Worship began on Sunday with the introit, 'Holy, Holy, Holy'. The organist, Mrs. Sheila Noot, accompanied the singing group.
Mollie, a junior church member, read the words of welcome. Rev. Nannette Lewis-Head thanked her and said that the welcome included the theme for worship, 'Jesus said, I am the vine'.
Greetings were shared with William, on celebrating his eighth birthday. Nannette then talked to the children, illustrating what she had to say by using am umbrella.
In this Christian Aid week, we think of the umbrella as a symbol of the church. Umbrellas shelter people, protect them and in order to share an umbrella we have to draw closer to each other. Christian Aid seeks to shelter, protect and draw people of the world closer together.
Mrs. Sonia Hurlow read from John 15, 1-8, 'Jesus the real vine', and 1 John 3, 'Children of God'. 'Abide in me', taken from the first reading, were the opening words of the sermon, but as Nannette pointed out, these comforting words were not the full message of the passage. The disciples were not expected to sit back and be idle, neither are we. Nannette used the imagery of gardening for us, as the growing of vines was used for the disciples.
Gardening is not an armchair activity, neither is following Jesus. The passage says that we must bear much fruit. The early church carried out its mission and the church has continued through the centuries; the price is high. Abiding in Jesus does not mean settling down, and where we can no longer be so physically active, it means continuing in prayer.
Prayers of intercession were followed by the final hymn, 'O Lord My God'. Thank you, Nannette, for a challenging message and to all who contributed to the worship.
This Sunday, at 10.30 am, Nannette will again lead. A warm welcome is extended to all.