We were delighted to commission Richard Clothier as our Authorised Pastoral Assistant at our service this morning. If you would like a pastoral visit for yourself or for a loved one please contact us in the first instance, via a message to this page or through our Facebook page, or by email to our office on stpeterschurchsheringham@gmail.comPlease keep Richard in your prayers. We give thanks for his ministry in our parish.
God is LoveIn some of the very last pages of the Bible immediately before Revelation can be found three letters by John. The writing is in a similar style to that of the Gospel of John. The firstletter is a meditation on the Love of God; it is the sort of writing that is well suited for study at home. One way to find the best from the writing and also to enhance our Christian living is to take say five minutes in a busy day, every day, sit quietly and read a verse or three in a group; then close your eyes and let the words wander around in your head. Each time, think around what it means to Love God; think around how God’s love for you makes a difference to life; think around how your love for God makes a difference to how you view life; think around how you may put the love of God to better support your relationships with other people. That is a lot to get through in 5 minutes, so it may turn out to be 10 minutes. But, hey, this method has sustained Christians for 20 centuries; it is an approach that can support you in your Christian life.Today’s reading from the first letter of John is provided below for ease of access and to get you started on the method. After a few days, when you have worked your way through the verses, there are two options: a) start this section again repeating the meditation; or b) meditate on another section of the letter.There are so many memorable snippets in John’s first letter: It is a wonderful thought he brings out that “God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.” (verse 16). And verse 9 is at the heart of the Christian message - “God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him.”As St Paul writes somewhere, “Think on these things.” 1 John 4. 7 - 217 Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 God’s love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us, and his love is perfected in us.13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world. 15 God abides in those who confess that Jesus is the Son of God, and they abide in God. 16 So we have known and believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. 17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. 19 We love[a] because he first loved us. 20 Those who say, “I love God,” and hate a brother or sister are liars, for those who do not love a brother or sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.The Revd Malcom France
Alleluia. Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed. Alleluia!Lord, direct our thoughts, and teach us to pray. Lift up our hearts to worship you in spirit and in truth, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.‘From you comes my praise in the great congregation; my vows I will pay before those who fear him. The poor shall eat and be satisfied; those who seek him shall praise the Lord. May your hearts live for ever!’ (Psalm 22:25-26)Hymn: Love Divine, All Loves Excelling...Acts 8:26-40; 1 John 4:7-21Let us pray: Most merciful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we confess that we have sinned in thought, word and deed. We have not loved you with our whole heart. We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves. In your mercy forgive what we have been, help us to amend what we are, and direct what we shall be; that we may do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with you, our God. Amen.May the God of love bring us back to himself, forgive us our sins, and assure us of his eternal love in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.Prayer for the day: Risen Christ, your wounds declare your love for the world and the wonder of your risen life: give us compassion and courage to risk ourselves for those we serve, to the glory of God the Father. Amen.John 15:1-8Please see the Message from the Minister.Hymn: O Jesus I have Promised...Let us kneel before God in prayer, asking for his cleansing love to be known to all people. We pray for St Peter’s Church, that your love will be seen in all we do, to your glory; We pray for our world, that all of its creatures will thrive, and for peace in the world; We pray for our friends, families and community, that we may share in the love of Christ; We pray for people who are sick or suffering, that they will know healing and strength; We remember the departed, and pray for all who mourn.Let us join in the words of the Lord’s prayer, whoever and wherever we are:Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power, and the glory for ever and ever. Amen.May the love of the Lord Jesus draw us to himself, the power of the Lord Jesus strengthen us in his service, the joy of the Lord Jesus fill our hearts; and may the blessing of God Almighty who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit rest upon us and and be with us always.Amen.Let us go in peace to love and serve the Lord, in the name of Christ. Amen.
The certificate for our silver A Rocha EcoChurch Award was presented to our church family during this morning’s service, with many thanks to Paul and all who worked so hard to achieve it.
