Sunday 1st May 2011 - Other churches

A strange feeling to be sending my family off to Bethel while I go elsewhere! I decided to start local, and in the morning I went to Abertridwr Community Church, where I was greeted like a long-lost son! I commented to someone that it was the first time for a long time (possibly ever) that I had been there for a service without having a coffin in the room at the same time!

The sermon was on Four Mighty Banners: The Word of God, the Throne of God, the Grace of God and the Name of God.

During this sabbatical I am supposed to receive from God for myself, and I did during the service. But inevitably I also looked out for interesting ideas to try in Bethel. During communion the bread was brought round to people, but then we were encouraged to go forward for the wine, and any who wished to be prayed for could also take that opportunity. Ever since we went to Malmesbury Abbey last summer I have been thinking about how we could get people to come forward during communion, and this idea from ACC might be worth trying!

In the evening I went to Tabernacle, Penarth – the largest church in our Baptist Association. Lots of young-ish people (younger than me, anyway!). A sermon on Romans 8 as part of a long series through the whole book. An interesting comment from verse 30 that God glorifies us! Communion again, and another new idea – two people came into membership, and they were asked to serve.

I wonder how things went at Bethel.