Visit by Rev George Samiec

A special visit will take place by Vice Chairman Rev George Samiec. He will visit on behalf of the Executive Council and will preach for us this morning. He will then be available after the service to chat with anyone who wants to about life in Petts Wood and the ELCE. You are encouraged to come along and take advantage of this opportunity.

Easter breakfast

Do come and join us for a hearty Easter breakfast, always one of the most popular events of the year. This follows the Sonrise service and is then followed by an egg hunt for the children and the 10.30 service.

Lent devotions 2011: Thursday 21 April

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’ — John 1:29

The Lamb of God: what a rich Biblical symbol this title is. Just think about it.

God commands Abraham to go to Mount Moriah to offer his only son, the son whom he dearly loves, Isaac (Gen. 22:2). With astounding obedience Abraham obeys the Word of the Lord, but on the way, Isaac realises something is not quite right as he asks, “where is the lamb?” (Gen. 22:7). Again, with wonder-filled faith Abraham responds, “God will provide for Himself a lamb” (Gen. 22:8). And He did, as Isaac’s life was spared, and in his place a ram was sacrificed.

Then we turn to Exodus 12 where we see the Passover lamb being sacrificed to save the death of the first-born Israelites. The blood of the lamb was placed on the doorposts so that the angel of the Lord would “PASS OVER” the believing house. The blood of the lamb delivered God’s people from certain death.

The poor lamb’s lot continues as we read further in the Scriptures. Leviticus. 3 and 4 say that a lamb may be used as an offering for both sin and peace. The unblemished lamb is to be sacrificed at the tent of meeting in order that its blood may cover the sin of the people and through its blood peace with God and peace with one’s neighbour may also be achieved. Here again, the lamb and his blood point to forgiveness and reconciliation.

The imagery of the lamb is further sharpened in Isaiah. 53:7 where we find the Suffering Servant of God who is being led “like a lamb to the slaughter” to be a sacrificial substitute for the sheep who have gone astray. Here again, the poor spotless lamb bears the iniquity of others and he pays their price for deliverance, forgiveness, and life.

All of these passages flesh out what John the Baptiser meant when he called Jesus “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world”. God did provide a sacrifice for Himself on the mountain. The blood of Jesus delivers us from death as God passes over our transgressions. The blood of Jesus atones for our sin and brings peace with God and with our brothers and sisters in Christ. All of these things were accomplished because He was the Lamb who was led to the slaughter for us sheep who love to go astray.

But that isn’t the end of the story, oh no. The Lamb of God was slain, but in Revelation 5, John informs us that the Lamb is seated on the throne of heaven. The Lamb was slain, but His blood has ransomed all people, and because of this fact, all the creatures in heaven cry out, “Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honour and glory and blessing!” (Rev. 5:12). That same “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world”, Jesus Christ, now lives and reigns forever as King of kings and Lord of lords.

And this fact is such wonderful news for us, because this Lamb of God; slain and risen for us, who lives to rule forever, says we are sheep of His pasture. He beckons and calls us to follow Him, the Good Shepherd, so that we might be declared a Lamb of God.

O Lamb of God, sweet Lamb of God
I love the holy Lamb of God!
O wash me in His precious blood, my Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God.

Amen.

 

(LSB 550)

Friday 22nd April

“…knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.” 1 Peter 1: 18-19

 

GOOD FRIDAY

 

Good Friday only serves to demonstrate to us how futile OUR WAYS truly are.

 

‘Our ways’ are murderous ways. ‘Our ways’ are rebellious ways. ‘Our ways’ mock and taunt God. ‘Our ways’ would try and silence God. This is our inheritance from Adam and Eve’s first sin. In fact, the whole essence of sin is trying to do things ‘our way’.

 

The funny thing about Good Friday, if there is anything funny about Good Friday, is that God did allow us to do things ‘our way’. He allowed Jesus to be the victim of gross injustice; He allowed Jesus to be beaten, mocked, and ridiculed; He allowed Jesus to become a public spectacle of humiliation as He was nailed to a cross; He allowed Jesus to be forsaken of God; and He even allowed Jesus to die. That’s how WE do things.

 

Yet God knows we are held captive by the sin and selfishness that we have inherited. God knows that ‘our ways’ are ways of hatred, greed, lust, violence, and ultimately death. God knows we cannot free ourselves from these evil ways. Therefore He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to absorb our worst so that we could be set free from sin’s bondage.

 

Jesus did exactly that when He died on the cross. He paid the ultimate ransom price of His blood to set us free from ourselves. His precious blood broke the chains of sin, death, and the devil that held us tight. He has set us free from ‘our ways’ and once again opened up the door back to Yahweh.

 

Through His blood He has taken away our sin-for He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Because His blood covers us, God passes over our sin and spares our lives. Because His blood covers us, we now wear a robe of Christ’s righteousness. Because His blood covers our sin, we can call God “Abba, Father”.

 

When we tried to do our worst to God, He did what was best for us through Jesus Christ the sinless, spotless Lamb of God who purchased and redeemed us through the shedding of His precious blood.

 

Your soul in griefs unbounded,

Your head with thorns surrounded,

You died to ransom me.

The cross for me enduring,

The crown for me securing,

You healed my wounds and set me free.

 

Amen.

Lent devotions 2011: Wednesday 20 April

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me  I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. —  John 10:7-8

The passage reminded me of the wonderful times I had when helping out at Montessori Preschool…The picture of the floor jigsaw puzzle of Farmer Brown on the tractor, with the two sheep in the trailer, reminded me of how God looks after His flock when sheep like us go astray. He forgives us for our sins and returns us to the fold, just as Farmer Brown forgave the twins that ate the crops in his fields because someone carelessly left the gate open for the sheep to wander into his field.

Amen.

Lent devotions 2011: Tuesday 19 April

And he said to them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest.’ — Luke 10:2

The Lord sends us out to be messengers and share with others all of the gifts bestowed unto us. By our faith, others can see that we are not afraid of what lies ahead. We know that on our final day we will see our great Rock and Redeemer face to face. Until that day – for we know not when – we should follow what we pray in His name to be true.

What is amazing is that today, God’s plans are still being carried out by those who believe. He has already set us tasks to do before we know they exist. When we have a plan, often to make that plan work we have to include and bring together others to accomplish it. They may or may not believe that it could – or indeed will – work. When we pray in the Lord’s name for its success, our plans are heard. Many new people can be gathered into the plan and join the flock along the way and in turn this eases the burden of the load on us and so we pray,

Thanks be to God: in Him we have strength to carry on and complete His plans. Amen.

Lent devotions 2011: Monday 18 April

Repent, therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out… — Acts 3:19

Jesus, My Lord and Saviour, has brought peace between God and His people by the sacrifice of the true Lamb of God.

This is a strong message: that God has made us His children by the wonderful gift of baptism. This verse tells us that we who are sinful by nature need to confess our sins and only God can cleanse us, blotting the stain of sin, making us as white as snow. This verse also means that we should turn away from our sinful ways by not contriving to do what is wrong or sinful.

Our God is an awesome God and He always knows what we need before we even ask or realise it.

Thanks be to God for all His wonderful blessings and love.

Dear Lord, I pray, please open my eyes, ears and heart to You always. You know how weak I am but Your strength is made perfect in weakness. Help me to sincerely confess my sins to You, knowing that Your grace and mercy are overflowing. Amen.