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)