Still on the life of Moses and a very challenging message this morning. John read from Exodus 3 and then stopped at verse 11. Who? Me? Just like Moses we are called to serve and we are qualified to serve and we are equipped to serve and yet when God puts us in situations we think up every excuse possible!! Who, me?

As a tiny church amidst a small clusters of villages the task ahead is a daunting one if we are to press ahead and continue. But everyone is playing their part. We have spent some sunny hours putting carol service invites through people's letter boxes both in the village and Upper Combe and slightly further afield. Christine has been an absolute diamond in her enthusiasm and helpfulness. And John did a wonderful job on the organ this morning.

I want to give a special mention to Helen this week. It was wonderful to see you out this morning; thankyou for reading this blog and we assure you of our prayers as you face the operation in January. Exodus 3 v 12 says "then God told him, "I will be with you." Just as God was with Moses He will be with you.

"When Moses arrived in Midian he sat down beside a well." So this morning John began his message at a well! He spoke of how, in the OT, women often met their husbands at a well and how the well speaks of spiritual refreshment. At least those were his opening remarks and that is how I want to describe this morning.

After some discouraging times this morning was most definitely a time of refreshment. The first refreshment was seeing young Ella as we drew up in the car park! We've been missing our children at church and Ella was a breath of fresh air!

Another refreshment was when Luke and Laurie walked in with baby Millie. We weren't expecting them at all as we thought they were without a car. So lovely to see their smiling faces and have them with us.

Ella sat by me and wrote on several pieces of card how happy she was to be in church. Who can ask for better refreshment than that?! At the end of John's message I took her with baby Millie into the back room and we found the story of Jonah in the toy chest and all read it together!

Christine has written a lovely invite for our carol service which has been printed in the Combe Courier. She brought in a copy to show me. It's beautifully done Christine! A stroke of genius!

We particularly think of Marjorie today as it is the anniversary of the Homecall of her husband. She reminded me of the words of the hymn "When we all get to heaven....what a day of rejoicing that will be....when we all see Jesus..." Amen to that.

(written Sunday)

Today John preached on the faith of Moses, continuing in Hebrews 11. The point that really struck me was that the Lord equips us and prepares us through our circumstances for the work He wants us to do. Actually I have been meditating this all through the week so it was good to have it confirmed in church!

This past week we have had news of both life and death. On Thursday Audrey went Home to be with her Lord. We can only be happy for her and yet our thoughts and prayers are with Bert. We pray he will come to know the Saviour as he reflects on this crossing over.

We rejoice with Joe and Gemma on the birth of their baby son, Joel Azariah. Congratulations to you all. :)

We have decided to go ahead with our centenary carol service on 21st December at 4 pm. Do please spread the word particularly in the surrounding villages. Leaflets are to be printed and the organ is about to emerge from the dust!

We were the fewest ever this morning but numbers aren't everything! John preached from Hebrews 11 with our little church at the forefront of our minds.

By faith Noah. There had not even been any rain before but Noah still acted in faith. He did as he was told and ventured into the unknown.

By faith Abraham. He took the son of promise and was ready even to kill him. He too acted in obedience.

By faith Moses. And the faithful mother, who believed she had borne a deliverer of her people, placed that special babe into the river of death and left him there.

We are not sure what God has planned for the church in Upper Combe. If anything. But at the moment we just have to go along in faith and seek His Guidance. Lee closed in prayer so beautifully at the end of the service.

We talked through the possibilities of holding a centenary carol service on December 21st at 4pm. This just needs to be finalised now and some invites printed.

Not many of us today but a lovely morning service on Remembrance Sunday. John preached on the baby Moses and what a delight it was to have Luke and Laurie in church with their very special baby daughter. Exodus 2 (as well as Hebrews 11 and Acts 7) tells us Moses was a beautiful baby, the very words I used to describe little Millie after the service! John stressed the faith of the mother, leaving her precious babe in the place of death, inside an ark which was covered with tar, a symbol of sin. He reminded us of how her thoughts maybe turned to another previous story where the occupants were kept safe in an ark.

It was a lovely happy atmosphere, we sang our third song acapella and it went amazingly well, and everyone enjoyed homemade chocolate brownies and coffee after the service!

There were 15 of us this morning and John lifted our thoughts to heaven in his message. He preached on the last two verses of Psalm 17. Citizenship, certainty, salvation and satisfaction. It is always good to be reminded that this world is not our home; we are pilgrims and strangers here. And that our loved ones who have gone on before have seen the Lord's Face and are in His Presence, safe for all eternity. As I write this the sun is shining straight through the trees in Tiddleywink in dazzling splendour. What will it be like to at last see His Face?
"As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness."

It was particularly encouraging to talk with Christine this morning as she has managed to find our facebook page, and enjoyed looking at the pictures. You can try the link here:-
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Castle-Combe-Congregational-Church/1512271682354593?fref=photo

Gemma, we are thinking of you lots with the baby due this week!

Another lovely morning service at Castle Combe although we are beginning to wonder how many more there will be. Especially encouraging to see David and Hermina there after their brisk walk up the hill from the village!

As Joe opened up for us and preached this morning I wondered if there would be any particular message as to what the future holds for our little church. He preached on Psalm 23 and I was very struck with his thoughts on v 2. God leads me. Yes He is the Shepherd and He is the Leader. Today's thought for me was that we must keep listening to His Voice. He is the One Who is going to lead our church to closure or open the way so that we can continue. Joe's whole message was excellent and I can't possibly summarise it but I also liked his thoughts on v 5. In the midst of difficulties God allows us to sit down! We don't need to worry about what is going to happen because He has it all in control. We just have to do our part and be there next Sunday if the Lord tarries.

Our prayers this week are with Gemma, and also with Helen who is in hospital as I write.