Sunday 3rd September 2023

“On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread 24 and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.”” 1 Corinthians 11:23-25 NLT

God of the new covenant,

Today, many will be taking what we call communion in services that have developed over time with different traditions. Some will use wafers, some crusty bread torn up and some neatly sliced squares, some unleavened bread. Some will use wine and some non alcoholic. Some one cup though since Covid many use the little individual communion glasses. Some will recite the familiar communion service others will read scripture and pray. The Salvation Army do not take communion in a service but remember His broken body and shed blood in worship and saying grace before meals.

What ever the practice, however the delivery, Jesus intended it to be something that brought us back to basics, kept us in remembrance of what he gave so we could have a new covenant of grace with You, God. Paid for, delivered through and only because of the cross.

Today we worship You, our generous, compassionate, ever giving God. And as often as we eat and drink we will give thanks not just for our daily bread but for our life in Christ.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

God of the new covenant,

Family, friends, colleagues, neighbours, our church community. We are wealthy indeed Lord. We pray that You would bless all the people we cherish with all they need for a good life. Grant them fulfilment and joy. For those we have not been able to see and where we hear there is separation we pray You would grant a breakthrough and a coming back together.

We pray for the many who will be in worship and not fully understand all they can have in Christ. Who are holding on to guilt and unworthiness and pray You will grant them understanding and freedom.

We pray for those who hold unforgiveness in their heart would be able to let it go and let You be the judge. Help us to keep communion as personal, just me and you keeping our covenant good.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Sunday 3rd September 2023

Oh, how could it be
That my God would welcome me
Into this mystery?
Say, “take this bread, take this wine”
Now the simple made divine
For any to receive

By Your mercy we come to Your table
By Your grace You are making us faithful
Lord, we remember You
And remembrance leads us to worship
And as we worship You
Our worship leads to communion
We respond to Your invitation
We remember You

See His body, His blood
Know that He has overcome
Every trial we will face
None too lost to be saved
None too broken or ashamed
All are welcome in this place

Chorus

Dying, You destroyed our death
Rising, You restored our life
Lord Jesus, come in glory
Lord Jesus, come in glory
Dying, You destroyed our death
Rising, You restored our life
Lord Jesus, come in glory
Lord Jesus, come in glory
Lord Jesus, come in glory
Jesus come

Chorus

Oh, we remember You
We remember You
We remember You




Saturday 2nd September 2023

“Jesus replied, “Now is not the right time for me to go, but you can go anytime. 7 The world can’t hate you, but it does hate me because I accuse it of doing evil. 8 You go on. I’m not going to this festival, because my time has not yet come.” 9 After saying these things, Jesus remained in Galilee. 10 But after his brothers left for the festival, Jesus also went, though secretly, staying out of public view. 11 The Jewish leaders tried to find him at the festival and kept asking if anyone had seen him. 12 There was a lot of grumbling about him among the crowds. Some argued, “He’s a good man,” but others said, “He’s nothing but a fraud who deceives the people.”” John 7:6-12

God of Truth,

Jesus was You among us but He was also a man. It is reassuring to know that You through Jesus know exactly how I feel sometimes. I get frustrated and downhearted sometimes when I hear people saying detrimental things about Him and those who believe.

Yet here is Jesus getting His disciples to go so he could go later alone and unnoticed. Knowing He had to keep going till the time was right. Having to hear all the negative things said about Him. Being called just good man is bad enough but being labelled a fraud. Offensive, disappointing and hurtful?

Help me not to carry the responsibility of proving everything in the face of negativity but to simply give my testimony as Paul did. “For I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.” (2 Timothy 1:12). There will always be grumbling against You and arguing – but there will always be those who choose You. Keep our spirits up.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

God of Truth,

We bring prayers for the needs of our family and friends. We bring prayers for our church to grow in faith and believers. We bring prayers for the family we long to see turning to You. We bring prayers for our community and our nation. For godliness, truth, compassion and giving to take precedence over sinfulness, lies, and selfishness. Thank You for all those who are living the best they can in their circumstances.

Move across Russia and into the lives of the military personal and speak an end to war. Lord let this conflict come to an end. Protect Your church in Ukraine and those who are trusting in You.

We pray for those who see only what might happen and dwell on what has and look to the darkness in everything. We pray You would lift up their faces to see Your light and Your hope and Your presence. Give the grumblers something good and the complainers reason to smile.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Saturday 2nd September 2023
This hymn never ceases to comfort, uplift and encourage me.

One day You’ll make everything new, Jesus
One day You will bind every wound
The former things shall all pass away
No more tears

One day You’ll make sense of it all, Jesus
One day every question resolved
Every anxious thought left behind
No more fear

When we all get to heaven
What a day of rejoicing that will be
When we all see Jesus
We’ll sing and shout the victory

One day we will see face to face, Jesus
Is there a greater vision of grace
And in a moment, we shall be changed
On that day
And one day we’ll be free, free indeed, Jesus
One day all this struggle will cease
And we will see Your glory revealed
On that day

Chorus Twice

One day, one day we’ll be singing loud

Yes, one day we will see face to face, Jesus
Is there a greater vision of grace?
And in a moment, we shall be changed
In a moment, we shall be changed
Yes in a moment, we shall be changed
On that day

Chorus

Yes we’ll sing, no more shame, no more struggle,
no more walking through the valley of the shadow,
no cancer, no depression, no more unanswered questions
We will see the glory of Your face
We will see Your glory one day
Lift Your eyes one day . . .

Friday 1st September 2023

“As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for you, O God. 2 I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before him? 3 Day and night I have only tears for food, while my enemies continually taunt me, saying, “Where is this God of yours?”4 My heart is breaking as I remember how it used to be: I walked among the crowds of worshipers, leading a great procession to the house of God, singing for joy and giving thanks amid the sound of a great celebration!” Psalm 42:1-4 NLT

Living God,

Longing, a yearning desire? Aching, craving, hungering, thirsting. The Psalmist picks thirsting and thinks of a deer, hot and dehydrated. Sometimes I know that longing, like when You feel distant and when my thoughts are confused and my faith is a bit wavery, (you know what I mean). My longing is at other times a small ache or a craving, like the need for chocolate (or cheese when in a savoury mood).

I think back to the times when Your Holy Spirit has touched me and I have known Your presence in an almost tangible way. The Psalmist talks about looking back to being in the centre of fabulous worship processing in the Temple. Not that we look back longing for the past, but we look back to reassure ourselves You do touch our lives. Some times we are not even aware of it r take it for granted.

So we long with faith that You will allow us to experience Your presence in a very real way in the land of the living. Even though we know You never actually leave us! Come Lord and touch our hearts and whisper Your presence in the least expected moments. Help us to be aware.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Living God,

Touch the lives of our family, friends, colleagues, neighbours with the reality of Your presence and deep, deep love. Meet their needs today.

Show Your presence in our world and bring an end to war in Ukraine and Russia. Bring repentance and restoration in place of killing.

We pray for our King and his family. We pray for our Parliament. You know what is needed and what is right and what is wrong. Be Lord there. And we pray You will lead and bless where there is good will and determination to do right.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Friday 1st September 2023

As the deer panteth for the water
So my soul longeth after Thee
You alone are my heart’s desire
And I long to worship Thee

You alone are my strength, my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart’s desire
And I long to worship Thee

You’re my friend and You are my brother
Even though You are a King
I love You more than any other
So much more than anything

I am longing
I am longing . . .

Lyrics: Martin J. Nystrom