New Life Fruit

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This life to which you have been born,
bursts forth from deep within
with fruit that nourish and adorn –
fruit only God can bring.

When life loads on and weighs you down,
you find yourself inclined
to crumble, or lose heart, and groan –
by grace gird up your mind –

not weary in the things you should
be doing – he’s defined
what’s truly properly right and good,
unselfish, thoughtful, kind.

His Spirit gives us power to go,
press onward in his strength,
his comfort and his joy we’ll know,
and harvest see at length.

‘The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control … Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up’ Galatians 5:22,23 and 6:9

Tune: CM eg ‘Amazing Grace’ or DCM eg tune of ‘It came upon a midnight clear’  or ‘There is a green hill far away’

Be filled with the Spirit

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e filled with the Spirit
Filled not with stupefying drink,
but with the Spirit of our God
for him to mould us, grow his fruit,
and help us witness to his Word,
prepared to love and serve his church,
empowered in prayer, to worship stirred.
So daily come to Christ, and drink,
confessing and forsaking sin,
cleansed, consecrated, to his will
submitting, set apart for him;
and ask, receive him constantly,
and see him work, the coming King.

Filled not with stupefying drink,
but with the Spirit of our God
for him to mould us, grow his fruit,
and help us witness to his Word,
prepared to love and serve his church,
empowered in prayer, to worship stirred.

So daily come to Christ, and drink,
confessing and forsaking sin,
cleansed, consecrated, to his will
submitting, set apart for him;
and ask, receive him constantly,
and see him work, the coming King.

Tune: 88 88 88 eg a tune of ‘On Christ, the solid Rock’

Protected Perseverance

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Protected Perseverance
(1 Peter 1:18-250
In persecution, problems,
the answer is the same –s
remember his great gospel –
the Christ to whom you came.
His purchase, precious payment,
his blood – the price he paid:
God’s plan fulfilled, your sins all
upon the Lamb were laid.
In him brought to the Father,
believing what you heard,
obeyed his call, you love him –
Christ, purifying Word.
Preserved by faithful promise,
eternal life received,
remembering Christ, be strengthened,
as when you first believed.

(1 Peter 1:18-25)

In persecution, problems,
the answer is the same –
remember his great gospel –
the Christ to whom you came.

His purchase, precious payment,
his blood – the price he paid:
God’s plan fulfilled, your sins all
upon the Lamb were laid.

In him brought to the Father,
believing what you heard,
obeyed his call, you love him –
Christ, purifying Word.

Preserved by faithful promise,
eternal life received,
remembering Christ, be strengthened,
as when you first believed.

Tune: 76 76 eg St Alphege tune of ‘In full and glad surrender’

Absurd?

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Absurd?
Of Caesar’s conquests on the earth–
there is no doubt that they occurred;
and Jesus Christ defeated death –
but some think that must be absurd.
And yet the evidence is great
for Caesar, and Christ Jesus, too,
and ‘BC*’ written records state
what Christ was coming here to do.
Do you have reason to respond
the testimonies are untrue?
and that there is no power beyond
this world that you can feel and view?
What really does seem quite absurd
is not to read, investigate
the claims and offer once they’re heard:
examine and evaluate.
*BC=Before Christ, ie before he was born, detailed announcements were made, and recorded, and believed!
Tune: LM eg Tallis’ canon, tune of ‘Glory to Thee, my God, this night for all the blessings of the light’

Of Caesar’s conquests on the earth–
there is no doubt that they occurred;
and Jesus Christ defeated death –
but some think that must be absurd.

And yet the evidence is great
for Caesar, and Christ Jesus, too,
and ‘BC*’ written records state
what Christ was coming here to do.

Do you have reason to respond
the testimonies are untrue?
and that there is no power beyond
this world that you can feel and view?

What really does seem quite absurd
is not to read, investigate
the claims and offer once they’re heard:
examine and evaluate.

*BC=Before Christ, ie before he was born, detailed announcements were made, and recorded, and believed!

Tune: LM eg Tallis’ canon, tune of ‘Glory to Thee, my God, this night for all the blessings of the light’

He gave himself for all …

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1 Timothy 2:1-6

Some own there is a god –
his character, by whim
they draw, and see no need of Christ
to make their peace with him.

So much now stifles thought,
distracts, and numbs the mind
with music’s beat, many don’t try
life’s destiny to find.

He pinpoints where we’re at,
and where we’re heading to,
and how to reach the better goal,
what to believe and do.

One mediator given:
God wants his church to tell,
and so we need to pray for peace,
live lives that please him well.

When worldly views surround
the church must not then slide
but by their life and words, attract
towards the Saviour’s side.

We pray for all who rule
that peace and quietness
enable more to come for grace
and live in godliness.

For God can overrule
guide leaders fallible
to bring stability that makes
our witness possible.

Tune: SM

Harvest hymn

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Fresh green of spring, when blossoms spread,
and bees passed round the pollen shed;
fruit set and swelled – corn, apples, berries,
and currants, beans, pears, damsons, cherries;
sustaining food is also found
at end of summer underground –
potato crops, and carrots, swede,
all help provide for winter’s need.

However good our gardening skill,
and diligence in work, we still
depend on sunshine and on rain
– we can’t the weather’s course ordain.
When harvested, the bounty stored,
we should give thanks with voice outpoured,
and live for him the life he gives,
share as we can, unselfish lives.

We may be glad when others share
if we have lack, and they’ve to spare
– such times remind to wait and pray,
this life is brief, the coming Day
is vast, prepare with contrite heart,
receive the Life Christ can impart,
though much supplied, this world can’t last
and soon the struggles will be past.

Tune:  DLM ‘Ye banks and braes’

The beginning and end of tears

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This world, when all was brought to be –
the beauty, wonder we still see
was not yet marred in any way,
with no frustration, till fall’s day.
He who had mutinied, and lost
his place among the heavenly host,
became God’s enemy, until
an end to all his plans of ill.

So when God made the universe,
this Satan schemed, earned judgement’s curse;
he tempted Eve to doubt, rebel,
and so to sin and hurt she fell.
Could not for ever live like this,
their world and they were now amiss,
though still supported, all would groan
until salvation wrought, made known.

Christ came to pay the debt,  he will,
soon come again, and all fulfil,
and meanwhile hear now, heed his call
and friendship, like before the fall,
you can enjoy with God, and when
he comes, returns, a world that then
will have no damage, and no fears,
with happy work, no death, no tears.

Tune: LM or DLM ‘Ye banks and braes’

Knowing that God is Real

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God is real – how can we know?
Skies and flowers his prowess show;
Christ, the Son, came here, revealing,
showed his Father’s love appealing,
justice, power,  rule and wisdom,
mercy, love and coming kingdom;

raised from death, and now preparing
for our coming to him, sharing,
sending witnesses throughout
all the world to teach about
who he is, inviting all
for his mercy, love to call.

In his time upon this earth
from his birth and through his death,
showed that we may speak and pray –
God in heaven hears what we say
of our heart needs and desires
– he himself our prayers inspires.

77 77 77 eg Dix (tune of ‘As with gladness men of old did the guiding star behold’)

New church, devoting themselves to …

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They (those converted at the Day of Pentecost, when Peter preached) devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2:42

New life, a fledgling church
in love, together bound.
They’d seen their guilt, rebellion, sin,
then God’s forgiveness found.

Baptized, they joined his church,
adopted, with new kin,
devoted to their Saviour’s Word
to grow in pleasing him.

Blest fellowship with all
who know Him, old and young,
the rich, the poor: all care and share –
God values everyone.

They love to meet to keep
remembrance of his death,
break bread his cov’nant to proclaim
‘til he returns to earth.

Delight to meet to pray
requests together raise,
the whole church asking God to bless,
unitedly they praise.

Devotion’s strength may lapse –
distracted by your cares?
or in your busyness, your love,
grown cooler, unawares?

Give thought to how you came
to be reborn, made new,
devotion rouse to Him who has
done wondrous things for you.

Tune: SM eg tune of ‘Blest be the tie that binds’

on Psalm 46 especially verses 10,11

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“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. on Psalm 46 especially verses 10,11

Kingdoms fall, and despots rise,
men do evil, truth despise;
uproar, angry storm and war,
lives are pressured more and more.

God is at his people’s side,
in their hearts he will abide.

His the victory will be,
one day all will bow the knee,
violence halted, wars will cease,
earth will know a reign of peace.

God is at his people’s side,
in their hearts he will abide.

Don’t forget that he is God:
Christians – he will keep his Word,
rebels – while it’s not too late
stop! repent, his Day await.

God is at his people’s side,
in their hearts he will abide.

Tune: 77 77 77 eg tunes of ‘Rock of ages’ and ‘When this passing world is done’