On Aldersgate Sunday our preacher, Paul Savill, explored the concept of heritage. On 24th May 1738 John Wesley felt his heart strangely warmed in a service at Aldersgate, Oxford. Henceforth he dedicated his life to evangelism.
Sue Fox welcomed Paul and the congregation. Rod Smith was our organist and we began with the hymn God is love. In prayer Paul praised God’s creation and gave thanks for all the blessings we receive daily. He pleaded for forgiveness for our mistakes. After the offering we sang Faithful one so unchanging.
Sue Fox read from 1 Corinthians 3 where the new church is described as God’s building with Jesus Christ as its foundation. Paul traced the influence of Sunday School teacher Edward Kimble in 1855 through many evangelists and preachers to the mission of Billy Graham. If the past is our heritage the present is our purpose and mission as a church and as individuals. All we do must be based on the grace and truth of Jesus, our rock. The church is important to God and must not be destroyed. The future will be our legacy – what will we leave behind? We must keep focused, not distracted by other matters. It is our responsibility to make God known. Paul prayed for help from Jesus in all we do and for recently bereaved members of our congregation. Our service concluded with a great Wesley hymn: Father of everlasting grace followed by the Grace.