Sword & Trowel 2017: Issue 1


TABERNACLE ANNUAL THANKSGIVING DAY


Day, beginning with a prayer meeting at 7.30am, followed later by a thanksgiving meal (a huge crowd in attendance) and an evening service with the theme ‘Continuing Reformation’ (now available online). The Pastor’s annual thanksgiving letter to the congregation follows.


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‘Continuing Reformation’ (1 Thessalonians 5.21)


Dear Friends, Our Thanksgiving Day for 2017 falls on the very month that commemorates the quincentenary of the Reformation, when Martin Luther nailed his 95 The- ses to the door of the Castle Church at Wittenberg (1517). We focused much at- tention on the Reformation at the School of Theology in July, and the evening ministry on Thanksgiving Day will seek to inspire us as a congregation to share in the ongoing task of preserving and strengthening truly reformed, evangelical witness amidst the perils of our time. On Thanksgiving Day we praise God for his gracious blessing of our Gospel work; for full congregations; for the salvation of precious souls, and for the immense scope of our work among the young. We give thanks for so much answered prayer, including the growth of outreach by numerous overseas sup- ported pastors, and evident blessing upon the growth of translated literature overseas, especially recent Arabic and Chinese books. We give thanks also for blessing on the ‘electronic’ ministries via television, webcasts and the many


ednesday 18th October was the Tabernacle’s annual Thanksgiving


thousands of downloaded sermons. For all we praise God and, as it were, fall on our knees in prayer, for we are entirely dependent on the power of the Holy Spirit for everything. The Reformation was by


every measure the greatest work of God since New Testament times, shattering the iron grip of the Catholic


Church with her hatred of true salva- tion, and bringing spiritual awakening to Europe and ultimately to the world. As heirs of the Reformation we long to man- ifest more the spirit of the Reformation – courage, dedication and zeal for the Lord and for the Truth. We long also to honour the principle of continuous refor- mation, helping to bring back to the Bible the steps – prone to wander – of Bible- believing churches. Our theme this year – Continuing Reformation – will review the key issues that distract and wound churches and individual believers today, along with the remedies that we should promote for the sake of the Gospel. All are very warmly invited to attend the Thanksgiving Service on Wednesday 18th, and to contribute to the Thanksgiv- ing Offering to be taken up at that service (the Thanksgiving Offering Fund remain- ing open to the end of the year). May the Lord richly bless all members of this congregation – now 367 years old – and use us all in the blessing of needy souls.


With my warmest regards, Yours sincerely, PASTOR


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