Hello, everybody. Lovely to see you all here in church tonight, and it's great to see so many people out at church. And we're just going to now to ask if everybody would stand up to receive the colors, please. You may be seated. Thank you so much. At this point in the service, I'm just going to ask Louise Hill if she will come up and open in prayer and do the announcements. Good evening, everybody. Let's just take time to open the service in prayer. Let's pray. Lord, we just thank you that we are found here tonight in your house. Lord, we pray that we would lift your name high, Lord, and that we would worship you, Lord. Lord, we thank you for the GB worldwide. Lord, we thank you for girls' brigades that meet all over the world, Lord. And we thank you for this little GB here. Lord, we just, we pray that, Lord, that each week, Lord, that we would just worship you, Lord, and to speak to the girls, Lord, and tell them of a hope and a salvation that they can have. Lord, we just thank you for the girls here tonight. Lord, we thank you for those that have come to support us, Lord. And we just pray that you would bless us here, Lord, and that you would speak and that you would move. Lord, we just give the rest of this service over to you, Lord. In your name, amen. So I'm double-jobbing tonight, so these are the announcements. I'd just like to take time to welcome you all here tonight. We hope that you have a warm welcome and that you're blessed here as you worship with us. We give a special welcome to our speaker, Phil Agnew. He's no stranger to the church, and he serves in CAF Child Evangelism Fellowship. There will be tea after this service, and everyone is welcome, whether you're here to support the girls or you're a regular, please join with us in a cup of tea at the end. On Tuesday at 7.30 p.m., the Bible study and prayer meeting will be taken by Pastor Andrew Daly from Schenkel Road Baptist. Sunday morning at 11 a.m. The speaker is Andy Williamson from Bistell Road City Mission and at 6 p.m. We will meet again and the speaker then is Jim McGill. Some further announcements. On the church prayer calendar today, we are remembering Stephen and Heather Cuthbert, and they are serving in New Transmission Bible College in England in North Colts. We just pray for Stephen and Heather as they serve there, and the family as well. These are all the announcements. Thank you. Thank you so much, Louise. Just before we have our bit of praise and worship service and our time in the service, I just want to say thank you to the pastor and the deacons of the church who really give us support and prayers all the time, and to the people of the church for their prayers only. I want to thank Billy for doing the enrolment this evening. Our pastor's away on holiday at the minute, on a well-deserved holiday, I must add. And he has assured me that the holiday was booked before he came here to be pastor, so he's not just doing it to get out of doing the enrolment tonight. But I hope, even if he's watching online, I pray that him and Amor are having a good holiday. I just want to thank you to Sharon also, Sharon Kirkpatrick, who comes along each week and takes the senior and brigade scripture. And also to Jennifer Kelso. I know Jennifer can't make it tonight, but Jennifer works behind the scenes. and helps me with doing the GB accounts, because without her, my maths is terrible. I'd also like to thank you as parents for sending your girls along every week, because without the girls, we wouldn't have our GB company. And you're very faithful at sending them. And I know I say it every year, but we do have a good bunch of girls, and you should be very, very proud of them. And then lastly, some people come up and say, not only to me, but anybody that's standing up here at the front of the church, I couldn't do that. I couldn't do what you do. I couldn't stand up there at the front and front of everybody and do different things. But no matter who's up here, we don't do it on our own strength. We do it on the strength that the Lord gives us. He meets our needs every time we're here. And it's him that gets all the praise, glory, and honor tonight, not any of us standing here. So before I bring up the praise team, I just want to go on. Sorry, I have to write everything down because I would totally forget it. Just to tell you what's happening here during the week in our church, we just don't have a Sunday service. So Sunday evening after the church service, there's a YF, which is Youth Fellowship, and it's from first year up till a good age, not too old though, you know. And then on a Wednesday morning, we have Little Lambs, which is a mother and tots group. And then on Thursday night, if you have young boys from P1 to P7, there's a boys club on the Thursday night. and they have a lot of fun happening there on a Thursday night. And then on a Saturday night, we have over in the sports hall our youth club, which is half seven to half nine, and it's from P7 upwards. So if you'd like to send your kids along to these, they'll be more than welcome. But more than that, you are very welcome to come here every Sunday to our church services to worship the one and only Lord Jesus. So I'm just going to ask now if Rebecca and Danielle will come up and lead us in a time of praise. Because the first song that we're actually gonna sing is one that you're not gonna need words for because it's Jackie's birthday today. And she's planned a GB enrolment themed birthday party. So we're all here to sing happy birthday to her. So if you wouldn't mind joining with us in suitably embarrassing our captain before we start our service this evening as we sing happy birthday. Thank you. Don't worry, I won't tell you how old she is today. I won't, I've remembered that, but OK. The first song that we're going to sing this evening is Come People of the Risen King. We're going to sing two pieces just at this time. We're going to stand for the first one. The second one will be our offering hymn. But if there's a chance to stand during the second hymn, then I'll let you know. But we'll stand to sing the first hymn together, and it's Come People of the Risen King. Thank you. The people of the risen King will delight to bring Him praise. One heart, one voice, O Church of Christ, rejoice! Thou knowest His joy is morning sun, O'er all the world his people sing, To his shore they give their praise. Amen. You can take your seats at this point. We're just going to lift our offering. If you haven't come prepared for the offering this evening, that's okay. We're actually just glad that you're here. But we're just going to sing this song together, which is I Cast My Mind to Calvary. It's bloody hard. ♪ Returning home again ♪ And on the third, I break the fall, and shout amen. He will sing your praise, O Lord, O Lord, evermore. We shall return in robes of white. The blazing sun shall pierce the night. O praise the name of the Lord our God. O praise His name forevermore. O praise the name of the Lord, our God. O praise the name of the Lord, our God. O praise His name forevermore. We'll just have a word of prayer to give thanks for the offering. Dear Lord and Heavenly Father, Lord, we thank you that we can give something back to you, Lord. Lord, but as we all know, I can't compare to what you have given to us, because you have given us your only begotten Son. And Lord, we just ask you to bless this offering, Lord, and use it for the extension of your kingdom. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen. I forgot to thank the AV team and our great praise band behind us for taking part in the service this morning as well. So thank you so much, everybody. Right, now. Okay, just get myself organized here a wee bit. You might have noticed that one of our leaders has come in differently dressed this evening than what she usually has on. So this is a very, very special part of our service this evening, because this is my first time I will be awarding an officer's certificate to one of our leaders. And I just asked Beverly Spencer if she would come up now to accept her officer's award as she has gained it this year throughout our GB. And at this time, I'm just going to ask now if Billy would come and take the enrolment service. Thank you, Billy. Well it's lovely to see you all here this evening and can I thank the parents for your support to the GB and also for supporting your girls here this evening. One of the things I find about the parents of GB girls is that they are very supportive They come to the enrollments. They take the girls for the various parades and also for the display. So it's great to see you here this evening. Also on behalf of the Deakins, can I thank the officers, Jackie, and the officers for all the work that they do in looking after the girls' brigade. It just doesn't take place on a Monday night. There's a lot of preparation has to go on before Monday. And then, as I said, there are parades and there are displays. And one thing I found as the husband of a former captain, coming up the displays, you keep your head down. But we thank you, Jackie, and the officers for all the work that you have done. And now we're going to go into the act of enrollment. And we'll get to you girls just in a minute. We'll have to get these oldies all sorted out first. Jackie, the great task given by the Lord Jesus Christ to the church was to go into all the world making disciples of all people. The Girls Brigade endeavors to carry out this work among the girls. The 207th Northern Ireland Company of Abbots Cross Congregational Church have come here today for their annual service of enrollment and dedication. As promises are made by captain, officers, sub-officers, and girls, may God give them grace and strength to be true and faithful to these promises. Jackie, you will spend many hours in a work that will bring much fulfillment, yet not without its problems. Always remember in all your labors as captain of the company that God has promised to be with you at all times. Realizing then the call of Christ and the responsibility of the duties involved in this office, do you promise by word and example to serve the girls' brigade for the advancement of Christ's kingdom among girls and the promotion of the aim for which the organization stands? I now enroll you as captain of this company, and on behalf of this church, promise to support you by our prayers and cooperation so that the ideals of the girls' brigade may be achieved. God bless you, Jackie. Officers and leaders, your support and help to the captain are crucial as you work together as a team. You have the great privilege and responsibility of presenting the claims of Jesus Christ to the girls. The task is difficult, but God will help you lead girls to seek, serve, and follow Christ. Jean Walker, Louise Hill, Beverly Spencer, Rebecca Nelson, Lisanne Bullen, Danielle Spencer. Realizing then the call of Christ and the responsibility of the duties involved in this office, do you promise by word and example to serve the Girls' Brigade for the advancement of Christ's kingdom among girls and the promotion of the aim for which the organization stands? I now enroll you as officers, sub-officers, and helpers of this company, and may God grant you grace to be faithful to your charge and crown your work with success. God bless you all. Now girls, this is your part, so I'm gonna ask you to stand. So all the girls stand up please. And I'm gonna ask you some questions, and at the end, I want you to say in a nice, loud voice, we do. Good, that's interesting, that's exciting, okay. Girls, do you promise with God's help to obey the rules of your GB company, to listen to your captain and officers, and to do your very best at all times to set a good example to other girls. Well done, girls. That was very good. I now enroll you as members of the girls' brigade. May Jesus Christ, the captain of your salvation, give you strength to be faithful to duty, loyal to your company, strong in times of temptation, and his faithful servants always. I'm going to ask the congregation to stand as we pray for the company. Our Father, we want to pray for the 207th Northern Ireland Company of the Girls' Brigade. We thank you for these girls and officers who have gathered here this evening. We thank you that they've made promises before you and we pray, Lord, that you would help them to keep those promises, to serve your Father and to be examples to others. And we pray that each girl in the company would come to know you personally as their own savior. As a church, we promise to pray for the company and we pray, Lord, that you'd continue to remind us as we see the girls about the church. We ask, Lord, that you'd remind us to pray for them and pray for their salvation pray as they go into school and face temptations, and just to pray for them that they may grow to be women of God. Father, we ask these things in the Savior's wonderful name. Amen. Thank you very much, Billy. Right, townies and explorers, it's our turn to sing. These wanna come on up? Come on, puppies, come. Just while the girls are getting up, we're about half of them short tonight, because a lot of them, between last night and today, the text messages coming through, there's a lot of people dying with a tummy bug. So we're just hoping and praying that they'll feel a lot better soon. But these girls can sing their hearts out. Okay? Smiley face. You look so happy, don't you? Where's all the smiley faces I see on a Monday night? Can you watch Daniel down there? And Daniel, keep your eye open, OK? I know about the monsters on the street. Cats and dogs and animals float. The Lord was good, the Lord was strong, and Moses lifted his hands for Him. Moses led his people through the sea, taking them away from slavery. The Lord was good, the Lord was strong, and Moses lifted his hands for Him. ♪ Oh thank you, oh thank you ♪ ♪ With all through history you were faithful ♪ ♪ So thank you, oh thank you ♪ ♪ You are just the same when it comes to me ♪ ♪ When it comes to me ♪ ♪ You are just the same when it comes to me ♪ ♪ When it comes to me ♪ ♪ You are just the same when it comes to me ♪ ♪ Almost sure the Lord became a king ♪ ♪ The Lord was good, the Lord was strong and brave ♪ ♪ And lived his life for him ♪ Sing it. ♪ That was what the Lord said ♪ ♪ The Lord was good, the Lord was strong and brave ♪ ♪ And lived his life for him ♪ Oh, thank you. Oh, thank you. All through history you were thankful. Thank you. Oh, thank you. You are just the same when it comes to me. When it comes to me. so we could get to know God again. The Lord is good, the Lord is strong and we will live our lives to Him. Oh, thank you, oh, thank you for all your history. We're thankful, thank you, oh, thank you. You are just the same when it comes to me. Oh, thank you. All through history you will thank God. Thank you. Oh, thank you. You are just the same when it comes to me. When it comes to me. When it comes to me. When it comes to me. I bet they're not that quiet in the house. So, right girls, this side's turn. Up you come to sing your song. Thank you. The grace of God has reached for me And pulled me from the raging sea And I am safe on the solid ground The Lord is my salvation ♪ My hope is in the Lord ♪ ♪ He draws his promise on this world ♪ ♪ When winter fades, spring will come ♪ ♪ The Lord is my salvation ♪ ♪ In times of waiting times ♪ And when I reach my final day He will not leave me in the grave The Lord is risen! These girls are just going to do a bite reading for us now. Proverbs 30 verse 5. Everything God says is completely true. If you will trust him, he will protect you like a soldier's shield. John chapter 14 verse 6. Jesus answered, I am the way, I am the truth, I am the life. Nobody comes to the Father except by me. John chapter 8, verse 12. Jesus spoke to the people again. He said, I am the light of the world. Those people who become my disciples will never walk in the dark. No, they will have the light that gives life. I'm now just gonna hand over to Phil. Thank you, Phil, to bring God's word to us now. Thank you. Good evening. Lovely to see you here this evening. Can I just say, ladies, you were brilliant tonight. Really, really good. And you know what? I just love that song. That is a beautiful song. And I trust tonight the Lord is your salvation, girls. Mommies and daddies, I trust the Lord is your salvation. I trust you can say that tonight. What a great, great truth. I'm gonna show you three things. I'm not gonna keep you too long this evening. And I have three objects that I want to show you this evening. Do you wanna see what the first one is? Okay, here it goes. What are these? It's not a trick question, I promise. What are these? What are they? Yes, go ahead. They are books, okay? So we have a book on John F. Kennedy, okay? It's a biography. And you probably haven't heard of this guy before. This is Sam Dougherty, okay? He started the work of CEF here in Northern Ireland and across Ireland. And then he went into Europe and started the work there. And CEF is celebrating 75 years anniversary this year. Follow me, get that in, okay? So these books are all about these people. So we have John F. Kennedy, who was a president, And it's his life story. It talks about his family. It talks about when he entered politics. It talks about everything to do with John F. Kennedy. And then this man, Sam Dougherty, it talks about his life. It talks about the first Good News Club, the Bible clubs in people's homes. It talks about how God called them to do work with children. And that is Psalm's story as well. These are life stories. Now if I was to give you these two books this evening, would you trust the content of these books? Would you? Shout out. Yes, you would, because they're life stories of these two men. We can trust these books because there is truth in them. I'm gonna show you another book. What's this book? Go ahead. God's Word, the Bible. Here's what it says. Here's what God's Word says. We've heard them today, we've heard them tonight been read. John chapter 17, verse 17 says this. Thy word is truth. Psalm 19, verse seven says, the law of the Lord is perfect. And then one more, Proverbs chapter 30, verse five says, every word of God is perfect. Can we trust this book? Praise the Lord, someone said yes. Yes, we can trust this book because we know that it is God's Word. We know that it is pure. We know that it is perfect. We know that it is truth. There's one thing God can't do. Does anybody think they know the answer? Excellent answer, you should be up here, yep. Brilliant. Excellent would be future mission leader. God can't sin. God can't tell a lie. God can't break a promise. Maybe tonight you have come in and maybe you're only here because your children are maybe here. You maybe only come in because the GB enrollment service. Maybe you don't believe in God. Maybe you don't believe in God's Word. God can't tell a lie. God's Word is truth. God's Word is pure. You see, this book teaches us how the world was made. It teaches us how we were created. It teaches us how to live our lives. This book is a great guide for life. It teaches us about God and God's Son and God the Holy Spirit. It teaches us all about God. We can trust that. We can trust the truth of that. There's no lies in this book. There's no broken promises in this book. This book is truth. And when we read this book and we get to know more about God, then you will find that decisions that you make in life will be really, really easy. You will know what God wants you to do in life. You will understand so much more about God. Girls, do we read it? Do we accept it? Mummies and daddies, do we trust the truth contained in his word? Do you wanna see what my second object is? I've something to show you. I need a couple of volunteers. Who wants to come up? Oh, they're all coming up. Do you know what? I'm gonna bring yous all up. Come on ahead, all right? We're gonna play a wee game here. This is when it goes pear-shaped. Right, line up. Don't worry, we're not getting in the road again, all right? All right? Okay, spread out right across the front. Now, individually, I want you to tell me what's in this box. Now, don't shout it out, keep the answer to yourself. Okay? Have a quick peek. All right? Funny face, okay, that's all right. Another funny face. This is getting good. Yep. OK. OK. All right. OK. OK. We'll start at this side. You shout out in a big voice to everybody what was in the box. Go ahead, pet, what was in the box? You don't know? Nothing? What? Hmm? Nothing. What'd you get? Nothing. What'd you get? Nothing. Nothing. Nothing. Keep going. There is something in the box. Do you want to have another look quickly? Now, we need to go home here shortly. Go, right? Go. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. Start at this side. What do you see? Nothing. Nothing? Nothing. Can you look at my notes? All right, hold on. Keep going. Nothing. Nothing. They said there was nothing in this box. Let me have a look. There is something in it now. Have a wee seat. I've got you really confused. But this girl here might be on to something. Have a wee seat, all right? Do you want to see what's in my box? OK, here it goes. OK. There's something in it now. There's something in it now. Seriously, there is. What do you think? What am I talking about? Pray for Rachel. No, no. Where was that girl who was quite close? What did you say to me up there? There is now darkness. in the box. Did you get that, did you? Did you say that? Did you? Soon you get the wee nudge there. There is darkness in the box. But when I open the box up, the light wipes out the darkness. The light wipes out the darkness. You see, when I think about darkness in God's word, it reminds me of sin, it reminds me of being separated. You see, we know that God is holy. We read about that in God's Word. We know that God can't sin. We know that he is pure. We know that he is perfect. We know that he's 100% good. The Bible teaches us that God is light. We read in John 8, verse 12, I am the light of the world. He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. You see, sin is anything that we think. Let's do it together. Sin is anything that we think, that we say, that we do, that disobeys God. That's what sin is. Sin is disobeying God. And as I said, the Bible talks about darkness and sin. But who came to fix the problem of sin? I'm gonna go over to here, all right? Give the wee ones a chance. Right, girls? Go ahead. Who came to fix the problem of sin? What a brilliant answer. Jesus. Jesus came into the world to be the light. He stepped down into a dark, sinful world to bring hope, to be the light. And he died on that cross for you and for me. He took our punishment. Jesus didn't do anything wrong. Jesus was perfect, but yet he was the Son of God dying for you and dying for me. Jesus came to be the light to wipe out the darkness, to wipe out the darkness of sin. We can trust God's word, what it says, because God's word is truth. Secondly, the darkness is wiped out by the light, My last thing. Now, do you think I could get this on? What are you laughing at? Come on, be kind to me. Do you think I could get this on? Do you want me to try? Do you want me to try and get it on? I don't even think I'd look around my big toe. Where would you use one of these? I'm going to go over here, OK? Give them a wee chance. Right, let's see. Go ahead, Pat. Where would you wear one of these? Okay, yes. If you were getting onto a boat, you might wear one of these. Yes, good answer. Where else? Yes. Where would you wear one of these, Pat? You tell me. In a swimming pool. Can I let you in on a wee secret? Can we let you in on a wee secret? I'm going to come around and tell you a wee secret, all right? I float like a brick. He's just laughing at me. Yes, I float like a brick. I cannot swim. So tell me this, if I decided to jump into a swimming pool without one of these on, what would happen? What would happen? Yes, you tell me. Pardon? Yes, I would have to get somebody to jump in and rescue me. I would have to get somebody in to save me. You see, if a boat gets into trouble out in the ocean, what's it head for? What's it head for? It's in the dark. It's in the darkness. It's in the dark. Where does it head for? What does it see? Yes. A lighthouse. The boat that's in trouble heads for the light. You see, we all have a problem this evening. Whether we're four or five, six or seven, whether we're teenagers, 14, 15, 16, whether we're the oldest person in the room tonight, we all have a problem. We all have a problem of sin. What's sin again? Everything that we, let's do it. Think, say, or do that disobeys God. Each one of us has sin in our lives. And whether we believe in God or whether we don't, we will all stand before God one day. Whether we believe it or not, whether we believe that this book is truth or not, we will all stand before God. But isn't it wonderful? that Jesus came to be the light, to rescue us, to wipe out the darkness, to wipe out the sin. Jesus loves you tonight, girls. He loves you tonight, mommies and daddies. Maybe you feel nobody cares or loves you or is interested in you tonight. Can I say that God loves you? He sent His one and only Son to die on the cross to save you from your sins. I wonder tonight as I close, will you stop walking in darkness? Would you stop being like that boat in the darkness of the ocean, going nowhere, but instead go for the light? Go for the light, steer for the light, because that's where you'll be rescued. I said I couldn't swim. Somebody would have to come and pull me out. Somebody would have to come and be my savior. Jesus tonight wants to be your savior, girls. He wants to be your savior, mommies and daddies. Jesus loves you tonight. You see, We know that this book is truth. Because John 14 and six, it's already been read out today, it says, I am the way, that's Jesus. I am the truth. I am the life, everlasting life. That's what Jesus offers. No one comes to the Father except through me. The word of God says tonight that Jesus is coming back. He is coming back really soon. Can we trust that? Yes, we can. Can we believe what this book says? Can we believe, do we believe that Jesus died and rose again three days later? So that we could get to heaven. Young people, adults in the meeting tonight, stop walking in darkness. Go for the light. You can trust God. You can trust his word. He wants to save you today. He has a plan for your life tonight. If you're saved, following, and you love him, get to know him a bit better. Read his word. Learn more about your savior. I've said this many times, and I've said it here in this church. Ecclesiastes, remember your creator. in the days of your youth. Don't let the world tell you lies tonight. Don't let the world say things against God's word. Because it's pure, because it's truth, we can rely and trust on God. Mommies and daddies, take heed of God's word tonight. He loves you, he died for you, and he wants you to walk in the light. We're just gonna close now just with a short word of prayer, and then we're gonna sing Seek Ye First. What a great song to finish with. Seek ye first the kingdom of God. Father, we just thank you for your word. Father, we just thank you that your word is truth. We thank you, Lord, that for everything that is contained in it, we thank you, Lord, that the word of God is a great roadmap for us in life. helping us, guiding us. Father, we thank you that we can get to know you more through your word. And Father, we thank you that we can trust the word of God. We thank you there's no lies in the word of God. We thank you there's no broken promises in the word of God. We thank you that your word is truth, it is perfect, it is pure. Help us to stand on the promises of God tonight. Father, we thank you that you are the light You are the light that wipes out the darkness. Thank you that you died on that cross to wipe out sin. And Father, we pray that there will be a celebration in heaven tonight because somebody turns from their sins and trusts in the light of the world. Father, we just thank you for these girls. We thank you for their mummies and daddies and family members that have gathered in this evening. Father, we pray that you would speak on now, we pray. For we ask this all in your name. Amen, amen. Thank you. Stand together for our closing hymn. And then once we have sung our closing hymn, we'll remain standing as the colour party comes to receive the colours and then the national anthem. Thank you. Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be as it is. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia. Alleluia! Alleluia! We'll just remain standing for a word of prayer and the national anthem. Father, we thank you for this evening. We thank you, Lord, for all that has taken place. Thank you that we've been reminded that we are sinners, and yet we've been reminded that the Savior came to save sinners. We pray, Lord, that each of us will realize that and find the Lord as a personal Savior. We pray for the girls in the company, that each of them will know the Savior as their own personal Savior. Bless their parents as well, we ask, Father. And now we do ask, Lord, that you will part us with your blessing, take us to our home safely. And, Lord, we just pray that we may meditate on what you've done for us. In the Savior's name, amen. you