blog posts

Sunday June 7th - Family Activities

Jun 5, 2020

The Great Commission

A song to get us moving today - https://youtu.be/WodvQf0Jo9s

When Jesus returned to Heaven- He told his followers what they should do- it’s for us as well!

Today’s Story:Matthew 28:16-20

16 The eleven disciples went to the hill in Galilee where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him, even though some of them doubted. 18 Jesus drew near and said to them, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. 19 Go, then, to all peoples everywhere and make them my disciples: baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, 20 and teach them to obey everything I have commanded you. And I will be with you always, to the end of the age.”

We might not be able to leave our homes to go very far at the moment, but we can support God’s work all over the world. We are supporting to projects in faraway places.

One is the IBBA girls’ School in South Sudan- https://www.friendsofibba.org/

This is a map of the regions of South Sudan with an arrow pointing to the Western Equatoria region where the IBBA Girl's School is.

And another is Pastor Albert who runs a small church in Djembering in Senegal. He’s a friend of Keith at our church. We are helping him have the things at his church that we have in ours- projectors, amplifiers and speakers so that people can join in the services

Can you find Senegal and South Sudan on the big map? In your pack there are the flags of South Sudan and Senegal to colour.

(Or download and print from the resources section at the bottom of this page.)

Outline map of the countries of Africa labeled

We’re still supporting our community here in Stoke Aldermoor through our foodbank,

and soon we hope to have all the other groups back- GLU Stay and Play and Youth Café. When we know what’s happening, we’ll let you know!

Song: Our God is a Great Big God- of all the world - https://youtu.be/q8fcpShP19c

So Jesus says “Go and tell other people about me!”. We can do that by supporting Christians in other places near and far and by praying for all the world. Here’s a way to help us pray:

A line drawing of a hand with instructions on how to do the 5 finger prayer

Resources:

Sunday June 7th - Trinity Sunday Holy Communion

Jun 3, 2020

Updated: Jun 5, 2020

Welcome to TRINITY SUNDAY

Join us on zoom - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83582800223?pwd=RVNHRUdIWkk0QVhiZDVoZ09sZ0x5dz09

Meeting ID: 835 8280 0223

Password: 520477

We meet in the name of the Father,

and of the Son,

and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Today is Trinity Sunday where we celebrate One God yet three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit.

One true great God.

Song: How great is our God - https://youtu.be/d5rjyDPWAdk

As the words say….The Godhead 3 in 1, Father Spirit and Son.

Last week we celebrated Pentecost- the coming of the Holy Spirit to the Disciples- the birth of the church. The Holy Spirit empowering the church to go forth on mission to tell God’s story.

Jesus said (from Matthew 28 vs 19-20)

"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations,

baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son

and of the Holy Spirit,

and teaching them to obey everything

I have commanded you.”

Words from the Great Commission- which we will hear again a bit later on. A commission given to the disciples and all who follow as believers, FOR ALL TIME. We too are called to be a part of this.

So today, with Keith in the talk, we are focussing on mission and our mission partner Pastor Albert.

To our God we now turn to say sorry….

Saying sorry

Father, you come to meet us when we return to you:

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Jesus, you died on the cross for our sins:

Christ, have mercy.

Christ, have mercy.

Spirit, you give us life and peace:

Lord, have mercy.

Lord, have mercy.

Hear the Forgiveness of our loving God…

Collect

Holy God,

faithful and unchanging:

enlarge our minds with the knowledge of your truth,

and draw us more deeply into the mystery of your love,

that we may truly worship you,

Father, Son and Holy Spirit,

one God, now and forever. Amen.

Creed

Do you believe and trust in God the Father,

source of all being and life, the one for whom we exist?

We believe and trust in him.

Do you believe and trust in God the Son,

who took our human nature,

died for us and rose again?

We believe and trust in him.

Do you believe and trust in God the Holy Spirit, who gives life to the people of God and makes Christ known in the world?

We believe and trust in him.

This is the faith of the Church.

This is our faith.

We believe and trust in one God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Readings

Old Testament Reading: 1 Samuel 13 & 17 (selected verses) - https://youtu.be/zdwAgz7w7Vk

New Testament Reading: Matthew 28:16-20 - https://youtu.be/weyLOe2_2Ms

Song: Behold our God - https://youtu.be/mV1nis557YA

Greeting from Pastor Albert - https://youtu.be/ezKbin20mjg

Children’s camp-Awana - https://youtu.be/foZuDQobKP4

Song: It is good to worship God: in French (English subtitles) - https://youtu.be/yVUSOOiQP6g

Prayer points for Djembering from Pastor Albert - https://youtu.be/SzULHoORKWA

Prayer for Djembering – Ally

Sermon: Goliaths in the land - https://youtu.be/37JJmnqTkqE

Sharing the Peace.

Peace to you from God our heavenly Father.

Peace from his Son Jesus Christ who is our peace.

Peace from the Holy Spirit, the life-giver.

The peace of the triune God be always with you

and also with you.

Holy Communion video - https://youtu.be/i7n6vm1pZMc

The Blessing

God the Father,

who first loved us and made us accepted in the beloved Son,

bless you.

Amen.

God the Son,

who loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood,

bless you.

Amen.

God the Holy Spirit,

who sheds abroad the love of God in our hearts,

bless you.

Amen.

The blessing of the one true God,

to whom be all love and all glory for time and for eternity,

come down upon you and remain with you always.

Amen.

Final Song I know who I am - https://youtu.be/-W4O3JKrv3I

Notices

Birthdays…?

Sunday May 31st - Pentecost Holy Communion

May 28, 2020

Welcome to Holy Communion for Pentecost Sunday

You will need something like a candle torch or mobile phone that you can use as a light at the end of our service.

Join our zoom meeting:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83582800223?pwd=RVNHRUdIWkk0QVhiZDVoZ09sZ0x5dz09

Meeting ID: 835 8280 0223

Password: 520477

We meet in the name of the Father,

and of the Son,

and of the Holy Spirit.

Amen.

Alleluia. Christ is risen.

He is risen indeed. Alleluia.

As we wait in silence,

fill us with your Spirit.

As we listen to your word,

fill us with your Spirit.

As we worship you in majesty,

fill us with your Spirit.

As we long for your refreshing,

fill us with your Spirit.

As we long for your renewing,

fill us with your Spirit.

As we long for your equipping,

fill us with your Spirit.

As we long for your empowering,

fill us with your Spirit.

Hymn: Breathe on me Breath of God - https://youtu.be/a9s8BFHThfc

We say sorry to God:

Jesus Christ, risen Master and triumphant Lord,

we come to you in sorrow for our sins,

and confess to you our weakness and unbelief.

We have lived by our own strength,

and not by the power of your resurrection.

In your mercy, forgive us.

Lord, hear us and help us.

We have lived by the light of our own eyes,

as faithless and not believing.

In your mercy, forgive us.

Lord, hear us and help us.

We have lived for this world alone,

and doubted our home in heaven.

In your mercy, forgive us.

Lord, hear us and help us.

May the Father forgive us by the death of his Son

and strengthen us to live in the power of the Spirit

all our days. Amen.

Song: Spirit of the Living God - https://youtu.be/ccaFnRYLTok

The Collect:

Holy Spirit, sent by the Father,

ignite in us your holy fire;

strengthen your children with the gift of faith,

revive your Church with the breath of love,

and renew the face of the earth,

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

The Pentecost Reading Acts 2:1-8, 12-21

When the day of Pentecost came, all the believers were gathered together in one place. 2 Suddenly there was a noise from the sky which sounded like a strong wind blowing, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 Then they saw what looked like tongues of fire which spread out and touched each person there. 4 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to talk in other languages, as the Spirit enabled them to speak.

5 There were Jews living in Jerusalem, religious people who had come from every country in the world. 6 When they heard this noise, a large crowd gathered. They were all excited, because all of them heard the believers talking in their own languages. 7 In amazement and wonder they exclaimed, “These people who are talking like this are Galileans! 8 How is it, then, that all of us hear them speaking in our own native languages?

12 Amazed and confused, they kept asking each other, “What does this mean?”

13 But others made fun of the believers, saying, “These people are drunk!”

14 Then Peter stood up with the other eleven apostles and in a loud voice began to speak to the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, listen to me and let me tell you what this means. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose; it is only nine o'clock in the morning. 16 Instead, this is what the prophet Joel spoke about:

17 ‘This is what I will do in the last days, God says: I will pour out my Spirit on everyone. Your sons and daughters will proclaim my message; your young men will see visions, and your old men will have dreams. 18 Yes, even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will proclaim my message. 19 I will perform miracles in the sky above and wonders on the earth below. There will be blood, fire, and thick smoke; 20 the sun will be darkened, and the moon will turn red as blood, before the great and glorious Day of the Lord comes. 21 And then, whoever calls out to the Lord for help will be saved.’

This is the word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

The Spirit of God fills the whole world. Alleluia.

Song: More Love More Power - https://youtu.be/JW9SkRMtXTo

Gospel Reading

Alleluia, alleluia.

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful people

and kindle in them the fire of your love.

Alleluia.

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to John.

Glory to you, O Lord.

John 20:19-23 - Jesus Appears to His Disciples

19 It was late that Sunday evening, and the disciples were gathered together behind locked doors, because they were afraid of the Jewish authorities. Then Jesus came and stood among them. “Peace be with you,” he said. 20 After saying this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples were filled with joy at seeing the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, so I send you.” 22 Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive people's sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”

This is the Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, O Christ.

Sermon

The Holy Spirit brings Peace:

When Jesus first appears to his disciples (we hear in John’s gospel), he brings peace. Jesus breaths the Holy Spirit on his followers and they receive peace. Peace instead of fear; peace instead of confusion; peace instead of doubts. Their situation doesn’t change. They are still working out what it means that Jesus is alive; they still have enemies and challenges. But when the Holy Spirit brings us peace, we know we aren’t alone; that God will never leave us.

At the end of our service we’re going to ask for God’s blessing on some form of light that we’ve got with us. I hope that our phones or torches or whatever we have will then remind us that we carry God’s peace with us. We can be secure; we also carry that peace out into a world that’s worried and confused and anxious. We can be that peace between people too- wherever we go.

The Holy Spirit brings Power:

After all the waiting, after Jesus has gone

back to heaven, he promises power. Peter and the others are changed. They’re no longer hiding, they’re out in the street telling what’s happened. They aren’t confused any more- they understand and can explain the scriptures to other people and show what God has done. Extraordinary things happen too- they can speak in languages they didn’t learn before. What had divided people in the past, is now taken away- everyone can hear for themselves.

The Holy Spirit’s power still changes people. As Christians we become the people God has called us to be. We’re no longer shaped just by our past or what the world wants. We are more like Jesus. And we do see God at work in our lives. That’s why we pray- so we can see God’s power.

The Holy Spirit brings Purpose:

When Jesus returned to heaven, he gave his followers a new commission. Go into all the world and make disciples - that means telling other people so they can too follow Jesus. They receive the peace that the Holy Spirit brings. They can know that God forgives them as Jesus promises. And in turn too, they can become more like Jesus and more like the people they were meant to be.

Peter, who had denied Jesus, lied about himself, doubted the women who saw Jesus first, shows us that purpose. Confident and empowered by the Spirit, he’s the person Jesus said he would be. Peter means- a rock; the solid base on which the new church was built.

So how might God’s Holy Spirit be changing us?

And here is one way in which we can be partners in helping change another part of the world.

IBBA Girls School - https://youtu.be/SE6fOO0XnA8

The Creed

Let us declare our faith in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Christ died for our sins

in accordance with the Scriptures;

he was buried;

he was raised to life on the third day

in accordance with the Scriptures;

afterwards he appeared to his followers,

and to all the apostles:

This we have received,

and this we believe.

Amen.

Prayers of Intercession

We pray for God to fill us with his Spirit.

Generous God,

we thank you for the power of your Holy Spirit.

We ask that we may be strengthened to serve you better.

Lord, come to bless us