Daily Devotions - Week 17
We're in the book of Genesis this week and Jeremy Hunns, one of our readers, is looking at events in the life of Abraham and considering what we can learn from them today.
If you click the three lines in the top of the video below, you can view all devotions in our Daily Devotions series. Alternatively, you can visit our archive of all previous Daily Devotions.
Sunday Worship - 12th July 2020
Our Sunday morning service from Sunday 12th July is now available to watch in multiple ways.
Recording of live streamed service
This is a recording of the whole service, with Alec leading & Mike preaching, exactly as it was streamed on Sunday morning.
Sunday 12th July - Live streamed service
YouTube Playlist
This includes all the pre-recorded content - the songs, children's talk & craft, Bible reading and prayers. The sermon will be added later.
Sunday 12th July - YouTube Playlist
Sermon Recording
Visit our sermon recordings page for both audio-only and video versions of the sermon. The audio version of the sermon is podcast in the normal way. It is available wherever you get your podcasts, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Craft item list for Sunday 12th July
People have found it useful to know in advance what items they would need to complete Teresa's craft activities. On Sunday, Teresa will be making a craft related to her story about just how enormous Jesus' love is.
The items needed are:
- toilet roll tube
- a stick, dowel or pencil
- scissors
- sheet of paper
- sticky tape
- colouring pens or pencils
Keswick Convention 2020 - daily programme now available
This year sees the launch of 'Virtually Keswick Convention' from 27th to 31st July – an exciting, new five-day online event this summer. It will feature teaching, sung worship and seminars for adults, youth and children. All the sessions will be available free online for everyone.
The theme is hope – chosen because at this time of great uncertainty, in the midst of a global pandemic, there is hope in Jesus Christ. The main speaker will be Christopher Ash, Writer-in-Residence at Tyndale House in Cambridge, who will speak on ‘Hope in Jesus’ from the Psalms.
The daily programme has now been published on the Virtually Keswick Convention website including details of evening speakers, seminars and events for children and young people. Put the date in your diary and tell your family and friends about 'Virtually Keswick Convention' – for what promises to be an encouraging time together virtually.
Please also pray for all those involved in putting this event together, and particularly for James Robson.
Real Issues Service - Christ and the Coronavirus
On Sunday 3rd May, Mike led a special Real Issues service - "What is Christ saying to us in the Coronavirus?"
You can listen again to the recording of the livestream (link to YouTube will open in a new window).
The audio of the talk is also available on our sermon recordings page and as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other podcast channels.
Church Giving
Many people make their gifts to church via standing order, however, those who would normally use envelopes or put their offerings on the plate in church are not able to give in this way at the moment.
If that is how you would normally give, please consider setting up a transfer directly to the church’s bank account instead. The details are:
- Sort code: 05-06-34
- Account number: 52275551
- Account name: PCC St John the Baptist Hartford
As an alternative, we are able to take card payments over the phone. Please contact the This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., if you are interested.
If you are able to Gift Aid your offering and haven't already completed a form, you can download one here.
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Please click this link to watch a video message from Mike recorded on 18th March 2020, the day after it was announced that churches were to be closed.
Extract from a message from Rev. Mike Smith, written on 16th March 2020:
"As you will know by now, the Prime Minister has today advised the nation to cease all 'non-essential contact' in the effort to slow down the spread of Coronavirus. The purpose of the advice is loving, namely to allow the NHS to treat a manageable number of poorly people and so to reduce the overall impact of this disease. At St John's, we aim to follow the government’s advice fully and swiftly.
None of this is a surprise to the Lord: he is good, loving and sovereign over all things, including our nation, this virus, our church and every one of us. I am praying that you will know the reality of this promise: 'You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD for ever, for the LORD, the LORD, is the Rock eternal' (Isaiah 26.3-4)"
