Week Beginning Sunday February 28th

Sunday Worship, 28^th February, 10:30am

Join via Zoom or call 02034 815 240, enter Meeting ID: 213 073 4097 followed by #.

Watch and comment on Facebook for Apperknowle, Coal Aston or St Paul’s or YouTube for Coal Aston or St Paul’s.

You can also call and listen to the prayers, readings sermon anytime on 01246 959101.

Midweek Prayer, Wednesday 3^rd March, 9:15am

Join via Zoom or call 02034 815 240, enter Meeting ID: 213 073 4097 followed by #.

Watch and comment on Facebook for Apperknowle, Coal Aston or St Paul’s or YouTube for Coal Aston or St Paul’s.

Lent Bible Study, Wednesday 3^rd March, 8:00pm

An opportunity to join with friends from Frecheville, Gleadless and Holinsend as we journey through Lent together.

Join via Zoom or call 0203 0512 874, enter Meeting ID: 876 7671 4350 followed by #.  Please note this is different to the usual details for joining Sunday worship and midweek morning prayer.  You can use this information for every Lent Bible Study.

You can also watch and comment at Facebook for Apperknowle, Coal Aston or St Paul’s or YouTube for Coal Aston or St Paul’s

Lent Services and Bible Studies

On Ash Wednesday at 10am we’ll be starting a shared journey through Lent as Methodists in Apperknowle, Coal Aston, Dronfield, Frecheville, Gleadless and Holinsend.  But the good news is you don’t have to be a Methodist...

You can join the services via Zoom using the link given each week, and you can also watch on the Facebook pages for Apperknowle, Coal Aston, St Paul’s Dronfield and S12 Methodists, or on YouTube for Coal Aston and St Paul’s Dronfield.

Rev James Morley and Melissa Quinn will be jointly offering a weekly Bible Study on Wednesdays at 8pm during Lent starting on 24^th February plus joint worship for some Sundays, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday.

Libby writes:

At President Biden’s inauguration, it was good to see previous Presidents in attendance, speeches made and oaths taken, all sober stuff, when suddenly Amanda Gorman was introduced (at 22 the youngest ever U.S. Poet Laureate, dressed in sizzling yellow and a glorious red hair band) and she started to read “The Hill we Climb”.

I was moved to tears not only by the jaw dropping delivery of her amazing poem and also by her courage (overcoming her speech impediment), but the fact that a fortnight before, on those very steps, people full of hate had entered the Capitol building bent on stopping democracy. Yet here she stood, one tiny figure speaking words of love, encouragement, optimism and challenge. It was written in 1839 that “The pen is mightier than the sword”, and her poem “The Hill we Climb” shows that words can reach the heart and soul of the reader so powerfully.

We are finding our lives challenging and I pray for strength for all of us. Keep strong and when your shadows come, picture the yellow roses on the communion table. Amanda Gorman is a Christian and I end with the final part of her wonderful poem:

When day comes, we step out of the shade, aflame and unafraid.
The new dawn blooms as we free it.
For there is always light,
if only we’re brave enough to see it,
if only we’re brave enough to be it.

Amen to that.

May I run the race before me,
strong and brave to face the foe,
looking only unto Jesus,
as I onward go.

Because of lockdown, our normal bread and cheese lunch on World Leprosy Day cannot come on. However, this is a particularly good time to give to The Leprosy Mission, because the government has promised to double all donations given before April 24th.

Here is the link for donations: https://leprosymission.netdonor.net/page/73514/donate/1

Cash or cheques can also be left at the Revills'. Thank you!

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