[0:00] Well, good morning. If I haven't wished you a happy Christmas, I'm too late.
[0:12] I hope you had a happy Christmas and I hope you're all celebrating tonight. As you see the new year coming in, you'll stay up until early hours of the morning and enjoy it. Those of you who are at home watching, we welcome you here.
[0:25] If you're visiting with us because it's Christmas, lovely to have you here. A very warm welcome to you all. If anybody needs explorers, that's the creche. There is one downstairs if you need it for these sort of threes and unders.
[0:39] Otherwise, I think everybody's staying in to enjoy this together as we celebrate and worship our God. Can I ask you to stand as we read our call to worship?
[0:51] If I read the ones in italics and you read with the bold print, that would be great. Psalm 105, as we come into God's presence.
[1:03] Give praise to the Lord. Proclaim his name. Make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him. Sing praise to him.
[1:15] Tell the Lord his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name. Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
[1:26] Look to the Lord and ask his strength. Seek his face always. As we continue to worship God, we've got a couple of songs we're going to sing. Come, Lord Jesus, in your glory.
[1:39] Come and fill this place. Come and save. Have your way among us as we seek your face. When we lay our cares before you, may our striving cease.
[1:51] As we worship and adore you, lead us to your peace. Come, Lord Jesus, in your glory.
[2:10] Come and fill this place. Come and fill this place. Come and have your way among us as we seek your face.
[2:26] When we lay our cares before you, may our striving cease. As we worship and adore you, lead us to your peace.
[2:49] Come and fill this place.
[3:19] Change your glory into glory. Change your glory into glory. Grand with grace to grace.
[3:31] I am served, rescued, healed, and holy by your saving grace.
[3:43] God of grace. God of Jesus, King of heaven, come in victory.
[4:02] Now the darkness is defeated. You have set us free. It is finished, death is beaten, love has overcome Every tear will turn to gladness, every battle won Joining with the saints and angels, praising you alone There will be with you forever, our eternal home Lord Jesus, we so thank you that we can join with the saints and angels
[5:04] Praising you, we thank you for that promise That one day we will see you face to face and be in your presence In the meantime Lord we ask for your strength We ask for your wisdom, we ask for your grace We ask for your forgiveness We ask that as we come before you We come before you clean because of the mercy Having washed our sins away We want to thank you and we praise you And we continue to praise you this morning God the uncreated one, the author of salvation He wrote the laws of space and time And worlds of his design The one whom angel hosts revere Hung the stars like chandeliers Numbered every grain of sand And knows the very heart of man It's this God that we worship We'll sing this song together God the uncreated one God the uncreated one
[6:12] The author of salvation Wrote the laws of space and time And fashioned works to his design The one whom angel hosts revere Hung the stars like chandeliers Numbered every grain of sand Knows the heart of every hand He is king forever He is king forever He is king forever He is king forevermore God our fortress and our strength The rock on which we can depend Matchless in his majesty
[7:15] His power and authority Unshaken by the schemes of man Never changing great I am Kingdoms rise and kingdoms fall He is faithful through it all Crown him king forever Crown him king forever Crown him king forevermore .
[7:55] Mighty God in mortal flesh, forsaken by a traitor's kiss, the curse of sin and centuries did pierce the lowly Prince of Peace.
[8:16] Lifted high the sinless man, crucified the sportless lamb, buried by the sons of man, rescued by the Father's hand to reign as King forever, reign as King forever, reign as King forevermore.
[8:40] . King eternal God of grace, we crown you with the highest praise.
[8:59] Heaven shouts and sends a door, your holy, holy, holy Lord.
[9:10] What joy in everlasting life, all is love and faith is sight, justice rose and praises rise, at the name of Jesus Christ, King of kings forever, King of kings forever, King of kings forevermore.
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[9:49] Please be seated. Let's pray. . . .
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[13:26] He wants Jesus for Christmas. . This is what Jesus wants for Christmas. . . . Do you know what it is? No, it's not the mirror he wants.
[13:38] He wants what's in the mirror. What's in the mirror? What's in the mirror? No, not... God, they're so intelligent, aren't they? He wants you.
[13:50] Anybody who's not given themselves to Jesus for Christmas, here's the opportunity. Thank you very much. You may take your seats. And your bottle.
[14:05] Thank you. Okay, well done. Well done. So where are we now? Lost my place, have I? Oh, I should have read the notes.
[14:21] Well, the young people aren't leaving today. There is something that Jackie's prepared for them. I think somebody's going to give it out, if anybody would like. Yes, thank you.
[14:32] So if you'd like to see Jamie, he's got something for you to do while the adults are doing something else. You can also listen to the drama reading, of course, which we have now.
[14:47] And our house group is going to do the drama reading. So if you're in the drama reading, would you like to come forward, please? It's Matthew 2, verses 1 to 23.
[15:05] Speak up and get behind the mic. Get behind the mic. Are we all up here?
[15:22] Good. Anybody using this microphone? You can use that mic if you want. I use that mic. No, we've got one. You've got one here. You use that mic. Oh, you've got one there as well. We're chaotic. No, we're not.
[15:32] We're organized. This is organized chaos. Okay. Matthew's Gospel, chapter 2, verses 1 to 23. After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of the time of the time of the time of the time of the time of King Herod, the Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, Where is the one who has been born King of the Jews?
[15:53] We saw his start in the east and have come to worship him. When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.
[16:13] In Bethlehem, in Judea, for this is what the prophet has written. But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah.
[16:24] For out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people, Israel. Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared.
[16:37] He sent them to Bethlehem and said, Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me so that I too may go and worship him.
[16:50] After they had heard the king, they went on their way. And the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them, until it stopped over the place where the child was.
[17:02] When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him.
[17:14] Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, incense, and myrrh. And, having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
[17:30] When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. Get up, take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt.
[17:42] Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him. So, he got up, took the child and his mother during the night, and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod.
[17:58] And so, was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet. Out of Egypt, I have called my son. When Herod realised that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem, and its vicinity, who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi.
[18:23] Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled. A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.
[18:39] After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, and said, Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel.
[18:52] For those who were trying to take the child's life are dead. So he got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelus was reigning in Judea, in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there.
[19:11] Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets.
[19:23] He will be called a Nazarene. And all the people said, Amen. Thank you. Bless you. Take a seat. We're going to sing again.
[19:37] Here is love, vast as the ocean, loving kindness as the flood.
[19:57] When the Prince of Life, our ransom, shed for us his precious blood. Who his love will not remember. Who can cease to sing his praise.
[20:09] He will never be forgotten throughout heaven's eternal days. Grace takes my sin, calls me friend, pays my debts completely. Love rescued me, seated me with my King forevermore.
[20:26] What a privilege. Let's sing and praise God as we sing this. And thank him for what he's done for you. Thank you. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.
[20:37] Amen. Amen. Here is love, vast as the ocean, loving kindness as the flood.
[20:49] When the Prince of life, a ransom, shed for us his precious blood, who his love will not remember, who can cease to sing his praise, he can never be forgotten throughout heaven's eternal days.
[21:26] Grace takes my sin, calls me friend, pays my debt completely, love rescues me, seated me with my King forevermore.
[21:56] On the Mount of Crucifixion, fountains opened deep and wide, through the floodgates of God's mercy, flowed a vast and gracious tide.
[22:27] Grace and love like mighty rivers, born incessant from above, and hence peace and perfect justice, is the guilty one in love.
[22:50] Grace takes my sin, calls me friend, pays my debt completely, love rescued me, seated me with my King forevermore.
[23:15] Let me all your love accepting, love you ever all my days.
[23:36] Let me seek your kingdom only, and my life be to your praise.
[23:48] You alone shall be my glory, nothing in the world I see.
[23:58] You have cleansed and sanctified me, God himself has set me free.
[24:11] Grace takes my sin, calls me friend, pays my debt completely, love rescued me, love rescued me, love rescued me, seated me with my King forevermore.
[24:39] Thank you, Lord, for that promise. Grace takes my sin, calls me friend, and pays my debt completely. It's your love that rescued me, Jesus Christ.
[24:53] He seated me with my King forevermore. Praise you, Lord. Thank you. Amen. Please be seated. Going to have now our second Bible reading, which Kate is going to bring to us.
[25:08] Thank you. This morning's reading is taken from Isaiah chapter 63, verses 7 to 9, and can be found on page 751 of our Bibles.
[25:38] It's titled, Praise and Prayer. I will tell of the kindnesses of the Lord, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the Lord has done for us.
[25:54] Yes, the many good things he has done for Israel, according to his compassion and many kindnesses. He said, Surely they are my people, children who will be true to me.
[26:08] And so he became their saviour. In all their distress, he too was distressed. And the angel of his presence saved them.
[26:19] In his love and mercy, he redeemed them. He lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. Thanks, Peter God.
[26:32] Thank you, Kate. Let's pray. Father, we thank you again for your words. And you know each one of us, and you know each of our needs today.
[26:45] You've been with us through the last year. We thank you for your promise to be with us through the coming year. And so we ask you to bless us as we look at your words and consider the past and the future, and ask you to be in the centre of it.
[27:00] We ask it in Jesus' name. Amen. Amen. Amen. So, time to recount.
[27:14] Time to recount. For some, maybe, as you look back over the last year, you're glad it's finished. Maybe for some of you, you might think that actually it's been the same as every other year.
[27:31] Not really any different. Some of you, it may be the best year ever. But what have you learnt over the last year of God's mercy?
[27:46] Are you grateful for what he's provided for you over and over again last year? How have you used the extra blessings that he's poured out on you?
[28:02] Or how have you battled with him? So how would you rate last year on a one to ten? Only you can answer that one.
[28:15] Isaiah, the prophet, said to the people of Israel, and the people of Israel today are you as well, you know. God's chosen people. If you're a Christian, if you've given your heart and your life to Jesus Christ, then you are his child.
[28:33] Isn't that fantastic to know that actually we are the children of God? So this prophecy is for us as well to recount over the last year what God has been doing in our lives.
[28:46] Maybe you might say it's been a hell of a life actually last year. So many things seem to have gone wrong and I've even been asking where is God in it?
[28:58] So, has he not yet answered those prayers? The promise is, God says, that if we're in step with him, he hears our prayers and he will answer them in accordance with his will if it's his will that we want.
[29:16] So what do you recount? God said, surely they are my people that's you, me, and those throughout the world who have acknowledged that he became their saviour.
[29:30] it wasn't a message that God's given us through an angel, although we've heard the story of the wise men that we just read or the Magi.
[29:44] It wasn't an angel that spoke to, like he spoke to Joseph and like he spoke to Mary. It's by his son. God sent his son, not an angel, for us.
[29:57] And he's offered us so much from it. In his love and in his pity, he redeemed us. He looked on us and he saw how lost we were and he chose to sacrifice his son so that we might be free.
[30:15] He lifted us up and carried us through that last year. Sometimes you might have felt that he wasn't carrying you, but his promise is that he was.
[30:28] So how do we recount 2023? When you look back on last year, is there anything that strikes you that you've been aware of God working in your life?
[30:42] I know Paul wrote in Philippians that stop looking back, let's start looking forward. But I think sometimes we need to look back to see what we've learned about God that we can take into the future.
[30:56] He's been faithful. I know for Drush and I it hasn't been the easiest year this year for personal things, but God has blessed us.
[31:07] God has seen us through. God has answered prayers and is continuing to answer, but he hasn't answered the one that we really want in the end. but we trust that he will do.
[31:21] So when we read Matthew chapters 2, 1 to 12, it gave us some thoughts. The Magi, what faith these people had, came from a distant land, they saw a star, they trusted what they knew at that point, that when they saw that star, it would lead them to the King of Kings.
[31:45] And they followed it. They responded to the call to meet the King of Kings. They searched diligently. Sometimes we don't see the answers to our questions, but are we really searching?
[31:59] Are we really wanting to know? Sometimes, when I was selling life insurance, I remember people saying, my boss saying to me, if somebody keeps asking you questions, just check they're not just asking questions questions, that they really don't want the answers to.
[32:17] The good answer is, if I answered that question for you, would you buy? And they then have to think, if I ask the question and he answers it, he thinks I'm going to buy, so I won't ask the question.
[32:33] And I think sometimes God says, you're asking for things, you're constantly asking for things, but do you really expect that you'll get them? Are you really, really wanting the best for what you've got?
[32:46] The Magi searched diligently. They wanted to find the King. And they were overjoyed when they saw the star. They bowed down and worshipped Jesus when they saw him.
[32:58] When we come into the presence of God in our prayers, what's our worship like? What's my worship like? And they opened up their treasures. What treasures have we got that God wants?
[33:12] And maybe it's sometimes the question of looking in the mirror again. And when we look in the mirror, normally we probably look and say, goodness, do I look that bad? But maybe when we look in the mirror and say, God's looked at me and said, you know, he's worth it.
[33:28] He's worth it. I'll swap. I'll swap my son. Have you experienced that? They were warned by God in a dream and they were obedient to God and they went, not going back to Herod who was deceiving them.
[33:46] They were valuable and significant. What are the gifts that God wants us to give to him? He doesn't need anything that we've got.
[33:57] He doesn't need anything we've got. It's like we don't need anything that our children really give us for Christmas, do we? But it's lovely when they give it, when they've thought of something and they've given it to us.
[34:10] So when you look back, what have you seen in the Magi that you could give? What about King Herod?
[34:20] What has he got to offer? Not a Jew and obviously he didn't know his scriptures. Otherwise, he'd have known where Jesus was going to be born. When he heard the news, he was disturbed.
[34:32] When you hear the news of the gospel, are you disturbed that those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour will not be acknowledged by the Father?
[34:43] Jesus says, you accept my son, I accept you. You reject my son, I reject you. That's fair. I won't let anything into heaven that has sin.
[34:54] So it must be dealt with. And either you deal with it, which separates you from me, or you take my son and he's dealt with it. Herod was disturbed when he heard there was another king that he had to bow down to.
[35:07] And he deceived others through it. He was furious and he ordered to kill all those children just so that he could be safe on the throne, he thought.
[35:21] What has Joseph got to recount to the world? Called to take Mary as his wife. How embarrassing that must have been thinking of today's situation.
[35:32] It's probably not nearly as embarrassing. But in this time, for the woman that you're going to have to be your wife, to be found having a child before you've even got together, how do you take that?
[35:46] And he was called to bring up Jesus with Mary. And he was obedient and he did it. You don't know what sort of flack that he got because of that.
[35:57] But he did it. He was spoken to by an angel in a dream and he didn't just throw it off and say, oh, that was my imagination. He listened and he obeyed.
[36:08] He was told to go to Egypt and he went. Is God telling you or telling me to do something that we're saying, actually, I don't think that's me. I don't want to do that. Maybe God's saying, actually, it is you and I can equip you with what you need to do it.
[36:25] Would you take it on for me? So, that would be Joseph. What would he recount to the world? What about Mary?
[36:35] She was obedient even when it was not convenient. She's not married. God says, you're going to have my son. Wow.
[36:46] But, hold on, I'm not married. She trusted when it could have meant the breakup of her engagement.
[36:58] What would Joseph think? God dealt with that on a separate time. But she found a deeper love with Joseph bringing up Jesus.
[37:10] She pondered what she saw in her heart. Do you see things happening in your life that you don't understand but you ponder on them? I mean, there must have been loads of things that Mary had to go through that she didn't really understand.
[37:28] But because you don't understand it doesn't mean you can't believe it or accept it. I know you probably don't either but I don't understand how my brain works. But I do believe that somewhere there I've got one.
[37:41] I've had a CT scan and they proved it. She pondered those things in her heart. She must have thought through those 33 years of how Jesus was going.
[37:54] The sorrows of how he was being treated. The sorrows of perhaps not understanding who he was and then standing at the foot of the cross and watching her son die on the cross. And it wasn't for him that he died.
[38:08] It was for you and me. She saw him die and she saw him risen. What would she have to recount to the world over those 33 years that she knew Jesus?
[38:21] What about Jesus? What has he got to recount to the world? The Garden of Gethsemane is a really good example isn't it? Father take this from me.
[38:33] It's something that I really really not sure that I really want to go through. He wanted to go through it because of the result but can you imagine being faced from leaving heaven's glory to go to a cross be treated as a criminal and to be put to death on a cross.
[38:53] But not only that the worst thing of all was to have our sin on him. He who knew no sin took our sin. Sacrificial giving.
[39:05] What do we learn from that? He had a purpose when he came and he knew why he came. Do we know why we're here? Do we know why we're serving him at this particular time in this place?
[39:19] He had a love that was deeper than any love and he was able to forgive. Perhaps we would say the unforgivable and we don't usually rate ourselves in that when we see people converted that used to be drug addicts and used to be this and used to be that.
[39:39] We think wow that's that's that's a mystery that's enormous but what about the fact that he died for us? What about what about that?
[39:50] How big was that? What would Jesus recount to the world? So how will you be recounting 2023 and what will you take of him into 2024?
[40:05] Will you be like the wise men seeking out Jesus wherever he may lead you? Will you be like Herod wanting to do things your way whatever the cost to others because that's the easiest that's the nicest for me or will we be like the shepherds we didn't read about them but they were blown away by the glory and just glad to be able to tell others that they'd seen and experienced God in their own lives?
[40:34] Or would we be like the angels worshipping and praising God for who he is? Like Joseph trusting even though he did not understand what it was all about?
[40:46] Or like Mary pondering in her heart what God is doing through her? Or like Jesus having a purpose to be where God wants us to be and it may mean sacrifice so what do we recount to the world?
[41:04] Reading God's word is so important but to gain knowledge without knowing Jesus as Lord and Saviour is no substitute there are two kings in this story King Jesus and a contrast King Herod Jesus came to bring joy rather than fury came to bring love rather than hate came to bring peace rather than battle and came to bring life rather than death there are two kings we can commit ourselves to however only one can reign King Jesus or King I who's going to be our king in 2024 just have a little time of reflection and think back on last year and be able to shut off the things that are negative for you and look at how you can use what God's given you in 2024 and then we'll sing again
[42:10] Heavenly Father we want to reflect with joy over the last year but there are some things that have happened with us through us around us that have not necessarily brought a lot of joy but we're thankful for that promise that you have been with us we don't understand some of the things that have happened but we trust you to be with us in 2024 help us to see the gifts that you've given us and how we might use them for you hear our prayer Father thank you thank you for this last year and we pray that you go through with us into the new year in Jesus name amen we're going to sing standing on this mountaintop looking just how far we've come knowing that for every step you were with us have you experienced that if so let's sing standing on this mountaintop looking just how far we've come knowing that for every step you were with us kneeling on this battleground seeing just how much you've done knowing every victory there's your power in us scars and struggles on the way but with joy our hearts can say yes our hearts can say never once did we ever walk along never once did you leave us on our own you are faithful
[44:33] God you are faithful kneeling kneeling on this battleground seeing just how much you've done knowing every victory was your power in us scars and struggles on the way but with joy our hearts can say yes our hearts can say never once did we ever walk alone never once did you leave us on our own you are faithful God you are faithful scars and struggles on the way but with joy our hearts can say never once did we never walk alone carried by your constant grace held within your perfect peace never once no we never walked alone never once did we ever walk alone never once did you leave us on our own you are faithful
[46:05] God you are faithful scars and struggles on the way but with joy our hearts can say never once did we never walk alone carried by your constant grace held within your perfect peace never once will we never walk alone every step we are breathing in your grace ever more we'll be breathing out your praise you are faithful God you are faithful you are faithful God you are faithful amen please be seated Ian will now bring our prayers of intercessions thank you
[47:09] Ian let's come to our Lord in prayer and as we approach the end of 2023 and about to start a new year let's reflect on the year gone by and pray for the year to come using some of the words of praise and prayer about God's character that was read to us in that passage from Isaiah 63 Lord we reflect on your kindness on your many good things that you've done for us on your compassion and how you're with us in times of distress and most of all we reflect on the fact that you became our saviour and you redeemed us Lord we thank you for the love and kindness you have shown us over this last year for the times when people have been kind to us and provided for us from the kindness and love of our mums and dads of friends and colleagues and other people in our wider family and community we thank you for the times when people have shared a kind word with us or a generous gift in 2024 help us to take opportunities to show love and kindness to others in our families with our friends in our wider community thank you for the many good things you've done for us over this year thank you for the times when people have helped us perhaps with difficult school work maybe with challenging situations in our jobs or where people have provided practical help with things we find more difficult to do these days in 2024 help us to show love to others through the practical things we can do to help them thank you Lord for your compassion for the fact that you hear us in times of distress thank you that you are there with us so I thank you that you are with those who have suffered bereavement or been through particularly difficult times in 2023 thank you that you walk alongside us in those times and we thank you for friends and family who have also walked with us closely this year in difficult times and we pray for those in the wider world who are in distress for those suffering physical or mental distress in our community in High Wycombe and for those further afield particularly in other countries who are suffering oppression often because of conflict
[50:02] Lord bring that inner peace that only you can truly bring and lasting relief to those who are oppressed in 2024 be particularly near to those who have been bereaved to those whose hearts are troubled to those who are oppressed give us compassionate hearts to walk with those people and support them show us how we can do that in practical ways in the year ahead Lord bring lasting peace in areas of conflict in your world Lord most of all we thank you that through your son Jesus you sent a saviour a redeemer someone who has saved us from all the wrong things that we do Lord we have celebrated the coming of Jesus this Christmas time but we thank you that Jesus is not just a saviour at Christmas or just in 2023 but for all time and we thank you that he's not just a saviour but a friend someone that we can get to know personally we thank you for the opportunities we've had this year to get to know Jesus better as our friend to meet with him through what we learn in services and in our groups on a Sunday and groups that meet during the week and we thank you for the opportunities that there are to share about Jesus with others through various courses and activities may those activities have encouraged people to want to know more about Jesus in 2024 we pray that you will help us to know Jesus better and to make him known to others who don't yet know him our Lord our saviour you are a faithful kind loving and compassionate God forgive us for the many times in this last year when we've not shown those same qualities in the way we've lived our lives forgive us a renewed desire to serve you and to walk with you more closely in the year ahead we pray all these things in the name of our Lord Jesus
[52:14] Amen thank you Ian thank you Ian I'm going to sing again Jesus shall reign where'er the sun does its successive journey run his kingdom stretch from shore to shore till sun shall rise and set no more let's stand and sing язandoおし come to adieu Amen.
[53:26] Amen. Amen.
[54:26] Amen. Amen.
[55:26] Amen. Amen.
[56:16] Father, we rise and sing blessings and honour to our King. We praise you and worship you. We thank you for all that you've done for us through the last year and all that you're going to do with us and through us in the coming year.
[56:33] We offer ourselves to you again in Jesus' name. Amen. Please be seated just a minute. Just to let you know, we're starting a Christianity Explored course on Tuesday the 9th.
[56:49] Now, you might think that this is just for non-Christians, but actually you may well be asked, what does Jesus mean to you? And you think, actually, I can say a few things, but I don't know how to put it over to a non-Christian.
[57:05] Can I suggest that this might be for you? It's a fantastic course as it works through Mark's Gospel, looking at who Jesus is with the proof of who he is.
[57:17] And it's a good way to be able to help express that to those who you meet who don't know you. So if you'd like to join with us on that course, it's the 9th of January and it's 10.30 in the morning till 12 o'clock noon.
[57:32] If you'd like to do it but you can't do a daytime, we can arrange one for the evening. So please let us know if you'd like to do that. The other thing, if you're wondering what you can do for 2024, would you pray for the Living Stones Project?
[57:46] Would you pray for Beaks the builders who are doing it, that they will find a real blessing and even more than they expect as they work on the building? And pastor and elders have picked a verse for us for this year.
[58:01] You also, like Living Stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy brotherhood. If you haven't got one of these, do take it, put it on your mantelpiece, remind yourself that you are one of those living stones.
[58:17] As long as you don't want to be a pillar which stops everybody else seeing what Jesus is talking about. You can be anything else, you can be a window, you can be a door, you can be skirtings or you can hide away and be the boiler.
[58:30] But they're all so important places. Choose the place that God wants you to be and pray about that in this coming year. That by the end of the year, we'll have a beautiful sanctuary that will be open for us to bring more people in to know Jesus.
[58:48] Thank you. The blessing. Okay. Would you like to stand and say this with me? Say it to one another.
[59:02] I think it's on there, isn't it? Is it on there? It's not on there. Well, then I'll say it to you. May the Father's hand keep you from stumbling.
[59:16] The footprints of Jesus give you confidence to follow. And the fire of the Holy Spirit keep you warm and safe in your walk with God this day and into the future.
[59:30] Amen. Bless you and Happy New Year for tomorrow. Don't forget...