During the Coronavirus crisis we are adapting to continue to support, serve and encourage, in ways other than physically meeting together. One of these is our daily 3Ps – a way to take a bit of time at home to Pause, Ponder and Pray. We recommend 12noon, but whatever suits is fine. We will be posting the 3Ps in place of Midweek Musings each day.
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Morning all!
Believe it or not, indeed feel it or not, today is a Bank Holiday. What I wonder shall we do with it? Over the years my dad religiously used this day off on the last Monday in the month to complete his tax returns!! Whilst I’ve not planned the rest of the day, I can be pretty sure that this particular Monday won’t be filled with that particular chore! Last week Jess wrote about having a spontaneous day. Despite the obvious limitations, can I encourage us to take up the challenge of doing something slightly different with today? Keep safe Keep in touch Keep the faith Simon Monday 25th May Pause Mark this time as one set aside for God by focusing on your breathing. Count to 5 as you breathe in, hold your breath for another 5, and then exhale slowly again counting to 5. You might want to think about the things you want to receive from God: holding a word in your mind as you breathe in, and equally share with Him a word concerning something particular that you want to hand over and leave with Him (perhaps a worry, care, concern or failing) when you breathe out. Ponder Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:6-8 Think:
Pray “Prayer should be the key of the day and the lock of the night.” George Herbert Church family: Anne and Gordon Flear, Naomi, Matt, Charlotte, William and Emily Harrison Rather than simply focusing on the immediate things around us, pray for the out of sight and mind areas of the earth, and their own struggles at this time Once again we find ourselves in the middle of a stranger than usual Bank Holiday. Pray that all within our country observe it sensibly 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. Keep us, good Lord, under the shadow of your mercy. Sustain and support the anxious, be with those who care for the sick, and lift up all who are brought low; that we may find comfort knowing that nothing can separate us from your love in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen. And a final blessing May the peace of the Lord Christ go with us, wherever He may send us. May He guide us through the wilderness, protect us through the storm. May He bring us home rejoicing at the wonders He has shown us. May He bring us home rejoicing Once again into our doors. Hi Everyone,
It was so great to see so many of you this morning. I absolutely loved the breakout groups where we could meet and chat in smaller groups after the service. A huge thanks to Tim and Gordon for facilitating that. One of the lovely thinks that seems to have happened spontaneously is that people have started sending me poems and songs that they have written or are meaningful to them. It's been really lovely. This is a song that Alex sent to me, that is really special to her and I thought would be nice to share with you all: All My Hope. If anyone else has any songs, poems, pictures, reflections , stories etc. that are special to you that you would like to share, please send them over to me and I'll try and include as many as possible in future Pause, Ponder and Pray mailings. I think sometimes one of the most generous things we can do is to share our lives with others. I love hearing from you and the things that are inspiring you and are making you think. So thank you to those who have got in touch with me or have sent things too me. It really is appreciated. It's been wonderful seeing the creative ways we have found to encourage each other. Long may it continue. 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: Alleluia. Christ is risen. He is risen indeed. Alleluia 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 1 Corinthians 12:4-6 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of services, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who activates all of them in everyone.
Pray Father God, thank you for the gifts that you have given me. Help me to use them well in your service. Amen Say a prayer today for the worldwide church. On our church list today we pray for: Veronica Lewis, Wynn Leech Let’s finish by saying this acclamation of praise: Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ: he has given us new life and hope by raising Jesus from the dead Alleluia! Hi Everyone,
I wonder what you are discovering during this extended time of lockdown? Two things have occurred to me in the past 24 hours. Firstly that I am very dependant on the skills of others. My parents, at a much younger age than I am now, renovated their own house using no outside help other than their trust DIY manual, my mum made clothes for us all (and still does sometimes) and they generally never thought of paying someone to do something before checking to see if they could manage it themselves. My default has always been to pay someone to do the work and if I can't afford it, it simply doesn't get done. I never really thought about it until we were in this situation where suddenly getting someone else to do something isn't possible (except for emergencies of course). I have finally been forced into another level of independance. I've had to work out how to do things that I have never had to do before. This brings me to the second thing that I have discovered. That I am much more capable than I think I am. I think often half the problem is that we often tell ourselves that we can't do things, that we don't have the skills and so we don't try or start on the road to learning. I have been amazed at how many things have been possible when the only option left on the table is to try. Yesterday I even managed to trim my own hair! More importantly, as a church we have achieved incredible things during lockdown by simply trying and allowing ourselves permission to get things wrong (or at least for them not to be perfect). We have realised how important each of us are and that church is us - nothing more, nothing less. Let's keep learning, being creative and trying new things. Lockdown isn't fun and it's certainly worse for some than others but perhaps lockdown could also be like a chrysalis where we emerge as something even more beautiful than we were before. 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: We are in the presence of God who knows our needs, hears our cries, feels our pain, and heals our wounds. 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 Isaiah 55:1-2 Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and you that have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.
Pray Father God, I want to delight myself in the good things that you offer. Help me to discern between what is good and what ultimately does not satisfy. Amen Pray for those who are struggling financially today On our church list today we pray for: Hope Mumbejjah, Nathan Senfuma Let’s finish by praying 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 Amen Hi Everyone,
How are you feeling? I've been pondering the idea of lament again. Last night I was watching my brother-in-law, Ric Neale, launch his new single live on Facebook. It's called Difficult Day – which seems quite apt at the moment. In the launch he was talking about why he wrote the song and, almost as a throw away comment, he spoke about the fact that various people are producing things online that are all about jollying us up – making us feel better in this rubbish time. He suggested that this may not be entirely helpful and that we need to be free to acknowledge when things aren't good. Essentially what he was saying is that we need to have a space to lament. I find this a really interesting point of view because, despite not professing a faith (to my knowledge) he seems to be in agreement with a number of theologians. Hope is important and I believe hope is a choice but that doesn't mean that we shouldn't lament difficult circumstances. Yesterday was Ascension day and again despite the fact that it should be a message of hope, I always feel a deep sense of sadness and loss when I read the story. Today, in the midst of all our current trials and tribulations, we remember that it is the anniversary of the Manchester Arena attack and that many families are still grieving the loss of loved ones. If ever there was a day to lament, then perhaps today is the one. If you are grieving, feeling sad or just a bit fed up. Why not take the opportunity to pour out that saddness to Jesus today. 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 Mark 10:13-16 People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it.” And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.
Pray Father God, help me not to have a childish faith but to have a child like faith in you. Amen Say a prayer today for all children today. On our church list today we pray for: Jeffery Blake, Nicola, Raymond, Aiyarnna, Adanna, Amara, Khiara and Kamal Keating-Blake Let’s finish by praying this blessing: May the almighty and merciful Lord, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, bless us and keep us. Amen. |
Pause, Ponder,
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