BREAKING NEW GROUNDS- SERVING THE LORD WITH OUR GIFTS-SINGING

Today's message was preached by the Rev'd Frank Twum Baah. Deut 41:1-2;6-9; James 1:17-27 & Mk 7:14-15,21-23. Rev'd Twum Baah's Sermon was based on Rom 12:1-6.

St Paul's letter to the Romans, he started, can be divided into two - the first part Chaps. 1-11 emphasises the Mercies and Grace of God. In these chapters, Paul talks about Christian doctrines; but in the second part beginning with Chap 12, he talks about the practical way of living - moving from the stage where we confess with our mouths, for example, in the recitation of the Apostles' Creed, to the stage where christian principles must apply in our lives. Creed, Rev'd Twum Baah said, must go with conduct and beliefs must go with behaviour. Therefore when we recite the Apostles' Creed for instance, our behaviour/conduct must reflect that we actually believe in the Holy Ghost.

So Paul begins Chap 12 by urging the Romans to offer their bodies as living sacrifice to God, by changing their lifestyles and thinking in a new and different way. In a similar fashion, Paul told the Corinthians in 1Cor 6:19,20 that their bodies are the Temples of God. What Paul was emphasising in these letters were that our active being, that is, our strengths, abilities, talents and gifts must be used in the service of God. Touching on the 35th Anniverssary of the Church Choir, Rev'd Twum Baah urged the choiristers to attract new members with their lifestyle. In Pauls letter to the Romans, he stated that an inflated view of one's self has no place in the church. In Chp12:3 ....do not think of yourself more highly than you ought....

Rev'd Twum Baah concluded by saying that God loves singing, for singing is an act that manifests the presence of God residing in us. In Deuteronomy, God taught Moses a song for the Israelites to sing to glorify Him. Jesus even sang with his disciples before proceeding to the Mount of Olives, Paul and Silas also sang all night while in jail. The celebrated Hallelujah Chorus was composed by someone who was poor and dejected but found the grace to praise God by composing that wonderful piece. A Ghanaian, ship Captain Techie Menson, while his men and ship were in serious storm at sea, composed Where is our God. Rev'd Twum Baah led us in singing MHB511- Begone Unbelief, My Saviour is near - to let us understand that in praising God in our tribulations, there is joy and strength.

Rev'd Twum Baah is the Minister-in-Charge of the Accra Police Church.

35 YEARS OF SERVICE TO GOD

The Trinity United Church Choir is 35 years. Founded in 1974 the Church Choir has grown from strength to strength, albeit with some challenges. With a membership of 30, the choir takes part in Prayer Retreats and workshops and Musical Concerts. Rose Ankrah leads their Bible Study Group. Their challenges as stated by the Secretary in her address are Membership and Finance. With regard to membership drive, the Preacher for the day, Rev Frank Twun Baah assisted them by asking members of the congregation who's hearts the Spirit has toyched to stand up and become members. We had 2 men and a woman to give up themselves. Rev twum Baah was a former Choir Master of the TUC Choir, many years ago when he was an Assistant Pastor at TUC.

The Words of Eternal Life is in Jesus

Last Sunday's Sermon, The Words of Eternal Life is in Jesus, was preached by Sis Doris Archampong. The Readings were from Joshua 24:14-18; Eph 6:10-20 and Jn 6:56-69 In the First Reading, Joshua, the Prophet, challenged the Israelites to choose whom they will serve "but as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord" he said to them. In Ephesians, St Paul commanded believers to "put on the full armour of God". In the Third Reading Jesus taught in the Synagogue in Capernaum and said ...the words that I speak to you, they are Spirit, and they are life. Sis Doris went on to say that...at Calvary there were 2 thieves who were also crucified with Christ and one of them said to Jesus remember me when you come into your Kingdom (Lk 23:42) Remember me, Sis Doris said, is mentioned 73 times in the Bible and so it is good and important that in our everyday prayers, we ask God to remember us. Rachel and Hannah asked God in their prayers to remember them and God did. Humans may forget us, like the Butler who was with Joseph in Pharoah's prison. After Joseph had explained his (the Butler's) dream to him, Joseph asked the Butler to remember him, but after he was released, he forgot Joseph. While Peter was in prison, believers met and prayed for his release because they remembered Peter, and we all know how an Angel led him out of prison in the night. When God remembers us, He forgives us, puts us on a new pedestal and He never leaves us nor forsakes us.

God is Faithful

Steve & Eva Simmons celebrated 10 years of blissful marriage and the Rev'd Seth Kissi led them in a Renewal of Vows Ceremony. It was awe-inspiring and a reminder to all couples of God's faithfulness to the things we commit to Him. Present at the alter was their daughter. They danced at offering time to the Glory of God. As you read this, remember to pray for every marriage...yours, your neighbour's, your children's and your Pastors'.

Baptism, Confirmation & Promotion Service

Today was Baptism, Confirmation & Promotion Service for some of the Youth of the Church. Rev'd Kissi explained that (Adult Baptism = Childhood baptism + confirmation...this is my mathematical formula). People who were baptised when they were babies or children or before they reached the age of responsibility, need to confirm their faith in Jesus when they grow up, hence confirmation, to seal the Childhood baptism.On the other hand, people who were never baptised in their childhood need only Baptism when they grow up -no confirmation in addition; hence the mathematical statement given above. Some were therefore only baptised and others who had been baptised in their childhood were confirmed; and the adults among them were today promoted to the Adult Service. Rev'd Fayose, in a short exhortation, explained that, being born again is an on-going process, and that as Christians, we are being born again everyday. This is in apparent reaction to the act of some preachers always asking members in the congregation who are not born-again to 'come forward' and be prayed for.

Christ our Living Bread

Date Sunday, 9th August 2009 Reference 1Kings 19:4-8 Ephesians 4:25 - 5: 2 John 6:41-51 Preacher Rev'd Dr Cyril Fayose Summary of Message In the first Reading, the Prophet Elijah was fleeing from Jezebel, the wife of King Ahab. The woman had vowed to kill the man of God and he was afraid and run away a day's journey and hid in a cave. The Bible tells us that on 2 occasions, an Angel of the Lord brought The Prophet Elijah freshly baked bread and a jar of water and urged him to eat because the journey was too great for the Prophet. That food strengthened him for forty days! In Ephesians, St Paul tells us, among many things, to put away falsehood, be angry and not sin, the thief should no longer steal but do honest work; we should let no corruption talk come out of our mouth and should forgive one another as God in Christ forgave us, and that we should be imitators of God and walk in love. In the Gospel reading, Jesus had early on fed five thousand men... and the people were looking for him, but he knew it wasn't for the Good news that he was preaching but for physical food. Then he told them " I am the bread that came down from Heaven"; and the people grumbled and said 'is this not Jesus the son of Joseph whose father and mother we know? In the Sermon, Rev'd Fayose said..we all have giants in our lives...they could be people or situations, but the strength and energy we need to fight these giants come from the Bread of Life. The prophet Elijah was afraid of a 'giant'- Jezebel. He lost hope, was fearful and run to hide in a cave; but God sustained him. Rev'd Fayose went on to say that we need both physical and spiritual bread for our faith journey. Then he posed a question...we could not answer.. that do we as Christians believe that Jesus is the Bread of Life, the all-sufficient Bread? Then there was a discourse..as he does always into some Philosophy.. that JC in his writings said if Jesus was not the Christ, then there were three things he was 1) mad 2)fanatic or 3) ..... Then JC himself continued that Jesus was (is) the Christ because, most importantly, there is evidence that he fed 4,000 and then 5,000 people. So Jesus's assertion that He was the Bread of Life was true. In conclusion, Rev'd Fayose said 'then as Christians we must be like Christ and feed people, help people and be there for one another.'