Wind – Holy Spirit breathe on us A dinghy has no power other than the wind – breathe on me breath of God SoF 51 Luke 11 v 13, Acts 1 v8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.

3 Topper dinghies at Aberdovey

Hull – the body of the man A thousand times I’ve failed SoF 1718 For we have treasures in jars of clay. 2 Corinthians 4 v But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

Sailor – the soul of the man The dinghy is left on the shore and the sailor (soul) continues. UNDER the wide and starry sky Dig the grave and let me lie: Glad did I live and gladly die, And I laid me down with a will. This be the verse you engrave for me: Here he lies where he longed to be; Home is the sailor, home from the sea, And the hunter home from the hill. Robert Louis Stevenson Epitaph on the island of Samoa

Sail and Mast – receiving the wind Your love, shining like the sun SoF 1674 Be filled with the Spirit – Ephesians 5 v Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Sail and Mast – receiving the wind

Sheets and Boom - Prayer Father, hear the prayer we offer SoF 1229 Matthew 6 v 9-15, Mark 11 v “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Centre Board - faith All heaven declares SoF 10 Romans 3 v This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. 25 God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith.

Rudder – purpose and deeds All the way my saviour leads me SoF 1162 John 12:26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honour the one who serves me. James 2 v Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

Tack and Gybe don’t nose dive Tack is change of direction across the wind. Speed close to the wind direction, then turn the rudder sharply until close to the wind on the other side, the boom swings across and you have to duck your head. Gybe is similar but away from the wind direction and so more violent and not to be done when the wind is very strong or you are likely to capsize. Don’t sail directly down wind in a gale or the nose will go under and the dinghy will then capsize.

God is Spirit His all pervading power is touching every situation. He’s in control. Philippians 2:13 … it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

Trust in God Philippians 4:19-20 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.