Ellerton Gospel Hall's Independence Day Message 2015

29 November 2015

22 November 2015

15 November 2015

ELLERTON GOSPEL HALL

SUNDAY WORSHIP SERVICE

15 NOVEMBER 2015

THEME: GOD’S DESIGN FOR US

HYMN MP23-All THINGS BRIGHT AND BEAUTIFUL

OPENING PRAYER

WELCOME

MP11-ALL HAIL KING JESUS

MP56-BLESS THE LORD

MP151- FOR I’M BUILDING

MP170- GIVE THANKS

MP722-WE BRING THE SACRIFICE OF PRAISE

PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING

SCRIPTURE READING : GENESIS CH 1:26-31

HYMN MP295- I SERVE A RISEN SAVIOUR

PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING

HYMN MP296- I STAND AMAZED

THE LORD’S SUPPER AND OFFERING (MP64)

ANNOUNCEMENTS

ADDRESS- ELDER J. BRATHWAITE

CLOSING HYMN-MP784

PRAYER

Elder Joel Brathwaite

Elder Joel Brathwaite’s message, which was taken from Genesis 1:26-31, was entitled God’s design for our lives. The following lessons were gleaned from the message:

1. You are the image of God’s creation; value yourself.
2. We must not discriminate; treat everyone equally.
3. We must not allow our failures to become barriers to communication to God.
4. God’s desire is to fellowship with Him; we should desire to fellowship with Him.
5. God’s formulae are always right; follow them. (The formulae can be found in the bible.)
6. Be good to all persons for this is pleasing to God.
7. The Word of God is unchangeable; let’s embrace it.
8. We have choices either to reject or accept Christ; let us be encouraged to re-commit our lives to God.
9. God has the power to save but we have to make the choice.
10. There is nothing that God cannot do; trust Him.

Bereavement Corner

Pray for the family of the late Mrs. Maureen Miller of Ellerton Gospel Hall. She was laid to rest on 5 November 2015.

Remembrance Day Service 8 November 2015

The service was a Remembrance Day Thanksgiving Service.

For the occasion, a wreath was laid in grateful acknowledgement of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who suffered and gave his life as the sacrifice for our sins, and the sins of the world.

We also laid wreaths in remembrance of:

• The veterans who served in the world wars, persons who sacrificed time, limb and life in the quest of freedom and democracy, and those patriotic persons, who through their limb and life have served their country loyally and faithfully,
• Missionaries and workers who have given their lives and service to promote and uphold the faith and dignity of human life, those who are currently being persecuted, Missionary Anne Huntley, founder of the Gospel Hall Assemblies in Barbados in 1888, and
• Missionary Dr. C. O.Y. Lowe, who out of his own resources established five Gospel Hall Assemblies in Barbados, including our church here at Ellerton, built in 1959, to the glory of God and for our worship and use, and past workers of our church by names for their mentorship and service rendered.

The guest speaker was Bro. Arnal Goslin, renowned songwriter, also known as ‘Gozzy’, from Bethel Pentecostal Church, Drax Hall, St. George. Bro. Arnal’s message was preceded by his new 2015 hit song “I Cry” (See video clip). His interactive session from Matthew 9, was based on his song, and involved looking at sin in the world, including crime and violence, drugs, police brutality, wars and prostitution human trafficking.

Bro. Arnal ministering in song

Bro. Arnal stated that where ever Jesus went he preached the kingdom of God and demonstrated the power of God. He implored us to preach the kingdom of God. In so doing, we should not condemn or judge people, and we should live from the inside out. We should neither conform to structure nor allow our ways to limit God’s power; but instead, we should allow God to lead our hearts to His will. Furthermore, our hearts need to be broken so that we can reach people and assist them in living for God.

In the kingdom of God, we have all the resources needed. All that's required is for us to submit to God and walk according to His will.

Bro. Arnal suggested that just as we seek out the manufacturer of our vehicles to get help, we should seek the Creator of our life to address our problems and follow His direction.

He also spoke about his prison ministry and informed us that he was contemplating entering full-time ministry by year end. He was given the church’s blessing by the Elders.

Elders praying for Bro. Arnal

I Cry

The Aftermath of Hurricane Erika in Dominica pictures

Area of Petite Savanne

Boulder washed down by rains

Buried cars

Partially buried tractor

Rumble washed down by the rains

House cracked

Partially buried concrete house

Collapsed bridge

Mud inside house

Landslide in Petite Savanne

Landslide in Petite Savanne

Douglas Charles Airport

Gospel Hall in Petite Savanne which now houses a police station

House 'sliced' into two

Jungle Bay Resort which is of no more

House damaged

House flooded (mud)

Damage in Layou

Ellertonians Support Dominicans

Ellertonians have responded to the Regional Gospel Hall Dominica support fund. There were special collections to assist with the appeal.

Late August, Tropical Storm Erika swept through Dominica unleashing approximately ten inches of rain in a few hours, resulting in massive landslides, fifty-one persons feared dead, several villages devastated and bridges destroyed.

The government of Dominica estimates that the total reconstruction bill will be in excess of US$228 million. This figure is equivalent to approximately half of the country’s gross domestic product. It excludes the rebuilding cost of over 370 houses. The Prime Minister of Dominica, the Honourable Roosevelt Skerrit, postulates that Dominica has been set back approximately 10 years by the disaster.

The Ellerton Gospel Hall continues to offer prayerful and financial support.

We also wish to inform that there is a Dominica Gospel Hall Relief Team (DGHRT) which has been established to coordinate the activities related to relief for the saints in Dominica. The DGHRT comprises:

1. Merrill J. Matthew, Team Leader, Laudat Assembly

2. Warrington Antoine, Deputy Team Leader, Salisbury Assembly

3. Oliver Samuel, Team Member, Petite Savanne Assembly and

4. Clifford Nicholas, Team Member, Roseau Assembly

A sub-account has been established on the Roseau Gospel Hall Account at First Caribbean International Bank (Barbados) Limited, Dominica.

Money may be wired to:

•Account Name: Roseau Gospel Hall

•Account Number: 0001393339

•Beneficiary Bank: First Caribbean International Bank (Barbados) Limited, Dominica

•SWIFT Code-FCIBDMDM

On Tuesday, 29 September 2015 Ellertonians saw some of the destruction caused by Erika in a presentation by Elder Gerald Ince, who visited Dominica to provide assistance as part of a regional response team. Some pictures will be posted in a subsequent post.

20 September 2015 Service

Order of Service

Theme: “The Touch of Jesus”

Hymn   I stand amazed in the presence

Opening Prayers

Welcome

Choruses

• As The deer pants

• Bless The Lord, O my soul

• O Lord, our God

• He is exalted

Praise and Thanksgiving

Scripture Reading: Matt. 14: 34–36; Luke 18:15

Hymn   Healing God, Almighty Father

Praise and Thanksgiving

Hymn   Here O my Lord

The Lord’s Supper

Announcements

Hymn   He touched me (1st Verse)

Message: Bro. Benson Hull

Closing Hymn   He touched me

Closing Prayer

Preacher Benson Hull spoke on ‘The Touch of Jesus’. He stated that a ‘touch’ can be a powerful thing, and that Jesus offers the right diagnostic touch for our lives. He identified six types of ‘touch’.

In referencing Mark 1:40–45, Bro. Hull informed that we need the cleansing touch of Jesus because we all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. 

Psalm 46:10 speaks of the quietening touch of Jesus. We live in a restless world of crime and war which can keep us unquiet and agitated. However, Col. 3:15 reminds us that we should let the peace of God rule in our hearts.

In referring to the illuminating touch of Jesus, John 8:12, we were told that Jesus is the light of the world and He gives us illumination from the darkness of this world. Bro. Hull further implored us that we need to have the light of Christ, not only to illumine our lives, but also to assist us in choices and decisions that we make. 

Mark 7:31–35 addresses the liberating touch of Jesus through which a deaf-mute was healed. In the same way, Jesus wants to bring liberty and freedom to our lives. He wants us to realise freedom habits, sins and practices that enslave us.

There is the reassuring touch to boost our confidence and assure us of Jesus’ forgiveness for the many years that we may have spurned him, Matt. 17:1–7.

Finally, there is the restoring touch, Luke 22. When we get tired and weary and need Jesus, he offers us vital restoration.

Whatever your need and condition, you can experience the benefit in simply asking God to ‘touch’ you now, in Jesus’ Name, Amen!

13 September 2015 Service

Elder Neil’s message was on the parable of the sower. Elder Neil who referenced Matthew 13 stated that the rain is falling and it’s a good time for planting. He spoke analogously about four different types of soils.

Elder Neil further spoke about the situation where we hear the word of God and it has no root. Accordingly, we as Christians hear the word but it doesn't leave an impression on us. 

We lose the impact when the word of God is kept within our hearts. God is expecting us to put His word into practice as we must not be hearers of the word only but be doers of it. In so doing, Elder Neil postulated that we should love our enemies and all others and do good to those who despitefully use us.

He implored us to find a practical way of demonstrating the use of the word. Moreover, we must go into the world and share the news of salvation and also let God's word become apart of our daily lives.

Elder Curtis Neil

Newspaper Article featuring the Back-to-School Service

Ellerton’s Back-to-School Service was featured in Barbados’ Daily Nation newspaper, Monday September 7, 2015. Below is the article written by Alex Downes.

Prayers, gifts for children

IN THE VERY heart of the island at Ellerton, St George, the small Ellerton Gospel Hall is ensuring that its children are physically and spiritually prepared for school.

Yesterday, students returning to primary, secondary and tertiary educational institutions from the area were prayed for and also received stationery packages to get them ready for the start of the new academic year.

Though not the first year such a service was held, it was the first during which such extensive packages were distributed. This was made possible through the generosity of several sponsors which included Simpson Motors’ chief executive officer, Debbie Simpson, and The Optimist Club of Barbados, among others.

Positive influence

Elder Dr Sylvan Catwell, addressing parents, relatives and children, drew reference to the ropes used to lower the paralysed man to Jesus in Mark 2:1-12. He likened the four ropes to “ropes” which will support the children during their school life; ropes held by teachers, parents, friends and the church.

Catwell, also a Justice of the Peace, urged the children to obey and respect their teachers, find friends who had a positive influence, love and honour their parents and most importantly, seek Jesus.

He also told parents they needed to continue setting good examples for their children and keep them in their prayers.

 ELDER CATWELL (right) praying for the children after they received their back-to-school packages. (Picture by Nigel Browne.)

Downes, A. (2015, September 7). Prayers, gifts for children. The Daily Nation, pp. 3.

Back-to-School Service

In our Back-to-School Service we sang favourite school hymns including: We build our school on Thee O Lord, Jesus wants me for a sunbeam, O What can Little Hands Do and Lamb of God.

Miss. Sharon Brathwaite did a pep talk to primary school students; Mrs. Joyann Toppin spoke to seniors, while Mrs. Dawn Thompson advised parents. These talks were rich in good morals and time-bound values.

Mrs. Dawn Thompson advising parents

The young people performed a skit entitled Support Needed.

In dramatising how the paralytic was lowered by rope on a mat before Jesus, Elder Catwell presented his homily, “Value the Ropes”. He asked the audience, especially the students to value the ropes of support held by teachers who help them to succeed, by parents, grandparents or guardians, who nurture and provide for them, the Church which seeks to give them good moral and spiritual grounding, and friends from whom they derive social support. The audience was reminded of the positive impact that these ropes can have in helping them to:

·       face life’s problems,

·       strengthen faith,

·       acknowledge, honour and serve God, and to

·      incorporate timeless values—sanctity and value of life, righteousness, godliness.

Elder Dr. Catwell dramatising how the paralytic was lowered by rope on a mat

The audience was also asked to be watchful for and avoid negative influences that can arise, as well. Failing to thoroughly prepare oneself, lack of self-respect and disrespect of person and property were some of the elements to be avoided.

In addition to receiving a blessing from the Elders, the primary, secondary and tertiary young and mature students were presented with packages containing books and stationery items for use at school. 

Students receiving a blessing from the Elders

Sponsors of the donated packages included Kathy Elliot, a motivational speaker and a Minister from the USA, Miss. Debbie Simpson from Simpson Motors, Mrs. Dawn Thompson, The Optimist Club of Barbados and other corporate sponsors.

Along with prayers for the people and Commonwealth of Dominica, a monetary collection was received for them.

A part of the students' prayer included:

God be in my head, and in my understanding;
God be in mine eyes, and in my looking;
God be in my mouth, and in my speaking;
God be in my heart, and in my thinking;

God be at mine end, and at my departing, in Jesus’ Name, Amen! 

(Sarum Primer, 1558)

The Impact of Words on our Lives

Stick and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt (Author Unknown, 1862).

"It is never my custom to use words lightly. If twenty-seven years in prison have done anything to us, it was to use the silence of solitude to make us understand how precious words are and how real speech is in its impact on the way people live and die." ~ Nelson Mandela during his Closing Address at the XI International Aids Conference, Durban, South Africa, 14 July 2000.

The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences. (Proverbs 18: 21, New Living Translation)

Elder Joel Brathwaite used the above as a precursor to his message—The Impact of Words on our Lives.

We were encouraged that as Christians we should offer words of compassion. In addition, we should offer words of comfort especially to those who are sick according to 2 Corinthians 1:3-7.

We were also exhorted to offer words of praise and exaltation just like Mary did when she glorified God on learning that she would have been the mother of Jesus (Luke 1:46-55). Words of praise and exaltation give us a sense of holiness; they bring us closer to God and help us to be more Christ-like.

In closing Elder Brathwaite implored us to guard our words, as well as our actions, since what we do and say can affect others adversely or complimentarily. The power of words should bring honour and glory to God. We should use words of forgiveness, comfort and compassion and not words of anger and deception.

Elder Joel Brathwaite

Pray for the Commonwealth of Dominica

The Elders and members of Ellerton Gospel Hall extend prayers and sympathy to our brothers and sisters in the Commonwealth of Dominica who are coming to grips with the after-effects of Hurricane Erika which brought widespread destruction and claimed the lives of 20 persons (to be confirmed).

We earnestly trust that the affected people, buildings and churches, including the Gospels Halls, (Laudat, Salisbury, Cockrane, Roseau, Petite Savanne) will be timely attended to, and that the buildings will be properly restored. We are praying that God will give Dominica beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; and that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified, Isaiah 61:3.

We at Ellerton promise our prayerful support and practical assistance. 

Pictures showing the damage by Hurricane Erika