Dear friends,
I hope you find the resources below an encouragement as we consider our place as exiles and strangers in this world. As ever if you need assistance with any practical needs or errands, I am happy to arrange and coordinate people with offers of help in the church family, so please get in touch.
From Thursday 21st I will be sending out some resources for the ten days to Pentecost as part of the global prayer initiative “Thy Kingdom Come.” It is a time to join together in prayer for our community and the world so I hope you can join with us.
It was lovely to see many faces for 'coffee time' after the service last week. This Sunday you are also invited to join us again via Zoom. Please email if you like to be sent the link
Also this evening at 6pm you are invited to join us for our Virtual Prayer Supper. We'll meet at 6pm and use the same login as today's coffee time.
With my warmest greetings in Christ,
Steve
Welcome
Hymn
This hymn reminds us of God’s amazing and saving grace to us in Jesus. Once found by him, we are his forever.
Confession
Christ our Passover lamb has been sacrificed for us. Let us therefore rejoice by putting away all malice and evil and confessing our sins with a sincere and true heart.
O King enthroned on high, filling the earth with your glory:
holy is your name, Lord God almighty.
In our sinfulness we cry to you to take our guilt away,
and to cleanse our lips to speak your word,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. (1 Peter 2:24)
Almighty God, who forgives all who truly repent, have mercy on us, pardon and deliver us from all our sins, confirm and strengthen us in all goodness and keep us in life eternal, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Song
Our next song is a favourite in our household, and reminds us that we can rely on God in every situation.
Word of God
Our readings today are Acts 17:22-31 and 1 Peter 3:8-4:11.
Creed
Let us declare our faith in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures; he was buried; he was raised to life on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures; afterwards he appeared to his followers, and to all the apostles: this we have received, and this we believe. Amen.
from 1 Corinthians 15.3-7
Reflection: A Life of Blessing
Prayers
Heavenly Father, our ever-present help in trouble, our fortress and our God: calm the anxious fears of all who turn to you; give strength and healing to those who are sick, and courage and skill to those who care for them; grant wisdom and clarity to those in authority; and humble us all to call upon you that we may be saved not only in this life, but also for that which is to come, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
God our redeemer, you have delivered us from the power of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of your Son: grant, that as by his death he has recalled us to life, so by his continual presence in us he may raise us to eternal joy; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Today's prayers are led by Geoff from All Saints' in the video.
Conclusion
"You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light." (1 Peter 2:9)
Go in the peace of Christ. Alleluia! Alleluia!
Thanks be to God. Alleluia! Alleluia!
Closing Hymn
As we're thinking about being a blessing, here's a sung blessing recorded recently by some UK churches. Let's pray for our nation and community that God would give the blessing of faith in Christ to many at this time.