Hello everyone.
This week is the Third Sunday after Trinity.
This is the Collect for today with the wonderful Trinitarian phrase “You have sent the Spirit of your Son into our hearts whereby we call you Father”:
‘Almighty God, you have broken the tyranny of sin and have sent the Spirit of your Son into our hearts whereby we call you Father: give us grace to dedicate our freedom to your service, that we and all your children may be brought to the glorious liberty of the children of God; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen’
Thank you to Lesley for the band’s song choice “Peace perfect peace”. And to Gill for producing a new All Age format for reflecting on the key themes of our Gospel reading. This is a new venture so that our worship is accessible to all in our church family of whatever age, that there is “something for everyone”.
Next week we come out of lockdown as a nation. It is also the Sunday we would normally celebrate the work of the NHS so next week there will be a particular focus on giving thanks for the NHS and all who have enabled us all and as a nation to survive lockdown.
Jonathan’s sermon this morning is about waiting, a theme very appropriate at this time of coming out of lockdown when some will choose to continue to self-isolate and to shield others.
Our decision as a Church is not to re-open for private prayer for the time being, but we will keep you updated of any changes.
This week’s blessing is prefaced by a prayer by the Puritan Divine, Richard Baxter, appropriate for the theme of waiting: “Keep us, O Lord, while we tarry on this earth … in an affectionate walking with you …that when you come… we may be found waiting and longing for our Lord, our glorious God”.
All the best
Tom