It Was Friday - But Sunday Was Coming

(Picture: St Mark's Church roof after a bad day's weather!)

Great to see so many guests join us for our Good Friday re-telling of The Passion, especially in the foul weather! If you were one of those guests, please leave a message by commenting below.

Did everyone else notice how much all the people telling the story highlighted the many fulfilments of the Old Testament scriptures that occured during Jesus' passion? Totally unplanned (I mean the way that that aspect came out. I'm sure God planned it!)

In the pub afterwards someone asked why the Jews of today can't see that their Messiah has come. Any thoughts?

More about next Friday soon!

The Passion... Retold

Don't miss the four-part BBC drama that begins tonight (Sunday).

But even if you can't see it, we are re-telling the story for anyone who wants to join us. The action begins with tea and coffee at 7.30pm in church (this is The Church of England...)

Then a group of the regular Friday Night gang will re-tell the story. After that, we retire to the pub to talk about what we have just heard.

For those involved, here's a reminder of who is doing what....

Palm Sunday - Simon

Cleansing the Temple - Derek

The Last Supper - Janette

Gethsemane - Rose

The Arrest - Rod

Peter's Denial - Cat

The Trial - Simon

The Crucifixion - Rod

The Burial - Cat

Mary at The Tomb - Rose

The Road To Emmaus - Simon

Thomas - Rose

Tea and Coffee - Helen, Dorothy and Sheila

(If you are a regular and missed out on a role... come and stand by in case we missed anything!)

The Passion : Telling The Story!

This post gives me an excuse to upload this picture, which was taken last week outside church!

In a couple of weeks time, on Good Friday, we hope to retell the passion story. It will be the last night of a Holy Week of nightly events - see the church website for details.

On Good Friday evening we will meet at 7.30 for 8pm in church - coffee served on arrival etc. We will retell to Passion story - offers for slots have begun - from Palm Sunday to Easter Day. Afterwards the plan is to retire to the pub and have discussion about what we have heard.

More planning : next Friday (16th) in the pub as usual!

How Was It Back In Church?

So.. how was it having a Friday Night back in church. Anyone who was there want to tell us all about the experience? And did you enjoy the film? Was it faithful to the Bible? Us the comments section below to let us know!

Behold The Power of The Lord! - But not in the pub..

IMPORTANT! IMPORTANT!

Please note that we will NOT be in the Roebuck this Friday but meet at the usual time (7.30 for 8pm) in church (St Mark's Utley) to watch a movie version of the story we have been telling.
The film lasts about 80 minutes so a prompt start at 8pm will mean we will not be too late for bedtime!

Over To the Other Side

LAST NIGHT we got the Israelites safely to the other side of the Red Sea.

The Lord once again showed his mighty power; He rescued the (moaning) Israelites and finally defeated the armies of Pharoah, in the process closing the door on a return to Egypt - once the waves returned there was no way back.

The most striking verse comes in Exodus 14v14:

"The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still"

Those who missed the evening may wish to catch up by reading Ex 13 and 14.

My notes for the story (for what they're worth) are below...

Firstborn male consecrated
Feast of unleavened bread (not even seen)
- seven day festival
- end with celebration
"Tell your sons"
Lord led them to Red Sea
- avoiding the Philistine road
- avoiding conflict
Moses took Joseph’s bones
Succoth to Ethon
Lord as pillar of cloud/fire
Turn back & camp at Pi Harioth
- by the sea
Pharaoh will think you’re confused
- I will harden his heart
- for my glory
P - 600 best chariots + others
- key officers
Israelites looked up - terrified
No graves? What have you done?
Didn’t we say leave us alone
to serve the Egyptians?
Better to live as slaves than die in desert
Don’t be afraid - Lord will fight for you
- just be still!
Raise your hand, Moses
Angel stood between
Moses raised hand
Waters divided, wall of water
Pharaoh pursues
Lord creates confusion
Chariots stuck
Stretch out hand
Water flowed back
When Israel saw they..
- feared the Lord
- trusted him
- trusted Moses his servant

Our God Is Bigger

The theme in Exodus so far seems to be God's revelation of himself as the only true God - a case of "our God is bigger than your god"

This seems very primitive - as though God is showing off?

Is that what is really happening?

PS: Click on the picture to get the idea....sort of...