Thank you to everyone who contributed & helped give Jo a good send off. We gave her a lovely set of books of the Old Testament for her to annotate, illustrate and keep notes in, and a huge bright canvas to decorate a big blank wall in her study.
And Jo warmly invites you to her licensing as Team Vicar in the Dorchester Team at Dorchester Abbey on Wednesday 31st January at 7:30pm followed by refreshments afterwards. The hymns during the services will be: - Be Thou my Vision - Living Hope: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9f2FXxDVO6w&ab_channel=musicmeetsheaven - What a beautiful name: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5L6QlAH3L4&ab_channel=HillsongWorship and In Christ Alone Please click here for more details about the service and how to reply to the invitation.
Our weekly intercessions We are blessed to have prayers prepared each week, with a different style of each contributor. We say a huge thank you to those who have helped with this over recent years but have now stood down: Michael, Mary, David, John, Geoffrey and Barbara. Could you perhaps join the helpful team a few times a year and make it not too onerous for all concerned? Training and support is available.
Digging Deeper – Spring Term
Session 2: Repeating cycles of fear leading to oppression. What breaks this? Exodus, 1-2
All welcome! 10.30am, Tuesday 23rd in the Canterbury Room, coffee and finish by noon.
Next session on 6th February.
Piano Recital at St Mary’s Sunday 21st January There will be a Piano Recital this Sunday, January 21st, at 4pm by virtuoso concert pianist Russell Thompson also featuring his wife, Trudi, herself an exceptional pianist. There will be pieces by Mozart, Rachmaninoff, Chopin and Liszt played by Russell Thompson and a duet of Carnival of Animals by Saint Saens. Tickets are available at the door for £10 full, £9 concessions (cash only please).
Singing Workshop – Saturday 27th January, 1.45pm-5pm Singing in a group is the perfect way to spend an afternoon to brighten up January! Matt Foster will be running a Singing Workshop at St Thomas’, suitable for all who love singing, whether you read music or not. We will be singing a wide variety of music including Mozart’s Lacrimosa; Schonberg’s Do you hear the people sing; and Paul McCartney’s Live and Let Die. More information about the workshop, including how to register, can be found on the website by clicking here or via the church office.
This week we are asked to pray
Prayers for this week Thank you to Alun for this week’s prayers.
Lord, we give thanks for the three churches of our benefice and ask your blessing on all who come to worship at St Thomas’, St Mary’s and St Andrew’s. You have called us to be caring churches, reflecting in our lives your infinite care for us. Help us to fulfil our calling by caring for one another in an unselfish fellowship of love. We thank you for the work of Ben and the ministry team, for initiatives that broaden our understanding, and for services offered to the three communities. We pray that you bless those who take on responsibility for leadership, and everyone who participates. Lord, in your mercy Hear our prayer.
We ask you, Lord, to look with compassion on the broken areas of the world today. Heal the sorrows and suffering of so many different peoples. Protect nations from the lust for power, from racial hatred and jealousy, and from the worship of material things. We pray that the rule of tyranny may be overcome, that the cause of righteousness may triumph, so that more people may live in a just environment and in the peace and freedom of your kingdom. Yet whilst we hear and read of distressing news in many places, and of natural disasters, let us never forget that the Good News of your Gospel is always with us. May we each day become a little more worthy of being your disciples. Lord, in your mercy Hear our prayer.
Lord, we thank you for the villages in which we live; help us always to be good neighbours, making such contribution as we can for the common good, that in love we may be of service to others. Though we may be able to live our lives in relative comfort, let us not be blind to the needs of the less fortunate. Bless all involved in caring occupations, tending to the sick, the depressed, the lonely, the unemployed, the handicapped and the bereaved; may they be granted the understanding and skill to fulfil their vocation. Lord, in your mercy Hear our prayer.
Father, we pray for those who are currently unwell, especially those whom we know personally and are in our thoughts. Bless all that is being done to relieve their suffering and surround them with your healing love. We commend to your keeping those who mourn the loss of loved ones. Grant them the peace that passes all understanding that they may know that neither death nor life can separate them from your love in Jesus Christ. And so we pray that your love may so fill our lives that we may count nothing too small to do for you, nothing too much to give and nothing too hard to bear, in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ.
Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your Son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.