Resources for Sunday 30th August 2020

Dear Friends,

I pray you may you be encouraged by the riches of God’s grace for us in Christ Jesus.

I’ve included the resources for this coming Sunday (30th August). The next resources will be sent in two weeks time. In the intervening week (Sunday 6th September), I suggest you may enjoy considering Matthew 15:21-28. How does Jesus draw out a fuller expression of her faith?

Next time I write I hope to include some initial plans for how we can celebrate Harvest, and the other seasonal celebrations coming up. These will look different than usual so if you have good ideas to share please let me know.

With my prayers,
Steve

Resources for Sunday 30th August 2020

Jesus (walking on water) said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
 (Matthew 14:27)

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.

Confession

Consider these words of Jesus:

"The things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what defile a person; but eating with unwashed hands does not defile them.” (Matthew 15:18–20)

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28–30)

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.

"You are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21)

Word of God

Our readings today are Psalm 26, Romans 12:9-21 and Matthew 15:1-20.

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.

Reflection: A question of hand washing

For the past few months hand washing has hit the headlines more than any of us could have expected. As important as good hand hygiene is at the moment, the Pharisees have a very different concern. They are not concerned with hygiene but holiness.

Think of when Bobby Moore met the Queen. Its 1966, he’s just beaten Germany in the World Cup Final at Wembley and he now leads his team up the steps to receive the trophy from the Queen.  At some point up the steps he realises that his hands are covered in the mud of Wembley’s pitch. He doesn’t want to meet the Queen with mud on his hands. If you remember the footage, as he approaches the royal box, he is busily wiping his hands trying to get the mud off.

That is a common human feeling: of needing to clean ourselves up. Not before meeting the Queen but before our pure and powerful God.

It is with this sense of holiness that we have the question in Matthew 15:1-2. Jesus’ answer pulls no punches because it takes us to the heart of how humans relate to our God. We can think of this in two contrasts that are an enduring guide for Christians from Matthew’s first readers to us today.

1. Human tradition vs. the words of God

This contrast is clear in Jesus’ reply. "Why do you break the command of God for the sake of your tradition?" (Matthew 15:3).  Human traditions can sadly have a way of obscuring God’s word or even actively working against it.

Jesus uses an example about the fifth commandment, “Honour your Father and Mother.”  Imagine a son who had pledged to give to the temple.  Perhaps it was a bit like a legacy for the future.  But in the meantime, his parents are in need.  Does he keep God’s command to honour his parents, or his promise to the temple? He goes to the religious leaders for advice and they don’t release him from his pledge. By putting their own rules about giving above God’s commands, they allow and encourage people to break God’s law.  

Traditions have a danger of becoming distractions from God’s word.  I’m not meaning any particular traditions but all tradition.  Every culture has its traditions whether that’s sharing coffee after services, having small group discussions, particular postures in worship or rhythms of the year. What was begun helpfully to lead us to God and his promises, poses a danger when it is elevated to rival the authority of God’s word. If we follow that pathway Jesus shows us where it ends:

“These people honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me
 They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.” (Matthew 15:8–9)

It’s always healthy in church life to ask each other why we do things the way we do.  And when we answer we want our answers to come from God’s word. The truth is that the human heart has a tendency to turn any religious tradition into a scheme for self-righteousness. What began as a helpful devotion fossilises into an unbreakable rule, while God’s truth is forgotten. Keeping the rules becomes more important that rescuing the lost.

We might not have a legalistic culture but we do have a particular culture. Someone once defined culture as “the way we do things round here.”  If we’re honest we have our unwritten laws of what makes someone look ‘keen’.  We might think that looking ‘keen’ might mean helping on a rota or leadership role, being at prayer meetings or in a small group, or having a quiet time. We might think the keen people look organised and tidy like life is under control.  But none of these things are godliness in themselves.

This helps us respond well when someone questions what we do. It’s really healthy for us to explain our habits to someone else and to check whether they really do lead us towards God and his word. I know I can be so used to my own habits that I need others to engage with me about them, but when they do, I can thank them for a wonderful opportunity to examine whether my habits really are helping me keep God’s word.

It is so sad when ‘keeping the rules’ becomes more important than rescuing the lost. It’s the contrast between human religion and God’s word.

2. Outward purity at the expense of inner purity

Jesus goes on to explain what we also miss. When our traditions replace God’s word we will emphasise outward purity at the expense of inner purity. We forget that the heart of the human problem is the problem of the human heart.

Jesus’ example is about the ritual food laws: that purity does not come by what we eat but who we are, "For out of the heart come evil thoughts—murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander." (Matthew 15:19) We know that all of what Jesus mentions is in our hearts even if we keep it well hidden. Washing our hands doesn’t solve it.

All other human religion can be summarised in 5 letters: graft. Human religion says “you can do it if you work and graft hard enough.”  External purity (looking good on the outside) is hard but is easier than changing our hearts. True Christianity can be summarised not as graft but in 4 letters: gift. We know we are not clean in our hearts and, seeking mercy, we find the gift of grace. 

As an image of this, think of earlier in the chapter. Peter sees Jesus walking on water towards their boat and even this professional fisherman is terrified. And Jesus calls Peter out to walk to him on the water. As Peter begins to sink, he cries out “Lord, save me!”  Jesus doesn’t offer him swimming lessons. He does not throw him a life ring.  He takes his hand, catches him and together they climb into the boat. As he diagnoses our sinful hearts, he doesn’t say try harder to fix your problem. He doesn’t throw a life ring and tell us “now you’ll be ok, keep kicking your feet.” He shows grace. It’s as simple as crying out “Lord, save me!” and, in the swirling waves of our sinful hearts, he takes our hand and will rescue us.

Human religion offers no hope to those who know they need a rescuer. Those who know the truth of their hearts delight in a saviour offering the gift of grace.  And around this Christ, people do gather from every nation on earth.

We see this new community gathering around Jesus: more than 5000 gathered for a feast in the wilderness; the disciples worshipping, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” In the rest of chapter 15 outsiders include: the Gentile Woman and more than 4000 people gathering around this Christ and his grace.  Today people around the world recognise that they need the gift from a rescuer not the impossible burden of human religion. And one day all God’s people will gather face to face around his throne in worship of Christ. People who have been transformed by grace to truly honour him with their lips and hold him dear in their hearts.  People who, by a gift of grace, have truly clean hands.

Father, we know and admit the problem of our hearts and long for you to transform us. Please guard us from using our habits as ways of ignoring your word. Prevent us from distorting good traditions that fail to love you and others in righteousness. But may our church culture help us, and many others, towards you in love and ever increasing praise. For the glory of your name, Amen.

Hymn

Songs Of Praise, 5th May 2013

Prayers

Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to hear than we to pray and to give more than either we desire or deserve: pour down upon us the abundance of your mercy, forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid and giving us those good things which we are not worthy to ask but through the merits and mediation of 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.

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 returning …
… 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

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all evermore.  Amen.

(based on 2 Corinthians 13:14)

Resources for Sunday 16th August 2020

Warmest greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. This week we’re focussing on our reading from Matthew’s gospel (the feeding of the 5,000) as we see Christ’s complete ability to provide for his people.

I understand that many are not able to join us yet in our services and those who can come miss being able to all meet together and celebrate together as we are used to in song and sacrament. Please keep in touch and share encouragements and prayer needs.

This week’s resources are below. The next resources will be sent in two weeks time. In the intervening week (Sunday 23rd August), I suggest you may enjoy considering Matthew 14:22-36. How does Jesus show compassion, and care to his disciples?  How do the disciples grow in trust of him?

I’m so encouraged by the many ways I hear of people caring for one another and their neighbours. Christ is at work through his people.

With my prayers,
Steve

Resources for Sunday 16th August 2020

“I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 8:11)

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.

Confession

Consider these words of Jesus:

"I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:20)

"Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect." (Matthew 5:48)

Jesus said “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” (Matthew 4:17)

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.

"You are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” (Matthew 1:21)

Word of God

Our readings today are Isaiah 25:6-9 and Matthew 14:13-21.

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

Reflection: A feast in hard places

We all love times of celebration and we know that many of our celebrations involve food. Our celebrations come and go.  After the Christmas turkey comes January.  Soon after Easter all the chocolate and hot cross buns are eaten. A birthday cake soon goes stale.

But there is a feast that doesn’t fade away. Jesus says that people will come from the East and West to take their places in the heavenly feast (Matt 8:11). At the end of history there will be no more want or need. At the feeding of the 5000 Jesus is revealing that he is the host of heaven’s feast. He’s at the head of the table. The actual bread and fish are a foreshadowing of the final banquet for all his people.

We’ve just read what is possibly the most famous of all Jesus’ miracles. All four eyewitness accounts of Jesus’ life include the feeding of the 5000. If you’ve been in church a while you are probably very familiar with the story. But perhaps it is possible to be so familiar that we miss its wonderful significance. How much we need to hear this.

If we zoom out a little bit in Matthew’s gospel we see increasing division around Jesus.

In his hometown

In 13:35-58 Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth reject him and his teaching. Growing up in a village, they all know Jesus’ family and have seen him grow up.  Their familiarity gets in the way of faith. And they “took offence at him” (Matt 13:57). The word for ‘offense’ comes many times in this section of the gospel. Literally it’s saying that they were scandalised by Jesus.

But think how illogical they are being.  They agree that Jesus’ has "wisdom and miraculous powers" (Matthew 13:54) so why would they reject him? Their pride means they refuse to listen more to him. This is the last time Jesus is in a synagogue in Matthew’s gospel.  When he walks out that day, it is as if he never returns.  Jesus, through his teaching, has confronted their familiarity. A clearer vision of Jesus has brought clearer division.

This is a very sad and sobering reality. Familiarity with Jesus is not enough to bring about faith.

Herod

The second point of division is with Herod who has not yet met Jesus. But when Herod heard news of Jesus, his fear and guilty conscience means he jumps to wrong conclusions: “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead!" (Matthew 14:2). Herod refused to repent at John’s teaching. And now he thinks he has risen from the dead, what would be the reasonable thing to do?  Surely, to repent, to find out more about Jesus, to investigate.  But it seems that none of this happens. He thinks a resurrection has happened and he doesn't investigate the details because he is too troubled by his conscience. By the time Herod does get to meet Jesus face to face, he just wants him to perform a miracle like a travelling magician and mocks him (Luke 23:8-12).

So too, many today don’t want to investigate Jesus further because they don’t want to change how they live. A troubled conscience can lead someone to Christ or can keep them away.

Jesus’ hometown didn’t want to listen to him, Herod didn’t want to change how he lived.  Jesus brings division.

Did you know there is an invisible line that divides the land around us? Selattyn and Weston Rhyn fall on one side of the line, and Oswestry, Gobowen and Hengoed fall on the other side. It cuts St Martin’s in half. A drop of rain falling on the Selattyn side will eventually seep, trickle and flow from stream to river Northwards out of the Dee estuary.  Rain on the Gobowen side all flows a longer route South through the River Severn towards Gloucester and the Bristol Channel.

The line of division has far reaching consequences. For humanity, the line of division is Jesus and his teaching. Clarity comes when the scandal of Jesus and his teaching are heard. For some those are words of offense, to others they are word of life.

In the midst of this, Jesus spreads a feast in the wilderness. The division Jesus brings is painful to us because we know his comfort, promises and life-changing power. The feeding of the 5000 is not here by accident. Let me show you some of its comforting truths for us. 

Firstly, when we are unable, faith finds that Christ abundantly provides.  Think of the challenge Jesus gives. He says to the disciples, “You give them something to eat.” (Matthew 14:16) How could they when they have no food and no money! More than 5000 people! Looking at their own resources Jesus’ words seem ridiculous. But just a few verses later, the disciples are indeed giving out food to the crowds and everyone is satisfied.

All of us at times are aware of our spiritual weakness and inability. It is in fact a healthy awareness, so that we will learn like the disciples did to trust Jesus to provide. He is the king who hosts a feast for his people.  Ultimately that feast is the banquet of heaven.

The disciples are learning to be utterly dependent on Christ. The crisis on that day was about mass catering but the disciples would face far greater challenges. They find that they truly can look to Christ to provide because he is bringing the heavenly feast. He will provide for his people.  They can only give to others what Jesus has first given to them.

Secondly this feast reminds us that our experience is in the wilderness. When our culture doesn’t want to listen to Jesus, or those around us don’t want to change how they are living to come to him, then like Jesus we find ourselves in a desolate place.  Perhaps you have felt spiritually desolate at times recently.  COVID had reminded me why it is such brilliant news that Jesus has defeated sin death and sickness for us. But not everyone in society has responded to Jesus in faith. It’s easy to be discouraged.  But it is normal that when following Jesus we find ourselves with him in a desolate place.

Jesus shows great compassion on the crowds, teaching and healing them (14:14). He takes what little they have and provides a feast, like manna in the desert.  Unlike Israel’s history, they trust him, there’s no grumbling that day. And the Apostles learn a little more how Jesus can provide for them, care for them and keep them until that future banquet.  One day he will gather all his people for his feast in heaven. 

In the midst of whatever challenges you are facing, how is he leading you to grow in trust of him, that he can provide for you, that he cares for you and that you can trust him.  Let’s look forward to the coming feast!

Hymn

Prayers

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.

Let your merciful ears, O Lord, be open to the prayers of your humble servants; and that they may obtain their petitions make them to ask such things as shall please you; 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.

Conclusion

May Christ, who has nourished us with himself, the living bread, make us one in praise and love and raise us up at the last day, and the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

The Fron Choir sing "Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer" on Songs of Praise 20th Sept 09.

Resources for Sunday 2nd August 2020

Dear friends,

I hope you are keeping well. As we are resuming services in our buildings, the resources below are a copy of what we are sharing in the planned services. These services resources will be posted here fortnightly for the sake of those who aren’t able to gather with us in the building. I hope you find these an encouragement in the riches of grace in Jesus Christ our Lord.

This week, Geoff Nankivell has kindly prepared our service, so our very many thanks to him for his preparation and teaching.

Church at Home

“Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."
 (1 Cor. 15:57)

Preparation

Heavenly Father, we thank you that we can join together this morning to worship you. We realise that you know our hearts and desires, for nothing’s hidden from you. We ask that by your Holy Spirit you will purify our hearts, help us to love to you more and bring glory to your name through our lives. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Confession

Our first reading this Sunday is Psalm 93:1-5. Please read this, then let's join together in confessing our sins to God:

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.

Prayers

Almighty Lord and everlasting God, we beseech you to direct, sanctify and govern both our hearts and bodies in the ways of your laws and the works of your commandments; that through your most mighty protection, both here and ever, we may be preserved in body and soul; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

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.

Please continue with your own prayers and the Lord's Prayer.

Robin Mark sings this wonderful traditional Welsh hymn.

Hymn

Here is love, vast as the ocean

Reading

Our second and third readings this Sunday are Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52 and Romans 8:26-39. Please read these, then let's join together in affirming our faith:

We believe and trust in God the Father, who made the world.
We believe and trust in his Son, Jesus Christ, who redeemed mankind,
We believe and trust in his Holy Spirit, who gives life to the people of God.
This is our faith.
We believe and trust in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Reflection

Paul, as he wrote to the Christians in Rome set out the main truths of the Christian Gospel.  In the early chapters of his letter he revealed our sinfulness as ‘There is no one righteous, not even one;’ (3:10); and the fact that God, because He is holy, had to judge sin.  But Paul revealed that there is salvation; for we can be made right with God, by grace, through faith by believing on Jesus Christ. (3:22). Therefore, Paul shows us, because we ‘have been justified through faith’ (5:1) we now have new life in Christ by the Holy Spirit. We are no longer under condemnation (8:1), and we can have the assurance that we can never be separated from God.  That’s great!

However, we know that we ‘groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to son-ship, the redemption of our bodies’ (8:23). We are saved, because our faith is in Jesus Christ, but we all know that we have various weaknesses. We are still human, therefore we see in verses 26-27 that:

We are Weak and Need help.

There are many times when we’ve all needed help in one way or another.

My wife and I, a few years ago, came back from our holiday, opened the front room door and found water dripping through the ceiling onto the floor – it was not a happy situation! We needed help – so we called in the plumber. If the car breaks down we call the RAC.  Why do we call for help? Because we know that we can’t sort those things out without help.

Paul reminds us that there are times when ‘We do not know what to pray for’. Have you ever been there? Some kind of crisis has come and you don’t know how to pray?  Well, Paul tells us that ‘the Spirit himself intercedes for us’. God knows our hearts and our needs better than we do. Sometimes we just don’t know what to pray for, or how to pray, because the situation is beyond our understanding. But thankfully God’s Holy Spirit, who lives in us, actually prays ‘for us through wordless groans’ when we’ve come to the end of what we can do – we groan. The Holy Spirit, like the plumber or the RAC man, comes alongside and helps us by interceding in heaven according to ‘the will of God.’. God reminds us in 2 Cor. 12:9 that “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Therefore, we can see that God helps us as we pray; but also in verses 28-30 we can see that God, being sovereign, is working out his purposes in us and for us.

God Works for our good. 

When the plumber came to stop the water dripping through our lounge ceiling he had to cut holes in our bedroom floor to find the problem. He found that when the house was built the joints where the water pipes met had never been properly fitted. It was a disaster waiting to happen! Paul tells us that ‘God works for the good of those who love him’. It didn’t seem good when we came home to find water dripping from the ceiling but actually it was – it could have been far worse another time.

Paul reminds us that God works for our good and he has a plan and purpose for us; for you, and for me, and for all of us here. How do we know this? Well, God says:

Firstly: We’ve ‘been called according to his purpose’.  We realised we needed Jesus, and we received that  message and trusted Jesus as our Saviour. In 2 Timothy 1:9 Paul reminds us that ‘He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace’

Secondly: Paul also shows us that God ‘foreknew’ us. God told the prophet Jeremiah (1:5). ‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart’ God knew him, as he has known us, way before he was born.

Thirdly: We see that God’s ordained purpose for us was always that we should ‘be conformed to the image of his son’. We’re shown in 1 Corinthians 2:18 that we are ‘being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory,’ as God, by His Holy Spirit changes us so that we become more like Christ. God has done everything and it was always God’s intention that Jesus would be the ‘firstborn among many brothers and sisters’ who all have God as Father through faith in Jesus Christ. That’s you and me and all other Christians.

Fourthly: Paul tells us that because God has predestined us and called us He has also ‘justified’ us by removing our sin through Chris’s sacrifice for us on the cross; and he has also ‘glorified’ us. Paul tells us in Ephesians 2:6-7 that ‘God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in  the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.’

Having thought about God’s help and how He has worked for our good Paul goes on in verses 31-36 to show us:

The witness of what God has done.

How are we going to respond to all that God has done for us?  Paul states ‘If God is for us, who can be against us?’

‘If’?  Paul gives us the proof that God’s on our side!   

Firstly: God gave Jesus to die for us. Therefore, He will ‘graciously give us all things’. He will give us everything we need to live godly Christian lives.

Secondly: Who’s going to accuse us of doing wrong? Paul says we can’t be charged because God has already justified us through the death of Jesus. The penalty has already been paid – our sin is covered.

Thirdly: Now, Jesus is seated at the right hand of God the Father and intercedes for us. He knows what we need and he prays so that we are helped to live our Christian lives.

Fourthly: Because of all these things ‘Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  – Can ‘trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword’ separate us from God’s love? The world may not like us, people may be against us, we may be considered irrelevant and out of touch, but God is for us! Therefore, because God’s on our side Paul in verses 37-39 reassures us that:

Through Christ we win 

Paul maintains. ‘No’!   ‘No, in all these things’ whatever they may be, whatever may happen in our Christian experience, because God is with us and for us ‘we are more than conquerors’. We don’t just manage to scrape through the problems. God enables us to overcome them as we bring them to him and depend upon his help.  It’s not because we’re clever; or good at getting out of problems, like calling for the plumber to come and stop the water coming through the ceiling; it’s not because of what we can do. We’re conquerors ‘through him who loved us’. It’s all thanks to God because, as Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:57, ‘He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.’

In fact Paul tells us that he’s ‘convinced’, he’s absolutely certain, that ‘neither death’, which happens to us all and Christ has conquered, ‘nor life’ and all that it throws at us because we are Christians, is going to separate us from God. Paul also tells us that nothing in the spiritual realm can harm us; and as God is eternal, sovereign, and in control of time, nothing in the vastness of His created universe will ever ‘be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus or Lord.’ In Colossians 3 Paul reassures us that ‘your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.’  Our salvation is eternally secured. Through Christ we win!

Heavenly Father, thank you for the victory that Jesus won on the cross for us. Help us to live in the certainty that our salvation is assured and that nothing in all creation can ever separate us from your love. Amen.

Words by Horatio G. Spafford (1873). Music by Philip P. Bliss (1876). Public Domain (adm worldwide at www.CapitolCMGPublishing.com, excluding the UK & Europe...

Hymn

It is well with my soul

Closing Prayer

 To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy, to the only God our Saviour be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
(Jude 24-25)

Resources for Sunday 19th July 2020

Now that we are resuming services in our buildings, the resources below are a copy of what we will share in the planned services today. In future these service resources will be emailed out fortnightly to those who aren’t able to gather with us in the building.

Preparation

"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing
with the glory that will be revealed in us." (Romans 8:18)

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.

Psalm

Join in the words of Psalm 139:1-11,23,24.

Confession

The Lord is full of compassion and mercy,
All   slow to anger and of great kindness.
He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
All   nor rewarded us according to our wickedness.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
All   so great is his mercy upon those who fear him.

All   Holy God,
holy and strong,
holy and immortal,
have mercy upon us.

As far as the east is from the west,
All   so far has he set our sins from us
As a father has compassion on his children,
All   so is the Lord merciful towards those who fear him.

Bless the Lord, O my soul,
All   and all that is within me bless his holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
All   and forget not all his benefits.

cf Psalm 103 

Song of Praise

All   Glory to God in the highest, and peace to his people on earth. Lord God, heavenly King, almighty God and Father, we worship you, we give you thanks, we praise you for your glory. Lord Jesus Christ, only Son of the Father, Lord God, Lamb of God, you take away the sin of the world: have mercy on us; you are seated at the right hand of the Father: receive our prayer. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Readings

Our readings this week are Romans 8:12-25 and Matthew 13:24-30,36-43.

Reflection

Would you say you were an optimist or a pessimist? Is your anthem “things can only get better” or “raindrops keep falling on my head.” As we have our first services in person for about 4 months, our attitude to the future might be shaped by our personalities and expectations.

But what about the Christian life? Are we meant to be optimistic or pessimistic about our Christian experience now?  Between Jesus’ first and second comings, in our individual stories, what should we expect?

• Perhaps you expect struggle: a continual struggle in the slough of despair, the spiritual doldrums of battle with sin, awaiting a dramatic rescue to glory (a flat-line before a sudden peak).

• Or do you expect victory: step-by-step progress in the Spirit, hope of freedom from today’s struggles and a progression onwards in joy towards God’s coming future (a bumpy but steadily upward line).

In these recent chapters of Romans we’ve heard threads of both answers.  We know that in this life, we continue to struggle in the battle between our spiritual ‘inner beings’ and our fleshly ‘sinful natures’. We know that this battle will be lifelong until we are freed from our mortal bodies. We also know that, because we belong to Christ, we will have victory: “he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you” (Romans 8:11).

So are you a spiritual optimist or pessimist? If you’re struggling at the moment then perhaps, like me you’re tempted to be a spiritual pessimist too. Maybe you feel in a spiritual plateau, or this week has at times felt more than you can bear. This chapter of Romans will help us to be optimistic. Not a worldly optimism of hope despite the odds, but the godly optimism of Christian hope. A realistic optimism that knows the gritty reality of our battle and groans yet is full of assurance and hope: a spiritual realistic optimist.

Know you are adopted as royal heirs (v14-17)

Those who have God’s powerful indwelling Spirit have a powerful new identity. We are called to live as newly adopted members of God’s family.

Everyone who has begun trusting in Jesus has received his powerful Spirit. If we have the Spirit, we’re in the family.

• We have a new identity as sons of God (v14) — that is sharing the honour, welcome and status of Jesus the Son. 

• We are adopted and welcomed into the family so that we have a secure and permanent place, not one of fear or insecurity (v15)

• And if all this is true then we are heirs of all God’s promises and will inherit everything (God himself and all his gifts).

Imagine an adopted child in their new family.  They are welcomed and accepted from the first day, but they need to learn they can trust their new parents. As days go by they will discover that they truly are welcomed, loved, accepted and included. They will grow in confidence that they will not be excluded, shamed or condemned.  So with us, from our first moments of Christian new life we are adopted and welcomed into our new family. One of the joys of the Christian life is to increasingly discover the security of our Father’s love for us in Christ.

The assurance is to know we are his. The beautiful picture of verse 15 gives us confidence to come to our Father in intimate prayer.  The word Abba (‘Father’ in Aramaic) shows us that we can approach God with the familiarity of those held dear within the family circle.

I’d like to add a work about our experience of human families too. None of us received perfect love from our human parents. I’m sure that there are some here who have been very hurt by family relationships in the past. I understand that it may be harder for you to find comfort in the idea of God as a loving Father. But I pray that you will continue to grow in trust of him. The flawed relationships of this world show us how much we long for and need the true parenting of God. We are offered to begin the journey of adoption with him and grow in increased trust of his love, care and welcome.

Secondly, as we join this new family, we are called to join in the family battle.

Royal heirs must suffer (v12-13, 17)

Following this pathway of the Spirit is joining in the family task. That’s what the end of verse 17 is showing. Literally “if we ‘co-suffer’ with Christ we will also be glorified with him.”  Christ suffered to do away with sin, and so we join in the family’s battle against sin and so share in his glorious reunion. The realistic optimism for this age is that Christ’s people share in his suffering. We are led and empowered by the Spirit on this pathway.

One form this suffering takes is that the Spirit leads us into battle with sin.  That is clear from our obligation to fight sin in verses 12-13.  The writer and leader John Stott comments on verse 13, “There is a kind of life which leads to death, and there is a kind of death which leads to life.” We have been given insight through the gospel to know where each path leads and to know one from the other such that we take the extreme step of seeking to kill our sinful natures. Stott explains that we now have “a clear-sighted recognition of evil as evil, leading to such a decisive and radical repudiation of it that no imagery can do it justice except ‘putting to death’.” [1]

This realism (that suffering is certain) might seem a downcast message but its realism is wonderfully hope-filled.

Groan for the coming glory

The groaning in mind is not the groaning of despair or torment but of hope-filled struggle.  Hope transforms suffering. Think on this comparison:

"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." (Romans 8:18)

In the midst of our struggles they can loom over us with such terrifying magnitude that they consume almost all our vision. But Paul invites us to look with eyes of faith and hope.

There are such riches in these verses, but let me briefly draw three implications from the groans of creation, of ourselves and of the Spirit.

Creation’s groans hint to us the scale of how glorious our future will be (v19-22).  Things break, corrupt, decompose and fail. Every part of this world groans under a longing for re-creation. But if you’re in the hospital and hear a scream across the corridor, it makes a huge difference to know you’re in the maternity unit. The pains and brokenness of our world are birth pains leading to new life. When we feel the groaning of a creation under bondage, join in the groaning for a world to come. How glorious the scale of that future, that the entire universe currently longs for it.

Also we groan (verse 23). Our groaning leads us in deeper longing for our redemption. We need to feel the weight of verse 23 saying “not only the creation, but we ourselves.”  John Piper explains, “even we, even we who have the Holy Spirit, even we who are united to Jesus, even we whose sins are forgiven, even we who will have eternal life, even we who are totally justified, even we who are so loved by God—he works absolutely everything for our good — even we groan waiting for the redemption of this thing. This old, wrinkled, glasses-needing, balding, aching thing called body, even we.”[2] Have realistic expectations that our experience now is full of hope-filled groaning.

The third groaning is from the Spirit (v26). The Spirit’s groaning in prayer assures us of our certain future. Prayer is the voice of faith in action. By it we ask for mercy and long for eternity. We pray “Thy kingdom come.” But what if we fail to persevere in prayer — my prayer is so weak and failing!  Even our prayer is underwritten and empowered by the Spirit. He prays in ways we don’t understand at the Father’s throne for us. If the Spirit is praying for us when words fail, we are assured of our future.

Father, give us the godly optimism of Christian hope, that knowing we are adopted into your family we will consider our present sufferings as not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us, in the name of Jesus Christ, whose Spirit empowers our lives. Amen.

Hymn

In our services we will listen to the hymn Great is thy faithfulness.

Prayers

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.

Merciful God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as pass our understanding: pour into our hearts such love toward you that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; 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.

Conclusion

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing and the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

---

[1] John R. W Stott, The Message of Romans: God’s Good News for the World (The Bible Speaks Today; Leicester: Inter-Varsity Press, 1994), 228.

[2] “Subjected in Hope,” Desiring God, 27 December 2009, n.p. [cited 14 July 2020]. Online: https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/subjected-in-hope.

Reopening for Sundays

“I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.”
(Ephesians 3:17-18)

We’re pleased to announce that we are able to begin gathering for Sunday services. We understand that not everyone will feel able to join us at this time and we wish to stay united and to stay in touch with those who choose to stay at home.

Written resources will still be available for those not coming in person and will be sent fortnightly by email and post. 

We are asking people to come once a fortnight rather than every week (we will repeat the same service), so that we can manage the lower capacity in the building.  By coming in turn we enable others to come. The services will be repeated at 11.00am and 12.30pm and at the same times the following week beginning 19th July 2020. We'd encourage you to choose one service and meet with the same 'sitting' so you meet the same people.

What to expect

Please arrive no more than 15 minutes before the start of the service.  A welcomer will meet you outside the door and, if you’re happy to provide your details, they will record them for the NHS Test & Trace scheme.  In the event that someone later develops symptoms, it will enable NHS Test & Trace to get in touch with you. This is voluntary, and you don’t have to provide your details, but if you do they won’t be used for any other purpose.

Please use one pew for each household.  Pews can fit up to three adults (or more if the group includes children). If possible, please fill up from the front.

The words and any resources used will usually be projected onto a screen at the front in large type. If this will be a problem for you, there will be large print copies available at the entrance.

I’m afraid that as yet we are not able to sing, share the peace or have communion. But we will be able to encourage one another with the word spoken, heard, preached and prayed.

We ask that if you would like to give, please do so preferably online, by direct debit or standing order. There will be a plate at the rear if you are only able to give by cash. With many thanks.

A few other points of guidance:

• Please maintain social distancing of 2m between households.

• Please sanitise your hands on arrival and departure; hand sanitiser will be provided.

• Anyone showing symptoms of COVID-19 (a new continuous cough, a high temperature or a loss of, or change in, their normal sense of taste or smell) should not attend due to the risk that they pose to others; they should self-isolate at home immediately with other members of their household. 


• We warmly welcome all children and young people. Young children should be supervised by the parent or guardian and appropriate hygiene precautions followed. We ask you to remain in your household group in your pew during the service.

• We encourage you to bring your own Bible. We won’t be using reusable service sheets, hymnbooks or church Bibles for the time being.

• Those at extra risk and the ‘clinically extremely vulnerable’ should take advice on the risks of attending public worship. It is entirely your decision and please feel under no compulsion to come before you are comfortable. 


• I’m afraid there will be no refreshments provided. If you wish to chat you may find it easier to arrange a time to meet socially distanced at another point in the week.

• The PCC recommend wearing face masks if possible.  At present there is no government requirement to wear face coverings in places where social distancing can be complied with. However, people may wish to do so, and this is a personal decision. It is one way of loving others by lowering the risk of inadvertent transmission in enclosed spaces.

• We will be running a one way system and ask you to exit through the West door please.

Thank you so much for your patience as we settle back into church life together. I’m very thankful to the members of the PCC for all they’ve done to help us to get ready for meeting together. It will look quite different practically for a while, but I’m looking forward to meeting once again in our united faith. I hope that even though we’re meeting in smaller groups than usual, we might be encouraged us as we see one another week by week.

“Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (Hebrews 13:20–21)

With every blessing in Him,
Steve

Prayer Diary: July-September 2020

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:

Church at Home: No Condemnation!

Dear friends,

Warmest greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I hope you are well. As we continue in our series in Romans, while reading and praying in our own homes each Sunday we are united in the Spirit around the heavenly throne room.

I’m pleased to let you know that we are planning to begin meeting for services from Sunday 19th July and I’ll let you know full details in the coming days. I know that some will not be able to join us, so there will be some written resources for use at home. One implication of this is that we are no longer opening All Saints’ for private prayer on Wednesdays, and also today will be our last Zoom Coffee time for a while until we reassess what is best needed. Thank you for your patience while we gather more information to come soon.

With my prayers,
Steve

Welcome & Preparation

"There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,"
(Romans 8:1)

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.

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

Hymn

All people that on earth do dwell

Confession

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it." (Romans 8:12)

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.

"There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death." (Romans 8:1–2)

Word of God

Our readings today are Romans 8:1-11 (read by Ant from All Saints’) and Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23.

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

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: No Condemnation!

(A version with slightly better sound)

"Christ Our Hope in Life and Death" as sung by Matt Papa Stream this song and others on our official Spotify channel: bit.ly/kkgprofile Stay connected: http:...

Hymn

Christ our hope in life and death.

Prayers

Our prayers this morning are led in the video below by Mikey from All Saints’ .

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

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

Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of the Church is governed and sanctified: hear our prayer which we offer for all your faithful people, that in their vocation and ministry they may serve you in holiness and truth to the glory of your name; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, who is alive and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Charles Wesley, 1707-88 Sung at EMW Aber Conference 2019 Free to download and use within church online services (provided correct licenses are in place) - pl...

Closing Hymn

And can it be

---

You may also be interested to know…

The Quinta grounds are opening to the public

from Wednesday July 15th

We will be open Monday to Saturday 10am – 4pm.

Come and enjoy:

• Walks around the lake and the lawns (free)

•  Follow our Tree Trail (£1 per person)

• Photo treasure hunt (£1 per person)

• 7-hole Frisbee golf course (£3 per person)

• Fish in the lake (£5 per rod)

• Play tennis – bring your own equipment (free)

• Visit the Café @ Quinta for morning coffee, light lunches and afternoon tea

Please note

• Keep dogs on a lead and clear up after them

• Sorry but there are no toilet facilities available on site

• Please go to the café to pay for activities and to collect equipment

• Payment is by contactless debit card only

This is a unique opportunity to enjoy Quinta this summer whilst our usual groups can’t be with us.

Church at Home: A problem in the law?

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.

Congregational singing Grace Community Church - Sun Valley, California Text: Edward Perronet | Tune: DIADEM All hail the pow'r of Jesus' name! Let angels pro...

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.

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

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?

Jesus, Strong and Kind (feat. Colin Buchanan) | CityAlight | Lyrics Music credit goes to CityAlight, songwriters, anyone else responsible Any background clip...

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.

Hymn: Praise, my soul, the King of heaven

Praise, My Soul, The King Of Heaven

Church at Home: Does grace encourage sin?

Dear friends,

Warmest greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Well, it’s been a busy week of announcements for churches. Since I last wrote All Saints’ has opened the building for private prayer and the government have announced a timetable for churches to begin meeting again (not before the 4th July).

Both of these involve significant planning to allow for social distancing and safety for all involved. We feel it is not yet the right time to open St Mary’s for prayer and I’d be happy to chat about how we’ve come to that decision. We’re preparing so that in due course we might be able to offer the church building for small funerals. 

We pleased that All Saints’ Gobowen is now open on Wednesday afternoons from 2-4pm. Any are welcome to come for private prayer. A welcomer will be there to help explain hygiene and social distancing for all our safety.

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

Welcome & Preparation

"For the wages of sin is death,
but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
(Romans 6:23)

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.

Congregational singing Grace Community Church - Sun Valley, California Text: Fanny Crosby Praise Him! praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer! Sing, O Earth,...

Hymn

Praise him! praise him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!

Confession

"Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. Therefore, holy brothers and sisters, who share in the heavenly calling, fix your thoughts on Jesus, whom we acknowledge as our apostle and high priest." (Hebrews 2:18–3:1)

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.

Remembering God’s gracious gift, “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6:23)

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

Word of God

Our readings today are Matthew 10:40-42 (read by Helen from All Saints') and Romans 6:15-23.

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: Does grace encourage sin?

Hymn

There is a Redeemer

Prayers

Our prayers this morning are led in the video below by Alan from St Mary’s.

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.

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

Conclusion

Almighty God, you have broken the tyranny of sin and have sent the Spirit of your Son into our hearts whereby we call you Father: give us grace to dedicate our freedom to your service, that we and all creation may be brought to the glorious liberty of the children of God; 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.

Hymn

I will sing the wondrous story

Church Open for Private Prayer

All Saints’ Church will be open for private prayer from 2-4pm on Wednesdays starting on June 24th. Join us in prayer for God’s grace and help at this time.

Church at Home: Still in Sin?

Dear Friends,

Warmest greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This week’s reflection has been prepared by Mikey Reade from All Saints’. Romans 5-8 helps us explore the life-changing truths of the gospel so that we might be overflowing in praise, united in worship and sent out in mission.

We greatly long to be able to meet once again in person. We’re not yet able to do that, but churches are now allowed to open for private prayer where social distancing and resources allow. We feel it is not yet the right time to open St Mary’s and I’d be happy to chat about how we’ve come to that decision. We’re preparing so that in due course we might be able to offer the church building for small funerals sometime next month.

We are hopeful that All Saints’ Gobowen can open on Wednesday afternoon from 2-4pm. Any are welcome to come for private prayer. A welcomer will be there to help explain hygiene and social distancing for all our safety.

Later today is our monthly Prayer Supper online at 6pm. We will use the same meeting link as for our virtual ‘coffee time’ at 12 noon. Please email if you would like to be sent the link.

With my prayers,
Steve

Preparation

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith,
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.” (Romans 5:1,2)

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: Jesus Shall Reign

Confession

"Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.” (Romans 3:20) 

There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"
(Romans 3:22–23) 

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.

Hear this promise for all who turn to Christ: “Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1)

Word of God

Our first reading is Matthew 10:24-39. 

The Apostles’ 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.

Sermon: Shall we go on sinning that grace may increase?

Please turn to Romans 6:1-14.

Charles Wesley, 1707-88 Sung at EMW Aber Conference 2019 Free to download and use within church online services (provided correct licenses are in place) - pl...

Hymn: ‘Tis Finished, the Messiah dies

Prayers

Our prayers this week are led by Betty from St Mary’s (recorded by phone).

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.

Lord, you have taught us that all our doings without love are nothing worth: send your Holy Spirit and pour into our hearts that most excellent gift of love, the true bond of peace and of all virtues; without which whoever lives is counted dead before you. Grant this for your only Son 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.

You may like to continue with your own prayers and the Lord’s Prayer.

Conclusion

God the Holy Trinity make you strong in faith and love, defend you on every side,
and guide you in truth and peace; and the blessing of God Almighty,
Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

"How Deep the Fathers Love for Us" by Stuart Townend. As recorded on "Introducing Stuart Townend". 2010 Kigsway Music http://www.stuarttownend.co.uk/ MP3 dow...

Hymn: How deep the Father’s Love for us

Church at Home: Justified by Faith

Dear Friends,

This Sunday we are beginning a mini-series looking at Romans 5-8 as we see some of the wonderful implications of the gospel for living the Christian life. I pray it will help us in the present time, and in any and every circumstance, to be grounded assurance of God’s love and purposes for us in Christ our Lord.

It has been announced that churches, if able, can now open for private prayer. We are in a planning and risk assessment phase to decide if it is the right time for us given the particular features of each building. It will be very different to before to enable social distancing and services are not yet restarting. If you would be willing to help with either cleaning or being on the door for a session, are not in a vulnerable group, please let me know.

Also please may you remember the family of Leslie Gee in your prayers after his funeral this week. After years of involvement at All Saints’ he passed away at the end of last month and his funeral was at Hengoed Cemetery on Friday 12th June.

With my prayers,
Steve

---

Preparation

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith,
we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.” (Romans 4:25–5:2)

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

This hymn leads us to ever increasingly praise God for salvation.

Confession

"Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.” (Romans 3:20)

There is no difference between Jew and Gentile,
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," (Romans 3:22–23)

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.

Hear this promise for all who turn to Christ: “Since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:1)

from THIS IS AWESOME CUTLERY Video by Alan Wichalls. facebook.com/awesomecutlery awesomecutlery.bandcamp.com www.awesomecutlery.com for lead sheets and other...

Song

This song is taken from Romans 5 to remind us of God’s great love to us.

Word of God

Our readings are Matthew 9:35–10:8 (read by Christine from All Saints’) and Romans 5:1–11.

Creed

We believe in Christ Jesus, who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,
but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself
and became obedient to death, even death on a cross! 

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place,
and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father. Amen.

Philippians 2:6-11 NIV

Sermon

Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) Original Words by John Newton Original Music by William Walker Additional Words & Music by Chris Tomlin & Louie Giglio Per...

Hymn

In our next hymn we remember the immeasurable grace that is ours in Christ.

Prayers

Our prayers this week are led by Lorraine from All Saints’.

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.

O God, the strength of all those who put their trust in you, mercifully accept our prayers and, because through the weakness of our mortal nature we can do no good thing without you, grant us the help of your grace, that in the keeping of your commandments we may please you both in will and deed; 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.

If you wish, please continue with your own prayers and the Lord’s Prayer.

Conclusion

God the Holy Trinity make you strong in faith and love, defend you on every side,
and guide you in truth and peace; and the blessing of God Almighty, Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

Hymn

Congregational singing Grace Community Church - Sun Valley, California Text: Charles Wesley | Tune: SAGINA And can it be that I should gain An int'rest in th...

Church at Home: Trinity Sunday

Dear friends, 

This Sunday, Trinity Sunday, we are looking together at the Great Commission from Matthew 28. I hope you find these resources an encouragement in our Lord Jesus Christ, knowing we are united across the world with believers from every tribe, nation and tongue. Please be in touch if I can help with anything.

With my warmest greetings in Christ,
Steve

Notice for those at All Saints:
We’re keen to make sure that people are cared for well.  I’ve been so encouraged by how welcoming and caring our church family has been over recent weeks.  We want to make sure that no one is being overlooked, so we are seeking to set up Pastoral Care Circles. Each group will try to keep in touch with each other; some people you’ll already know well, and others may be new to you. They’re not groups that will be meeting together at the moment, they are simply a way to ensure no one is isolated. We hope they’ll be really good at helping us to deepen our relationships as we walk in discipleship together, and also helpful for our community as we look out for one another.

Welcome & Preparation

Congregational singing Capitol Hill Baptist Church - Washington, D.C. Text: Reginald Heber | Tune: NICAEA Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty! Early in the m...

Hymn

In our first hymn we join together with the heavenly chorus to praise Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Confession

God the Father forgives us in Christ and heals us by the Holy Spirit, Let us therefore put away all anger and bitterness, all slander and malice and confess our sins to God our redeemer.

Lord Jesus, you wept over the sins of your city.
On our neighbourhoods: Lord, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, you heal the wounds of sin and division, jealousy and bitterness.
On us: Christ have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord Jesus, you bring pardon and peace to the sinner.
Grant us peace: Lord have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.

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

Our readings are a retelling of Acts 16, and also Matthew 28:16-20 read by Robin from St Mary’s.

Creed

Let us proclaim the Church’s faith in Jesus Christ.

We believe and declare that our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Son of God, is both divine and human.
God, of the being of the Father,
the only Son from before time began;
human from the being of his mother, born in the world;
fully God and fully human;
human in both mind and body.
As God he is equal to the Father,
as human he is less than the Father.
Although he is both divine and human
he is not two beings but one Christ.
One, not by turning God into flesh,
but by taking humanity into God;
truly one, not by mixing humanity with Godhead,
but by being one person.
For as mind and body form one human being
so the one Christ is both divine and human.
The Word became flesh and lived among us;
we have seen his glory,
the glory of the only Son from the Father,
full of grace and truth.

from the Athanasian Creed

Sermon: All-encompassing message

Prayers

Our prayers this morning are led in the video by John from All Saints'.

Christ be with you, Christ within you,
Christ behind you, Christ before you,
Christ beside you, Christ to win you,
Christ to comfort and restore you.
Christ beneath you, Christ above you,
Christ in quiet, Christ in danger,
Christ in hearts of all who love you,
Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.

Almighty and everlasting God, you have given us your servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity and in the power of the divine majesty to worship the Unity: keep us steadfast in this faith, that we may evermore be defended from all adversities; 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 wish to continue with your own prayers and the Lord’s Prayer.

Conclusion

Jesus said, "Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
(Matthew 28:20)

God the Holy Trinity make you strong in faith and love,
defend you on every side,
and guide you in truth and peace;
and the blessing of God Almighty,
Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit
be among you and remain with you always. Amen.

Hymn

Church at Home: Pentecost Sunday

Dear Friends,

Welcome to our resources for Pentecost Sunday. This week, Rev. Alan Reynolds has kindly prepared our service, so our very many thanks for his preparation and teaching.

For those from All Saints’, this Sunday would have seen us meeting jointly with Preshenlle URC church so you may like to include them in your prayers this week.

This will be (I think) our eleventh Sunday at Home. I would greatly value hearing any reflections on what we are doing, and what our priorities should be as we seek to witness to Christ and his grace in this time.  Perhaps if you have thoughts, you would like to be in touch. Our buildings remain closed but God’s message is not chained:

"Remember Jesus Christ,
raised from the dead, descended from David.
This is my gospel, for which I am suffering ...
But God’s word is not chained" (2 Timothy 2:8–9)

It was lovely to see many faces for 'coffee time' after the service last week. This Sunday you are also invited to join us again via Zoom. Please email if you would like to be sent the link.

With my warmest greetings in Christ our Risen Lord,
Steve

---

PENTECOST – FESTIVAL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Theme: The life giving breath of God.

Welcome to our worship together today.  After the Ascension of Jesus we enter the Age of the Holy Spirit.

We hear today from St. Luke’s Acts of the Apostles that dramatic moment.

Opening Prayer

Your Spirit is with us
Your Spirit is with us
Your Spirit is with us
Your Spirit is with us
Your Spirit is with us
Your Spirit is with us
Your Spirit is with us
Your Spirit is with us

The Lord is here 
We need not fear
We are surrounded by love 
We are immersed in peace 
We rejoice in hope
We travel in faith
We live in eternity
The Lord is here

Hymn

O Breath of Life

Preparation & Confession

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 glorify your holy name, through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen

As we remember our sins, and the sins of the world  …….    so we pray:

Lord have mercy.    Christ have mercy.    Lord have mercy.

Word of God

Our first reading is Acts 2:1-13, read by Janet from All Saints’.

Earlier this year one of the gales brought a wind that ripped off part of the roofing of my small study summer house.  The rain came in.  By contrast I write this in a heatwave with a gentle warm breeze that is relaxing.  Wind comes – to circulate the rain – to scatter the pollen – to test the roots of the trees, besides being an outdoor play companion for windsurfers, paragliders and kite flyers.

The disciples were naturally unprepared for the full impact of the wind of the Spirit.  As the first generation they had much to learn, some of it painful.  The ‘new’ stretches us and our imagination is often limited.

Hymn

Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me

Our next reading is from Acts 2:14-21, read by Barbara from All Saints’.

St. Luke gives us two imaginative images for the Spirit – wind and fire.  They express the inner spiritual experience of God, who is active and dynamic with us.  

The symbol of ‘wind’ has a long and varied usage in the Bible:

• Active in Creation - “moving over the face of the waters.”  Genesis 1. vs. 2

• “Breathing life” into Adam, into humanity.  Gen.2.7

• “Breathing life” into lifeless Israel.  (Ezekiel 37.1-14)  dry bones can live again!

• St. Mark introduces us to Jesus as the man filled with the Spirit.  Mark 1.9-13

• St. John tells of Jesus ‘breathing’ the Spirit upon the disciples.  John 20.22 
  they too will experience the ‘living water of the Spirit’.  John 7.38

Our final reading is from John 7:37-39, read by Caroline from St Mary’s.

We have an advantage over the disciples in that we can draw upon all the Old and New Testaments (Gospels and Letters) to help us as we reflect upon the work of the Spirit with us, our inner life.  How we have come to see God’s work in the world and within us.

Today we can focus on three key words :  LOVE  -  LIGHT  -  LIFE     All of the Spirit.

First, let us affirm our Faith as we declare:

We believe and trust in God the Father, who made the world.
We believe and trust in his Son, Jesus Christ, who redeemed mankind,
We believe and trust in his Holy Spirit, who gives life to the people of God.
This is our faith.

We believe and trust in one God, Father Son and Holy Spirit.

Hymn

The Spirit lives to set us free

Reflection

The first of the three key words is LOVE

Everything is grounded in LOVE – the creation we see around us and all that is within us.

God creates out of LOVE.  “For God so loved the world ….”  (John 3.16)  A love that goes on giving.

We experience this love through the grace and ministry of Jesus Christ.  His love is brought to us through the Spirit, who will lead us to the truth that is Jesus Christ.  The Spirit will make known, glorify Jesus.  We move from learning about Him, to a deep personal knowing Him.  As we continue to ‘abide in Him’ so the divine love grows within us. (cfJohn 14-16)  Those crucified arms are still stretched out to embrace and include.  We remember that, “ … we love because he first loved us ...”  (1 John 4. 1-12)  As a child learns to love by being loved, so the Spirit leads us to the Father’s love in Christ.

LOVE leads us to LIGHT

It is amazing to think that the physical light in the universe comes from the terrifying heat generated in the midst of the stars.  We are bathed, even roasted, in the suns light.  The light of the soul is born of the light that is brought to us by the Spirit from our Lord.  This dimly burning wick burns ever brighter as we allow the ‘Spirit of Truth’ to lead us.  (John 15.27)   St, John records Jesus declaring that those who believed in Him would receive “living water”,  that is the Spirit.  (John 7.38)   For Jesus is ‘the Light of the World’ (John 8.12).  Out of the vastness of the darkness that is space, the light reaches us.

Gods love and light generate LIFE

Our material world us shot through with Life.  We have both matter and Spirit.  As human beings we have the gift of life that is ‘breathed’ into us.’  We are called to a special relationship with our Creator.  We are alive with something of God’s life.  We have the ability to respond.  This life is fully seen in all its human potential in Jesus,  “In Him was life ...”  (John 1.1-12)    He is the living Word of Life who comes to Bethlehem – to be born in us – through  “the Spirit who will blow where he wills”  (John 3.8)

There is a difference between being alive, and living.  Many are certainly alive, but not necessarily fully living.  To be fully alive requires the ‘water of life’ to flow through us in many different ways.

So, on that Pentecostal Day, Luke tells us  “... and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit ...”

Wind and fire.  In the midst of the Temple festivities the disciples experience the wonderful presence of God in Christ.  ‘The living water’ flowed through them.  Their uncertainties were dispelled as the life and energy of Jesus came to them, and through them.  “His Spirit is with us.”  Now there is a Christian community and fellowship that becomes the Church – entrusted with the future.  The dynamic of Jesus’

Love – Light – Life will now break out into a needy world.  As St. Paul encourages us, “Let us walk by the Spirit.”  (Gal.5.25)

Prayers

We come now to our prayer and intercessions:

Holy Spirit of God, all powerful as the wind you came to the Church that day of Pentecost, to quicken its life and empower its witness. Come now as the wind of heaven and breathe new life into our souls: and revive your work among us that God in all things may be glorified.

We bring to the Lord those for whom we would pray today:

• The needs of our troubled world.  Those whose lives have been forever changed.

• World leaders and those who make long lasting decisions on health and the environment.

• The Church's ministry and healing work,

• The many who are troubled through sickness, anxiety, bereavement, despair  ….

• Neighbours, friends, family ….

renew the face of the earth
renew the face of the earth
renew the face of the earth
renew the face of the earth
renew the face of the earth
renew the face of the earth
renew the face of the earth
renew the face of the earth

Come Holy Spirit come ……….
Holy Spirit bring your direction to our lives
Holy Spirit bring many to living faith
Holy Spirit breathe your life to refresh and restore
Holy Spirit help us to use all gifts and abilities
Holy Spirit help the dry bones to live
Holy Spirit kindle hearts that are dull and cold
Holy Spirit fill your Church, our hearts and minds

Please continue with your own prayers and with the Lord's Prayer.

Hymn

There is a Redeemer

Conclusion

Let us go in peace to love and serve the Lord
in the power of the Spirit and in the name of Christ.  Amen.

Thy Kingdom Come: Sunday 31st May, Pentecost

“The God of all grace”

Today we’re using Acts 2 to shape our prayers.

“We hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”
Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”"
(Acts 2:11–12)

Pray for God’s help as you read Acts 2.

• What explanation does Peter give for the events of Pentecost (see especially verses 31-36)? How is the Spirit’s coming linked with the resurrection?

• What are we to conclude about who Jesus is, what he’s doing now and what he will do? What does that mean people should do?

• How does the fledgling church live in response (v42-47)?  What do these characteristics look like today?

• Believers in Christ share in the same Spirit and have the same message. How does this reality encourage you today?

Please also pray … for those in our communities who have no contact with Christians:

• That they would become friends with a believer and see the difference Christ makes to them.

• That they would hear about the grace of God and for the Holy Spirit to work powerfully in them to bring them to faith.

Thy Kingdom Come: Saturday 30th May

… for the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever.  Amen.”

Continuing our series based on each phrase in the Lord’s Prayer, we’re considering “… for the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours, now and for ever.  Amen.” Pray for God’s help as you read Romans 11:33-36.

• What reasons to praise God are given here?

• How is God different to us?

• Pray through each line of the Lord’s Prayer slowly to our Father.

You may also like to use the following prayer and make it your own:

Sovereign God,
Your cause, not our own, engages our hearts, and we appeal to you to set up your kingdom in every place where Satan reigns.
Glorify yourself and we will rejoice, for to bring honour to your name is all we desire.
We love you because you are God, and long that others should know it, feel it, and rejoice in it.
O that all people might love and praise you!  That you might have all glory from the whole world! Let sinners be brought to you for your great name! 
To our own understanding, everything respecting the conversion of others is as dark as midnight, but you can accomplish great things; the cause is your own, and it is to your glory that people will be saved.
Lord, use us as you will, do with us what you will; but, O, promote your cause! Let your kingdom come, let your purposes be advanced in this world!
Bring people in great numbers to Jesus!  Let us see that glorious day, and give us hearts to pray for the salvation of souls; let us be willing to die to that end, and while we live let us work for you with all our strength, using our time wisely in this work, both in health and weakness.
It is your cause and your kingdom we long for, not our own, so Father, answer this request! We ask it in Jesus’ name.
Amen.  (from Valley of Vision)

Thy Kingdom Come: Friday 29th May

“… lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil …”

Continuing our series based on each phrase in the Lord’s Prayer, we’re considering “… lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil …” Pray for God’s help as you read Ephesians 6:10-20.

• Where does the church’s strength and defence come from? (See also Ephesians 1:18-23)

• What actually are we called to do?

• How do we stand firm in practice?  How does Paul plan to stand firm (verses 18-20)?

Pray for God’s help to stand firm in faith, ethically, and in witness.

Please also pray … for our individual witness:

• Pray for those you live near, work with, relax with, or regularly see in life (shop workers, delivery people, etc.), for family members and friends.

• Pray our prayerfulness: that we would completely depend on God as we life for Christ.

• Pray for God to "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (2 Cor 10:5)

Thy Kingdom Come: Thursday 28th May

… as we forgive those who sin against us …”

Continuing our series based on each phrase in the Lord’s Prayer, we’re considering “… as we forgive those who sin against us …” Pray for God’s help as you read Matthew 18:21-35. 

• Compare what the servant asks for and what he gets (verses 26-27).  How should this affect the servant?  What effect does it have? What is motivating the servant in verse 28?

• How do you think the master should respond in verse 32-34?

• When are we unforgiving to others? Why do we find forgiveness so hard? Does the parable help us see forgiveness rightly?

Pray for forgiveness from God for our unforgiving attitudes.  Pray for our hearts to be changed by an understanding of God’s forgiving grace to us.

Please also pray … for our church to grow to maturity:

• For our church to be speaking the truth to each other in love so that we grow to become the mature body of Christ our Head (Eph 4:15)

• For all our relationships to help us grow together in love and maturity.

• For us to be a welcoming community that reaches out to those around us with the word of life.

Thy Kingdom Come: Wednesday 27th May

“… forgive us our sins …”

Continuing our series based on each phrase in the Lord’s Prayer, we’re considering “… forgive us our sins …” Pray for God’s help as you read Psalm 32.

• What is unexpected about where blessing is found? Where do we usually think real blessing is?

• How does the Psalmist describe the weight of sin? Think about a time when you have been deeply aware of your failings. Pray that we would be humbly aware of our sin and be swift to confess.

• What is the Psalmist’s advice for those who are aware of their sin (v6-11)?  Which parts of this would you most like to grow in?

Confess your sin to the Lord. The sins you are aware of, the sins you have hidden, and the sins you’re not aware of.

Praise God for the blessing of forgiveness: that sin is totally covered.  Pray that we would know the release of sins forgiven.

Pray for others you know to become aware of their sin against the Lord, and to turn to him for forgiveness.

• Please also pray … for our Lighthouse Sunday School & Sparklers (in Gobowen), Café in the church, Little Badgers & Praise in the Pub (in Selattyn) and all the families in contact with the churches:

• Pray that children and young people will receive Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, be rooted and built up in him, be strengthened in the faith, and overflow with thankfulness (Colossians 2:6,7)

• For the leaders to be encouraged in their work, and to labour with joy and faithfulness.

Thy Kingdom Come: Tuesday 26th May

“… give us today our daily bread …”

Continuing our series based on each phrase in the Lord’s Prayer, we’re considering “… give us today our daily bread …” Pray for God’s help as you read Psalm 121.

• Where do we look for help and support in trouble?

• The ‘high places’ or ‘mountains’ (verse 1) are about the danger of idolatry.  High places were shrines for false gods and as the psalmist looks to them, he reminds himself that the Lord is his help. How is the One True God described? How does this emphasise he is able to supply all we need (unlike the lifeless idols)?

• Where do people in our culture look to give them what they need in and from life?  What are you tempted to look to for security and satisfaction, rather than from God[SN1] ?

• If you’re amazed that God would show this care over you, remember we can only pray this prayer in Christ — think of how this psalm is reflected in Jesus’ temptation, ministry and death.  Read Romans 8:31-32.

• Pray for yourself and others you know, that in temptation, we would say “My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.”

Give thanks for God’s provision of life, food, spiritual blessings and our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Pray that we would be generous with what we have been given as we draw people to see the wonder of our God.

Please also pray for … people to lift their eyes to our Lord at this time:

• Those isolated or struggling

• For the ill and those caring for them

• For those suffering with their mental health

• For any who are anxious or fearful

• For all those whose hopes and plans for this world are changed