Online we shall be providing worship materials for Holy Week and hope you will be able to join us for prayer and preparation for Easter Day.In Church our plans for Holy Week are:Maundy Thursday: 6pm a Memorial Parish meal, followed by hand washing (instead of foot washing) and Communion Good Friday: 12 noon Simple Parish breakfast as we recall overnight events, then a walk of witness to recall the stations of the cross, then meditation at the foot of the cross.Holy Saturday: 6pm Service of Light (a short service), followed by a simple celebration tea of sandwiches (no ham) and cake.Easter Day: 10am Parish communion service in both kinds.
Readings: Isaiah 6; Psalm 138; 1 Corinthians 15v1-11; Luke 5v1-11.Let us pray: May the words of my mouth and the thoughts and meditations of all our hearts be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer. AmenA word from Lucy: Today we begin our journey towards the season of Lent and begin with the beautiful vision seen by Isaiah of the Lord in heaven, attended by angels and God's calling to take a message of warning to all people. As we hear in this vision, God is so holy that none of us deserve to see God and live. Yet in spite of this, God asks us to join in and take part in taking God's messages to the world - and Isaiah says "Send me". Like Isaiah, the psalmist also carries a message to all people. A message that encourages us to worship and trust in God who watches over us with love, mercy and kindness. In the gospel we hear about Jesus calling fisherman and asking them to give up their jobs and work with him to catch people for God's kingdom. And, in the letter of Paul to the people in Corinth, we hear him sharing the wonderful news that Christ died to save us from our sins. Today, it is our turn to hear God's call: maybe to become a messenger for God, maybe to worship and put our trust in God, maybe to pursue new work for God or maybe to put our trust in Jesus who died to save us from our sin. I pray that all of us will hear and respond to God's call because if we do then we like Isaiah will see God in heaven and worship God alongside angels.Let us pray: Lord Jesus Christ, light of the nations and glory of Israel: keep us safe from all that can harm us and by your grace teach us to glorify your name in all the earth. Amen
5th Sunday of LentReadings: Ezekiel 37v1-14; Psalm 130; Romans 8v6-11; John 11v1-45.Let us pray: May the words of my mouth, and the thoughts and meditations of all our hearts, be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, our strength and our redeemer.A Word: The readings appointed for the 5th Sunday of Lent, show us something of God’s plan for humankind at the end of time, the last day, when heaven and earth as we know it comes to its end.The psalm tells us that our Lord and God is merciful, a God who redeems people from their sins, a God who is generous, a God we can put our hope in. For the psalm is a prayer of confidence in God’s compassion towards frail humanity.In Ezekiel we hear a vision in which the prophet finds himself in a valley full of dry bones, a place in which God tells the prophet to prophecy over the dry bones. Then, as the prophet did as instructed by God, the dry bones were rebuilt joint by joint, sinew by sinew, organ by organ, breath by breath; until a vast multitude of living people stood there. This vision shows us God's meaning in the promise to open the graves of His people and to give life to those with God’s spirit within them. For this vision shows us resurrection.In the gospel of John we hear about the death and revivification of Jesus’ friend Lazarus. This is a baffling account because Jesus delays his return in order to ensure that everyone knows for certain that Lazarus has really died. It is an ominous account because in it Jesus says that he is the resurrection and the life, the one who gives life to all who believe in Him. It is a mystifying account because even though Jesus has the power to raise Lazarus back to life, Jesus weeps at his friend's death. It is an awesome and astounding account because even though Lazarus has been dead for four days, Jesus returns him to life. In this miracle of the raising of Lazarus from death to life we are given a foretaste of the resurrection to life awaiting all who believe in Jesus who describes himself as the resurrection and life.Finally, in the letter to the Romans, we are told to set our minds on the Spirit of God if Christ dwells within us and to turn away from things of the flesh. For the Spirit of God dwells within those in whom Christ lives and this is the Spirit of God who resurrected Christ; the Spirit of God who makes us righteous because of Christ’s death; the Spirit of God who brings life and peace; the Spirit of God who resurrects from death all those who belong to Christ; the Spirit of God who gives life to mortal bodies. In this letter we are called to let Jesus into our lives, to turn ourselves towards heavenly matters and set our minds on Christ, so that the Spirit of God can dwell within us and lead us to the resurrection that will take place on the last day.Hear the word of the Lord and act on it, for the last day is coming for each one of us.Let us pray: Almighty God, we thank you for Jesus who saved the world by his death. Deliver all with faith in Jesus from the power of death. Teach us to follow in Jesus’ footsteps and to serve others, just as Jesus did for us. Then bring us at last to our heavenly home where we can worship God forever. AmenThank you for joining us.
Palm SundayPalm Sunday Prayer: Almighty and everlasting God, who in your tender love towards the human race sent your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ to take upon him our flesh and to suffer death upon the cross: grant that we may follow the example of his patience and humility, and also be made partakers of his resurrection; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, AMENReadings: Isaiah 50v4-9a; Psalm 118v1-2 & 19-end; Philippians 2v5-11; Luke 19v28-40 & Luke 23v1-49.Let us pray: May the words of my mouth and the thoughts and meditations of all our heart, be acceptable in your sight O Lord, our strength and our redeemer. AmenA thought for the season: Today as we recall Jesus’ final ride into Jerusalem we remember that the city was full of visitors and pilgrims getting ready to celebrate the Passover. Anyone who knew their scriptures would have known that the Messiah would enter Jerusalem riding on a colt. So it is no surprise that Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem, riding on a donkey was something that caused a sensation. Some excited that their long awaited Messiah had arrived. Others irritated and put out because Jesus did not fulfil their vision of what they thought the Messiah should be. So, in this way, the scene was set for the greatest battle ever. A battle between heaven and hell. A battle for the forgiveness of our sins. A battle that began with a sense of joyful expectation and the waving of palm branches, alongside conniving, scheming and machinations. A battle that we are called to join. For we are called to have the same mind as Christ which includes being humble and obedient to God’s ways and call. For Christ trusted His Father, in good and bad times.; and was prepared to risk everything for the love of God. Now, it is our turn. We are called to be a people who stand up for truth, righteousness and love. To be the people God wants us to be. The people that Jesus came to die for - so we might live forever in heaven.Let us Pray Lord, be with us today and everyday. Pour out your holy spirit that we may see your plans and purposes for our generation. Lord help us to recall the last week of your life. AmenOur Lenten Prayer: Gracious Father, You know us better than ourselves, we may try, but fall and fail, please may Your patience and love prevail. Lent is a personal time of reflection. Jesus spent wilderness hours tormented alone, even though He was true perfection. Lent is a needed challenge to us all. We are “comfortable” don’t want change. Test us, help us rise to meet You. Forgive us, re-order us to mirror your love. Help us not to hide away or shy away – to face our faults, the truth to know – that our love for You can somehow grow. Mortal life is short, we need a destination, atonement for our sins, not condemnation! (A prayer for Lent by Martin Kendrick, 25th February 2022).
