Dear friends,

Settling down to write this, I’ve just shed one (my down gillet) of the 4 layers that are currently keeping me snug and warm. Certainly as we find ourselves in the season of autumn with the nights starting to draw in, comfort and cosiness begins to look increasingly appealing. As temperatures plummet outside, there is nothing better than to feel warm safe and snug indoors.
Apparently in recent years, the Danish term ‘hygge’ has become the word to describe this blissful state of contentment and well-being. This is largely thanks to the hundreds of books, blogs and articles dedicated to this quintessentially Danish concept. Pronounced hhoo-guh, it refers to a deep sense of place, warmth, friendship and contentment. For many, it’s about enjoying the smaller, simpler things in life, like reading a book in front of a fire whilst sipping on a hot chocolate, or putting on a thick, hand-knitted jumper. The term also incorporates a sense of being close to loved ones, feeling safe and stable. Indeed ‘hygge'  has become so popular in English, that in 2016 both the Oxford Dictionary and Collins Dictionary named it as one of their words of the year.
​
Obviously, with the current Covid situation we are encountering, we are restricted in the number of people we can physically share 'hygge’ with. However, that doesn’t mean we have to experience it alone. For another keyword that was our focus a few years ago, and a favourite of Mike Corcoran our former curate, was ‘abide’; God choosing to dwell and make his home with us. So please be encouraged to mindfully invite God into your autumnal activities. Be it time with a book, a hot drink, a cuddle with your favourite blanket - invite God to share the experience with you, and enjoy it together. May we indeed know the 'hygge' that God wants for each one of us.

Keep safe
Keep in touch
Keep the faith.

Simon

Hi Everyone.

It's Groundhog Day!! For those of you too young to know what I am talking about you need to watch the Andi McDowell and Bill Murray classic 90's film of the same title.

We are in the process of transferring over to the new Prayer Text system (have you sent your number to Gordon yet?) but we need a little bit more time to get it in place so please sit back, relax and enjoy a bonus day of Pause, Ponder and Pray.

With Love

Jess

Pause

Take a moment now to recognise that you are in the presence of God. It might help to slow your breathing. Take a few deep breaths in and out.

Let’s say together:

The Lord is here, his Spirit is with us.

Let’s share together in the family prayer:

Our Father in heaven, 
hallowed be your name, 
your kingdom come, 
your will be done, 
on earth as in heaven. 
Give us today our daily bread. 
Forgive us our sins 
as we forgive those who sin against us. 
Lead us not into temptation 
but deliver us from evil. 
For the kingdom, the power, 
and the glory are yours 
now and for ever. 
Amen.

Ponder

Today’s reading is Luke 11:29-32

When the crowds were increasing, he began to say, “This generation is an evil generation; it asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah. For just as Jonah became a sign to the people of Nineveh, so the Son of Man will be to this generation. The queen of the South will rise at the judgment with the people of this generation and condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to listen to the wisdom of Solomon, and see, something greater than Solomon is here! The people of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the proclamation of Jonah, and see, something greater than Jonah is here!
This one is a bit of a tricky reading for a Monday morning so might require a little bit more explanation. You might also like to read the story of Jonah if you are less familiar with it.

• Jonah was sent as a prophet to the city of Ninevah to tell them that because of their evil ways, their destruction was certain.
• Why do you think Jesus might be comparing the Jewish people asking for a sign that he really is the Messiah to the people of Ninevah?
• The people of Ninevah repented and God forgave them.
• What do you think that Jesus might be suggesting to the crowds that they need to do?
• What does this suggest about the nature of God?
• What is Jesus saying to you today?

Pray

Father God, thank you that you are a God of justice and of mercy. Help me to see the areas of my life where I may need to repent. Help me to show mercy as I have been shown mercy. Amen.

Today we pray for all those who work in the justice system and for the victims and perpetrators of crime.

On our church list today we pray for:
Kay, Kayleigh and Keiraleigh Edwards 
Matthew Brinicombe 

Let’s finish by praying the grace:
​
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
and the love of God, 
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit 
be with us all, now and evermore. Amen.

Hi Everyone,

Pause, Ponder and Pray as we know it is coming to an end and is being replaced by a daily prayer text message and a weekly midweek musings email. If you have not given us permission to contact you by text messge and have not given us your phone number, you will not receive this. If you would like to receive it, please contact Gordon. 

Counting down to the big switch over. I hope you can join us!

With love

Jess


Pause

Take a moment now to recognise that you are in the presence of God. It might help to slow your breathing. Take a few deep breaths in and out.

Let’s proclaim together:

This is the day that the Lord has made. 
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.

We say together our family prayer:

Our Father in heaven, 
hallowed be your name, 
your kingdom come, 
your will be done, 
on earth as in heaven. 
Give us today our daily bread. 
Forgive us our sins 
as we forgive those who sin against us. 
Lead us not into temptation 
but deliver us from evil. 
For the kingdom, the power, 
and the glory are yours 
now and for ever. 
Amen.

Ponder

Today’s reading is Matthew 22:1-14

Once more Jesus spoke to them in parables, saying: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his slaves to call those who had been invited to the wedding banquet, but they would not come. Again he sent other slaves, saying, ‘Tell those who have been invited: Look, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready; come to the wedding banquet.’ But they made light of it and went away, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized his slaves, mistreated them, and killed them. The king was enraged. He sent his troops, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city. Then he said to his slaves, ‘The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.’ Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests. “But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, and he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?’ And he was speechless. Then the king said to the attendants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ For many are called, but few are chosen.”

• Who do you think the people in the parable are who are invited to the banquet but make excuses not to attend?
• How do you understand the phrase “many are called but few are chosen”?
• What is Jesus saying to you today?

Pray

Father God, thank you that you invite me to your heavenly banquet. Help me to make room at the table for others. Amen

Say a prayer today for those who do not feel invited to God’s banquet.

On our church list today we pray for:
Mo, Mark, India and Ryan Blue 
Margaret Barnett

Let’s finish by saying this blessing:
​
May the Lord bless us and watch over us, 
the Lord make his face shine upon us 
and be gracious to us, 
the Lord look kindly on us and give us peace.

Hi Everyone,

Guess what I'm going to say? That's right, there are 3 days until we move from a daily Pause Ponder and Pray email to a short daily prayer text message and a weekly midweek musings email. If you have already signed up to Midweek Musings and have given us permission to text you, this will come automatically. If not, but you would like to receive it, you will need to let Gordon know so that he can add you to the list.

With love

Jess

Pause

Take a moment now to recognise that you are in the presence of God. It might help to slow your breathing. Take a few deep breaths in and out.

Let’s pray together:

Give us the joy of your saving help 
and sustain us with your life-giving Spirit.

We say together our family prayer:

Our Father in heaven, 
hallowed be your name, 
your kingdom come, 
your will be done, 
on earth as in heaven. 
Give us today our daily bread. 
Forgive us our sins 
as we forgive those who sin against us. 
Lead us not into temptation 
but deliver us from evil. 
For the kingdom, the power, 
and the glory are yours 
now and for ever. 
Amen.

Ponder

Today’s reading is Luke 11:14-26

Now he was casting out a demon that was mute; when the demon had gone out, the one who had been mute spoke, and the crowds were amazed. But some of them said, “He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons.” Others, to test him, kept demanding from him a sign from heaven. But he knew what they were thinking and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself becomes a desert, and house falls on house. If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? —for you say that I cast out the demons by Beelzebul. Now if I cast out the demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your exorcists cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out the demons, then the kingdom of God has come to you. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his castle, his property is safe. But when one stronger than he attacks him and overpowers him, he takes away his armor in which he trusted and divides his plunder. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.
“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it wanders through waterless regions looking for a resting place, but not finding any, it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ When it comes, it finds it swept and put in order. Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and live there; and the last state of that person is worse than the first.”

• Why do you think Jesus’ miracles caused some people to think he was evil?
• What do you think Jesus meant when he said whoever is not with me is against me?
• What is Jesus saying to you today?

Pray

Lord Jesus, thank you that you came to be amongst us. Help me to truly understand what it means to be with you. Amen

Say a prayer today for those who do not know God or feel far from him.

On our church list today we pray for:
Sueli Neves 
Dawn, Reuben and Luke Owen-Harris

Let’s finish by praying this blessing:
​
May the almighty and merciful Lord, 
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, 
bless us and keep us. 
Amen.