Sowerby
Bridge Elim Church welcomes the Apostle and the Teacher
Friday June
26th - Sunday June 28th 2009
Where to begin?
He is indeed an Awesome God.
Your voice is the sound of many waters and it crashes
over me. Your Word is a hammer, a launderer's soap and it washes me.
Tipping Point......Catalyst......Deep calls to deep.
The week end was indeed a tipping point and as a
church we were either going to be thrust forward into the unknown, trusting in
God to lead the building of His church, or we would tip backwards thinking
"Mmm, what a good week end that was and now we'll settle back into our normal
routines!"
Duncan and I are in Sowerby Bridge to build God's
church and we are so excited at what he is already doing in the body. (If
nervous at the things we are now called to do, the changes we are to bring
about!)
On the Friday evening as Duncan and I straightened the
chairs, prepared the bottles of water and mints and awaited the arrival of Aje
and Chantal I was worried. Despite all the flyers, all the e mails advertising
the week end - what if no one came? What if this family had travelled all the
way from South Africa via Birmingham and there were only a handful to receive
them? The car drew up and we went out to greet them and in an instant all the
fear went and I was facing a family who I was immediately drawn to. Just as it
had been with Nola as she sat across from me at our kitchen table some 18
months previously - I couldn't think I did not already know these people, and
had, in fact, always known them.
My worries were unfounded as the people did come and
were mightily blessed. They came from several other churches and from our own
fellowship and together we were led into the Presence of God as we worshiped
and learnt about Biblical foundations in worship. The Word enriches the worship
of God's people. As Chantal spoke I felt a release in me as far as movement was
concerned. In Kilsythe I had been excited by the power of the dance to the Lord
but had not felt confident in pursuing it on my return to church. But it IS
what we are called to do and I saw it clearly and was very excited to learn
later of others who had also felt an urge to dance. They spoke of feeling that
they had been given license to express their worship with their whole bodies
not just in song with the occasional raised arm! Aje taught us further and we
ended the evening in a very peaceful way feeling the heavy presence of the
Spirit upon us.
Saturday dawned and we were filled with excitement and
anticipation. We knew we were going to go further today. The church was full
and many had returned from the previous night even though some had previously
had other plans! More teaching and then we were in four groups and were asked
to prophesy over each other. Each group had a leader and a scribe and off we
went. Well our group was a bit wary and it was only after a word of advice from
Aje that words of prophecy began to flow! And the flow became a torrent and we
were very excited as individuals were touched by God and delivered from past
hurts. As each group gave feedback it became apparent that we had all been
given words about rocks and waterfalls. God had spoken to us all and gave us
further confirmation on Sunday morning.
God was asking us:
Will you receive this word and allow Me to bring an
anointing of healing, to put things right and align things properly?
If we will then many people, young people, will throw
their drugs on the floor of our church and be set free. They will cry "What
must I do to be saved?" and they will be delivered because of the Living water
that will flow in torrents through this place.
As we moved into a time of worship we were so
released; the microphone was passed round and many people sang their own song
to the Lord with a freedom and a passion. There was dancing and we moved our
bodies in praise and worship for our Lord. It was awesome.
The meeting ended but no one seemed to want to go. We
lingered, we had further cups of tea and cake and we lingered. The Presence of
God was so wonderful. As people left they were so thankful. Words of
encouragement were given "Awesome" "Challenging" "Exciting" "Thank you for
letting us share". There was such unity, such love. Amazing.
On Sunday morning, as Cherie led us in some corporate
dance movements I caught the eye of others and I knew we would never be the
same again. We may be among the "oldies" in the church but our hearts are on
fire for God and nothing else will do. We will not allow our embarrassment
before man to deny us expressing our joy in our God.
A trip to Haworth with its Morris Men, Fish and Chips
and Bronte Parsonage brought our time with this wonderful branch of the Pelser
family to an end. We parted company high above the moors of the Calder Valley
and we knew we were going onward in a different, more confident and more exciting
way than ever before.
When I think back to the Friday evening...we were busy straightening
the chairs and tidying around as we waited for them to arrive!!! What a waste
of time!! On Saturday evening the place was wrecked! Chairs everywhere!!! Aje
has a photo I think. Yes, they certainly were catalysts.
Beverly Curry July 7th 2009