Mark preached from Psalm 50:23 in the morning:
“Whoever offers praise glorifies me.”

The topic of how we praise God raised some interesting points: we can praise God with our mouths (by singing and speaking and shouting), by reading the Scriptures, with our bodies (hands lifted high, dancing, bowing down etc.) and most of all, perhaps, with our whole lifestyle. It’s important to praise God on our own and together with His people (Ps 34:1-3) and to praise Him continually since we were designed to praise God. God has ordained (commanded, appointed) praise even from infants and children (Ps 8:1-2).

Then we looked at the results of praising God: how it brings God’s power down on God’s people and brings strength, power, encouragement and vision to us. But, despite the many blessings and benefits of praise, it is not a case of our praise earning God’s favour. It’s not a case of “I’ll scratch Your back, God, so that You can scratch mine!” Praise really arises from a heart that longs to spend time with God.

In looking at the Triumphal entry, in Luke 19:28-40, we read that the Pharisees rebuked Jesus because His disciples were praising so much. Jesus’s reply was that “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” Surely we will not be outpraised by stones!

Matt Redman’s song ‘The Glory of Our King’ takes this theme even further:

“The rocks are gonna cry out if we don’t,
Now’s the time to raise a song
Hear creation shout loud
We will join our voices to that sound
Stand up, stand up
The time has come

Sing it out, sing an anthem to His name
A generation worshipping unashamed
Give it all for the glory of our King
We will run, we will run after Your heart;
We believe You are all that You say You are.
Give it all for the glory of our King

The church is waking up now
To be Your hands and feet upon this earth
Send us in Your power,
as we take heaven to a broken world
Stand up, stand up
The time has come

We are, we are a chosen people
We are, we are called to follow
We are, we are Your generation
You are, you are the God who saves us
You are, You are the God who sends us
You are, You are the God who’s with us.”

May we learn to praise our great God even more!

Here are some more photos from Saturday’s coffee morning:

So… the first coffee morning hosted by GPCC was held on Saturday 4th September 2010! Here are some photos from the morning:

Advertising the coffee morning:

Welcoming people in:

Serving faithfully:

She looks dangerous!

Chatting away…

More to come later…

This week sees the re-start of a number of activities, including:

Youth clubs on Monday (6-11s from 6.30 -7.45 p.m., 12-16+ from 8.00-9.30 p.m.)
Prayer meeting on Thursday (7.30 p.m.) (Bible studies will be on every other Thursday)
Mums ‘n’ Toddlers on Friday (9.30 -11.00 a.m.)
Badminton night on Friday (from 7 p.m.)

The coffee morning will be running every Saturday from 10.00 a.m. until 12 noon.

In addition, Sunday meetings are at 10.30 a.m. and 6.00 p.m. and Sunday 12th September will be the family service.

We’d love to see you!

Just to let you know that the church website has been updated to take account of our change of name. For more information, see:

http://www.gpcchurch.co.uk/ or use the link at the side.

Thanks!

Because if you do, then please come along to the Coffee Morning THIS Saturday (4th September) from 10 a.m. until 12 noon on Market Street, Goldthorpe!

This is the first of the coffee mornings (tea and cold drinks will also be available!) and we hope this will prove an invaluable way of getting to know people and for people to take that first step into the building.

Everyone’s welcome!