Dear Friends,
Warmest greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
I think it is our sixteenth Sunday since we met together, although it may be that we are close to being able to meet again in our buildings. I’ll write as soon as I know what our plans are.
We are working through guidance documents from the diocese and the national church, and our PCCs are hoping to meet virtually this coming week to decide a way forward. 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
Resources for Sunday 5th July 2020
“Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!”
(Romans 7:25)
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
All hail the power of Jesus’ name!
Confession
"Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!" (Romans 7:24–25)
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.
"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus," (Romans 8:1)
Word of God
Our reading today is Romans 7:7-25 (in the video below) and you may also like to read Matthew 11:16-30.
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: A problem in the law?
Song: Jesus strong and kind
This is a modern song that gently calls us to come to Jesus for his mercy and tender grace.
Prayers
Let us join together in prayer for these areas:
For our church: that we would be united in love and truth. And as we prepare to reopen to be able to do so safely and in a right manner, remembering those who may not be able to join us.
For our community: that with renewed freedom they may seek the Lord and his people, to find meaning and hope for this life and the next.
For our nation and world: for wisdom for our government and the global leaders to relieve the suffering caused by COVID-19. That Christian people worldwide would be salt and light in dark times.
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.
You may like to continue with your own prayers and the Lord’s Prayer.
Conclusion
O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: increase and multiply upon us your mercy; that with you as our ruler and guide we may so pass through things temporal that we lose not our hold on things eternal; grant this, heavenly Father, for our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.