Good Morning and welcome to Christ Church Henley on-line This is most definitely a work under development – next Sunday should be much more “visual”! Today is Mothering Sunday and a little later Scott Wheeler will be talking about a mother in a time of crisis. It is recommended that you read the prayers and the reading aloud – we’ll all be reading together in our separate places.
But first we are going to sing God’s praises! Click on the link and join in with the singing – “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of Creation” (Don’t worry about the neighbours!)
Prayers:
Psalm 90
Lord, you have been our dwelling place
in all generations.
2 Before the mountains were brought forth,
or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
3 You return man to dust
and say, “Return, O children of man!”
4 For a thousand years in your sight
are but as yesterday when it is past,
or as a watch in the night.
God our Father, in these times when everything is shaken and in turmoil, we turn again to you, the rock on which we stand, the one whose love never changes, whose faithfulness never wavers, whose truth stands immutable. Lord speak to us out of your love, encourage and inspire us, and in the midst of upheaval grant us that peace which you promise which the world can never give. Forgive us our failures, make us a blessing to those around us, help us to live loves full of faith, hope and love. We ask it through Jesus Christ our Lord and we pray together as he taught us saying:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give
us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us
not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and ever. Amen.
Bible Reading: Romans 8:35ff
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,
“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
A talk by Scott Wheeler
Click on the arrow to listen to Scott.
Prayers for the church and the world:
The Moderators of the General Assembly of the United Reformed Church (URC), the Revd Nigel Uden and Derek Estill, have offered the following prayer as the UK and the rest of the world come to terms with the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.
‘God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.’
Psalm 46:1, NRSV
As so much is re-shaped by Coronavirus Covid 19, let us pray with
people left unwell, beckoned by death or bereaved;
people providing professional health care and advice, looking after loved ones at home or working to create treatments and cures;
people shaping the response of nations and neighbourhoods, of commerce and industry, of service and voluntary organisations and of communities of faith; people who are anxious or afraid, alone or isolated.
Living, loving God,
we praise you,
and through times of peril we lean into you,
for in Jesus Christ
you have trodden paths as difficult as ours,
revealing there a love that nothing defeats,
a love that bears us through.
Even as we strive to behave responsibly,
and to care reliably,
so we feel after you
that in these uncertain times we might trust you are with us,
our refuge and strength,
and our faith, hope and love might be renewed,
through Jesus Christ, Amen.
And from our own Ann Richards …
Lord in this time of global turmoil help us to accept the challenge of
Covid19. To protect the healthy, calm the fearful, embrace the dying
and console the bereaved. Bless and support all those who attempt to
care for us through nursing, food distribution and all essential
workers. This we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Time to sing again – this time the wonderful words of Charles Wesley – “Love divine, all loves excelling …”
And now may the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. And the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit be with us all, evermore.
If you want to contact the minister you can do so by email: glyn.millington@gmail.com