It is easy to be bewildered and bowled over by life and the world around us. Psalm 46 reminds us to “Be still and know that I am God.”
Parish Breakfast at St Thomas', this Sunday, 2nd February
Come along for croissants and coffee on this first Sunday of a month from 8.45-9.15am. This is a wonderful way to integrate our different church members of all ages and stages. Thank you to Robert, Lucy, Elena, Olive and Greta for providing this!
Real Easter Eggs Once again Real Easter Eggs are not being sold by supermarkets so the only way to obtain one is to order directly. The eggs are Fairtrade, palm oil and plastic free and many come with a 24 page Easter story/activity book. There are sign up sheets in our churches or please contact the church office to order. The makers have asked us to order early so we will be placing an order on 17th February.
This week we are asked to pray:
Prayers for the week Thank you to Judith for this week’s prayers. Heavenly Father, we ask you to help all the people in this country who have suffered loss during the storms which have hit our shores over the last few weeks: those whose homes have been flooded, those who are still without electricity and those who have suffered loss of various kinds. We thank you that in this area we have not experienced the worst of the weather. Nevertheless, we ask you to make us aware of anyone who needs help in our community to keep warm and well-fed during the winter months, so that we can support them. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. Loving God, we thank you that you have heard our prayers for the Middle East and that there is a ceasefire between Hamas and Israel at the moment. We pray that there will soon be a permanent end to the violence in Gaza, Lebanon and Israel. We pray also for an end to the wars in the rest of the world: between Russia and the Ukraine, in the Sudan, in the Democratic Republic of Congo and in Myanmar, to name but a few. We appeal to you to remove from human hearts the love of power and replace it with love for you and for one another. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. Merciful Lord, we pray for our part in your church, the Church of England, especially at this time when serious failures in safeguarding have been brought to light. We are sorry that these failings have wounded many vulnerable people and have marred the image of your church. Please give those in authority wisdom, and please guide the selection of a new Archbishop of Canterbury. Bless and guide them and the archbishop of York with Your Holy Spirit as they seek to bring in necessary reforms. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. Lord, we pray for the churches in our Benefice. Please bless our plans for this year, including the Marriage Preparation Course, the Bereavement Café, the Digging Deeper Group, the Ecumenical Lent Groups, Little Lights and the Discoverers, and Pick-a-Flick. Help us, through these initiatives, to reach more people with the good news of your love. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. Please bless our mission partners, Steve and Lindsay, as they continue their work in Honduras and as they prepare for the arrival of their first baby. We pray for a safe delivery and good health for the whole family. We thank you for their dedication to the young people they are mentoring. Please grant them success in keeping more of them away from the gangs. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer. Merciful Father, please bless and heal all those we know who are sick at this time. Show us how we can support them and grant that they will feel your presence with them. We pray also for those who have recently lost loved ones and ask you to comfort them. Merciful Father, accept these prayers for the sake of your son, our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.