Hebron Baptist Church

Last Sunday, Mr. Anthony Standing gave a warm welcome to friends and visitors. Mr. Standing led the worship and read from Romans 6 v 1-14. Miss Helen Standing was the pianist and the welcome stewards were Mr. and Mrs. Gunston and Miss Kelly Gunston.

Mrs. Standing's illustrated talks for the next few weeks will be looking at the genealogy of Jesus' family. This week we turn to the Great grandson of Ruth and Boaz, David the shepherd boy who became king. David had walked fearlessly with the Lord and became a mighty warrior king and God showered many riches and blessings upon him, but like us all David fell into sin.

Nathan the prophet was sent by God to show David the error of his ways. As he told the story of a wealthy shepherd with many sheep and a poor shepherd with only one lamb, Nathan immediately had David's attention. The wealthy shepherd took the only lamb of the poor man to prepare a meal for his guest. David was outraged and demanded to know who had done such a terrible thing. Nathan told David, 'You are the man. You have taken another man's wife and had him killed in battle, taking his wife for yourself.

David repented of his sin, but still had to face the consequences. Even though we make mistakes and let God down, when we are truly sorry He is willing to bless us and use our lives to show His glory to the world.

Mr. Standing continued his series 'Signposts along Life's Journey'. Last time our travel analogy took us by rail from Cradleville to Gravesend where we all have to change to the For All Eternity Railway which only has two destinations.

To make good decisions along life's road, we need a map, the Bible which points out six major sign posts. Narrow Bridge takes us across the chasm that has opened up between ourselves and God because of our sin and Jesus is the bridge from death to life.

The Glaslyn estuary, near Porthmadog in North Wales, is a popular beauty spot. The road has a long straight stretch, at the end of which there is a bridge with just enough hump to hide the road beyond and a sharp turn to the left. Fortunately there is a warning sign; dangerous bend. Our journey is constantly changing and as we travel on the Christian road we need warning signs. We still struggle against sin's powerful pull and our old habits.

Having crossed the bridge from death to life we are redeemed, justified, set free - yet we seem resigned to the myth that sin has the upper hand. Why? Perhaps, instead of heeding the 'Dangerous Bend' sign of Romans 6 we presume too much on God's gracious forgiveness promised in 1 John 1 v 9.

This doesn't mean we are free from the reality of sin's presence in our old nature, but it no longer has mastery and dominion over us. We now have the power to choose not to sin. In the same way, consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus, Romans 6 v 11.

Because we're human, we'll never be sinless, but we can become more and more aware of our choice to avoid sin and become stronger at resisting it. 'Therefore do not let sin rule in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires', Rom 6 v 12. Jesus has warned us it will not be easy, but He has shown us the way.

This Sunday at 11 am the speaker will be Mr. Mick Quirk. The young people will have activities in the hall during the message. Tuesday Club will meet at the Poppies at 6 pm. Ladies Fellowship will meet on Wednesday at 2.30 pm. For more information, call 811697 or visit http://www.hebronbaptistsaundersfoot.org.uk">www.hebronbaptistsaundersfoot.org.uk

ROTARY CLUB

The Rotary Club of Saundersfoot hosted two representatives of the Withybush Pain Support Group at a recent dinner meeting, which was also attended by members of the Rotary Clubs of Narberth and Whitland and Tenby.

Chairman, Mrs. Caroline John, and vice-chairman, Mrs. Wendy Evans, explained in great detail how they themselves had benefited from the work of this charitable group, which had been formed in order to give much-needed practical support to people in Pembrokeshire who constantly live with chronic pain and have long-term health problems.

All present at the meeting were very impressed with the sincerity and dedication of these volunteers.

Christmas concert

A Christmas concert in aid of the Wales Air Ambulance will be held at Thomas Memorial Congregational Church in Saundersfoot at 7 pm on Sunday, December 7.

The concert will feature Cor Newydd Da and solo violinist, Lily Whitehurst. Tickets are £5 (including refreshments) and are available from Mike Ashbridge on (01834) 862977.

The following weekend (December 13 and 14), the charity's Pembrokeshire volunteers will be serving teas, coffees, refreshments etc. at the Creative Fusion Show at the Regency Hall in Saundersfoot. Please drop in and support them!

METHODIST CHURCH

Several members took a part of Sunday's service. One reading was the poem 'When the time was right', which concludes by saying that God sent his son to earth "when the time was right."

Another member read of how Wendy Craig came to write her song/poem 'Show me the way Lord', and then read it. The third item started from Ann Robinson and the programme 'Weakest Link' and considered how some people looking at Christ's life might call him the weakest link. But when you consider what he suffered for us at Calvary, the answer to the question weakest link? - is a definite No!

ThisSunday morning's service at 11 am will be a service for the first Sunday in Advent arranged by members. All are welcome.