Greetings: We hope you are keeping safe and well...

Have you ever needed help? You know, the time when you needed some assistance from someone...?

Perhaps the time when your motor or car has broken down, and you needed to call out the AA or RAC for help in a repair or even getting you back home...!

Perhaps you have had a water leak in your home...and you had to call out a plumber for assistance...

Most of us have I am sure needed help with something ...at some point in our lives...

What about that emotional upset...that loss...that distressing news...and you have needed someone to talk to...or even a shoulder to lean on...in those upsetting times...?

Guess we all have been there too...

What about you helping others in their time of need...have you been able and willing to do that...?

That skill or gifting, that ability by which you were able to provide advice and guidance for a friend or a stranger in need...

Perhaps we have been made this way... the need to help someone at some point...to help others as we have perhaps been helped.

For many of us this current lockdown situation we find ourselves in....has been difficult...we have had to curtail our normal lives in so many ways...

The church at this time celebrates its birth...this weekend of Pentecost is the church’s birthday...when God gave all us the Gift of the Holy Spirit.

Not just to some individuals (as it was in the Old Testament) but to all of us who call upon His name...

The Holy Spirit is known by many names and titles, most of which denote some function or aspect of His ministry.

Some of the given names of the Holy Spirit are Counsellor, Intercessor: Spirit of Truth, Witness and so on

He is also known as the Helper or Paraclete.

The Greek word is translated as ‘helper’ in reference to the Holy Spirit... The more formal or technical form of parakletos and is a legal concept...Jesus said the Holy Spirit would be our advocate (John 14:16, 26; 16:26; 16:7).

Jesus calls on the Holy Spirit to come alongside to assist us...and in a wider context, is the ‘Helper’ Jesus promised.

So, as we think of the times, we may have needed support in our lives...God provides for us the help we need...when we need it...

When you broke down at side of the road...you did not reject the help you received when the mechanic arrived...you did not turn away the shoulder of comfort when you need it...

Know that God through Jesus Christ, he will be always there in times of need...

often at the most difficult periods of our lives...

As the song says:

When life brings me to my knees

When my back’s against the wall

You are standing there right with me

Just to keep me standing tall

Though a burden I may be

You don’t weary you don’t rest

You are reaching out to carry me

And I know my heaven-blest

You are there when I most need you

You are there so constantly

You come shining through

You always do...

You are always there for me

May the Lord continue to Bless you and keep you safe...

Pastor Martyn

Secret Garden – Always There. ft. Russel Watson