On the second Sunday in Lent our service was led by Mr Robin Perry and was on the theme ‘The Power of the Cross’. This was a liturgical service consisting of bible readings and hymns.. Robin was welcomed by our steward, Sue Fox, and Neil and Jill Barnett provided our music on the organ and keyboard. After some words from Sue we opened with the hymn “God is here as we his people meet to offer praise and prayer”, a modern hymn written by Fred Pratt Green.
The liturgy was divided into three parts. Part 1: The Foretelling, with a reading from Isaiah by Robin. Part 2: God’s Word comes to Pass, with readings from the Gospels of John and Matthew telling of John and his Baptism of Jesus, the crucifixion of Jesus, his death on the cross and his resurrection, read by Ron Lucas, Norma Buckley, Neil Barnett and Bunty Hodgins. Part 3: What Christ’s Death and Resurrection Means, with readings from St Paul’s letters to 1 Corinthians and Colossians, telling of Christ’s resurrection and Christ’s sacrifice once for all, read by Sue Fox and Jill Barnett.
Robin spoke of the foretelling of Christ’s coming, in the Old Testament and how much of what was written by the prophets came to pass and is brought to fulfilment in the New Testament. The sacrifices of which the prophets spoke were fulfilled by the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross at Easter, even to the soldiers who threw lots for his garments whilst he was dying. Then the writing of St Paul in his letters to the Corinthians and Colossians remind us that through his death on the cross we may have eternal life. “Let us never doubt our faith that Jesus died for each one of us, whatever our circumstances” said Robin.
Robin led our prayers for others before the final reading from St Paul’s letter to the Philippians on imitating Christ’s humility, read by Robin. We concluded as we sang that great hymn “To God be the glory, great things he has done”.