Sunday 31st May
since we stopped meeting at the chapel.
We thank you, gracious God,
that there are opportunities now to start tentatively meeting up
with family and friends in small socially distanced groups.
We trust that we are slowly moving towards the day when we will again meet at the chapel.
We pray for your protection for all, during this time of easing of restrictions.
We may be fearful of the consequences of this increase in face to face social interaction.
Help us to put our trust in you, Lord.
Here is a prayer by Henri Nouwen:
Speak gently in my silence.
When the loud outer noises of my surroundings
and the loud inner noises of my fears keep pulling me away from you,
help me to trust that you are still there even when I am unable to hear you.
Give me ears to listen to your small, soft voice saying:
"Come to me, you who are overburdened,
and I will give you rest...for I am gentle and humble of heart".
Let that loving voice be my guide.
Kids Zone
Activity Link:
Giving
Thank you for all your support of Wrington Chapel and its work in the past.
We realise that many people are hard-pressed at the moment, and church may be the last thing on your mind. However, we are looking to the future when we can reopen and support each other in our usual way. Unfortunately, being closed does not mean our expenses are substantially less. If you already have a standing order set up, then thank you. But if you haven't, please consider getting in touch with Steve Osman and setting one up. If that is impossible, please continue to save up your collection money, and we will collect it all together when we reopen. Please note that the rules do not allow us to claim any Gift Aid on collections that are not taken up in church. So do NOT drop collection money off at Steve's house. Simply take out a standing order, or save it up for that great and glorious reopening day.
'Pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances'
1 Thessalonians 5.17
Lord, at this time of Pentecost we thank you for giving us your spirit to empower us for service
Loving God we ask for the gift of your Holy Spirit to help us pray as we ought.
Come Holy Spirit, direct the rulers of the world. Fill our leaders with talents and discernment to seek the common good.
We ask for your energy and vision for those who are tiring in the battle against covid 19,
those exhausted by the struggle to keep caring.
We pray especially for our local hospital workers,
patients and their families.
We pray for your protection against infection for those who are currently well
and we ask for swift healing for any suffering with the virus.
We pray against any spirit of fear that the hospital closure has brought.
We pray for a healing of fractured relationships in families
that may have come to light during this lock down.
Give us your spirit Lord to enable us to guard our tongues
and lay aside our irritations.
Grant us your peace
We pray for the persecuted church around the world
and thank you that our experiences now of not being able to meet together
give us just a little taste of how life is for so many Christians.
Almighty God, our Heavenly Father,
In these difficult days when we face restrictions on our lives here in the UK:
Thank You for the freedoms we have always enjoyed to worship You
and to proclaim the gospel.
Give us compassion for all who regularly face oppression
and persecution for the name of Jesus Christ.And continue,
we pray, to build and protect Your church;
In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
TITLE: Know the Spirit
Today we finish our brief look at the book of Galatians. Coincidentally, those who follow the Church Lectionary would know this as Pentecost Sunday, when the Spirit was poured out on the early church. So we look at the Holy Spirit. What does it mean to be filled with the Spirit? And what is the fruit of the Spirit? They are worthy questions that are often misunderstood.
Galatians 5 : 19 to 26
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
The song below is a song written and performed by Daniel Tuck.
