Abel worshipped. Enoch walked. Here in Genesis 6, we see Noah working for God. Worship – walking – working.

By the time we get to Genesis 6, things have gone badly wrong for the human race (v’s 5-7) so much so that God has had enough and resolves to judge sinful humanity (v.7). Just like Abel and Enoch, we see Noah who is God fearing, a worshipper and a walker (v.9). Through Noah, God resolves to start again so asks Noah to build an ark in order to replenish the earth post flood. Of course, since theologians came under the spell of evolutionary theory, the idea of a world-wide flood has become deeply unpopular. Flood theology has been relegated to the margin of the margins! Interestingly Jesus does not dismiss Noah or indeed the flood as mythical – rather Jesus treats both as history (Matthew 24: 36-39), as he describes what will happen at the end of time. God gives Noah very specific
instructions about the work he has to do (read through Genesis 6 and 7). We see Noah faithfully obeying and carrying out the task he has been asked to do, despite the challenges he must have faced. (See 6.22; 7.5,9,16).

If we want to know God’s will for our lives it begins with worship – laying down our lives to Christ. It means walking with Christ, putting him first in our choices, our attitudes and our behaviours. In my experience, it’s then that we can know what God wants us to do – how we can serve him. How we can work for Him. We then seek to be faithful in what he calls us to do.

Mother Teresa is quoted as saying:

‘God has not called me to success, but to faithfulness.’

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us through the power of the Holy Spirit to worship you, to walk with you and to work for you. May your name be glorified. Amen.

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Walking has lots of great benefits including heart health and mental health along with loads of other physical and emotional things that are good for you.

Our second hero of faith is a man called Enoch, who we read, ‘walked with God’ [Gen 5.24]

Abel worshipped, Enoch walked. Walking with God is a result of worshipping God.

Here we have the idea of relationship and movement. Moving forward in our lives in fellowship with God. Enoch walks with God because he is in relationship with
God.

The Christian faith is all about relationship and not religion. Religion says, ‘I’m doing stuff to earn my right to walk with God’ (just like Cain). Relationship says, ‘I’m loved by God who came in Jesus to give His life for me.’ Relationship says ‘I’m secure in Jesus – I’m trusting Jesus’. Relationship says, ‘I want to walk with Jesus, to follow Him and give my life to Him.’

Who are you walking with? What God are you following? Is it religion or relationship? What are the signs that you are moving forward as you walk with Jesus?

‘When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word. What a glory He sheds on our way! While we do His good will, He abides with us still. And with all who will trust and obey.

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey’

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In the early chapters of Genesis we see that creation from being ‘good’ has been spoilt by human sin.  Adam and Eve have been thrown out of the garden and we see their descendants, Abel and Cain coming to offer sacrifices to God, something which Adam and Eve had obviously told them was the right way to approach God.In faith, Abel brings a lamb, but Cain does his own thing and brings the produce of the ground – things that he had worked on by his own efforts. We see God accepting Abel’s sacrifice but rejecting Cains. It’s a difficult passage on many fronts, because it mentions animal sacrifice (which modern Christian’s struggle with). It’s also difficult because it shows that we can only approach God in God’s way, not our own way. God’s way is through sacrifice. In the Gospels, Jesus tells of two other men [Luke 18:10-14]. A rich man, a religious man and someone quite the opposite. The religious man says how important he is, how much he has done to deserve God’s acceptance. The other man simply says, ‘I’ve got nothing to offer but my wrongdoing – please have mercy on me’. What a contrast! Cain and Abel are just like these two men Jesus talked about. Cain in effect say’s ‘look what I’ve produced – surely, I deserve your forgiveness’. Abel says, ‘All I’ve got is this lamb to offer for my sins – have mercy on me.’

Abel’s offering was accepted because he came to God in God’s way, not his own way. Abel came with faith, knowing that his offering of the lamb would be accepted.

Things have not changed much. We think we can come to God on our own terms and by our own efforts. True faith recognises that it’s only by coming to the cross of Jesus that we can be accepted. Acknowledging our own wrongdoing and trusting that Jesus (the Lamb of God), has paid the full price for our sins. Faith put its trust in Jesus and Jesus only [ Acts 2: 38; Acts 4: 12; John 3:16]. The hymn-writer summed it up nicely:

‘Nothing in my hand I bring, simply to thy cross I cling’

Questions

• Some say that the early parts of the Old Testament are made up stories and myths. What do you think?
• Who does the lamb, mentioned in Genesis 4 remind you of?
• In what ways does the blood of Jesus ‘speak better things’ than the blood of Abel? (Hebrews 12:24).

Prayer

Lord Jesus, help me to have faith in you and you alone. Help me not to rely on my own efforts but to trust that in your death and resurrection, I can be forgiven and begin a new life with you. Amen

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We are about to launch a recruitment campaign for a part-time children and youth pastor to lead our work in this important ministry. This is a key part of the
church’s vision, and it’s already achieved significant support. We have over £12,000 of gifts received for this venture. We want to step out in faith and back this work. To do so will require us to commit for a three-year period to a post and the associated costs of the work – events, outreach, publicity and materials. We estimate this could mean up to £30,000 per annum of funding needed. As such we will be looking carefully at our budgets and applying for grant funding from charitable bodies that support this kind of work.

Our children and young people are not just the future of the Church; they are a vital part of its life today. Through our youth and children’s ministries, we can share God’s love, nurture faith, and reach out to families in our community who may not otherwise encounter the Gospel. Your giving helps provide safe, welcoming spaces, inspiring activities, and meaningful outreach that can transform lives for Christ.

We invite you to prayerfully consider supporting this important work, investing in the next generation and helping God’s kingdom grow in our community. If you feel called to help support this work over and above your regular giving, the church will ring-fence these gifts to be used specifically for the vision for our children and young people.

Whether or not you are able to assist financially, we encourage everyone to pray for the success of this venture. Should you wish to explore this giving opportunity further, please do speak to James our treasurer who would be happy to help.

Every blessing to you all.

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• Setting up (tables and chairs)
• Serve refreshments
• Crafts

If you are able help in the areas mentioned above, there is a signing sheet on the table on the entrance to the worship areas.

The post Light Party first appeared on St John's Haydon Wick.

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Over the next few weeks in the run up to Advent, we will be looking at some of the ‘heroes of faith’ mentioned in Hebrews 11.

The letter to the Hebrews was written (we don’t know who wrote it), to a group of people who had converted from Judaism to become followers of Jesus, but things had become difficult and some were being tempted away
from following Jesus.

Hebrews is an encouragement to them to keep on having faith, to keep on following. In chapter 11, the writer gives them examples of those who lived by faith, despite the struggles and the challenges they faced.

Each week we will look at one of these examples, with a passage to read, questions to reflect on and a prayer of encouragement. These reflections can be done either individually or as a small group.

This week, try reading Hebrews 11, so that you get the big picture.

• Which character speaks to you?
• According to Hebrews 11.1, what is faith?
• What things do you ‘have faith in’?
• Why is having faith in Jesus important? Read Romans 3:21-26; 5:1-11

Prayer

Heavenly Father, i am so grateful that your acceptance of me, does not depend on me – but is based on what Jesus has done for me. Help me, despite the struggles I am going through, to keep trusting you.

Amen.

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The post Curate’s Corner: Heroes of Faith – Hebrews 11 appeared first on St John's Haydon Wick.

If you would like to cook food of your nationality and bring so as we can share together, please get in touch with Jac our Church administrator by Thursday 8th October.

This will be a great opportunity of fellowship and to
invite a friend. The more we have food from all nationalities in our church the better!

It will be helpful to indicate the ingredients, so people are aware.
There will be a signing sheet on the table by the entrance door to the worship area.

The post Harvest Service is on 11th October first appeared on St John's Haydon Wick.

The post Harvest Service is on 11th October appeared first on St John's Haydon Wick.

In a world where we cannot tell what is real and what is fake, as God’s people we are called to live lives which are genuine and not artificial.

Paul in Romans 9.9 encourages his readers (and us) to live authentically.

Let love be genuine; hate what is evil; hold fast to what is good…

The word for genuine here has the meaning of not hiding behind a mask or putting up a facade. In a world full of the artificial, we are called to be sincere in our love for each other and for the world.

What does living and loving genuinely look like for you this week?

The post Curate’s Corner: Artificial first appeared on St John's Haydon Wick.

The post Curate’s Corner: Artificial appeared first on St John's Haydon Wick.

This preaching series walks through the story of Nehemiah, using the idea of building as an image to learn from as we labour to see God’s kingdom come today.

Every blessing, Patches.

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If you would like to cook food of your nationality and bring so as we can share together, please get in touch with Jac our Church Administrator by Thursday 8th October.

This will be a great opportunity of fellowship and to invite a friend. The more we have food from all nationalities in our church the better!

It will be helpful to indicate the ingredients, so people are aware. There will be a signing sheet on the table by the entrance door to the worship area.

The post Harvest Service is on 11th October first appeared on St John's Haydon Wick.

The post Harvest Service is on 11th October appeared first on St John's Haydon Wick.

We would like to encourage any member of the congregation to complete this training (providing you have completed the basic safeguarding training) as you will be actively supporting St John’s to be a safe church whilst increasing your own knowledge in this important area of church life.

To book a place please contact Anna the Parish Safeguarding Officer.

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The post Foundation Safeguarding Training appeared first on St John's Haydon Wick.