LEIGH BAPTIST CHURCH “MESSENGER” MARCH 2021
VERNON ST / CHURCH ST . LEIGH. WN7 1BH
Website : www.leighbaptistchurch.org.uk Contact: admin@leighbaptistchurch.org.uk
Pastoral Leader – Val Hulme ( Days Off Wed and Fridays)
email : pastoral.leader@leighbaptistchurch.org.uk TEL 07817142192
Check LBC website for updates and info also LBC FACEBOOK page
God’s gifts to His Church.
Over the last few weeks, as I have listened to services on YouTube, various readings, sermons, hymns have made me think about the Christian life in the context of the Church, and about the various gifts that people have, some natural, others spiritual. This brought to my mind the words of a member of our church in Durham many years ago. In essence, he said that in every Christian church the people collectively have all the gifts that are needed for the effective running and mission of that church. To me this seems very true, for if God leads people to worship in a particular church then surely He will make sure that there are those amongst them who will, together, have those necessary gifts. In our small Church it is amazing how many gifts there are amongst us.
Many practical skills are needed in the work of the church. Different people excel in different ways.
We are all born with natural gifts, very often inherited, but which are, never the less given to us by God. In my family Music and Maths are gifts that have come down through the generations on both sides of the family and continue to do so in the younger members. Certain artistic and practical skills also prevail. But they need to be used, or they are lost. For example, some people start to learn to play a musical instrument, but don’t keep it up and eventually lose that ability. Some people are good at such as cleaning, clearing up, or making people feel welcome. They are all important. God can use any natural gift that we have in the work of the Gospel.
Spiritual gifts are given to us through the work of the Holy Spirit within us when we trust in Jesus and commit our lives to him. Ephesians 4:11-13 GNB tells us that “He (meaning Jesus) gave gifts to mankind. He appointed some to be apostles, others to be prophets, --- evangelists, --- pastors, and teachers to prepare all God’s people for the work of Christian service in order to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God.” Sometimes these gifts only become apparent in people when they are needed in a particular church. As we are taught we will grow in our understanding of the Gospel and of Biblical teaching. We will then be under Christ’s control. He is the head and under Him all the different parts of the body fit together. When each separate part works as it should the whole body grows and builds itself up through love.” (16) In 1 Peter 2 we read that as God’s chosen people we are living stones built together. The gifts mentioned above are special gifts not given to everyone, but in 1 Corinthians 12 Paul says that, as Christians, we have Spiritual gifts and that there are different ways of serving the same Lord, and that different abilities are needed, but it is the same God who gives these gifts. Verse 7 tells us that “the Spirit’s presence is shown in some way in each person for the good of all.” Paul goes on to list some of these gifts of the Spirit, stressing that they are each given as the Holy Spirit wishes; “a different gift to each person.” It is when we come to trust in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour and commit ourselves to serve him that we begin to know the power of the Holy Spirit and will say in the words of a hymn, “I want to serve the purpose of God.” So what are these gifts that Paul speaks of? They are wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing, working of miracles, prophecy, discerning of spirits, speaking in different tongues, and interpretation of tongues. In Galatians 5:22 there is another list which we call the Gifts of the Spirit. They include love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility, and self-control. If people see any of these attributes in Christians it could well draw them to the church and is a good witness. Within the church they keep people together and help them to grow in unity in Christ as part of the body. In Romans 15:5 Paul suggests that God is the source of patience and encouragement and that he enables us to come to the same point of view so that we are able to praise God with one voice.
As we look to the future re-opening of our church building for worship and other activities let us each give thought as to how the Lord is leading us to use the gifts we have for the building up of the body of Christ in the Church and for the community. Let us remember that each individual and every gift, practical or spiritual, is equally important in the work of the church, just as each individual part of a body has a different function and is as important as the other parts, or as each stone or brick in a building is needed to be built together into the whole structure. May we know God’s guidance and inspiration as we work together to do His will in the building up of His church.
Wishing you God’s blessing, Kathie.
Dates
Mondays throughout March Zoom Prayer Meeting 7:30 - 8:00 pm.
Tuesdays 2nd and 9th March Book Club with Wigan and Leyland Baptist churches and Trinity URC, Wigan, following The Prayer Course videos.
Saturday 13th March Zoom Coffee Morning. 11:00 - 12:00
Sunday 14th March Church at Home with Val Family Service for Mothering Sunday on the church YouTube channel and Facebook page 3:15pm.
Sunday 21st March Church at Home with Val - a short service on the church You Tube channel and Facebook page 3:15pm.
Tuesday 23rd March Zoom Deacons' Meeting 7:30 pm.
Sunday 28th March Zoom Communion Service 3:00pm.
Advance Notice Church and Congregation Meeting Tuesday May 25th, 7:30 pm on Zoom (unless conditions change)
All meetings and services are continuing online. The Leadership team will continue to monitor the situation and any decision to re-open the building for worship/meetings will be taken in line with government guidelines and BU advice. Please note the change to the normal online service pattern this month.
If you would like to join with us for any of the meetings via Zoom, but do not receive an email with the link, please contact Val by email pastoral.leader@leighbaptistchurch.org.uk
At the recent Church and Congregation Meeting the need for a new Church Constitution was noted ; Angie S was elected as Deacon; John M gave notice of his intention to retire from the leadership of, and involvement with, the Sunday School after approximately 40 years. As a church we thank him for his dedication to the gospel that was taught to generations of children and young people, both in word and song,