Mr. Robin Perry led our morning’s worship last Sunday on the theme of ‘The Lord’s My Shepherd”, some much loved words from Psalm 23. Our senior steward Bunty Hodgkins gave Robin a warm welcome. For his call to worship Robin quoted the first verse of the old hymn by Joseph Hart “This, this is the God we adore, our faithful, unchangeable friend, whose love is as great as his power, and neither knows measure nor end”.
After our opening hymn, we were led into a prayer of praise, adoration and confession, followed by the Lord’s Prayer. There were two bible readings, the first from Psalm 23, read by Gerry Maxwell and the second from St Paul’s second letter to Timothy his young assistant, chapter one, in which Timothy is advised and encouraged to keep on witnessing faithfully to Jesus Christ. This was read by Margaret Maxwell.
Robin said Psalm 23 was the most loved Psalm of all. It was written by King David and has been a comfort to generations down the ages. “The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not want” brings a sense of peace and serenity to the listener. “He makes me to lie down in green pastures” reminds us we are not indispensable, and we need to take time out. “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for you are with me: your rod and staff they comfort me” tells us that God is our support at difficult times in our lives just as the rod and staff of the shepherd help keep control of the sheep. “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies and surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life” tells us that life is not always a bed of roses, but we know God is with us when things go wrong and He has given us the spirit of power, peace and mindfulness.
Robin led us in our prayer for others, particularly for the parts of the world where there is conflict, war and violence and we prayed for peace in our time. We finished with the great old hymn “Stand up, stand up for Jesus, Ye soldiers of the cross”.