LOOKING INTO THE FACE OF JESUS – A call to Intimacy.
At the time Mary wrote this poem in 2020, she had been reading in John’s gospel about Jesus washing the feet of His disciples. She imagined how He had looked into each face and loved them, just as they were. She realised He was saying Goodbye to each one as He knew that His death was imminent. God was speaking to her about not detaching her emotions, as she often did, but to allow herself to respond to God’s love as she looked into the face of Jesus.
LOOKING INTO THE FACE OF JESUS
Let’s not detach ourselves
Or our emotions
Away from Jesus, or from one another;
Instead, let’s respond;
Like a baby responds to his mother’s face,
As we look into Your face, Jesus
May we respond with love, with joy and with empathy;
Not giving up, getting frustrated
Or crying out in pain!
Your attention and engagement with us is alive,
It is Life itself!
You are always there,
Looking into our faces,
Loving, caring, approving and encouraging,
Being PRESENT with us.
May my face reflect Yours, Jesus,
I want to serve others,
My whole being focussed upon them!
May I drink in Your ever-present love and approval;
And reflect Your love to those whom You show me,
Every day.
Detachment is not an option
Even if others do so, I will not go there!
Jesus, I am looking into Your face,
Receiving Your love,
As it fills my cup to overflowing,
And becoming a love stream,
Totally focussed on serving and pouring out Your love
Upon the one in front of me.
(Mary Bain August 2020)
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Imelda Clements began the worship time with a song she had written, on the same theme, which was amazing!
Here are some words from the chorus:-
Look at You, I just want to look at you…
I’m away on the wind
chasing You where You will go
I’m intoxicated
By You and You alone.
Following on from the 
Dear Partners and Friends of Welcome Network,
As a group, we are planning a major Fire in the North gathering on Saturday 2nd September. This will bring together leaders, church pioneers, evangelists, worship, prophetic, intercessor and wider view people from across Northumberland and the North East to look at how we might encourage and nurture what God is already doing here! The venue this time will be in Alnwick; and then, later in the autumn, we will be hosting an evangelistic weekend here-in North Northumberland, with our Manchester evangelist friend, Wayne Hudson. In February, he came across to meet some wider view people as well as local church pioneers. We believe this is part of a general focus on evangelism and harvest. We are calling in the ‘strong wood’ to help us, especially in prayer, as we feel that God has some “Mighty Oak” praying ones to stand with us! Mary and I will also be helping to co-ordinate prayer ministry at 
It was as if we had pressed the PAUSE button; (Do you know that feeling?) and now God was giving us the same stepping out words He had given to us a year ago, because we had hardly moved out on them! Sometimes God reveals the plan only when we take a step! (e.g.Joshua had to cross the Jordan before he received God’s plan for taking Jericho! Joshua 5:13-6:5) As we enter 2023, let’s look over the promises and plans God has given us, and take a big step FORWARD in faith, knowing that He is Immanuel -“God with us”!
AUSTRALIA and PHILIPPINES – Autumn, this year, was a wonderful adventure with four weeks spent in Melbourne, Australia, with our son, Jonathan, daughter-in-law, Dolly, and two young grandsons, Edward and Henry. It was a real family- focussed time; full of the simple joys and everyday routines of life, celebrating birthdays, reading stories and play times, as well as discovering the unique flora and fauna of the area! A great break from our normal routines!
FIRE IN THE NORTH In September we hosted this amazing revival gathering at Howick Hall with fifty leaders from all across Northumberland. It was a significant time of worship, prophetic prayer, speaking out declarations, networking and encouraging one another. We sense God’s leading to continue to bring together those who are eager for God’s fire- His love, passion and compassion, to transform our region of the North East of England! Watch this space!
OUR VILLAGE – We love living in Shilbottle and helping to share God’s love as village chaplains. This year we held a Jubilee Garden Party in our prayer garden, Albafarne; we co-ordinated the outdoor Remembrance Day service at the war memorial and are posting a Christmas Gospel newspaper and prayer card through the doors of all the 800 houses. Mary is very happy to again be part of a team taking Open the Book into the local village school.
FAMILY NEWS – It was a great joy this year to welcome our seventh grandchild Jack, born in May to our daughter, Esther and husband Martin. He is now six months and doing well! In July, we celebrated our youngest daughter, Vicky, and one of our sons in law, Scott, as they graduated as doctors! 