These days life is hectic and complicated. We often hear the best things in life are the ‘simple things’. One of my favourite songs sung by the late Joe Cocker is called The Simple Things. The song starts with the lines:

“Somewhere along the way, I got caught up in the race, I kept spinning and turning, lost myself my hope my faith”.

Can you identify with that feeling? Or maybe the next line of the song:

“We’re always wanting more than what we have”. The song continues with these words leading into the chorus:

“and what I’ve learned is all I really need are…

the simple things
that come without a price
the simple things
like happiness joy and love in my life
I’ve seen it all from so many sides
and I hope you would agree
the best things in life
are the simple things”.

I really enjoy the simple things in my life. I like reading, and meeting with friends to eat and talk. I’m sure you have your own examples; what are the simple things in life you enjoy?

When you think about going to church it may seem strange and complicated but it’s actually really simple. At church we take the simple things of life and make them holy. The simple things like happiness, joy, and love.

Our church building is a holy house of God in which the family of God meet. We join the family through Holy Baptism when we begin our journey of faith with water made holy. We have regular family ‘get togethers’ where we eat together – through the sacrament of Holy Communion when simple bread and wine are made holy. We read and listen to words of the Bible – God’s holy word.

If you’d like to experience these simple things in your life, you’ll be assured of a warm welcome at St Davids. We offer a safe environment where all are valued and nurtured in faith and life. We are an Inclusive Church – our doors are open to you – everyone is welcome.

You can sit wherever you want in the church’s seats; don’t ever think you are sitting in someone else’s seat. We have hymn books to sing from and a service book so that you know exactly what to do and say. We have toilets – five to be precise – with baby changing facilities and we are disability friendly.

Our Sunday morning service starts are 10.30am but you can arrive any time after 10am and the services usually last about an hour. There are young families with children, and we understand they sometimes make a noise – no one will be ‘tutting’ if your children talk or run around! Single people and older people attend the service – everyone is welcome.

On Wednesday evenings at 7.30pm you can experience a quiet thirty-minute service. Again, everyone is welcome.

We look forward to welcoming you to one of our services. Come and be part of the simple things in life made holy.

It’s true some people do read St David’s Messenger.

Whilst walking home from church one Sunday a charming lady stopped me to chat, she told me “how much she enjoyed reading the messenger”. We talked at length about all things Biblical, before moving on to things temporal. You name it we discussed it.

One popular topic discussed was Ancestry & Family Tree Research, her new found hobby and how much enjoyment and satisfaction it gave her.

The internet has revolutionised research methods, with information readily available at the click of the mouse. What would have taken months now takes seconds. Most people I know use social media applications like Facebook, whereupon they put as much or as little information they choose about themselves on-air.

Reflecting on our conversation, I wondered what (if any), of my future generation offspring would make of me, would I be of any interest? I reckoned a second at least, the time it takes to click-on.

However, I am content in the knowledge that my ancestor who is living today, has told me. He formed me in the womb, knew me before I was born, has plans for me and wants to satisfy me with long life, and life more abundantly. It sounds like too good to be true news.

I decided to look him up, ancestry.com; Name: Jesus Christ, Father: YHWH (Jehovah), Birthplace: Bethlehem, Date of Birth: it would not accept his D.O.B, so search over.

On Google I searched for ‘Jesus Facebook’, and found he has numerous accounts but none of them belonging to him personally.

Jesus asked his disciples “But whom say ye that I am?” … Do you know who I am?

Jesus was the word, Jesus is the word and the good news is we have the word; the Holy Bible, the written word of God.

It is fact that the most read book in the world is the Holy Bible and that the Holy Bible, not Harry Potter, is still the best-selling book of all time.

It is important to know the Holy Bible for yourself, to know God’s word and to plant it in your heart. God’s words are: life to those that find them and health to all their flesh.

Like the woman in the Gospel of Matthew, who was sick and who was tired of being sick and tired, who reached out to Jesus; “For she said within herself, if I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.”

If like the woman in Matthew, you are in need, lonely, or in the depths of despair, then reach out, read the word, believe it, confess it, live it.

KJV-John 15:7 – “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will and it shall be done unto you.”

When we are in need, we seek God as a last resort giving him a micro-second to answer. If God could be confused, I can see him now, sitting scratching his head in bewilderment. “I sent the prophets, I sent my Son; I have given them life’s manual – past, present and future for living an abundant life. I have sent the Comforter to teach them all things, I have sent the Spirit of truth who will shew them things to come”. I’m knocking at the door; the lights are on but no-one’s home”.

The sword of the Spirit which is the word of God, can ‘cut to the chase’ of any problem we have. God’s Word is truth and there is nothing in this world more powerful.

God created the world by speaking the word; “And God said let there be…” Jesus healed by speaking the word; “but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed”. Jesus cursed the fig tree and it died.

Do you want to find out who you are? Take ten minutes alone, open the Holy Bible read the word, Have ‘an Elijah moment’ to discern “a still small voice”, the comforter, the Spirit of truth – and The Holy Spirit will guide you. I recall reading a sermon ‘The personality of the Holy Spirit’ by R.A. Torrey. Who when a woman who had recently lost her husband and was lonesome, heard his sermon came and thanked him, “you have said just the right word! I will never be lonesome again”.

The Holy Spirit reveals the truth to us, ‘And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free’. The truth alone does not make you free; ‘it’s knowing’ the truth that actually makes you free.

Trust in God; KJV Psalms 91

Don

At our house group meeting recently we were asked what we considered to be the greatest danger to our future? We considered several possibilities.

People
When we read the papers they always seem to be full of ”doom and gloom’. On any one day there seems to be some conflict between different nations. The dreadful thing is that some people resort to violence rather than sit down and talk in order to find a suitable solution to a particular problem. We also have conflict within our own country. We have an increase in knife crime. What I find so horrifying is that a number of teenagers feel the need to carry a knife for security and they are so obviously willing to use them. Also, our country seems more divided than at anytime during my lifetime. Many will blame Brexit but I feel that there is at the moment a general discontent with life amongst all age groups.

Global Warming
Throughout history there have been many changes in our climate. Perhaps we are just experiencing a natural change. However, we cannot ignore the fact that people have a detrimental effect on the environment. We live at a time when we readily dispose of items. I am one of the older generation who keeps things in case they come in useful. An attitude no doubt appreciated by the older generation especially those who lived through the war. We were told that plastic was the best invention since sliced bread. Yet we know from programmes such as ‘The Blue Planet’, the danger plastic is causing marine life and that it is actually destroying various eco-systems. Another cause of concern is pollution with scientific studies showing the melting of the Ice Caps. There is also a major worry about the effect pollution is having on our general health.

Artificial Intelligence
During the last 100 years great advances have been made in technology which have improved the quality of our lives. Perhaps in years to come artificial intelligence will be as accepted as mobile phones are today. However, I can’t imagine myself being happy travelling in a driverless bus!

We do not know what the future holds for us as individuals or for humanity as a whole. Among the ‘doom and gloom news’ there are actually many good stories. We know through reading The Bible that we do have hope for the future through our Lord Jesus Christ.

You are all invited to join us at St David’s to learn more about this hope.

Blessings, Sheila.