Dear friends,
Warmest greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Well, it’s been a busy week of announcements for churches. Since I last wrote All Saints’ has opened the building for private prayer and the government have announced a timetable for churches to begin meeting again (not before the 4th July).
Both of these involve significant planning to allow for social distancing and safety for all involved. We feel it is not yet the right time to open St Mary’s for prayer and I’d be happy to chat about how we’ve come to that decision. We’re preparing so that in due course we might be able to offer the church building for small funerals.
We pleased that All Saints’ Gobowen is now open on Wednesday afternoons from 2-4pm. Any are welcome to come for private prayer. A welcomer will be there to help explain hygiene and social distancing for all our safety.
Please pray for all those planning and deciding when we can reopen for our services. We know that (at least initially) our meetings will look and feel very different for a while.
With my prayers,
Steve
Welcome & Preparation
"For the wages of sin is death,
but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
(Romans 6:23)
Almighty God, to whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hidden: cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Hymn
Praise him! praise him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
Confession
"Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest." (Hebrews 2:18–3:1)
Almighty God, our heavenly Father, we have sinned against you
and against our neighbour
in thought and word and deed, through negligence, through weakness, through our own deliberate fault.
We are truly sorry and repent of all our sins. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, who died for us, forgive us all that is past and grant that we may serve you in newness of life to the glory of your name. Amen.
Remembering God’s gracious gift, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23)
Word of God
Our readings today are Matthew 10:40-42 (read by Helen from All Saints') and Romans 6:15-23.
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
Sermon: Does grace encourage sin?
Hymn
There is a Redeemer
Prayers
Our prayers this morning are led in the video below by Alan from St Mary’s.
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.
Conclusion
Almighty God, you have broken the tyranny of sin and have sent the Spirit of your Son into our hearts whereby we call you Father: give us grace to dedicate our freedom to your service, that we and all creation may be brought to the glorious liberty of the children of God; 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. Amen.
Hymn
I will sing the wondrous story