Week Beginning 2nd May

Worship for 5^th Sunday of Easter, 2^nd May, 10:30am

Join online via Zoom using Meeting ID: 213 073 4097.

Join via telephone by calling  02080 806 592, enter Meeting ID: 213 073 4097 followed by #.

Join via Facebook for Apperknowle, Coal Aston or St Paul’s.

You can listen to a recording of the prayers, readings and sermon from this service by calling at a local rate on 01246 959 101 any time from the afternoon of Sunday 2^nd May for the next 7 days.

Midweek Morning Prayer, 4^th May, 09:15am

Join online via Zoom using Meeting ID: 213 073 4097.

Join via telephone by calling  02080 806 592, enter Meeting ID: 213 073 4097 followed by #.

Join via Facebook for Apperknowle, Coal Aston or St Paul’s.

Abide (based on John 15:1-8)

When the gulf between you and God feels wide
When thigs still fail despite all that you’ve tried
When all you taste is the salt of tears you’ve cried
When all you hear is the despair you’ve sighed
When it looks like even hope has died

Abide

Dwell

For He has already overcome hell

When all seems lost
He knows the cost
And he will abide
With you
Within you
Through you
Through what you say and what you do
Through others
Through the love of our sisters and brothers

So, abide
For the sake of all whom the world denies

Cocooned in this Covenant, this way of life
But for so much  more than just getting through the strife
It’s a relationship, a way of being
It’s an eternal way of seeing

Abide, dwell, live and breath in him
For yourself
For me
For all people
For all creation
Yet this is no obligation
But a loving invitation
To join God’s final subjugation
Of injustice and exploitation
That welcomes all from alienation

And whatever may come our way
Even to the end of days
Abide will he
So, what will we decide –
Will we abide?

James Morley

Libby writes:

I am going to make a New Year’s resolution, yes I know it’s May but it must be New Year somewhere in the world! So here it is.

The other evening when I was watching television, I said “I can’t stand that woman”. Have you ever said that about an actress/actor, newscaster, a member of the Royal family or even someone not in the media who we don’t know at all? I suddenly thought, how dare I make a judgment of someone totally unknown to me?

Now I know you good people of Coal Aston Methodist would never say such a thing and you can all polish your golden haloes!

What a blessing God doesn’t judge us, I would have been flung aside years ago. And what a wonderful amazing thing that God is an all loving, forgiving non-judgemental Father of us all.

Do we find it hard to forgive as well? Matthew 6 says “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your Heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins”.

I had a terrible “falling out “with a friend and I allowed the separation to continue for many years. One day I felt God guiding me to call at her house. I entered, we embraced, both in tears. What joy that reconciliation brought to both of us. I had been judgemental and unforgiving, Just the opposite of the love we experience every day from our loving Father.

So my New Year’s resolution (it’s never too late after the 1st January) is no more saying “I can’t stand him/her” again, and forgiveness, even when it is hard to forgive.

I pray my resolution will not be broken.

Lord, you showed us the wonderful example of relating one another by the washing feet of others. Teach me that true discipleship depends, not on false feelings and unkind judgements, but the joy of acceptance of all with respect and tolerance. Amen

Coronavirus prayer for God’s intervention and protection

Dear Creator of the World,

We come before you asking your mercy on us to halt the spread of the coronavirus. 

We pray for those already infected with coronavirus that they may receive prompt, effective and compassionate medical care that will restore them to health.

We pray your protection and grace for all medical professionals who are courageously treating those infected with coronavirus.  May they be shielded, strengthened and guided as they administer healing treatments and care. 

We pray your protection over those most vulnerable to disease, for our babies, our children, our elders, our poor, disabled and those weakened by other health conditions.

We pray for those under quarantine that they might be comforted by your presence and protected from disease, anxiety and fear.   

We pray for our public healthcare leaders and government agencies that they might be informed and well prepared as they deal with the coronavirus.  Grant them the resources and manpower they need to use their wisdom in the best interest of public health.

We pray for the researchers who are tracking the course of the coronavirus.  May they uncover patterns that will help us understand how to stay healthy. 

We pray for those searching for treatments, cures and vaccines.  May you guide them, reveal new ideas and accelerate their discoveries to fight this disease. 

We pray for the communities, areas and countries hardest hit by coronavirus.  Restore their sense of wellbeing and community.  Sustain them, comfort them and give them hope. 

We pray for all whose lives are disrupted by the coronavirus.   We pray for families who have been separated and for those whose livelihoods have been jeopardized.    

We look to you, Oh God, praying that the spread of the coronavirus will be halted and that many lives might be spared.

We pray that through this crisis you may draw us closer to you, grow our compassion and increase our knowledge.

Thank you that you are the Great Physician who not only heals us but who is a a very present help in our time of need as the Bible tells us that you “Took up our infirmities and carried our diseases.”  (Matthew 8 :17 NIV)

Thank you for hearing our prayer.

Amen.

Karen Barber    February 27 2020