Sunday 21st June
Opening Prayer
Loving Lord,
We come to you now as individuals but also as a family:
brothers and sisters united by our desire to spend time with you.
You are patiently waiting while we set aside this time and come into your presence.
O Lord, you never give up on us,
despite our inconsistences in our walk with you
and our tendencies to let distractions take us away from you.
May your peace and love be felt by each and everyone of us as we draw near to you now. Give us ears that are listening and hearts that are soft and moved easily to serve each other, during these difficult times.
Let us be alert to your message and allow it to weave it's way into our life story.
We give this time to you, Lord.In Jesus' name we pray,
Amen
Kids Corner
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.
'God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. '
Psalm 46
Continue to pray for all those on our prayer list and all whom God has put on your heart.
We pray for those who may be feeling alone in their struggles.
Help them to know you are with them.
In the name of the Healer,
Bring strength to the carer.
In the name of the Healer,
Bring relief to the giver,
In the name of the Healer,
Bring courage to the carer,
In the name of the Healer,
Bring rest to the giver
For you are the Giver of Care-
And in adversity, you are with us.
(Lisa Withrow)
Let's continue to pray for our brothers and sisters around the world who are affected by the
pandemic. We pray especially for those living in refugee camps in cramped conditions.
Father, we seek Your wisdom daily.
Be with people making decisions that
affect the lives and futures of our families, communities, countries,
and the wider world.
We pray that they communicate clearly, truthfully, and calmly -
with each other and with the public -
and that their messages are received and
heeded. May truth and empathy be the touchstones of people setting policies
for our protection.
Amen
Our Prayer focus is Bible Society.
Give thanks for the work they do distributing bibles around the world.
Give thanks for their Open the Book programme
and pray it will continue to be used as children return to school
Let your gospel be a lamp to our feet and a light to our path,
inspiring our words and deeds to glorify your name.
'Go Out With Compassion'
Today we are on part two of our three-part series looking at compassion. We ask whether we live with a stop-light mentality, or whether we believe God works in compassionate ways, and try to find our own place in God's purposes. Can we trust him more? Can we learn to be more compassionate?
Click the microphone above to go to this weeks recording.
John 6 : 1 to 15
Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
6 Some time after this, Jesus crossed to the far shore of the Sea of Galilee (that is, the Sea of Tiberias), 2 and a great crowd of people followed him because they saw the signs he had performed by healing the sick. 3 Then Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down with his disciples. 4 The Jewish Passover Festival was near.
5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.
7 Philip answered him, "It would take more than half a year's wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!"
8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter's brother, spoke up, 9 "Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?"
10 Jesus said, "Have the people sit down." There was plenty of grass in that place, and they sat down (about five thousand men were there). 11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish.
12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, "Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted." 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten.
14 After the people saw the sign Jesus performed, they began to say, "Surely this is the Prophet who is to come into the world." 15 Jesus, knowing that they intended to come and make him king by force, withdrew again to a mountain by himself.
Closing words:
What a wonder you are: Creator of wonders.
When we want to adore you; but our hearts let us down,
you tell us to think.
When we seek understanding; but our minds cannot grasp you,
you help us to feel.
When we crave an experience; but our senses are dry,
you give us our will.
And you say, 'Be determined and stick to my path,
then the wonder I made you to be will astound you.
For like a dovetail, you are designed to fit into me.'
What a wonder you are: Creator of wonders.
