St Oswald's Magazine StOM 1606 | Page 3

FROM THE PULPIT, or the garden swing! Great is thy faithfulness, O God my Father; there is no shadow of turning with thee; thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not; as thou hast been thou forever will be. Refrain: Great is thy faithfulness! Great is thy faithfulness! Morning by morning new mercies I see; all I have needed thy hand hath provided; great is thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me! Summer and winter and springtime and harvest, sun, moon and stars in their courses above join with all nature in manifold witness to thy great faithfulness, mercy and love. Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth thy own dear presence to cheer and to guide; strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside Words: Thomas O. Chisholm Music: William M. Runyan What a wonderful hymn that is, and so true of our lives. We may not think so during tough times or dark winter days but the truth is there are mercies every day. I am sitting in the sun and enjoying thoughts of all new things happening around me. The garden is beginning to bloom, there are neighbours outside risking the open air, children’s laughter sweetens the estate and there is a new kitchen going into St Oswald’s. Oh be still my beating heart. Not only a new kitchen but enhancing my joy is a new property convenor, a new youth development officer and a wonderful personal admin assistant to keep my time organised. Also a new discipleship study group meeting in the vestry rooms on Monday nights. This morning I recorded the sound of the church space which was filled to capacity with people of all ages for the slimming world session. Only drowned out by the drill and the hammer of the work people fitting the kitchen cabinets, and underneath all of that might have been heard the whispers of the Morning prayer. Now that my dear family is what church life is all about!! Church LIFE not church on life support or church on hold until something happens or church closed because churches are only open on Sunday! StOM Page 3