Please find a link below to a resource prepared by Revd. Silas Wood
https://www.dropbox.com/s/8lu34gk0lrp3u1y/Worship%20at%20Home%20-%2029th%20March%202020%20YA%20L5-2.pdf?dl=0
Thursday, 26 March 2020
Monday, 23 March 2020
Beeston Bible Study for Mothering Sunday and Annunciation
I was due to lead Bible study for Beeston tonight.
Instead of being able to gather together I offer this resource as a study for this week which has both Mothering Sunday and the Annunciation.
It can be found here:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/9dyfkn3nzwd2oca/Beeston%20Bible%20Study%20%28March%202020%29%20-%20Mary%20-%20the%20mother%20of%20Jesus.pdf?dl=0
Instead of being able to gather together I offer this resource as a study for this week which has both Mothering Sunday and the Annunciation.
It can be found here:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/9dyfkn3nzwd2oca/Beeston%20Bible%20Study%20%28March%202020%29%20-%20Mary%20-%20the%20mother%20of%20Jesus.pdf?dl=0
Saturday, 21 March 2020
TV and Radio Services Tomorrow (22 March)
There will be a service, led by the Archbishop of Canterbury, broadcast on BBC Local Radio at 8am tomorrow (22nd March). https://www.bbc.co.uk/threecountiesradio 95.5FM, 103.8FM, Digital
https://www.bbc.co.uk/radiocambridgeshire 95.7FM, 96FM, Digital
There is also a TV service on BBC1 at 11:45 - details here https://www.radiotimes.com/tv-programme/e/k65656/sunday-worship--22032020/
Friday, 20 March 2020
Welcome
Introduction
A Message from Dalwyn
Now that public worship has been suspended because of the Coronavirus-Covid19 outbreak, we are trying to find ways of "Doing Church Differently."
There is a danger that this may mean an avalanche of emails land in everyone's inbox because we are trying to maintain communication and make sure that everyone has the information they need.
So to avoid this, I am experimenting with using this blog. Not just for information sharing, but also, hopefully to provide information to help you to pray and worship at home.
The joy of a 'blog' is that the information that is shared 'hangs around' and doesn't get pushed down an email inbox and lost. It is also true that with a blog you can choose whether to access it or not, it doesn't become an annoying 'ping' in your inbox.
I guess the other thing about a blog is that it can be accessed by anyone - so please share it to anyone you think might find it helpful. Some of the content will be very specific to members of Trinity (Biggleswade), Sandy and Beeston Methodist Churches, but I am guessing most of it will not!
To get us started I will upload the things that have already been shared.
Your feedback will also be welcome - my email address is dalwyn.attwell at (replace this with the usual symbol) methodist.org.uk
Please keep you and those you love safe at this time and we continue to look forward to when we can gather together again to celebrate the goodness of God show to us in Christ Jesus.
With love and blessings,
Dalwyn
Thursday, 19 March 2020
22 March 2020 - Mothering Sunday - Worshipping at Home
Entering into Worship:
The God who knit you together in your mother's womb invites you to spend these few moments with Him.
Hymn StF 728 O God, you search me and you know me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEGc3_D19Vo
Reading - Psalm 139:13-15
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. - http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm139:13-15&version=NIVUK
Prayer of Adoration
Creator and Creating God,
The universe in all its fullness bears witness to your power,
You created all things and lovingly watch over all you have made.
We join the songs of your creation.
Saviour and Saving God,
You weep when you see brokenness, pain and suffering
You walked among us and in your passion entered into our agony
We join the songs of your salvation.
Sanctifier and Sanctifying God
All life is holy to you and you invite all of Creation to be filled with your presence,
You breathe your Spirit into men and women that we might be holy as you are holy.
We join the song of your holiness.
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we worship and adore you. Amen
Prayer of Confession
You have searched me Lord and you know me,
I bring to mind my sins and confess them before you.
[At this point spend a moment or two in recalling words, thoughts and deeds that you wish to confess]
Search me God and know my heart
Forgive me those things that are offensive to you
and lead me in the way everlasting.
In the name of Christ. Amen
Christ Jesus came into the word to save sinners.
Receive his gracious word: "Your sins are forgiven."
Thanks be to God. Amen
Reading: Luke 2:41-52
The Boy Jesus in the Temple
41 Every year the parents of Jesus went to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival. 42 When Jesus was twelve years old, they went to the festival as usual. 43 When the festival was over, they started back home, but the boy Jesus stayed in Jerusalem. His parents did not know this; 44 they thought that he was with the group, so they traveled a whole day and then started looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 They did not find him, so they went back to Jerusalem looking for him. 46 On the third day they found him in the Temple, sitting with the Jewish teachers, listening to them and asking questions. 47 All who heard him were amazed at his intelligent answers. 48 His parents were astonished when they saw him, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been terribly worried trying to find you.”
49 He answered them, “Why did you have to look for me? Didn't you know that I had to be in my Father's house?” 50 But they did not understand his answer.
51 So Jesus went back with them to Nazareth, where he was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 Jesus grew both in body and in wisdom, gaining favor with God and people.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke+2%3A41-52&version=GNT
Pondering Scripture:
It is Mothering Sunday. One of the themes of Mothering Sunday is separation and reunion. In our reading Jesus is separated from his parents and after much anxious searching they are eventually reunited. This sole insight into Jesus' childhood shows us that his was a very ordinary family life.
Anyone who has had care for another person will be able to identify with Mary and Joseph's anxiety when they realised that Jesus was not among the company of relatives and friends journeying back from the Passover celebrations. You may remember a few years ago, the story of David Cameron leaving his children behind in a pub near the Prime Minister's country residence in Buckinghamshire. Plenty of political mischief was made at the time and it gave comedians plenty of material. Yet it was a story of a very common experience, that only hits home when you have experienced that physical and emotional moment of realising that someone you are responsible for has wandered off. Mary and Joseph were not immune from the worry and panic of losing their son. "Why have you done this to us?" Mary says when they find him, "Your father and I have been terribly worried."
I wonder how any of us would have reacted at Jesus' response. Luke softens their response by merely saying that they did not understand. Can you imagine how that might have looked and sounded in the conversation that is not recorded in the Gospel?
Perhaps we might find it hard to imagine that the child Jesus, made a mistake, because we have been taught that he was without sin. Maybe, though, this passage reminds us that not all mistakes are 'sin.' Sometimes it is possible to do the right thing in the wrong way. This is especially the case when we put being right ahead of our relationship with others.
That doesn't mean that we have to compromise, or lower our standards in any way. What it may mean though is that we learn what it is to walk alongside others graciously, giving time and space for their relationship with God to grow rather than rushing to impose our understanding on them. Jesus was human just as we are human so it is no stretch to imagine that he had to learn how to live alongside others and love just as we do. His relationship with the Father would not have been compromised if he had foregone the opportunity to pick the Rabbis' brains and stayed close to his earthly parents instead.
Luke suggests that he learnt from this incident and in particular learnt what it meant, in practice, to obey the Commandment to "Honour your father and your mother." (Exodus 20:12)
Having been separated physically and in intention from his parents, Jesus was reunited with them in body and heart. There is reunion and reconciliation in this passage as Jesus realises that his actions had caused his parents pain and, perhaps as Mary comes to realise that she has much to learn about being a parent, and especially about being a parent to this unique child.
Having been separated for a while, they are reunited. From the anxiety comes understanding and ultimately joy. Separation is often difficult, but so too is reunion, especially when it requires us to adjust our expectations and understanding of each other so that we can live alongside one another and learn together how to be the family of God's people.
Some questions to ponder.
When we look back on our relationship with those who cared for us in our childhood (maybe our mothers in particular) do we recall moments when we learnt sharp lessons about the impact of our choices on them?
Maybe we have had the responsibility for looking after children ourselves - how have their actions helped shaped our own attitudes to caring for and loving other people?
Have we ever been tempted to put our religious duty ahead of the needs of our nearest and dearest? How might we learn to balance our commitment as followers of Jesus with the command to honour those who live alongside us?
Prayers for Mothering Sunday
Pray for mothers, fathers and carers across the world who are separated from their children because of war, natural disaster of human actions.
Pray for families who have become estranged because of differences of perspective or opinion.
Pray for mothers (and other carers) who are struggling with the burden of providing for their family, especially in the uncertainty caused by the Coronavirus outbreak with the closure of schools, threat to employment and difficulties in finding food and other supplies in the shops.
Pray for yourself, your family and those you love and are concerned for at this time.
The Lord's Prayer
Hymn StF 119 God of Eve and God of Mary
(to tune Sussex - Father hear the prayer we offer - found here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtoF8VFVPRg)
The Grace
The God who knit you together in your mother's womb invites you to spend these few moments with Him.
Hymn StF 728 O God, you search me and you know me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mEGc3_D19Vo
Reading - Psalm 139:13-15
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. - http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm139:13-15&version=NIVUK
Prayer of Adoration
Creator and Creating God,
The universe in all its fullness bears witness to your power,
You created all things and lovingly watch over all you have made.
We join the songs of your creation.
Saviour and Saving God,
You weep when you see brokenness, pain and suffering
You walked among us and in your passion entered into our agony
We join the songs of your salvation.
Sanctifier and Sanctifying God
All life is holy to you and you invite all of Creation to be filled with your presence,
You breathe your Spirit into men and women that we might be holy as you are holy.
We join the song of your holiness.
Father, Son and Holy Spirit, we worship and adore you. Amen
Prayer of Confession
You have searched me Lord and you know me,
I bring to mind my sins and confess them before you.
[At this point spend a moment or two in recalling words, thoughts and deeds that you wish to confess]
Search me God and know my heart
Forgive me those things that are offensive to you
and lead me in the way everlasting.
In the name of Christ. Amen
Christ Jesus came into the word to save sinners.
Receive his gracious word: "Your sins are forgiven."
Thanks be to God. Amen
Reading: Luke 2:41-52
The Boy Jesus in the Temple
41 Every year the parents of Jesus went to Jerusalem for the Passover Festival. 42 When Jesus was twelve years old, they went to the festival as usual. 43 When the festival was over, they started back home, but the boy Jesus stayed in Jerusalem. His parents did not know this; 44 they thought that he was with the group, so they traveled a whole day and then started looking for him among their relatives and friends. 45 They did not find him, so they went back to Jerusalem looking for him. 46 On the third day they found him in the Temple, sitting with the Jewish teachers, listening to them and asking questions. 47 All who heard him were amazed at his intelligent answers. 48 His parents were astonished when they saw him, and his mother said to him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been terribly worried trying to find you.”
49 He answered them, “Why did you have to look for me? Didn't you know that I had to be in my Father's house?” 50 But they did not understand his answer.
51 So Jesus went back with them to Nazareth, where he was obedient to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart. 52 Jesus grew both in body and in wisdom, gaining favor with God and people.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke+2%3A41-52&version=GNT
Pondering Scripture:
It is Mothering Sunday. One of the themes of Mothering Sunday is separation and reunion. In our reading Jesus is separated from his parents and after much anxious searching they are eventually reunited. This sole insight into Jesus' childhood shows us that his was a very ordinary family life.
Anyone who has had care for another person will be able to identify with Mary and Joseph's anxiety when they realised that Jesus was not among the company of relatives and friends journeying back from the Passover celebrations. You may remember a few years ago, the story of David Cameron leaving his children behind in a pub near the Prime Minister's country residence in Buckinghamshire. Plenty of political mischief was made at the time and it gave comedians plenty of material. Yet it was a story of a very common experience, that only hits home when you have experienced that physical and emotional moment of realising that someone you are responsible for has wandered off. Mary and Joseph were not immune from the worry and panic of losing their son. "Why have you done this to us?" Mary says when they find him, "Your father and I have been terribly worried."
I wonder how any of us would have reacted at Jesus' response. Luke softens their response by merely saying that they did not understand. Can you imagine how that might have looked and sounded in the conversation that is not recorded in the Gospel?
Perhaps we might find it hard to imagine that the child Jesus, made a mistake, because we have been taught that he was without sin. Maybe, though, this passage reminds us that not all mistakes are 'sin.' Sometimes it is possible to do the right thing in the wrong way. This is especially the case when we put being right ahead of our relationship with others.
That doesn't mean that we have to compromise, or lower our standards in any way. What it may mean though is that we learn what it is to walk alongside others graciously, giving time and space for their relationship with God to grow rather than rushing to impose our understanding on them. Jesus was human just as we are human so it is no stretch to imagine that he had to learn how to live alongside others and love just as we do. His relationship with the Father would not have been compromised if he had foregone the opportunity to pick the Rabbis' brains and stayed close to his earthly parents instead.
Luke suggests that he learnt from this incident and in particular learnt what it meant, in practice, to obey the Commandment to "Honour your father and your mother." (Exodus 20:12)
Having been separated physically and in intention from his parents, Jesus was reunited with them in body and heart. There is reunion and reconciliation in this passage as Jesus realises that his actions had caused his parents pain and, perhaps as Mary comes to realise that she has much to learn about being a parent, and especially about being a parent to this unique child.
Having been separated for a while, they are reunited. From the anxiety comes understanding and ultimately joy. Separation is often difficult, but so too is reunion, especially when it requires us to adjust our expectations and understanding of each other so that we can live alongside one another and learn together how to be the family of God's people.
Some questions to ponder.
When we look back on our relationship with those who cared for us in our childhood (maybe our mothers in particular) do we recall moments when we learnt sharp lessons about the impact of our choices on them?
Maybe we have had the responsibility for looking after children ourselves - how have their actions helped shaped our own attitudes to caring for and loving other people?
Have we ever been tempted to put our religious duty ahead of the needs of our nearest and dearest? How might we learn to balance our commitment as followers of Jesus with the command to honour those who live alongside us?
Prayers for Mothering Sunday
Pray for mothers, fathers and carers across the world who are separated from their children because of war, natural disaster of human actions.
Pray for families who have become estranged because of differences of perspective or opinion.
Pray for mothers (and other carers) who are struggling with the burden of providing for their family, especially in the uncertainty caused by the Coronavirus outbreak with the closure of schools, threat to employment and difficulties in finding food and other supplies in the shops.
Pray for yourself, your family and those you love and are concerned for at this time.
The Lord's Prayer
Hymn StF 119 God of Eve and God of Mary
(to tune Sussex - Father hear the prayer we offer - found here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtoF8VFVPRg)
The Grace
Wednesday, 18 March 2020
Public Library resources for those self-isolating in Biggleswade
Trinity Folk!
If you are self-isolating in Biggleswade and you need something to keep your grey-cells going, then Nora has offered to help out, see her work contacts below
I'm happy for anyone to contact me should they need anything (not just books), either on my mobile or this email or my work email/tel number (nora.haikala@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk, 0300 300 8055).
If you are self-isolating in Biggleswade and you need something to keep your grey-cells going, then Nora has offered to help out, see her work contacts below
I'm happy for anyone to contact me should they need anything (not just books), either on my mobile or this email or my work email/tel number (nora.haikala@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk, 0300 300 8055).
Praying during the Coronavirus Outbreak
This resource was originally produced for evening worship at Trinity on Sunday 15 March (printed versions will be available when the Church is open for private prayer)
A prayer produced by the Methodist Church
We should not be afraid “For God has not
given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2
Timothy 1:7.
God of all hope we call on you today.
We pray for those who are living in fear:
Fear of illness, fear for loved ones, fear of other’s reactions to them.
May your Spirit give us a sense of calmness and peace.
We pray for your church in this time of uncertainty.
For those people who are worried about attending worship.
For those needing to make decisions in order to care for other
For those who will feel more isolated by not being able to attend.
Grant us your wisdom.
We pray for those who are living in fear:
Fear of illness, fear for loved ones, fear of other’s reactions to them.
May your Spirit give us a sense of calmness and peace.
We pray for your church in this time of uncertainty.
For those people who are worried about attending worship.
For those needing to make decisions in order to care for other
For those who will feel more isolated by not being able to attend.
Grant us your wisdom.
Holy God, we remember that you have promised that
Nothing will separate us from your love – demonstrated to us in Jesus Christ.
Help us turn our eyes, hearts and minds to you.
Nothing will separate us from your love – demonstrated to us in Jesus Christ.
Help us turn our eyes, hearts and minds to you.
Amen
Praying for those on the front-line here
and around the world.
We pray for Doctors, Nurses, Paramedics
and Hospital Support Staff who are treating
those affected and seeking to maintain a
service for others in need of medical care
We pray for carers supporting the
vulnerable and elderly in their homes
or in residential homes
We pray for leaders in other public
services as they face additional
pressure in preparing contingency
plans and the demands from clients
needing information and reassurance
We pray for those working in shops
and supermarkets managing the extra
demand caused by panic-buying
We pray for policy makers and
advisers as they respond to the latest
information, that they may lead us
wisely and set an example in calm
restraint in the face of uncertainty
We pray for those who are vulnerable
and at risk
We pray for those who have already
contracted Coronavirus and for their
close family, friends and loved ones.
We pray for those who are in selfisolation
– particularly those
vulnerable to loneliness or mental
health difficulties
We pray for those who are anxious
about their own health or the wider
situation
We pray for those whose
circumstances mean that they do not
have access to information that will
help them to protect themselves
We pray for those who have no home
in which to self-isolate
We pray for those who are mourning
the death of loved ones as a result of
the virus.
We pray for the church
We ask for wisdom for leaders in the
local church and national churches as
they decide the best way to respond
to the Coronavirus situation
We pray for creative ways to maintain
our ministry to each other and our
mission to our community especially if
social-isolation becomes official policy
We pray that we would continue to be
diligent in looking over one another in
love, especially in ensuring those at
home are not totally cut-off from the
church community.
We pray that you would help us to
find practical ways of loving one another
e.g. ensuring that people have
enough food, helping to collect
prescriptions etc.
Help us to resist the temptation to
join others in panic-buying or
inconsiderate actions in public-places.
(Feel free to add prayer resources in the comments - and don't forget to click to see them!)
(Feel free to add prayer resources in the comments - and don't forget to click to see them!)
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