Focus
Tottenham Baptist Church Magazine
April/May 2004
Focus
Tottenham Baptist Church Magazine
April/May 2004
Dear Friends,
As I write to you we are still in the aftermath of the Spanish terrorist attack on the trains in Madrid and the Spanish elections. I try to imagine what God must think at such a time.
There have been men planning to destroy hundreds of innocent lives, with no concern for those killed, maimed or injured. No concern for their families and relatives. Yet Jesus teaches that not only does God care for each individual, but the very “hairs on their head are numbered”.
The terrorist plans to kill because all Americans, or British, or Spanish are classed as enemies, and it is legitimate to kill your enemies. Yet Jesus teaches that we must love our enemies and “pray for those who persecute you.”
God does not look merely at the surface of man; he looks deep into their hearts. He does not only know what we say, but also why we say it. He not only knows that Peter will deny Him, but he knows why he will deny him. He does not then classify him by his actions, “He will deny me, I cannot trust him”! He looks beyond “When you are converted, strengthen your brothers.”
Jesus sees hope because he believes man can be changed. He can “change his mind”, which is another way of saying, “repent”. The battle is one for the mind. Ideas have legs! It is our faith, our belief, our principles that matter. The battle is not won with bombs, whether they be terrorist bombs, or those dropped from aircraft. You do not win converts by crashing planes into buildings, or by using missiles to destroy cities. You do not win the war of ideas by killing people in New York, Madrid or Iraq. If anything such methods are counter productive.
The Spanish elections show the strength of ideas. No one really knew who was responsible for the disaster. If it was the Basques then public opinion would favour the government; if it was militant Islam, then it would favour the opposition. How that question was answered determined the election. Not terrorism as such, but what the people believed about the terrorism.
All we believe is summed up in the events we celebrate at Easter. This is the time to confirm, strengthen and deepen our faith, so that as God remakes us He will continue his mission of remaking the world. In that alone is there hope.
In Christian love,
Roger Collins
Give thanks for Cecilia and Joseph ‘Kobe’ Appiah Danquah as baby Josephine was born 4th March at 6 lbs 3 oz – mum and dad are delighted! Give thanks also that Kobe has joined the Pastoral Care Group! You will be one busy gentleman with these two events, Kobe!…
Members can also rejoice that Mrs Lovia Ankrah, Mrs Euphalyn Reeves, Mr Jonathan Mensah and Mr Hudson Sitali have been recommended into membership. Welcome, Lovia, Lyn, Jonathan and Hudson; let us pray that you and yours will receive full spiritual growth in our fellowship! Mrs Velma Patten is rejoicing that granddaughter Chantelle Patten is going through baptism in April. We will also want to remember Velma in prayer as she returns to Jamaica as well as Mrs Shirley Peart, Mrs Gloria Gipta and Mr Verley Hughes. We look forward to seeing you back soon.
Our form of worship is evolving as God brings out the gifts He has placed on different people. That includes all Christians so, as discussed in recent meetings, all Christians are encouraged to use their gifts and if you wish to help leading the opening part of the service with prayer, readings, announcing the hymns or choruses, and/or other introductions, simply have a word with a deacon or with Mr Roger Collins. May we open our hearts and spirits and let Lord Jesus use us to bring in His harvest of souls!
It’s good to know that our music group is growing as David Bennett, son of Janis and our drummer, Allan, accompanies on guitar! We have to be grateful for the extra efforts which our music leaders are putting in for God’s glory: Jaap and Louise are offering free music theory classes to the choir as well as to anyone else who wishes to sit in, usually on the 4th Monday of the month. Jaap is also prepared to give out guitar lessons for free, so come on all you budding musicians: he has already been dishing some out – what are you waiting for?
Let us be mindful to give moral and prayerful support to Mrs Carmita Jacobs on the passing of her husband, and to the family of Mrs Richards as she was recently deceased.
Please pray for safe healing of Miss Vi Maddison’s sight as she has lost sight in her left eye and can hardly see at a distance with the right. A specialist hasn’t yet examined her as we go to print but we have to be thankful for the rapid healing the Lord has bestowed on her with other health conditions recently, of which even her doctor has been amazed! Let us be grateful that Mrs Norma Hernandez has recovered her voice after being poorly over several weeks.
Others to remember specially are Mrs Evette Griffiths, who would appreciate our prayers, and people who are mostly homebound, such as Miss Mabel Johnson, Mrs Ward and Miss Olive Persson.
Congratulations to Mrs May Richards, who was presented with the Unsung Women Award from Haringey Council’s Haringey Women’s Forum on International Women’s Day, 8th March 2004, by the Mayor of the borough, Mrs Erline Prescott. The award is for her contribution to the community, unsurprisingly, as she has been organising fundraising and awareness-raising gospel concerts for sickle cell and thalassaemia, is active in Broadwater Farm Estates, and a representative of Christians Together in Tottenham. Many more successes to you, May!
Many will be grateful also for the work of the Pastoral Care Group, who organised a reception for newcomers after morning service in February. Such receptions have been helpful to get to introduce newcomers to the pastoral team and other members of the congregation; it has been an especially bubbly time of fellowship after services recently!
Our Pastoral Care Team is available to help and any member of the Team would be glad to know of anyone in the fellowship who needs a visit or prayer or spiritual encouragement. They are:
Thornton & Leola Reid
George Wheeler
Grace Tyzack
Joseph ‘Kobe’ Appiah Danquah
Clare Lee
Margaret McGlynn
Gloria Bipta
Distribution of Easter flyers
An opportunity to reach the community with these invitations is yours to take. The Easter cards are being provided which introduce people to Christ in a bright, shiny way (it’s been said the cards look as bright and cheerful as a cereal box!).So just grab a set of cards, choose one or more streets and a friend to accompany you if you wish, and set out to leaflet homes inviting people to taste how good the Lord is!
The Lord has been working mightly on people’s hearts as there are only a few leaflets left. A list has been provided in the lobby to write down the road(s) you have chosen so as to ensure that no area gets duplicated.
Spring Cleaning Day – Saturday 3rd April
Just jump into your cleaning clothes and come to beautify your church building simply by helping to wipe down or polish the pews, clean the windows, wash the banisters, dust the porch or clean other odd ends! It’s a time of fellowship, (exercise!) and laughter for young and old alike from 9 am till noon. All cleaning materials will be provided, along with refreshments!
Palm Sunday Easter Play – 4th April 
What better way to prepare yourself for Holy Week than to come to church and see the Easter story acted out by the Sunday School and Youth Group? We will take you through the momentous events that Jesus experienced – from the Triumphal Entry on Palm Sunday all the way to His terrible death on Good Friday, followed by His amazing Resurrection and Ascension.
The children and young people have been practising very hard so please come along and support them. We'd love to see you!
Thank you very much!
Janette
P.S. As the Sunday School and Youth Group is focussing its efforts on the Easter play, there will be no Holiday Club this year!
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Maundy Thursday Meal – 8th April
Though we enjoy the fellowship at Maundy meals informally, they are also solemn meals, which have moved us and bonded us further. Just bring a serving of any one dish or dessert for yourself and one or two others if possible at 7 pm. The Lord always provides plentifully at these meals, named after the Lord’s command (or ‘mandatum’ in Latin) to love one another, as He taught us to at the last supper.
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Good Friday March of Witness – 9th April
Why not testify to God’s sacrifice by joining this walk with Christians from other congregations? It begins at St Ignatius Church, just off St Ann’s Road, and heads up the High Road. A short ecumenical prayer and song service at St Ignatius begins at 9:15 am before starting the walk at 9:30 am. The march ends at our church, where a joint Good Friday Service will begin.
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Good Friday Joint Service
God is good and we can celebrate this by coming together with other Christians from other churches from 11 am, after the March of Witness walkers arrive. Both events are organised by Christians Together in Tottenham.
The service is always a stirring event as different pastors and singers contribute from their own Christian experience, including our own choir this year. Let’s welcome each other as the body of Christ is built up!
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Easter Sunday Services – 11th April
Mark the Lord’s incomparably generous gifts to us at these services, held at our regular service times: 11 am and 6:30 pm. Easter – a bright beginning which has made it possible for believers to be new creations.
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Sunday School Anniversary 
"Happy Birthday to us,
Happy Birthday to us!!"
Please come along and help us celebrate our 173rd Anniversary on Sunday 23rd May at 11 am. It will be a time of fun, thanksgiving and praise – how could you miss it?
We will start our morning with a prayer meeting at 10:15 am for anyone who would like to come along to give thanks to God for His wonderful mercies and to lift up all our children and young people before the Lord. Everybody welcome!! See you there!
Janette Whitehead
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Members Meeting – Tuesday 18th May
It’s time to discuss what we could improve on, developments, and to prepare to visit any prospective new members. If you are a member already, come along with prayer at 8 pm to this busy and well-attended meeting, and be blessed as we decide together on how to take action!
Sunday Preachers to be announced
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Prayer of Thanks
During the passing of my siblings I would like to thank everyone for their prayers, support, and words of encouragement; also, the good Lord for His grace, mercy, and his unconditional love helping me to endure as I go along each day through my bereavements.
May the blessings of the Lord be with you all.
Love,
Norma Hernandez
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This magazine is your magazine! Help shape TBC whichever way the Lord leads you. Write, tell, e-mail or dictate to the editor any articles, news about new arrivals, graduations, anniversaries – with pictures if you wish! – prayers, poems, quips, etc. that you want to share, or speak to him about any issues you would want in these pages!
Jose Jurado Aranda
E-mail: tbceditor@hotmail.com
You can also read Focus online at:
http://freespace.virgin.net/jamesimac.mcglynn/tbc.htm
Webmaster: Jim McGlynn
The safest place to be is within the will of God.
— Unknown
BMS
Birthday
Scheme
APRIL
MISS JESSICA ROSE HATCHETT 11th
MR T BENTLEY 20th
MISS V MADDISON 26th
MAY
MS JANETTE WHITEHEAD 27th
Our BMS Birthday Scheme Secretary, Hazel Whitehead, has just sent £75.00 for the medical fund supported by the birthday scheme!
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Life saving skills taught to Trinidad kids 
The BMS Trinidad Action Team is teaching life-saving skills to some of the island’s youngsters by helping them learn to swim.
Despite being surrounded by sea and many going to the beach for days out, few people in Trinidad actually know how to swim properly.
The Action Team – Michelle Davy, Phil Durrant, Lois Ford and Amanda Thompson – identified this as a real need and in November, started up a two-hour Saturday swimming club for the youth group at the church where they are working.
It’s been a great success, not only teaching the teenagers practical, essential life skills, but also: “The swimming lessons have been a really good way to get to know the youth group and it’s been good fun for us”, they write in their February prayer letter.
Since arriving in October, the team has been regularly involved with the youth group at Princes Town Baptist Church in San Fernando, a city on the west of the island.
“The church here and our hosts have made us feel so welcome and we’ve managed to build up some really good relationships.” They helped the teenagers prepare for their Christmas concert in which the team themselves performed three songs and received a standing ovation! In spite of being fairly small in size, the church has lots of energy. They have really welcomed and included the Action Team in their activities.
The team is also involved in Christian camps and retreats, and helping Christian young people develop their faith and involvement in mission. ”We’ve started to move around different churches so we can meet more people and share with them in their services.”
A large proportion of the team’s work has been in schools. During the autumn, they taught at the 5th Company Baptist Primary School, where they helped children read and write on a one-to-one basis.
Many are from underprivileged homes, often with difficult home lives, and are often naughty at school and considered hopeless. The team aimed to bring the best out of them by introducing fun ways of learning and by giving them more attention.
A new year has meant a new school for the team, with Lois and Amanda teaching the infants and Phil and Michelle the older children. There are only 119 pupils in the whole school, with classes about half the size of those at 5th Company (about 14 per class). The team has already started a school choir and are planning to initiate a drama club too.
Living in Trinidad has been fascinating for Lois, Amanda, Phil and Michelle. Adapting to sudden tropical downpours, understanding the rich/poor divide, and mixing with different ethnic and religious groups has all been part of the Action Team experience. They return to the UK at the end of March, along with eight other BMS Action Teams doing mission the world over.
Coming out of retirement to answer Queluz call 
After 30 years of long-term service with BMS World Mission, Barbara and Keith Hodges have come out of retirement to work again with BMS in Portugal, this time as volunteers.
The couple spent five years at the Baptist Theological Seminary in Queluz near Lisbon until 2002 and returned there last August for another two years work. Keith is Dean of Students at the seminary, which is run by the Portuguese Baptist Convention. Barbara assists Keith, especially helping the female students. Their work involves counselling and advice, as well as ensuring that students’ rooms and their common kitchen are reasonably presentable!
In their January prayer letter they write: “Part of the Dean’s responsibility is the arrangement of the weekly worship hour and the monthly community get-together. So far all has gone well and we have been pleased with the spiritual and practical content of our times together. We are growing together in the Lord. The students are alive in Christ Jesus! They seek to serve him who is their Lord!”
It’s the seminary’s 35th year in Queluz with 25 students currently on the Basic, Bachelor and Honours courses and six students on the Masters course. There are five Brazilian nationals who add a new dimension to the college community. The Hodges believe the student-staff bonding to be the highest they’ve known it.
Keith is again lecturing on the theology of the Old Testament at the seminary. He has six students in his class – one from the Azores, one Brazilian, two Angolans and two from the Portuguese mainland.
In December, Barbara and Keith took part in the First Missionary Congress of the Portuguese Baptist Convention at Água de Madeiros. There was a particular focus on the function and purpose of cell ministry in the local church. Keith said, “I have never seen the Portuguese Baptist Convention so stimulated. Everyone present was clearly touched and ‘pushed along the way’! Praise the Lord for every advance.”
Just before Christmas, Keith, Barbara, the students and some wives and children journeyed to Lisbon’s east end for a meal at the home of the seminary’s acting principal. They travelled by train and the group stopped en route at each station to sing Christmas carols to the crowds that gathered on the platforms and took this chance to hand out evangelistic leaflets. They were excited by the response and hope for similar opportunities in future.
The Hodges’ involvement with BMS began in Brazil in 1971 where they served at a number of locations, including Curitiba. After 25 years in South America the couple moved to Portugal in 1997.
Prayer points:
·That the students at the seminary in Quelez would be built up through Keith and Barbara’s equipping and encouragement.
· For continued good rapport between staff and students at the seminary.
· For God to give Keith and Barbara strength and good health.
Are you standing at Wit’s End Corner,
Whilst enjoying a very pleasant lunch with members of the Worship Group we were highly entertained by our honourable treasurer's renditions of popular nursery rhymes, which kept Martijn Van Der Weerd highly amused throughout the meal!
Humpty Dumpty was in fact a very large cannon placed on the protective wall of "St Mary's Wall Church" in the town of Colchester. During the English Civil War (1642-1649) it was intended to protect the Parliamentarian town from the Royalists who temporarily were in control. A shot from a Parliamentary cannon damaged the wall beneath Humpty and caused it to 'have a great fall'.
Jesus speaks of himself as the good shepherd who lays down His life for His flock so that no thief or wolf would snatch them. The story of God’s people has been a story of God wanting to shepherd people – and many of God’s people were shepherds also, like Abel, Abraham, Rachel, Jacob, and David as a youngster. God wanted to shepherd people even when they acted up in the wilderness following their escape from the clutches of Egypt’s Pharaoh (we read about the escape in recent issues, remember?). The good news of Jesus’ birth was announced to shepherds also while they were tending sheep. We can read in the Bible what Jesus said about Himself in the gospel according to John, Chapter 10 verses 11-30:
‘I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me – just as the Father knows me and I know the Father – and I lay down my life for the sheep. I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life--only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father…"
‘“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand. I and the Father are one."’
Jesus called the many Jewish people who would believe that He is the son of God His sheep, and He was also saying that other believers who aren’t Jewish are His sheep also. Both sets of sheep will come together and become one flock! He also explained why the Lord God the Father loves Him: because He is prepared to lay down His life for His people so that they will be able to have eternal life and not perish. That’s how Christians can say ‘The Lord is my shepherd, I will have everything I need,’ like King David wrote in Psalm 23.
Trying to juggle the world? Trying to keep your faith and be accepted by the world at the same time? We can't always have both, but remember: be joyful! …And thankful because our place is not in this fallen world, but with God! If you have turned to Him, then He is preparing a place for you in heaven. Someday, maybe soon, He is going to take His church (us!) out of this Earth to be with Him.
- Thessalonians (for hope for the future)
Our newest congregation member…
o This is a ch - - ch. What is missing? (U R)
Bible Society began when committed Christians realised that people all over the world should be able to encounter God’s Word for themselves. Two hundred years later the worldwide work continues through a global alliance of more than 130 Bible Societies. Together, they are making the Bible heard through translation and distribution, as well as through producing Scriptures in formats such as video, audio-cassette, CD, computer games, the internet, Braille, literacy programmes, and even comics. Though Bible Society began in 1804, the work quickly grew and soon other national Bible Societies were established, like the Netherlands in 1814 and the United States in 1816. Bible Societies looked for ways of co-ordinating their work and in 1946 the United Bible Societies (UBS) was founded.
For the Netherlands, 2004 means two reasons to celebrate: the bicentenary of the worldwide Bible Society movement and the national Society’s own 190th anniversary. To mark the two birthdays over 26-27 March, workshops are planned with titles such as, What is vision and how do you get it? and Bible work is church work, as well as others on topics such as young people and the Bible and discovering your gifts. On the Saturday, the keynotes will be celebration, gratitude and looking to the future. The Society is hoping that the Dutch Prime Minister, Jan Peter Balkenende, will accept its invitation to be the guest speaker.
The Bible Society in Kazakhstan celebrates its 10th anniversary in March. Members will be holding a special meeting to mark the anniversary, the Society will publish a book recounting the history of its first 10 years and a number of churches will hold fundraising Bible Sundays.
This year marks a double celebration in Switzerland because Bible work started in the city of Basel in the same year that Bible Society began here. One of Bible Society’s founders, the Rev Karl Steinkopf, was at the time the pastor of a German-speaking church in London. He lost no time in telling friends in Basel about the development in London and urged them to undertake a similar project, which they did. By 1806 the new organisation had become the main publisher of German Bibles. The Swiss have announced a musical competition as part of the bicentenary programme. Entrants are being asked to compose a special piece of music based on Psalm 116, the winning composition to be given its first performance in November at Basel Cathedral, the location of a thanksgiving service for the work of the Swiss Bible Society on the following day.
A campaign using popular public figures to promote Bible reading is among a range of bicentenary projects being developed by the South American regional centre. The Bible Is My Guide will convey the simple message that the featured personality regards the Bible as "my guide" and posters are likely to play a central role. For example, a poster of a star Christian footballer will carry the words "Football is my passion, the Bible is my guide," together with contact details for the Bible Society. There will be products such as caps and T-shirts saying "The Bible is My Guide".Jesus said to them again 'Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, so I send you.'
John Ch. 20 v.22
Pray for or about:
| Thursday | 1st | The Terrorist attack in Madrid, those still suffering and those mourning |
| Friday | 2nd | Church cleaning day tomorrow |
| Saturday | 3rd | Children presenting the Easter play tomorrow |
| Sunday | 4th | Palm Sunday Service and Evening Communion |
| Monday | 5th | The Music Group |
| Tuesday | 6th | Revd Roger Collins and the Deacons meeting tonight |
| Wednesday | 7th | Premature Baby Units including Doctors and Nurses |
| Thursday | 8th | Maundy Thursday -- our shared meal and Communion |
| Friday | 9th | All on the 'Walk of Witness' & all in the 'C.T in .T' Service |
| Saturday | 10th | John & Maria Dyer our Link Missionaries in Brazil |
| Sunday | 11th | CHRIST IS RISEN -- HALLELUJAH !!! Come, praise the LORD |
| Monday | 12th | Safety for all travellers on road, sea and in the air |
| Tuesday | 13th | Wycliffe Bible translators and their continuing work |
| Wednesday | 14th | People meeting for Prayer and Bible study |
| Thursday | 15th | Christian Jews everywhere - often persecuted |
| Friday | 16th | Eye Specialist Units - give thanks for people who have received help |
| Saturday | 17th | Plans for the future of our Church buildings |
| Sunday | 18th | Come to the Lord's table with grateful, humble hearts |
| Monday | 19th | All children and innocent sufferers in Iraq |
| Tuesday | 20th | Mabel Johnson, elderly and now confined to her home |
| Wednesday | 21st | Queen's birthday-- a Blessing on her Prince Philip and family |
| Thursday | 22nd | GB Girls, Officers and Helpers meeting tonight |
| Friday | 23rd | Those bereaved of loved ones recently |
| Saturday | 24th | Innocent victims of crime and their families |
| Sunday | 25th | Mrs Jill Day our visiting speaker for the morning |
| Monday | 26th | The Bible Society still working after so many years |
| Tuesday | 27th | Mr Perrin & Mark who work for us |
| Wednesday | 28th | Mrs Ward who is not able to get out and about as she used to |
| Thursday | 29th | Organ donors and all they help |
| Saturday | 30th | BB Officers and Boys meeting each week |
They said to each other, 'Wasn't it like a fire burning in us when he talked to us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?'
Luke 24 v32
Prayer Calendar for May 2004
The world and all that is in it belongs to the LORD; the earth and all that are on it are his.
Psalm 24 v1
Pray for or about
| Saturday | 1st | Shirley Peart still waiting for the trial at the Old Bailey |
| Sunday | 2nd | All on parade and the visiting speaker |
| Monday | 3rd | Jaap, Louise and the Music Group |
| Tuesday | 4th | Deacon's Meeting and all to be discussed |
| Wednesday | 5th | Lay Preachers Association and Thornton Reid |
| Thursday | 6th | Prime Minister and all Members of Parliament |
| Friday | 7th | May Richards preparing for the Festival in aid of Sickle Cell & Thalassaemia |
| Saturday | 8th | RNLI and the constant help they give to save people |
| Sunday | 9th | Visiting Speaker for today |
| Monday | 10th | Pastoral Care Group meeting tonight |
| Tuesday | 11th | For Hospices and all staff caring for patients |
| Wednesday | 12th | Olive Persson unable to join us at Church because of Arthritis |
| Thursday | 13th | Members of Local Government in your area |
| Friday | 14th | Vi Maddison BB Officer and Church Secretary |
| Saturday | 15th | Our Speaker for tomorrow Mr Ian Powell |
| Sunday | 16th | Communion Service today -- bring your petitions to the Lord's Table |
| Monday | 17th | Janette Whitehead and all she organises for Sunday School |
| Tuesday | 18th | London Taxi Drivers who take children on outings |
| Wednesday | 19th | Child Protection Society & the good work they do |
| Thursday | 20th | London City Missioners constantly witnessing |
| Friday | 21st | Thanks for the skill of Val Paskell now playing the piano each Sunday |
| Saturday | 22nd | Give thanks for the past 173 years of our Sunday School |
| Sunday | 23rd | Pray Meeting, Young people, parents & special Speaker at our SS Anniversary |
| Monday | 24th | Thanks for past services of Lena Starling in Sunday School |
| Tuesday | 25th | Children unable to understand properly or read & write |
| Wednesday | 26th | Thanks for all organ donors who help so many others |
| Thursday | 27th | One-parent families & the care children need |
| Friday | 28th | Many other youth groups i.e. Scouts, Guides, Sea Cadets etc |
| Saturday | 29th | Fairness in all sports and the drug abusers |
| Sunday | 30th | Whit Sunday and the guidance of the Holy Spirit |
| Monday | 31st | Christians witnessing in their workplace |
Who is this great king? The triumphant Lord --- he is the great king!
Psalm 24 v10