At the start of Lockdown I began posting a reflection on Tuesdays and Fridays, during August I changed the Friday post to be the daily office of morning prayer said in the church.
11th August The Holy Spirit connects us together and enables us to bear the fruit of peace, patience and kindness.(Ephesians 4.1-6) Let us pray for more of the Spirit and for Unity, and recognise ‘How truly wonderful and delightful to see brothers and sisters living together in sweet unity!’ (Psalm 133, TPT). May God bless You today.
14th August
4th August Continuing reflecting on Psalm 147 and God’s glory in the clouds
28th July Looking at the stars can help us get a glimpse of God’s awesomeness. The writer of Psalm 147 reminds us that the God of the stars is also the God of our hearts.
31st July
21st July God asks “How are you today?” The psalm writers reply in different ways: – How good and pleasant things are (Psalm 133) – My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (Psalm 22) – O sing to the Lord a new song (Psalm 96) Jesus, too, went through times of contentment and lament, but showed us the way to New Life through belief in Him.
24th July Good Morning Everyone, do join me for Morning Prayer this morning, Bless You.
I was feeling in need of some encouragement yesterday, and it came in the form of some amazing people and some powerful words from the Bible: Psalm 98 – Sing a new song to the Lord John 15 – Abide in me and I will abide in you Proverbs 3 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.
Here are some encouraging Bible verses gathered from our online congregation…
Join me for the daily office of Morning Prayer. I hope to stream this live to Facebook on future Friday, if I can. A wonderful passage from 1 Samuel today ‘Speak Lord, for your servant is listening’ – may that be true for us today too. Bless You.
We are transformers! – changing from the inside out because God wants to bring the best out of us. Bless You today.
As we persist in prayer, for ourselves and for our world, let us take encouragement from God’s word to us – Luke 18.1-8 & Isaiah 40.31.
How thirsty are you today? Jesus invites us all to come to him, the source of living water. Then, in turn, rivers of living water will flow from our hearts (John 7.37-39)
A few thoughts and gardening tips from Jesus, on this Tuesday morning. May God bless you today.
‘Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him’ Psalm 37. Light a candle and join me in taking a few minutes to draw close to God today. Bless You.
As we begin to emerge from our isolation, let us draw from St Paul’s words to the Colossians: ‘You are always and dearly loved by God!’ and so ‘forgive one another in the same way you have been graciously forgiven by Jesus Christ.’ Bless You today.
Today is the day we remember Saint Barnabas, a man who used his words and his deeds to live up to his name ‘Son of encouragement’. May we too, know this encouragement and in turn, encourage others by our words and our deeds today. Amen
"Neighbours, everybody needs good neighbours" and everybody needs to be good neighbours too. This is not quite a quote from Jesus, but it can still be a particular focus for our prayers in these times as we seek to bless one another.
“Neighbours, everybody needs good neighbours” and everybody needs to be good neighbours too. This is not quite a quote from Jesus, but it can still be a particular focus for our prayers in these times as we seek to bless one another.
As God blesses our gardens with refreshing rain, let us consider the lilies today and may it draw us closer to our amazing creator. Bless You.
Jesus was the 'Rose of Sharon' who wore the Crown of Thorns. He knows each of our joys and sorrows. He can lead us into God's loving presence. In Him there is a hope for yesterday, today and forever. May his blessing go with you.
Jesus was the ‘Rose of Sharon’ who wore the Crown of Thorns. He knows each of our joys and sorrows. He can lead us into God’s loving presence. In Him there is a hope for yesterday, today and forever. May his blessing go with you.
A song I wrote last year inspired by Psalm 54, the opening phrase from which is inscribed on one of our historic bells.
Sometimes we have choices to make where it is not obvious which way God wants us to go – in these times it is helpful to remember that He promises to be with us whatever we choose. Following God is not about following a single path mapped out before us, but about following the one who is the Way – Jesus Christ. He will bring light to our path and enable us to shine His light to others. Bless you today.
Sometimes we have choices to make where it is not obvious which way God wants us to go – in these times it is helpful to remember that He promises to be with us whatever we choose. Following God is not about following a single path mapped out before us, but about following the one who is the Way – Jesus Christ. He will bring light to our path and enable us to shine His light to others. Bless you today.
A few thoughts and a prayer for this Tuesday morning, and a song from my teaching days – 'Cross over the road my friend…'. inspired by someone asking Jesus 'Who is my neighbour?' (Luke 10.25-37). It is amazing how the songs we sing stay with us and bubble at certain times. May God Bless You today.
A few thoughts and a prayer for this Tuesday morning, and a song from my teaching days – ‘Cross over the road my friend…’. inspired by someone asking Jesus ‘Who is my neighbour?’ (Luke 10.25-37). It is amazing how the songs we sing stay with us and bubble up at certain times. May God Bless You today.
Let us 'Give thanks in every circumstance' and let God lead us into the future, in his presence and knowing his peace.Bless You today.
Let us ‘Give thanks in every circumstance’ and let God lead us into the future, in his presence and knowing his peace. May God Bless You today.
'Consider the stingers, they neither toil nor spin yet they still come back every year' misquote from Matthew 6.28. Jesus' comparison of the spiritual life with plant growth is helpful. Let's trim the spiritual weeds and encourage growth in the activities that bring us, and others, life.
‘Consider the stingers, they neither toil nor spin yet they still come back every year’ misquote from Matthew 6.28. Jesus’ comparison of the spiritual life with plant growth is helpful. Let’s trim the spiritual weeds and encourage growth in the activities that bring us, and others, life.
A song for Friday, 'O Lord you have searched me out and known me, you know my sitting down and my rising up, you discern my thoughts from afar' Psalm 139. May you know God's blessing today.
A song for Friday, ‘O Lord you have searched me out and known me, you know my sitting down and my rising up, you discern my thoughts from afar’ Psalm 139. May you know God’s blessing today.
A few thoughts from the Rectory garden this morning. Just to clarify the passage we looked at when Jesus breaks through the lockdown is in John's Gospel chapter 20 verses 24-31, (Luke 24 is this coming Sunday's passage!)Here's the prayer I end with: Blessed are you, Lord God of our salvation,to you be praise and glory for ever. As once you ransomed your people from Egypt and led them to freedom in the promised land, so now you have delivered us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of your risen Son. May we, the first fruits of your new creation,rejoice in this new day you have made, and praise you for your mighty acts. Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Blessed be God for ever. Amen.
21st April A few thoughts from the Rectory garden this morning. Just to clarify the passage we looked at when Jesus breaks through the lockdown is in John’s Gospel chapter 20 verses 24-31, (Luke 24 is this coming Sunday’s passage!)
I have been encouraged in my daily reading today by these verses from Hebrews chapter 13: Verse 6 which says 'we can say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.What can anyone do to me?’ and Verse 8 'Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever.'And I have been encouraged by the sight of the Horse Chestnut tree beginning to open up its new leaves. Bless you all today.
Apologies for the crackles. On this Good Friday like no other, let us spend time waiting in anticipation of all that God has prepared for us, both in this life, and in the life to come.
Another update from Stephen our vicar. Do watch and listen to today's video update. May we trust in God's word to us today – 'And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.' (Philippians 4.7)
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