then will see artist Jayde Bell (Eye Violet) resume her work on the church wall mural whilst we set up for our fund-raising coffee morning.

The coffee morning on Saturday 7 September (10 a.m. – 12 p.m.) will feature a table top sale, home baking, hot and cold drinks and the chance to take part in our ‘Coasters of Hope’ art project whereby people paint coasters which will then be stuck together to spell our the word ‘Hope’, ‘Faith’ and ‘Love’, reminding us of these important virtues. Do come along to support the coffee morning which will raise funds for Dearne Churches Together so we can continue to put on community events and to help pay for 4FrontTheatre’s visits to local schools with their Christmas show ‘Not Getting Inn’ in December.

Our services on Sunday are at 10.30 a.m. and 6.00 p.m.

God’s Ways vs Man’s Ways

Sep 6, 2024

2 Samuel 4 continues the struggle between those power-hungry people who thought that helping David out involved killing anyone who got in his way, this time showing us two men (Rekab and Baanah) who killed Saul’s descendant and king over Israel, Ish-Bosheth, following Abner’s death and Ish-Bosheth’s lack of courage. It seems by this time, there was a general consensus of belief that David would indeed become king of Israel, but whilst David was still prepared to wait for the Lord to bring about the fulfilment of His promises, others were not so keen on this spiritual approach.

The chapter reminds us of the stark contrast between the two kingdoms of this world: one where human power and might rule, and one where service, humility and patience are highly valued. David did not endorse or condone the violent means which Rekab and Baanah employed; instead, he exhibited swift justice on these two men and proceeded to bury the head of Ish-Bosheth in Abner’s tomb, a sign of respect for Saul’s family which spoke volumes. He did not need to rely on other people’s violence or ingenuity to bring about God’s purposes; he was confident in the Lord ‘who has delivered me out of every trouble.’ (2 Sam 4:9) Sure enough, by 2 Samuel 5:1-5, he is approached by the people of Israel who wish to make him king. God’s will will prevail, but we must also learn that ‘the Jesus way and the Jesus truth must be congruent. Only when the Jesus way is organically joined with the Jesus truth do we get the Jesus life.’ (Eugene Peterson, ‘The Jesus Way’) The end cannot justify the means in the spiritual life. We have to learn to do things God’s ways; DIY is not a recommended pastime in God’s kingdom!

 

As we survey the wreckage of the early chapters of 2 Samuel, we see violence, death, vengeance and wrong attitudes in abundance, but we also see David patiently waiting for the Lord. It took 7 ½ years from the death of Saul for David to finally become king over all Israel, but the confidence in God which was first evident when David took on Goliath (1 Sam 17:37, 46) has now matured – through adversity – into patient trust and hope in God. James reminds us that ‘the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.’ (James 1:3-4) Paul urges us, ‘Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.’ (Gal 6:9) Harvests take hard work and time to reap, but as David shows us, the results are worth waiting for!

Day 1 – Church Wall Mural

Sep 4, 2024

Artist Jayde Marie Bell (Eye VIolet) started work on the church wall mural today. It’s amazing to watch her at work.

 

Come, set our hearts ablaze with hope!

Sep 4, 2024

Rend Collective’s song ‘Build Your Kingdom Here’ (listen here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbdJXKqVgtg) is, like the psalms originally were, a prayer set to music. It is a cry to God to do a whole host of things including powerful demonstrations of His ability to change situations. It’s a recognition that we need God to bring light into darkness, hope into despair, and that only He can heal our streets and land and change the atmosphere of hopelessness and helplessness which seem so prevalent.
The phrase ‘Come, set our hearts ablaze with hope/ Like wildfire in our very souls‘ captures an urgency and potential which form the basis of so many prayers. We need the fire of the Holy Spirit burning within God’s people if we are to make an impact on our community. The song makes the startling proclamation, ‘We are Your church, and we are the hope on earth’, truth from a spiritual perspective which must be embraced if we are to see God’s kingdom come in earth as it is in heaven, for the church is God’s plan of proclamation to the world. The church, for all its present imperfections, is God’s idea!
A few years ago, I started thinking about wall art as a way of proclaiming truth as well as creating beauty, and the desire to use the church car park wall was born in my heart. The wall was broken down and to spend money on such a project was impossible. I knew first hand how expensive such things could be, as in 2021 I was involved with the Dearne Community Arts’ Festival‘s community art project to paint the brick wall at Goldthorpe Railway Embankment. The brick wall had to be rendered to give a smooth surface for painting; paints and an artist who can translate ideas into reality cost money. I left my desires for street art with God and waited.
I sometimes think life is like a jigsaw puzzle. My Dad loved doing jigsaws and had a jigsaw mat on which he could leave his jigsaws while he worked intermittently on them. He would do a few pieces each day and then move on. It seems like this is how God has worked on this project. First, the Market Tap moved in next door and repaired the wall. I talked with a variety of people who have been involved in street art and was encouraged by them. Then there was the possibility of funding from Pride of Place in late 2023 which could pay for the wall rendering and for an artist to complete the painting. We sent in the application and waited.
The funding was supposed to be spent by March 2024, and we heard nothing. That piece of the jigsaw remained out, not yet fitted into place. We waited. The project was not forgotten, but it was not completed (or even started, if I’m honest.) Yet I still had an inner conviction that the message would be on this wall at some point. I just didn’t know when.
Then, quite unexpectedly, we had an email saying the funding had been granted if we still wanted to go ahead with the project, and suddenly there was a flurry of activity. The plasterers we had had visit us last year were contacted again and D. G. Sykes came to render the wall. We talked with artists about our ideas and apponted Jayde Marie Bell to do the painting. Once again, we marvelled at God’s provision and timing.
Now, as the new school year starts and the arts’ festival looms again (happening on Saturday 28 September at Astrea Academy Dearne), the painting on this wall mural is about to start. It’s hugely exciting and daunting, all at the same time. To be involved, however periperhally, in God’s miracles always leaves me filled with awe.
“Come, set our hearts ablaze with hope
Like wildfire in our very souls.“
Prayers – and songs – are powerful. Come, pray this prayer with us and see what God will do as He builds His kingdom here.

Who Am I?

Sep 1, 2024

 

Tonight in our ‘Little Big Church’ service, we looked at the question of ‘Who Am I?’ We played games guessing the identity of hidden characters on screen before watching a video of Casting Crowns’ song ‘Who Am I?’ There, we are reminded that our identity ultimately is found in God: ‘You’ve told me who I am: I am Yours.’

In life, we may have different identities, known to different people in different capacities (daughter or son, wife or husband, mother or father, grandparent, worker, friend and so on), but our fundamental identity lies in being created in God’s image and being loved by Him. Knowing that we belong to God and can be born again into His family (John 1:12) brings security and peace to our lives.