THE FAMILY SERVICE

 

On the day of Pentecost, The Apostle Peter preached to a large crowd of people, and three thousand people committed themselves to repent of sin, be baptized and by the help of the teaching of the Apostles, became Christians. They met regularly, and God blessed their commitment and the Church spread its influence over a wide area.  God wanted people to attend and wanted to see the Church grow.

But God also wanted the people to join in fellowship with each other ;  age. race.  color, gender, no favorites, all one in Christ Jesus.  In other words, God wanted the Church to be a family, a family of God with people of all different kinds to be brothers and sisters; all God’s children.  He created man and woman to marry and have children, and a family is part of making stability in a nation, which is why political activists always want to break up families.

To a great amount this, has been successful in that people can meet with Christians from different in a manner which no other organization can compete.  No special denomination, we can meet either spiritually or socially. To some extent this has failed in a spiritual way, when one Church restricted communion with members of another denomination, but I am sure this will change if it has not done so yet, as Pope Leo xiv is a foreseeing manner with a desire to be in understanding reality and has approved of  uniting Christians.

  It is the most desirable, and God approved for people who worship in the Church, to mix freely, and who will avoid cliques, and avoid causing any unpleasant attitudes.

Every Church should have stewards who have a welcoming attitude to all people. ,new people coming for the first time should be made to feel we welcome them. This does not always happen. I remember, with disgust, attending a Church when on holiday, and two women stewards were commenting to each other about the manner of dress of visiting people, and handing books out with a take it or leave it attitude. Newcomers should always be introduced to the Minister of the Church so he can make them feel their visit was appreciated an welcomed. Again, as a Minister of the Church of England, I was invited to preach at a Methodist Church, and two of the most unpleasant aged women stopped me at the door and said, ‘this is a Methodist Church you know’.  I told them I was able to read the large notice board outside..

When we go to Church, we are going to  meet with our heavenly Father. Some people say I will miss this week, no one will notice, but God will notice. It is like a normal family, I like my sons to visit and would miss them if they did not come. so think before missing a service.

We are also going to meet our brothers and sisters.  There is always some older persons in need of the prayers of the people who know them, and to remember a person who has died.  We also have the pleasure of being with other family members, and to greet new people.  God wants a large family and He will care for them.

God made the first family in the Garden of Eden, before any other organization or gathering, showing  the importance He placed on the family. Abraham Lincoln, the

Great early American President spoke of homes with families was the strength of a nation.

The family can come together, and this is when children can be introduced to

Learn and grow into the Church. This will teach them about Easter and Christmas

In which  those two services tell the glorious stories of Jesus, and how God cares for all people, children and adults.

Luke tells how parents took their children to meet Jesus, and He blessed each one. Mark tells of Jesus saying, let the children come to me, don’t stop them from coming to the Kingdom pf God.

You can see whole families singing their heads off in services in the Churches of the Black skinned people.  Children take easy to it. A little boy came to a service

dressed in a lovey suit, and I noticed him taking full part with his mother and Father.  Those people always gave themselves to the service.

This where the Church of England made a huge mistake in the years when there was an influx of people from the Caribbean, they were not welcomed properly,

when they could have enhanced the Church. 

Parts of the family can meet separately, such as mothers meeting in socially or spiritually in midweek, and real friendships have grown.  There are midweek Bible Study evenings, which people usually become more friendly.  There is a surplus of divisions in some Churches, especially as we are seeing now.  The Bishops have created a deep division, by accepting the false doctrine of blessing sane sex unions.

Ministers, Priests, Pastors, (call which, is appropriate), are put in a position when they will have to please some and irritate others, by deciding which view to accept

In some groups, people meet to help and comfort each other, but care needs to be taken.  When people speak about personal matters, it should be recognized that whilst you can speak to a Church Minister you are speaking to someone who is bound to recognize your confidence, ordinary people are not.  It has to be realized there is always someone who will gossip and relate your problem, and invariably will tell in their way, which might have additional account.

Most Churches, do have at least one family service, You can take your children and let them make friends with other children and their parents

Women in the Church particularly, make friends with children.  I had two girls who were about twelve years when they came to my Church with their school, and

Then joined the Church.  I let them read the Lessons and the older ladies particularly were so friendly with them.  They remained with me until they grew up and got married, and I performed the weddings with some people from the Church present. Such develops from being a family Church, which in other terms was known as a happy Church.

God loves all people despite the love not being reciprocated, and wants to see it growing. When we remember God sent His only Son to this earth to die a cruel death on a Cross, so that He could have our sins forgiven, and God could then forgive us and make us fit for heaven. If Jesus could die like that for us, is it too much to ask for His people to attend His Church. At one time, Sunday was Church  day, and most people accepted that, and families would attend. Now we have politicians ignoring and legislating against Christian morality.  The families were much happier than it seems now.

Billy Graham, the great American Preacher, came to the United Kingdom, despite

the Church leaders wanting him not to come, and planned to hold meetings for three weeks in large stadiums in London.  Such was the result, he had to stay a further three weeks as people in their tens of thousands flocked to hear him.

The first time is the hardest for many people. but once they venture in, it becomes inviting.  Come with your family.

In the United States, a great Christian nation, some of the Churches have regular attendances of thousands. The services are often more evangelical than in our lands, and the families are there with their own Bibles and actually look happy. There are times when people cannot attend through work or sickness, or even through illness or age. But in each Sunday there are Church services on one of the many television channels. You can still be part of the service, God will understand your situation if you are disabled or of age problems.  The American pastors make mention of their online services, as a Cathedral in Scotland does.

Remember the family is a gift from God and will be pleased to have you join His family. 

PRAYER

Lord of life, You share us in your image and by your gracious gift the human family has increased, grant to all who seek, the blessing of children,  Fill them with wisdom and love as they care for their family so that they and their children may know and love You.

 

Praise God for His glorious Gospel and pray His Holy Name be glorified