The Rev. Peter Richmond introduced the morning's sermon by reading Isaiah Ch.58. Isaiah exposed the false religion of the day practised by many of the populace, who were paying lip service to God, performing all the right rituals in worship, but without sincerity in its practice during their daily lives.

In Chapter 58, God through Isaiah tells the people what He wants of them, much of which is later reiterated in the teachings of Jesus.

Look after widows and orphans in distress. Give of your plenty to the poor and homeless. Keep yourselves from being polluted by the evils of this world. Fast, in order to remind yourselves of the needs of others and of God's commandments to you.

On the world stage we may feel we can have no part to play that will make a difference to the suffering experienced by so many people. Nevertheless, there is something that we can each do, which multiplied by many can add up to make a great difference.

1. Shop justly, positively discriminating for Fair Trade goods.

2. Give alternative gifts via World Vision and similar organisations. Send one goat to Africa... it will make a difference.

3. At elections think and ask questions. Vote in the party which seeks to right injustice.

4. Write letters to protest against persecution of Christians. It does make a difference. It has saved the life of Hamid in Iran. His sentence was changed to one of life imprisonment, because so many Christians wrote in protest of his death sentence, given for daring to proclaim faith in Christ.

We are in the interim period between the first and second coming of the Lord and it is our task to proclaim the Good News of the salvation offered by Jesus' death on the cross.

Early Christians realised that it is the Lord who changes lives and situations, not the church. But when a church is full of the Holy Spirit it talks about Jesus and goes about His business. We should as Christians be asking ourselves not what our religion does for us, but what it does for others.

So let your light shine forth before men so that they see God in your deeds and the Father in Heaven in your life.

This Sunday, the morning service is at 10.45 am. Pastor Tom Torok is the preacher.

A prayer breakfast is held, in the vestry at the rear of the church, each Thursday morning at 7.30 am. All are welcome.