Worship

Please express your worship to the Lord through the words of this wonderful song based upon, perhaps, the best known of all the psalms.

The Lord’s my Shepherd I’ll not want
He makes me lie in pastures green.
He leads me by the still, still waters,
His goodness restores my soul.
And I will trust in You alone,
And I will trust in You alone,
For Your endless mercy follows me,
Your goodness will lead me home.

He guides my ways in righteousness,
And He anoints my head with oil,
And my cup it overflows with joy,
I feast on His pure delights.
And I will trust………

And though I walk the darkest path,
I will not fear the evil one,
For You are with me, and Your rod & staff
Are the comfort I need to know.
And I will trust……

Sermon on the Mat: Our Shepherd

‘The Lord is my Shepherd, I have all that I need………..’
Psalm 23:1 NLT.

Was there ever a Shepherd greater than the One being described here in this psalm of David? A Shepherd who knows us so completely? A Shepherd who cares for us so deeply? A Shepherd who loves us so fully & so totally? The answer is no! Simply because the Shepherd in question is not just any shepherd but none other than God, Himself. Without equal & without parallel, not only in this regard but also in every other regard!

We can take great comfort in knowing that we have a Shepherd like this Shepherd, can’t we?! A Shepherd who will provide for us all through our lives, not just in accordance with our needs but far above all that we could ever wish for, ask or imagine. A truth, the following lines from this all too familiar hymn, so wonderfully encapsulates – ‘All I have needed Your hand has provided – Great is Your faithfulness, Lord unto me!’

Do we doubt God’s willingness & ability to provide for us in the here & now of present circumstances? Do we wonder at the genuineness of His care for us today? If we do then we simply need to reflect on His track record to date. Nb. He who has proved Himself so faithful to us in the past, isn’t about to let us down now or indeed any time in the future. As one Christian commentator helpfully notes – ‘Those who leave everything in GOD’S HAND will eventually see God’s hand in everything!’

The One who promises to provide for us throughout our lives is also, according to the psalmist, the same person, the same Good Shepherd who will carry us all of our days until, eventually, we reach our desired haven. Our heavenly abode. That long awaited place called home. As author & theologian C.S. Lewis observes – ‘The fact that our heart yearns for something Earth can’t supply is proof that heaven must be our home!’

Of course in order for Him to carry us we must first be in a position where we need to be carried. I.e. A place of weakness & vulnerability that warrants such intervention. Under what circumstances will He come, scoop us up in His strong arms of love & keep us there until, finally, our strength returns. Under what circumstances? When we’ve no longer got the ability or wherewithal to carry ourselves. When as Psalm 142:3 puts it – ‘Our hearts are overwhelmed within us, to the point of bursting!’

Then, not a day too late or a day too soon, will the Good Shepherd make His appearance & with great warmth & tenderness, bring us into that season of needful rest, from which we will return, refreshed & renewed in Him – Victorious over all our enemies, in whose very presence He will have sustained & blessed us. As the apostle Paul later goes on to say in 1 Corinthians 15:55-57 – ‘Where, O death, is your victory? Where O death is your sting?
The sting of death is sin & the power of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.’

Prayer

Still me, calm me,
Like the peace of a mountain lake on a gentle sunny day.

Cleanse me, release me,
Like the stormy winds which blow away the early morning mist.

Kindle me, renew me,
With the flickering flames of Your Spirit.

Hold me, touch me
Like a mother with a child at her breast.

Enfold me, sustain me,
With Your never-failing love. Amen.

Please pray for –

• Leaders responsible for making decisions about COVID 19, that they would look to God for His solution to the pandemic.
• For families adjusting to new ways of life, that children would find creative ways to experience the beauty of all You have created & thereby continue adding to their understanding of Your world.
• Business owners & families facing financial stress & other related issues.

Notices

The June shopping list from Braintree Area Foodbank:

Tinned Tomatoes                    Toothbrushes

Tinned corned beef                 Shampoo

Tinned Ham                            Soap powder/detergent

Tinned Spam

Small packs please. And please no baked beans, cereals and biscuits as they have very full stocks of these items!

Remember, Christ Church is now open for prayer, 10-12am on Thursdays and Sundays.