Welcome to our online service. This service includes some of the elements from our in person service for those who are not able to make it at 11am. We'd encourage you to begin to come back to our in person services if you can. The opportunity to meet together is good for us and helps us on our Christian journey together.
Today we are continuing in our series on Trust. How can we trust in God in the difficult times? Simon reflects on Psalm 118.
Sunday Zone is back - our group for children and young people. We do not have a creche at present, but we do have space to play and toys you can bring into the service for your child if you would like.
If you are coming in person, please wear a mask. Although rules have now relaxed, we would encourage you to keep doing so whilst rates of Covid are higher to keep things safe for everyone. We ask you not to attend in person if you are displaying any symptoms of Covid-19 or have tested positive!
Youth Cafe
Youth Cafe returns today at 4pm - 5.30pm - a chance to explore faith together - for those of High School Age. We are thinking about love.....
This Week
Bible Study
Our Monday evening Bible Study continues on the 14th at 8pm on zoom (please contact us for a link). We will be doing the Prayer Course 2 - Unanswered prayer. All are welcome to attend.
Make Lunch
We are running Make Lunch on Wednesday (16th Feb) for those families we support through food parcels. If you are able to help please see Sandra.
Coming Up
Church Meeting
There will be a church meeting after the service on the 27th Feb - we'd encourage all members to attend. All are welcome to stay and hear news on church life and share in prayer and life together. We will be thinking together about what it means to be a church member as we work towards renewing our Church Constitution.
Church Meals
We plan to re-introduce our after service monthly fellowship meals, with the first one on March 6th. The format of this will depend on the Covid situation, but we look forward to putting eating together at the heart of our church family life.
Worship
Call to Worship (Isaiah 55:1-3, 6-7)
Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labour on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare. Give ear and come to me; listen, that you may live. I will make an everlasting covenant with you, my faithful love promised to David. . . . Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
Songs for Today
Here are the songs for today. You might want to play the last two before and after the sermon and reflective video
Prayers
These prayers are taken from the Church of England resource for Racial Justice Sunday 2022 which can be found here
Let us pray for the Church and for the world.
God of love, we pray for your church: for all leaders, lay and ordained, and for all who seek you in the community of the faithful. Equip us with compassion and courage to speak for those whose voices have been marginalised and to carry out your work of reconciliation in the world.
Lord, in your mercy,
All hear our prayer.
God of freedom, we pray for our nation, and all the nations of the world: for peace and unity across barriers of language, colour, and creed, and for elected and appointed leaders, that they would work to free the oppressed and serve the common good. Inspire all people to speak out against hatred and actively to resist evil. Unite the human family in bonds of love.
Lord, in your mercy,
All hear our prayer.
God of peace, we pray for this community: for our local leaders, our schools and markets, and our neighbours and workplaces. Kindle in every heart a desire for equality, respect, and opportunity for all. Give us a spirit of hospitality, especially towards those different from ourselves.
Lord, in your mercy,
All hear our prayer.
God of mercy, we pray for those in any kind of need or trouble: for those who suffer from racial violence and prejudice; for those who are disadvantaged because of historic and ongoing structural injustice; for those who are lonely, and those who have been marginalised because of the colour of their skin. Awaken in us compassion and humility of spirit as we seek and serve Christ in all people.
Lord, in your mercy,
All hear our prayer.
God of grace, we give thanks for those who have gone before us: for the faithful in every generation who have worked for justice; for prophets who have called us to racial reconciliation; for martyrs who died because of hatred; and for all the communion of saints. Make us faithful to your call to proclaim your Good News, by word and example, and bring us at last into the glorious company of the saints in light.
Lord, in your mercy,
All hear our prayer.
Holy God, hear our prayers and breathe your Spirit over us and all the earth. May barriers amongst us crumble and divisions cease. By your grace, may we share in your healing of our world that all may be united in bonds of love and trust, and live to the glory of your Name.
Merciful Father,
All accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen
Word
Here is Simon bringing us a reflection based on Psalm 118 - you might want to read it first - it's available here
Here is the video that Simon mentions at the end of the sermon
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