Alpha is an informal, open and friendly way to explore the Christian faith on Thursday evenings at 7pm in St Mary's Community Room starting on January 15th. Alpha brings together people from all walks of life who are curious about faith. Each session starts with some time to eat, relax and get to know your group.Each session covers a different topic of faith, either in a short talk or video. The Alpha episodes are designed to engage and inspire conversation. They’re about thirty minutes long and explore the big issues around faith and unpack the basics of Christianity, addressing questions such as Who is Jesus?, How can we have faith? and How does God guide us?The last part of an Alpha is a chance to share your thoughts on the session’s topic and discuss it in your small groups. It’s an open and welcoming environment, no matter what your opinion. There’s no pressure to say anything, but the floor is yours if you do want to.______________________________________ALL ARE WELCOME (ADULTS 18+) It's free.CONTACT: Rev'd Rich Townend - Email: RevRichtea@gmail.com Tel: 01670 719470
Baptisms at Longframlington The Baptism (also known as a Christening) of a child is always a very joyful occasion. You can find out much more about Baptism here. Our baptisms take place in our 9:20am act of Sunday worship. If this is not convenient, we may also be able to do them later in the morning. Please complete the Baptism application form which you can find attached. What is it all about? Asking to have a child baptised or Christened (another name for the same occasion) demonstrates that you want God to have a real influence in the child’s life – not just on Christening Day, but for ever. At Baptism, God pours his Spirit into us (demonstrated by the ‘washing’ with water) and we become truly his (symbolized by being ‘signed’ with a cross). So the person being christened becomes Christ’s and a member of Christ’s family, the Church. Being part of the church and sharing in its worship, learning and service over many years means that we grow in understanding about what it means to be a Christian and are strengthened in our witness and service. What we hope for is to be close to God – now and in Heaven, once this earthly life is over. How can I arrange this? Contact the Vicar, The Rev’d Rich Townend (01670 719470) to talk things through in plenty of time in advance, or complete a form, which can be found above. Normally you must live within the parish of Longframlington, or attend worship here regularly or have had some contact with the church in the past. If you don’t live within Longframlington parish, you will also need to contact your local parish priest to inform them that your child is getting baptised outside of their parish. Once the form is completed and returned, we will invite you to come and worship with us and invite you and the godparents to a preparation session. A child being Christened, usually has godparents – perhaps up to three, but at least one. Godparents have themselves to have been baptised as they make important pledges on the child’s behalf. Parents and godparents should be aware of these promises to make sure they are in agreement with them. More details about what these promises are can be found here: https://www.churchofengland.org/life-events/christenings/guide-godparents/godparents-promises What happens after the service? We hope that you will continue to bring your children to worship with us and play a full part as members of the Church family. We can baptise people of any age, though by the age of 12 onwards, we’d expect this to be followed by Confirmation. For further information about Baptism, see the Church of England’s website – www.churchofengland.christenings.org We will do our best to make this a joyful and memorable day for you and your family and friends!
In a September 2023 posting on the Tearfund website under the title Hearing God's word and whisper for global justice, Pete Greig argues that we must regard prayer as a conversation with God - and rather than "talking at him" we should start by listening to what he has to say to us. It is also relevant to our prayers for the more recent eruption of violence in Gaza and the ongoing tensions between Israelis and Palestinians, that have generated much comment and practical support to the different parties involved from national leaders across the world.Prayer should be a two-way conversation, as exemplified by Jesus in his prayers during Holy Week when despite his anxiety about his forthcoming death he accepted that it was all part of his Father's plan for mankind. It is equally important that we seek to see the problems and issues in the world the way our God and Father does, and not to be unduly influenced by the wide range of opinions that surround us. To do this we need to immerse ourselves in understanding what our Heavenly Father has to say to us in the words of scripture. And to remember that Jesus' criticism of the scribes and pharisees was about their focus on their status and the trivia of religious practice while neglecting the poor and underprivileged, whom they perhaps regarded as undeserving.Pete Greig suggests that: 1. Our prayers should be a slow, painful conversation with the Lord who is already there in the midst of the suffering.2. When we fail to listen we may feel guilt and exhaustion because it’s utterly impossible to keep up with all the world’s problems.3. When we talk without listening our prayers are from our personal, subjective perspective - not necessarily the same as God’s!.He suggests three practical pointers, from his book How to Hear God, to help us grow in our ability to discern the voice of God.1. God speaks first and foremost through the Bible, so we must begin our search for his voice within its pages. Writings 2000 years ago could not imagine the world of the 21st century, but human nature and human needs are no different. So we must immerse ourselves in the Bible's teaching and listen for our Father to speak to us through it - as Pete Greig puts it, to listen for God's whisper. Especially in relation to the poor, oppressed and dispossessed - whether they are on our doorstep or half a world away from us. So, he writes, "we must begin by listening to God’s word about injustice in scripture with a willingness to be challenged."2. God's whisper in silence: Greig writes: When praying for justice, I try to begin by sitting quietly, wordlessly holding the situation before the Lord. In these moments of stillness I may sigh deeply, allowing the situation to affect my own heart and becoming aware, as I do so, that God is neither distant nor dispassionate. Learn to listen for the ‘still, small voice’ of God in the quietness. Listen for "God's whisper in the silence"3. God's word for us in the wider culture: Keep our eyes and ears open to anything God may be saying through the world he’s made. The great theologian Karl Barth argued that we need ‘the Bible in one hand and the newspaper in the other.’ So we must listen for God’s word for those on the margins from those on the margins. We don’t have to travel far to find the voices of those who are disregarded, despised or oppressed. God himself speaks to us as we learn to listen carefully and prayerfully to their lives.The above material is a summary of material posted on the Tearfund website in September 2023 under the title Hearing God's word and whisper for global justice
A prayer for the Holy Land from the Archbishop of Canterbury, shared in October 2023A prayer for the people of the Holy LandGod of compassion and justice,We cry out to you for all who suffer in the Holy Land today. For your precious children, Israelis and Palestinians, traumatised and in fear for their lives; Lord, have mercy.For the families of the bereaved, for those who have seen images they will never forget, For those anxiously waiting for news, despairing with each passing day; Lord, have mercy.For young men and women, heading into combat, bearing the burden of what others have done and what they will be asked to do; Lord, have mercy.For civilians in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank, that they would be protected, that every life would count, and be cherished and remembered; Lord, have mercy.For the wounded, and those facing a lifetime of scars, for those desperately seeking medical treatment where is none; Lord, have mercy.For medical and emergency personnel, risking their own lives to save those of others; Lord, have mercy.For those who cannot see anything but rage and violence, that you would surprise them with mercy, and turn their hearts towards kindness for their fellow human beings; Lord, have mercy.For people of peace, whose imagination is large enough to conceive of a different way, that they may speak, and act, and be heard; Lord, have mercy.Mighty and caring God, you promised that one day swords will be beaten into ploughshares, meet us in our distress, and bring peace upon this troubled land.Amen Prayer shared by the Archbishop of Canterbury, October 2023
