This week’s service was based around Luke 24 – two peoples’ encounter with the risen Jesus on the road to Emmaus. Rev. Graham Horsley, welcomed by Keith Harrison, advised us to be open to God and allow Him to lead. Our first hymn was Send the fire today, accompanied on the piano by Rod Smith. In the Bible story the men on the road didn’t recognise Jesus. Do we when he comes alongside us? He comes in ways we don’t expect and meets with us where we are. Recent decades have been very difficult for evangelising but now there is new interest in Christianity. We should follow Jesus’ example and first address peoples’ immediate needs rather than what we think they should know. For the walkers to Emmaus it was their heartfelt effect of Jesus’ companionship as well as the teaching that really changed their lives. We must avoid being distracted by church routines and missing the essential meaning of Jesus’ total love for each one of us.
We prayed for those in need of healing and comfort – loved ones, those in danger through violence and the hungry. Our concluding hymn was Jesus the name high over all and we shared the Grace together.