A Prayer--Great is Your love, Oh Lord

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for Your great love for us. 

Reply:  Great is your loving kindness, Oh Lord.

Jesus, we thank You, for dying on the cross; and then raising up from the dead to become our Saviour.  Thank you for sending us the Holy Spirit to live in our hearts.

Reply:  Great is your loving kindness, Oh Lord

Holy Spirit teach us know how to accept Your love and share it with others. 

May we give:

our time to listen;

our hands to acts of service;

our tongues to words of kindness and hope

our thoughts with each gift we give

our affection with gentleness and purity

Reply:  Great is your loving kindness, Oh Lord

Please send healing to the sick and food to the hungry.

Give wisdom to doctors, nurses and veterinarians as they treat those around the world who need medicine, care and comfort.  Bless those who teach others how to grow food.  Bless those who dig wells for pure water.  Bless missionaries who teach others about Your love.  Give them all everything they need to work well.

Reply:  Great is your loving kindness, Oh Lord

Dear Father, help those who are sad to find happiness again. 

To those who have lost their jobs, please give them new work.  To those who are far from home, give them friends.  Go those who have said good-bye to a dear one who has died, may they find healing through their tears. 

Reply:  Great is your loving kindness, Oh Lord

Thank You for spring time to remind us of new life.  Thank you for:

The days that grow longer;

The buds that grow into leaves;

The flowers that burst open with red, yellow, purple, white and orange.

The sun that grows warmer and helps the grass turn green again.

Reply:  Great is your loving kindness, Oh Lord

Show us how to make Your love famous.  Amen

Reply:  Great is your loving kindness, Oh Lord

Yes, I have a sewing machine

        Yes, I have a sewing machine.  Actually, I have two.  If it seems extravagant to have two when I rarely use either one of them, then I must explain as to why I have two.

        Sewing is a part of my family heritage.  Grandma Cox learned to sew from her Grandmother Fisher, who raised her.  My Grandmother taught my mother sewing skills.  When my mother went to high school, she got involved with a program called 4-H Club.  The 4 “H’s” stand for:  Head, Hands, Heart and Health.  http://www.4-h.org/ 

        Each year the clubs have competitions, starting at local county levels and going up to State Fair Levels.   

         When my Mom was about 14 or 15, she created a princess-line dress to enter into the annual fair.  Winning First Prize at the Greene County Fair level, the dress qualified to go to the Indiana State Fair.  Mom's dress placed 3rd, and she was awarded a white ribbon. 

       Here’s the story of how the Black Electric Singer came to be in our home.  It was 1958 and Dad was stationed at an Air Force Base in Kansas.  He came home on a weekend pass to marry my Mom.  After the ceremony, he packed up my mother and her son, and they returned to Kansas.  Within the first week, after getting Mom and my half-brother settled in, Dad went down to the local department store and bought Mom a wedding present—a brand new Black Electric Singer.  It came with all kinds of attachments for making button holes, making drapes, making fancy stitches and its own carrying case.  It was heavy, because it was metal.  Mom truly enjoyed using it to make clothes for us, curtains, cushion covers and mending our old clothes. 

       In 1967 we had just moved to Atwater, California, site of the former Castle Air Force Base.  As a part of a “Welcome to your new home” package, Mom was blessed with another sewing machine--this time a zig-zag.  It also replaced the black straight-stitch Singer with all its attachments.   I’ve spend over an hour-and-a-half looking on-line for the brand name of her sewing machine, with no success.  It was an off-brand and new in 1967.

              When she got the beige zigzag sewing machine, the Black Singer, with all its attachments found a new home in the closet.  In 1969 Dad retired from the US Air Force and we returned to Indiana.  The Black Singer went to my Grandma Cox.  It was a great boon to her, because she sewed a lot as well.  Until the Black Singer arrived, she was using a Singer treadle sewing machine, circa 1880's.  I’m not sure how she came by it. As a widow, she had a limited income.  People would pay her to mend clothing and make clothes.  I admired how Grandma could replace a zipper in a pair of jeans, take a dress in, or let it out to fit better.  My memory is full of the sound of her feet making that treadle rock and hum at an amazingly fast rate.  

                I asked my Mom to get me started sewing when I was about 12 years old.  I used her zigzag sewing machine to make a dress of lavender gingham.  I used Mom's machine off-and-on for years.       

        After Grandma Cox died in 1986, the Singer Treadle went into storage at my Uncle’s house.  I took ownership of the Black Electric Singer.  That Black Electric Singer went with me to Texas in the 1990’s.

        When I went to work with Youth With A Mission in Scotland, the Black Electric Singer had to remain in Indiana with Mom.  It lived in its case in a cupboard.  When I was getting married and moving to the UK, the Black Electric Singer was passed onto one of Mom’s “unofficial daughters.”  That was a bit sad for me, as I knew that getting a transformer/converter to work well here in England would be a real challenge.

        However, it came to light that the “Rocking” treadle machine that had been my grandmother’s was actually waiting for me!  My Uncle and Aunt had kept it for me, as I had moved around so much.  So, along with my other worldly possessions, it was packed onto shipping container and shipped to England.  I haven’t been able to use it in the eight years I’ve been here.  It needed a new belt, and still needs a good cleaning and lubrication. 

        Another surprise was waiting for me.  On the day I arrived here in England, My Midnight Man pulled a bunch of presents for me out of the cupboard.  He’d bought me two cookbooks, a picture book of the royal family AND—believe it or not—a White Singer Sewing Machine!  I was so thrilled.  My Midnight Man was surprised by my reaction—I IMMEDIATELY wanted to ring my Mom.  He didn’t know that he was repeating history.  Just as my Mom’s wedding present was a sewing machine, My wedding present was a sewing machine.  I was delighted! 

        And so THAT is how I come to own two sewing machines.  One works—one COULD work if it ever gets some tender loving care.  Both are a treasure to me.  I just wish I were more inspired and disciplined to use them more often! 

Serving Jesus, Author of our faith—“Lady Helene”

New Wine Women's Day

        Circles within circles, rather like a drop of rain falling into a pond, the Holy Spirit knows how to create movement and yet maintain continuity within the Body of Christ.  Specifically for the purpose of this post, I am referring to the New Wine Ministry within the Church of England (Anglican-Episcopalian church). 

New Wine Ministries was born out of the heart of Bishop David Pytches in the 1980’s.  Whilst serving in Chile, the Bishop and his wife saw the effectiveness of teaching and equipping the people in the pews how to minister in the power of the Holy Spirit.  He had a passion to see the Church of England affected in the same way he’d seen in Chile.  Bishop Pytches began training through a series of one-day conferences, which led to weekend training events.  Eventually, in 1989 the first New Wine week-long conference was held and over 2,400 people attended.  Today New Wine has regular opportunities to meet for refreshing, teaching, training and obtaining resources.  For more information about New Wine, its history, and current activities please visit their website:  http://www.new-wine.org

New Wine Camp Site-- tents I used!

New Wine Tent Community

Our Vicar and his wife have been affiliated with New Wine for several years.  Last July they introduced me to me the New Wine Conference in Shepton Mallet in Somerset.  It was a challenging week; yet I treasure the time away from home that allowed me to focus on God and what He is doing in my life. 

On Saturday, 26^th February, New Wine hosted a Women’s Day at the Emmanuel Centre, Westminster, London.  When I saw the e-mail about the event in my inbox, I wistfully sighed with desire and regret.  Since John and I are both unable to work, I knew affording this day was not an option.  God heard my sigh, and a dear friend asked if I’d like to go, offering to sponsor me.  I felt humbled and honoured.

I’d been to the Emmanuel Centre previously, and it was a pleasure to join over 1,000 women to sing praises to the Lord, and hear some life-changing teaching.  The speakers for the day were Lindsay Melluish, Jenny Peters and Celia Apeagyei-Collins.  The theme for the day was “Making a Difference.” 

Lindsay Melluish and her husband Mark minister at St. Paul’s Ealing, in west London.  Mark is a vicar and is also general manager of New Wine.  Lindsay has written and implemented the material for Family Time and Parenting Children programme.   

Jenny Peters, along with her husband, John, minister at St. Paul's Anglican Fellowship in Onslow Square, Kensington, London. 

The day’s high-light for me was listening to Celia Apeagyei-Collins.  She had just flown in from ministering in Africa that morning.  Yet you have thought she’d just had a full-night’s sleep in a hotel down the road.  Celia’s enthusiasm was contagious and she had us laughing within minutes.  Celia’s pithy, truth-filled, rapidly fired words were not only inspirational, they were instructional. 

Reminding us of Who we are in Christ, Celia admonished us to be climate changers—because when the climate is wrong, nothing can grow.  As Christians, we are meant to change and are capable of changing the climate in our minds, our homes, our workplaces, our communities and our nations.  The tools for changing climates are worship and intercession.

Another of her dynamic statements:  “The design of God has no gender.  You are not limited by your gender.  God made you with a capability to take care of His business.”

Celia went on to explain that our design—talents, preferences, personalities and opportunities—determines our function.  Ultimately, our purpose is to frustrate the works of the kingdom of Satan and to advance and promote the business, the plans and the purposes of the Kingdom of God. 

Celia’s presentation had so much good material there is no way I could get all of it down on paper.  Thankfully the session was recorded and can be purchased at this link:  https://www.essentialchristian.com/celia-apeagei-collins/teaching/session-two-london

To learn more about Celia Apeagyei-Collins and her work, you can go to:  http://www.rehobothfoundation.com/

        The Body of Christ is as amazing in her design and function as the biological, natural world that we live in.  In the Northern Hemisphere spring is slowing bring new colour to the land.  Crocus, forsythia bushes and even a few crab apples are now blooming.  The traditional church is a constant—just like the earth.  Yet she is constantly changing with each new generation.  God brings renewal within the existing structure, yet new expressions are birthed as seasons come, seasons go.  New Wine Ministries is about allowing the Holy Spirit to breath and move, to bring renewal, fresh vision and empowerment within the foundations of the Church of England. 

Serving Jesus, Author of our faith,  “Lady Helene”

The Full Circle of Worship

                The congregation where My Midnight Man and I are involved, the local St. Mary’s Church, Langley , is a Church of England.  http://langleymarish.com/stm.htm   It is not high church; there are no incenses, no canter, no chanting.  But the weekly service is traditional.  Returning to a set liturgy with scripture readings, responsive readings, recitation of prayers and the Apostles’ Creed was rather like coming home for me; especially in terms of following the annual church calendar of Lent, Good Friday, Easter and then Harvest Festival, and Christmas followed by Epiphany. 

When I was born my parents were members of the Nazarene Church.  As a baby I was wrapped up in blankets and taken to the church for a dedication service--as were my siblings.  Each time my parents moved, they sought out a church to commit to, to serve in.  As a little girl I had to stand on the pews to sing the songs and see what was going on.  In 1970, when I was eleven years old, we moved to Martinsville, Indiana and we joined the Methodist Church. 

Alter and Choir Stalls

In my teenage years I got involved with the charismatic movement and attended independent churches.  In the charismatic church I found freedom to dance, raise my hands, bow on my knees, prostrate myself on the floor and freely give physical expression to my love for God the Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.  More than once the touch of the Holy Spirit would manifest with tears running down my cheeks, my hands shaking and the sensation of warm oil flowing over my head.  For years I couldn’t figure out why anyone who had tasted this free and emotional experience in God would want to return to a highly structured and formal church. 

Yet, after my marriage and moving to England, I found that I missed following the Christmas Season with the advent candles, the beautiful gospel songs, called Christmas Carols, which held the message of God coming to mankind. 

Baptismal Font & Glass Window

I discovered St. Mary’s Langley one November morning in 2008.  Every Tuesday morning, Langley Community Forum sponsors  a coffee morning.  Volunteers from the Langley Churches and the Forum serve biscuits, cakes, coffee and conversation in a communal area at the  Langley Library.  I'd been going a few weeks.  One morning I was introduced to the vicar’s wife and we made an immediate connection.  During our chat, I discovered that she and her husband, the Vicar, were filled with the Holy Spirit and involved with the charismatic branch of the Church of England. 

I decided to attend services at St. Mary’s Langley, at least through the Christmas season.  Okay, so I was a bit lost when “O come, O come Immanuel and ransom captive Israel...” was accompanied by a tune I’d never heard before.  Yet, the whole month of December focused on preparing our hearts to receive and worship Jesus. 

Attending a formal church allowed the words of the liturgy to become the focus of my worship.  The first prayer is a prayer of preparation:

“Almighty God,

to whom all hearts are open,

all desires known,

and from whom no secrets are hidden:

cleanse the thoughts of our hearts

by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit,

that we may perfectly love you,

and worthily magnify your holy name;

through Christ our Lord.

Amen. “  http://www.churchofengland.org/media/41130/mvcommunion154-335.pdf

Congrational Seating

Because of my age (and hopefully--perhaps a bit of maturity), the aesthetic beauty of a service that focuses on the entire congregation reciting this prayer as one person found fresh significance for me.  I think it was a way for me to engage in worship with more of my mind as well as my heart.  It was this significance that the Holy Spirit used to speak to me that I’d found my new Spiritual home. 

Although I didn’t realise it at the time, the desire to be received into the Church of England was taking my British identification to a deeper level.  I wanted to be a part of a village parish.  As I thought about it later, I understood that it was just another layer of “British Dream” coming true.

Worship is a lifestyle, something that goes beyond the kind of songs we sing or the tempo we sing them.  Reciting my belief in “One Holy Catholic and Apostolic church” (as presented in the Church of England’s Prayer Book) isn’t about becoming reserved in expressing love and adoration to Jesus Christ.  There is a dynamic that happens when I am joining my voice with those at St. Mary’s Langley, and the whole of the Church of England having a worship service at 11:00 a.m. on a Sunday morning.  That dynamic of expression and belief is just as powerful as raising my hands in a prophetic gesture during a charismatic service. 

I don’t prefer one style of worship over another—I love it all.  However, what I do need is a local church where I can contribute, build relationships and serve.  So, while some people would think that returning to a formal church service is back-tracking, for me it is actually just coming full circle.  Home is where the Holy Spirit leads. 

Serving Jesus, Author of our faith,  “Lady Helene”