Recorded in the Weir Chapel in Assembly Buildings in Belfast, this morning’s service continues with Ephesians 1:1-16. “This week we continue looking at some aspects of the New Testament letter of Paul to the Ephesian church, as he helped them, as a group of believers, to work out how to be church in a setting of opposition, danger and diversity of view,” Dr Bruce explained.
“Last week we took time to think about the blessing of being a chosen church – before the creation of the world. We saw that this was a blessing from the past, in the mind and heart of God since time immemorial.
“And so, on the basis of this past blessing, we are now offered a new, up-to-date present blessing for today – the blessing of being part of a new family in Christ. We have been chosen – to be adopted as sons and daughters through Jesus Christ. Today we will see what this blessing of adoption actually looks like,” Dr Bruce said.
Over the next period, the Moderator plans to invite one Presbytery from the Church’s 19 regional bodies to participate in his service each week. Last week, members of PCI’s Dromore Presbytery participated with recorded contributions. Today members of PCI’s largest geographical presbytery, the Presbytery of Dublin and Munster will take part.
This hymns and worship songs in today’s service will be:
- 10,000 reasons
- When I was lost (There is a new song in my heart)
- In Christ Alone
During the service, Rev Mark Proctor, minister of Naas Presbyterian Church in County Kildare, who is the Moderator of the Presbytery of Dublin and Munster, will lead the opening prayers. Stuart Ferguson, the Clerk of Presbytery will read from Ephesians 1:1-16. Dawn McDowell, a member of Greystones Presbyterian Church in County Wicklow, will lead prayers for other people.
Next week…
Next week we will see that we are a redeemed church – and this will expose the lengths to which God would go to bring about these remarkable blessings for us. Some members of the Presbytery of Monaghan will also participate.