Don’t forget the third instalment of our Advent Pilgrimage this evening at 6.30pm St James’ Church. Our theme for this evening is JOY!
See you there!
1 Samuel 16:1-23 – David, God’s anointed King
Your will, not mine, Lord, be done in all things,
wherever you may place me,
in all that I do and in all that I may endure;
when I am troubled and when I am at peace.
When I find fulfilment and when it is lacking;
when I have all things, and when I have nothing,
your will be done.
All that I have and all that I am
I willingly offer to serve you,
as and where you choose,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Amen.
(Adapted from the Covenant Prayer, Methodist Worship Book)
Ruth Chapters 1-4 – Bethlehem: Ruth and Boaz
Jesus, as a mother you gather your people to you:
You are gentle with us as a mother with her children;
Despair turns to hope through your sweet goodness:
through your gentleness we find comfort in fear.
Lord Jesus, in your mercy heal us:
in your love and tenderness remake us.
In your compassion bring grace and forgiveness:
for the beauty of heaven may your love prepare us.
Amen.
(A song of Anselm. Tr. Michael Vasey)
Exodus 12:1-39 – From Slavery to Freedom
As children of God,
we pray for the freedom of our sisters and brothers throughout the world:
freedom from bondage and freedom from oppression,
freedom from hunger and freedom from want,
freedom from hatred and freedom from fear,
freedom to think and freedom to speak,
freedom to learn and freedom to love,
freedom to hope and freedom to rejoice.
Your Kingdom come.
Amen.
(Adapted GL)
Exodus Chapter 1-3: God’s Call to Moses
Holy God, Holy and immortal, have mercy on us.
Forgive our inattention to your voice,
and our reluctance to obey your call.
Cause your Holy fire of justice and mercy to burn in our hearts,
that we may journey in faith, in hope, and in love
for you and your suffering children
wherever they may be found.
Amen.
(Jesse’s Tree – Embrace the Middle East)
Genesis 28:10-17. – God’s Promise to Jacob
Heavenly Father,
when we feel far from you,
with no idea of what may lie before us,
give us such a sense of your presence with us,
that we may hold fast to the promise you have given us.
Go with us, we pray, from this place and time,
and do not leave us, until what you have promised has been fulfilled,
through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.
(adapted from GL)
Carols in the Park this year bordered on the miraculous. From 40-50mph winds to a stillness that let the candles quietly burn and create the magical atmosphere that makes the afternoon so magical.
How many came? No idea – 300-400 at least but we think they enjoyed it! Have a look at the photos!
Thanks to so many people:
Not forgetting, Simon “Twinkling Fingers” Ball and his singers, Richard Whiteley whose compering gets better every year, the readers, St James Church for the use of the building, the many people who took round the mince pies and the tidiers up afterwards, Rev Maureen and John for the use of their electricity(!) – the list is endless.
It was quite a weekend. The inaugural Carols in the Pub on Friday night had the participants drooling! And Saturday at St Barts went brilliantly or so I’m told!
Praise God!
Nigel
Genesis 22:1-19 – Abraham and Isaac
God of Abraham and God of Isaac,
who said “I desire mercy, not sacrifice”,*
give us power to grasp how wide and long,
how high and deep is your love for all your children,
that rooted and established in Christ,
we may be enabled to offer you all that we are
and all that we have, within the all surpassing love
of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
GL (*Hosea 6.6)