It’s a nice piece of embroidery. Looking at it in one way the lettering seems strange. What is it? Looking at it another way you can see the name of Jesus. The embroidery was sewn by a good friend of the Deaf church, - the Deaf choir leader’s mother.
Here we have short extracts from our minister’s sermons. We would like you to think about them, to ask questions and tells us what you think. Our minister will reply to you. We can have a discussion. Just contact us.
1. When you give to the needy do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing. (Mt.6.3)
- At our service nearest to 7th May we celebrated the life and example of St John of Beverley patron saint of the Deaf.
- Our patron saint was a monk, bishop of Hexham and later bishop of York. He was very quiet and did not want to display his piety or good works.
- He loved to go out to the forest to try praying alone but he was so loved by the people that often they followed.
- Deep in the forest with a crowd following him he noticed a Deaf boy filthy in rags. The crowd did not want him but the saint came to him, blessed him with the sign of the cross & cared for him. He and his friends washed him and over time looked after him.
- Not much is known about out patron saint except this story. What do you think of the story? Is there any other saint known as patron saint for the deaf or is he the only one?
Magdalen Green near where Dundee Deaf Church meets on the 2nd Sunday of the month
2. “On Pentecost day the apostles are all together. Suddenly the sound of a great wind filled the house where they sat." (Acts 2.1)
- Pentecost was the day when God gave the Holy Spirit to the Church. This means when God in all his power and glory is with the church and us all.
- This is a very difficult story to understand. Remember most people could neither read nor write. In telling the story of Pentecost the story teller uses pictures. I would say 3 Picasso like pictures-
- Picture of wind- Cannot see wind but only effects of wind, for example, trees bending in the storm. We cannot see God but we can see the effects of God the Holy Spirit in the lives of people- in their good deeds.
- 'Tongues of fire resting on each head of the disciples’- fires give light- Jesus the ‘light of the world’; light lighting up darkness- in life what a difference- God showing us the way instead of us stumbling through darkness; shows warmth of God’s love.
- 'Speak in other tongues’- the most difficult thing to understand yet the easiest to interpret if you think of it like a picture; lots of languages- the promise of the spread of our faith around the world; we must believe it can happen again.
- What do you think of the 3 pictures to interpret the story of Pentecost? Perhaps lots of Pentecost events have happened in the past with religious revivals? Do you think there will be a revival of Christianity in the future? I hope so. Perhaps that must be part of our faith?
3. ‘The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want’ (Psalm 23)
- The 23rd psalm is everything- full of promises, poetry & pictures. It is everyone’s favourite psalm universally appealing. Why?
- A beautiful picture of a shepherd leading his sheep; in the Holy Land the shepherd leads his sheep and the sheep follow;. God cares for His people.
- God’s promise to guide us in peace with a feeling of spiritual renewal and strength to live in God’s ways; even in danger God with us to protect us.
- Even surrounded by enemies- the ancient idea of protection when offered hospitality
- The conclusion of 'goodness of love following me all the days of our life’ so as ‘we dwell in the house of the Lord for ever’; perhaps the promise finally fulfilled in the life hereafter.
- 'The conclusion of the psalm in the last sentence of 'goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life' promises a life of true worth. The words 'I will dwell in th house of the Lord for ever' even suggests life of true worth here now plus life after death.