The service on Sunday opened with the choir singing 'Spirit of the Living God', accompanied by Alan Adams on the organ. Tony Scourfield introduced the Rev. Peter Trow, URC ecumenical officer, to the congregation. After the first hymn, the Rev. Trow took a glass of water and asked the young people if it was half full or half empty. Depending on your viewpoint, you were either a pessimist or optimist. As Christians, we believe that the glass is not full yet. God has still more to give us. The junior church left for their worship and Melanie Walker read from Genesis, chapter 21, verses 9-21, and Matthew, chapter 10, verses 34-39. The Rev. Trow talked about the interesting story of Genesis. He said that it did not show Abraham and Sarah in a very good light as Abraham is perceived as an example of faith. We see Sarah acting not in a good way. Hagar and Ishmael were slaves and therefore expendable. Sarah knew God's promise to Abraham, but she does not trust it. She has to remove God from the equation and make his promise come true herself. Abraham's only option is to believe that God will look after Ishmael in that He has made a covenant that Ishmael will found a great nation. All are important to God. He is the God of Hagar and Ishmael as well as Abraham and Sarah. God's call to us is for commitment and response. The call is for us to be there for the outcast. It is on the cross that we see the subversive love to God. Thanks be to God for his love beyond measure. The service concluded with the hymn 'God's spirit is in my heart'. Many thanks go to the Rev. Trow, for sharing his thoughts on the readings for the morning, and all others who took part in the service. This Sunday's service will be at 11 am and will be conducted by the Rev. Malcolm Shapland. All are most welcome to attend.
