Thy Kingdom Come – Day 2 – Praise
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Thy Kingdom Come – Day 1 – Jesus
Thy Kingdom Come
Thy Kingdom Come is a global movement of prayer that invites us to pray for people to come to know God. This year it seems all the more timely as we seek to come out of lockdown and start to physically come together as church once more.
During the 11 days of Thy Kingdom Come, between Ascension Day and Pentecost, it is hoped that everyone who takes part will:
* Deepen their own relationship with Jesus Christ
* Pray for 5 friends or family to come to faith in Jesus
* Pray for the empowerment of the Spirit that we would be effective in our witness
After the very first Ascension Day the disciples gathered with Mary, constantly devoting themselves to prayer while they waited for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Like them, our reliance on the gift of the Holy Spirit is total – on our own we can do nothing.
Through the centuries Christians have gathered at that time to pray for the coming of the Holy Spirit. ‘Thy Kingdom Come’ picks up this tradition.
We are praying that the Spirit will inspire and equip us to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with our friends and families, our communities and networks. The Thy Kingdom Come prayer journal is provided to help us pray and can be seen here
134th Anniversary Walk
A socially distanced walk was held on this day using this Nutfield and South Nutfield walk guide. You can download and do it anytime.
Centenary Celebrations
This was a scene at the Sunday morning service in the Free Church, Mid Street, South Nutfield, drawn by artist Mike Young in May 1985. Mike is a member of the church, and an art teacher living in Redhill.
As part of the centenary, people came to a special exhibition of the work of the church over the last 100 years. We are looking forward to what God will do in the future, as well as rejoicing in what he is doing today and has done in days gone by. Jesus is the same. Jesus is alive.
Baptism at Seaford
We went down on Friday evening from South Nutfield Free Church. We then had a prayer meeting, and went to stay in the homes of our hosts from Seaford church.
On Saturday morning we went down to find the seaside baptismal spot. The beach looked steep and stony and the weather rough.
In the afternoon we went down again to the sea in a convoy of 8-9 cars. The sea had gone out revealing beautiful sand, and the sun come out for the first time in ages.
The church elders, Ken and Phil, baptised 6 of us in the sea: Ed, Ali, Jane, Andy, Sue and Ian.
On Sunday morning we had a time of worship and praise to Jesus. The ministry that morning said that Christians are no longer subject to trying to do the Law, but have died and are alive again in a love relationship with Jesus. Because we love him we want to do what he wants.
There was more ministry from Terry Virgo in the afternoon. God loves us as we are. We should develop this love with Jesus more and more, and enjoy everything around us, because it is from God.
Welcome to Phil Stone
We welcomed Phil and Chris Stone and baby Marc to live in the Manse and share in the leadership of the church. Phil has spent three years at bible college, and works in insurance in London. He also writes and plays Christian music, and has been a youth worker. Phil has already visited to preach a number of times last year.
Today before a packed church, Phil Stone was appointed to the Eldership of the church. Five people laid hands on Phil and prayed for him. These were Mr A. Howick and Mr R. La Trobe, previous pastors, to show the continuity of the work; Revd.S Wakeling as an act of unity with all Christians; Mr Ken Sheppard, who will be sharing the responsibilities; and Mr Phil Rogers.
Phil Rogers called for all Christians in the Village to share their one Lord and one faith in love.
Mounting up with wings like eagles
In a prayer group at Jane’s house, we prayed for about an hour and were all getting tired and about to pack up. Bert then said something in a tongue. He said somebody knew the meaning. It was me. This verse kept going through my mind. I was shaking all over but didn’t say anything. Then Jane’s mum said exactly the same verse.
They that wait upon the Lord
Shall renew their strength
They shall mount up with wings like eagles
They shall run and not be weary
They shall walk and not faint
After that point we rested in God’s strength.
Come Together
A group of us from the Free Church went to St. Mary’s Parish Church in Reigate to take part in the ‘Come Together’ musical. It has been performed in lots of places in the USA and the UK and uses modern music, narration, and audience participation, to bring people together, first to worship and praise, and then to move to help each other, and then there is an invitation for people who don’t know Jesus to ask him into their life.
Rodney’s last service
Rodney La Trobe led his last service at the church this Easter Day with a communion service.
Rodney has been here since 1969, and has had a great influence in the village particularly in his work with young people – setting up Jucos, Covenanters, a youth club, and bible study groups. He took us on lots of outings and adventures in the second hand cars he sold. He would sometimes take us Covenanters to the caves behind his parents shop in Reigate where we would set up candles in the alcoves and play football underground. He also took us go-karting on an unused road circuit, and built a railway circuit in the loft above the vestry. I remember in particular a khaki coloured Mini Moke and how we used to sing…
‘Oh you’ll never get to heaven
in Rodney’s car.
Cause Rodney’s car
won’t get that far’.
The song had many verses we would make up. The only other I remember was ‘….Rodney’s van… is in a jam.’