COVID Update: Jan 2021

We know our hope is in our Lord Jesus. We belong to him in all circumstances. Our country has entered a new national lockdown, and to support the efforts to reduce the risk of transmission, we have taken the decision not to meet in person at church at the moment. We will suspend services until the end of February.

We long to be able to meet again as a church family and we pray that we will soon be able to do this safely. Until then, please let me know if I can help with practical support, prayer or conversation.

This Sunday I will send an online service so that we can join together in heart from home. And you are also welcome to join us by Zoom for a group chat from 12:00-12:30pm. I will send details by Sunday.

Many churches are also providing extra online resources at the moment which you might find helpful. I've been particularly encouraged by the St Ebbe's daily service.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus… And the God of peace will be with you." (Philippians 4:6-7, 9)

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” (Romans 12:12)

In our Lord Jesus,
Steve

Online Service: John 1

Prayer Diary: January-March 2021

Our very many thanks to Dorothy Pedley for compiling the Gobowen Prayer diary. We’re sorry it can’t be distributed in normal way, but it is available here:

Online Service: Galatians 4:4-7

Finding Christmas

Join us to celebrate Christmas this year. Below are details of all our events. Please get in touch here – we’d love to hear from you.

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

— John 1:14 NIV

Book Here for our Candlelit Carols

Candlelit Carols Booking Form

Christmas Day Service

Online Nativity Service

Online Service – Luke 1:26-38 – "Do not be afraid"

Online Service: John 1:19-28

Online Service – Mark 1:1-8

Keeping Going — Hope in tough times

Can Jesus be trusted? — Hope in tough times

What is God doing? – Hope in tough times

Remembrance Sunday Service

You're warmly invited to join us for this morning's service online at this link. Today we are using a youtube playlist so each part of the service should follow on. (If you would like the Act of Remembrance to fall at 11am, you should aim to start the playlist at about 10:53am.)

Update: 5th Nov

Dear Friends,

You may be aware that as part of the national lockdown, we will not be meeting in church for the next four Sundays. While it is a great sadness not to be able to meet together, we are determined to praise our gracious Lord.

I invite you to join us for our online services this Sunday and I will send you a link later in the week. You’re also invited to join us for a virtual coffee time to meet and chat together afterwards. 

This Sunday is also Remembrance Sunday so there will be a small wreath-laying act of Memorial, both in St Mary’s Churchyard and at the Gobowen Memorial, from about 10:50am. We have been asked to discourage people from attending in person at these events. The full guidance can be viewed here https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-authority-preparations-for-remembrance-sunday/local-authority-preparations-for-remembrance-sunday 

At this time, we need to remember that we are not alone or forgotten:

"He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." (1 Thessalonians 5:10–11) 

May we encourage one another and stand firm in our Risen Christ.

With my prayers for you all,
Steve

Gift of Life Service

4pm, 1st November, All Saint’s Church

A service to remember with thanksgiving those whom we love and miss.

Jesus said, “I am the resurrection and the life.
The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;
and whoever lives by believing in me will never die.”
(John 11:25–26) 

You are warmly invited you to join us for a service of remembering, at 4pm on Sunday 1st November, All Saints’ Church, Chirk Road, Gobowen. 

Any are welcome to join us, however long-standing or recent their bereavement. We hope that this will be both a help and a comfort to you and your family. No amount of time ever makes the sense of loss any less acute. Our prayer is that this service may be a small help in your journey.

If you are able to join us, please can you book online (using the form below) or call the vicarage on 01691 590 564 so we can manage capacity in the building. We also remind you that you will need to wear a face covering. As you arrive you will be guided on social distancing within the building as providing information for NHS Test & Trace.

See our privacy policy at http://www.allsaintsgobowen.uk/privacy

Resources for Sunday 25th October – 1st November 2020

This week Rev. Alan Reynolds has kindly prepared our reflection. Our very many thanks for his preparation and teaching.

"Oh, magnify the LORD with me,
and let us exalt his name together!" (Psalms 34:3)

Hymn

Confession

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.  1 Timothy 1:15

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, we have sinned against you, through our own fault, in thought and word and deed, and in what we have left undone.  For your Son our Lord Jesus Christ’s sake, forgive us all that is past, and grant that we may serve you in newness of life, to the glory of your name.  Amen.

May the Father forgive us by the death of his Son and strengthen us to live in the power of the Spirit all our days. Amen.

Word of God

Please read Psalm 34:1-10 (available online here).

Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead. On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.

Word of God

Please read Revelation 7:9-17 (available online here) and Matthew 17:14-27 (available online here).

Reflection: Matthew 17:14-27

When there are profound changes impacting upon life, there are 3 possible responses:

a)    Be like the 19th Century Luddites – going around smashing the newfangled industrial machines which are spoiling their settled ways of life.
b)    Be a revolutionary and embrace the new, and out with the old!
c)     Respond by attempting a middle way – evolution. Best of the old and best of the new.

Jesus for some was seen as a threat. For others, a sign of hope. Many in the middle – not sure – but happy enough to eat his bread and receive healing. Tensions soon appear. Jesus’ sayings are unsettling, even odd. (Matt. 18.8) ‘Cut off your hand/foot.’ (Matt. 17.21) ‘Faith can move mountains.’

(Matt. 19.24) ‘Camel & eye of the needle.’ In today’s reading in Matthew 17. 27 we have the strange word to Peter – Go and fish and use the coin in its mouth for the Temple Tax! Whether by parable or by sayings, Jesus invites us to go beyond the comfortable and familiar – into the deeper world of the Kingdom of God. This will be costly for all. (matt. 17.22)

The Coin and the Fish The hidden question behind the saying = Should we still be paying this Temple Tax when its all passing away (its worship practices and sacrifices.) (It’s also possible that by the time Matthew writes the Temple has been destroyed by the Romans – AD66)

This leads to the big questions = What is the nature of our life in God, in the Kingdom? Keep the old ways of Law and ritual or enter the new world of GRACE that is coming through Christ and his sacrifice?

 RELIGION and the Life of the Kingdom. We now live under Grace not Law. The problem with all Religion/Churches is we tend to become arthritic, even fossilized = out of touch with where the Spirit is leading. So we have the clash between old and new. e.g. New Testament updates – No eye for eye living/ All foods are clean/ Love is your weapon… 

STATE and CULTURE and the Life of the Kingdom. How do we respond to the World?

Rome = Authority, with persecutions. Today = our secular West invites a “me” centred freedom. We have the saying, “Render to Caesar …. Render to God ...” (Luke 20.25) Paul echoes a similar teaching (Romans 13) The issue throughout Christian history = How do we honour God with a life of integrity in an often hostile/apathetic world that is pagan or secular or with religious views we disagree with? This becomes a pressing problem today as our thousand year old British Christian culture continues to ebb away. We discover we live in a very pluralistic world.

The Shadow of the Cross. We note that in Matthew 17. 22-24, poignant words from Jesus. In the increasingly hostile response from the Authorities, he knows what lies ahead. There will be suffering – death – but also life in the Father’s Kingdom. The Cross will not only cast a SHADOW over everything – it will be a SCANDAL – a criminals death. Could there be no other way? Does Grace and forgiveness require such sacrificial love? Unfortunately our human history shows throughout – Church or State do not like challenge! Any reforming/transforming – ideas, beliefs, ways of living – come at a heavy price.

Power does not simply ‘roll over!’. Jesus is aware of this: “New wine requires new wineskins.” (Matt.9.17) Truth and Grace and integrity will find a way. 

Neither the Temple or even mighty Rome last. We should remember that all life is transitory. Learn how to stand back and see God’s biggest picture. We are on a moving escalator. What survives of the past are the eternal truths that keep coming to us – asking us to step up – discover the right path – find the healing grace for our destructive desires. “ME” / “US” are not the final things.

What survives is the – LIFE – LOVE – LIGHT that constantly flows from God, through Christ.

Prayers

Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: help us so to hear them, to read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them that, through patience, and the comfort of your holy word, we may embrace and for ever hold fast the hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

You may like to continue with your own prayers and the Lord’s Prayer using the following pattern, filling in what you would ask for them:

Gracious Father, we pray for our families …
... for those who live near us …
… for school pupils, teachers and other staff …
… for our key workers, leaders and government …
… for those who are sick or grieving …
… for our brothers and sisters in Christ all around the world …
… for the persecuted, broken and hurting …
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Conclusion

Merciful God, teach us to be faithful in change and uncertainty, that trusting in your word and obeying your will we may enter the unfailing joy of Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

Hymn

APCM Information

Parish of All Saint’s Hengoed with Gobowen

The Annual Parochial Church Meeting will be held via Zoom (please contact us for details to log in or see the notice on the church doors or mailing list) at 6pm on the twentieth day of October 2020.

• For election of parochial representatives of the laity as follows –
  To the Deanery Synod 3 representatives.
  To the Parochial Church Council 3 representatives.

• For the appointment of the Independent Examiner or Auditor.

• For the consideration of:
  (a) a report on changes to the Roll since the last annual parochial church meeting
  (b) an Annual Report on the proceedings of the parochial church council and the activities of the parish generally;
  (c) the financial statements of the council for the year ending on the 31st December preceding the meeting;
  (d) the annual report on the fabric, goods and ornaments of the church or churches of the parish;
  (e) a report of the proceedings of the deanery synod;
  and (f) other matters of parochial or general Church interest.

In this Notice, ‘parish’ means an ecclesiastical parish.

Below are some of the documents issued along side this notice. Official copies are in the church porch for inspection including the updated Electoral Roll. Note: As this is a postponed meeting from March 2020, these documents were drafted in March and mostly relate either to the financial year Jan-Dec 2019 or the year Apr 2019-Mar 2020. Matters not covered in these will be included in a report for the annual meeting scheduled for March 2021.

Harvest 2020

Our Harvest Celebrations this year will be as part of our services on the Sundays of 11th and 18th October. We are thankful for the hard work of all who have helped provide in the past months: farmers, support workers, pickers, delivery services, shops, many others … and of course our all-providing Lord too. Any donations will support the Oswestry Foodbank. If you feel able to offer help to others at this time, you can give money or goods to support the vulnerable households through the foodbank.

ï To give money, you can either give by bank transfer (see here) or by giving at one of our Sunday services. The Gift Aid form is available here.

ï To give goods, either items to a Harvest Service or you could drop them off at the collection point at Sainsbury’s in Oswestry. Urgently needed food items: jam, marmalade, honey, peanut butter, chocolate spread; ketchup, mayo, brown sauce and other sauces; rice pudding, custard; squash, fruit juice; tinned fruit; tinned vegetables, potatoes, instant mash; tinned fish (not tuna); hot chocolate; biscuits; porridge; deodorant, shampoo, shower gel, toothpaste

If you are staying at home and would like a gift to be collected please get in touch with me. Cheques/Gift Aid forms can be posted to Oswestry Foodbank, 56 Beatrice Street, Oswestry, Shropshire, SY11 1QW. 

Thank you! 

Harvest Service Resources for Sunday 11th October

"Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth.
Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the LORD is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture."
(Psalm 100:1–3)

Hymn

Word of God

Read Deuteronomy 8:7-18, to lead us in thankfulness whether in times of plenty or need.

A Prayer of Harvest Thankfulness

In a moment of silence, bring to God what you are thankful for at this time.

Lord God Almighty, we give you thanks for all the blessings of this life; for heath and strength, for the beauty of the world, for the kindness and love of family and friends, for opportunities of service and for the harvest of the land and sea. Accept our praise for these your gifts, and make us ever mindful of our dependence on you; for your Son, Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen.

Confession

“What can anyone give in exchange for their soul?” (Matthew 16:26)

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.

On seeing Jesus’ glory at his transfiguration, the disciples "fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” (Matthew 17:6–7)

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who of his great mercy has promised forgiveness of sins to all them that with hearty repentance and true faith turn to him; have mercy upon us, pardon and deliver us from all our sins, confirm and strengthen us in all goodness and bring us to everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Word of God

Read Matthew 16:21-17:13.

Reflection: Most Precious

“There are some things so dear, some things so precious,
some things so eternally true, that they are worth dying for.
 And I submit to you that if a man has not discovered something
 that he will die for, he isn’t fit to live.”
— Martin Luther King, 15 July 1965.

Some things in life are so precious they are worth dying for. Our passage asks us what is most precious in our life.

Maybe the past 9 months have led you to think about what really matters in life. Where people might have been living for their health, savings, family or comfort, all those have been shaken.

Here we are reminded of why Jesus is so supremely precious to us. We know him, follow him and worship him. He shows us his suffering and his glory.

His suffering

Firstly we see Jesus’ death and suffering:

"Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life." (Matthew 16:21)

The divine son of the living God, the Messiah, God’s chosen king chooses to come into this broken world, to walk the road to Jerusalem, to suffer and be killed. He denied himself and chose suffering for our sake. What else could be given in exchange for our souls but his perfect life? He chose this path for us, he chose the cross for you. His death is supremely and eternally valuable.  Nothing compares to him.

His glory

He shows us not only his death, but also his glory, to help us understand what is truly valuable.

"For the Son of Man is going to come in his Father’s glory with his angels, and then he will reward each person according to what they have done." (Matthew 16:27)

Jesus is often overlooked as a mere figure of history or a good teacher. But we know he is far more significant. Peter, James and John are given a glimpse of Jesus’ true divine glory.  In his first coming he had “no beauty or majesty to attract us to him" (Isaiah 53:2) but his disciples have glimpsed his glory at the transfiguration. 

When the disciples saw him “they fell on their faces and were terrified” such was his overpowering glory. “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" (Matthew 17:5) We know his glory as heaven’s precious Son; as the King of the Father’s coming kingdom. We know him as our salvation and life. Nothing compares to him.

We follow in his steps

So we follow in the footsteps of our precious Lord:

“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.” (Matthew 16:24)

To deny myself is to put Jesus in charge of my life. To take up my cross is to walk the way of daily death through his death and resurrection. We crucify our old way of life and, resurrected, we live empowered by his transforming Spirit.

Some things in life are so precious they are worth dying for. Jesus’ suffering and glory open our eyes to his incomparable value in this life and the next. Our Lord who suffered and died for us is worth laying down our lives for. We follow the glorious King, whose kingdom is coming. Entering his kingdom and living with him in eternity is a greater treasure than all this world can offer.

Prayers

Almighty and everlasting God, increase in us your gift of faith that, forsaking what lies behind and reaching out to that which is before, we may run the way of your commandments and win the crown of everlasting joy; 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.

You may like to continue with your own prayers and the Lord’s Prayer using the following pattern, filling in what you would ask for them:

Gracious Father, we pray for our families …
... for those who live near us …
… for school pupils, teachers and other staff …
… for our key workers, leaders and government …
… for those who are sick or grieving …
… for the persecuted, broken and hurting …
Lord in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Conclusion

Christ give you grace to grow in holiness, to deny yourselves, take up your cross and follow him; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

Hymn