What’s On at the Three Churches… Sunday 11th November
Here’s what’s on for the week ahead at St James’ Lower Darwen, St Paul’s Hoddlesden and St James’ Over Darwen. #threechurches At St James’ Lower Darwen…
Sunday 11th 10.00am All Age Worship / Remembrance Service 11.30am Café Church at Roman Road Library 7.00pm Youth Church
Monday 12th 9.00am School assembly in church 1.30pm St James Stay and Play in church 5.30pm & 6.30pm Rainbows and Brownies in School 6.30pm Exercise class in church.
Tuesday 13th 1.00pm Funeral of Brian Salton 5.00pm & 7.00pm Slimming World in church.
Wednesday 14th 10.00am Art Group in the church lounge. 3.30pm After School Drop in. 6.00pm Senior Youth Group in the upper room – run by Local Conversations Higher Croft. 6.30pm Midweek Communion.
Thursday 15th 9.30am-2.30pm Nurtured by hand in upper room.
Friday 2nd 6.00pm Friday Night Special 8.00pm Weekend Women
Sunday 18th 10.00am Holy Communion 12.00pm Baptism of Alfie Benjamin Andrew Wright. 7.00pm Youth Church
At St James’ Over Darwen…
Sunday 11th 11.15am All Age Worship / Remembrance Service with Rainbows and Brownies.
Monday 12th 9.30am Prayer meeting in church.
Tuesday 13th 6.00pm Rainbows and Brownies in church
Wednesday 14th 11.30am Midweek Communion Service.
Friday 16th 3.30pm Friday Special in church
Sunday 18th 11.15am Holy Communion
And at St Paul’s Hoddlesden…
Sunday 11th 10.00am All age Worship / Remembrance Service. 12.00pm War Memorial Service, drinks available from the Carus Centre.
Thursday 15th 2.00pm Bible Study
Saturday 17th 10.00am Coffee Morning at the Carus Centre.
Sunday 18th 10.00am Holy Communion
Our Weekly Message
James 1
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:
Greetings.
Trials and Temptations
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
9 Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. 10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.
12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
***
We all face trials, tests and temptations at some point and they can come in many forms. We get those days when nothing seems to go right and sometimes we can feel like giving up. Tempting though that may seem at the time – there that word tempting again – Don’t! These trials are not from God but instead seek to separate us from Him and giving up would simply facilitate that. Instead of letting things get to us and cause us stress, ask God for help. It need not be a long or eloquent prayer – a simple few words from the heart will suffice – and He will help.
So do all the problems disappear then? Sadly not. We will still face both trials and temptations but God gives us the strength through the Holy Spirit that they are no longer able to harm us or affect us in the same way.
If you have any questions about anything here then please come along to one of our services; Sunday morning, Wednesday evening or Friday Special at 6.00pm and we will be glad to help. Peace be with you!
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