Grumbling, resting and someone new

Holy Trinity Church, Huddersfield – Sunday 29th April 2018

I’ll start with the new boy:

We have a new Youth Minister. Wayne Cadman, joined us as last Tuesday and we met him, and his wife Ruth, at this morning’s service. I was pleased to meet him as one of the old guard here, I was a youth leader in the mid to late 1980s. Youth ministry is something you can never give up. You still feel responsible for them and a desire to pray for the youth you ministered to, especially those with particular needs. Even if my youth are now well into their 40s.

Grumbling

The sermon was another in the Exodus, this time on Chapter 17. The people were angry. Moses was leading them into the desert and they had no water. They were ready to kill Moses. They had seen God move the sea, they has seen God provide Manna and quail, but still they grumbled and tested God. What they did not understand is that God’s salvation is not a one off act, it is not, “You’ve crossed the red sea, now you are on your own.” Neither does Jesus just save us and then leave us to it. God saved them and walked with them.

Paul asked a similar question of early Christians, “ Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by^[a] the flesh?” Galatians 3:3. God is with us through the whole journey.

Resting

While Curate Steve was giving the sermon, two people had independently come up to Vicar Mike saying they felt God was speak to someone about resting. Another spoke about burdens. Mike brought this to the congregation’s attention quoting Jesus: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28. He asked those who wished to respond to either come for prayer or to respond quietly during the next hymn.

If you have a burden, you can lay it at Jesus feet quietly now.