We're really excited about the coming weekend of events to celebrate the 175th Anniversary of St Thomas' Church, and are very busy with our preparations.
The headline picture is just one of many drawn by our Sunday School children and pupils from our three Church Schools. To see them all, visit our Sunday School Facebook page at - St Thomas Leesfield Sunday School
Everyone is warmly invited to join us at any stage during the weekend - there really is something for everybody, and admission is free of charge.
Friday
The weekend begins gently with Taizé worship in Church at 10 am, where we will light candles and pray with calming music, and there will then be quiet time for private prayer.
Classes from St Agnes' and St Hugh's schools will be visiting us for the remainder of the morning, and St Thomas' School are holding their weekly assembly in church from 2.15 to 3.15 pm.
Church is open to visitors of all ages from 12.30 to 2 pm and 3.15 to 5 pm to view our historical displays, so why not pop in to see us after school? Our parishioners have been sharing their photos and memories of Leesfield Parish, which have been added to these displays.
Saturday
The church will be open all day, from 10 am to 5 pm, for visitors to explore our Church and the historical displays. Guide books are available, and there will be people on hand to answer any questions you may have.
The Ladies of Leesfield are hosting a Coffee Morning in the Church Community Room from 10.30 am to 12 noon, and are pleased to welcome friends and visitors from the local community.
Victoria Sponge, Fruit and Chocolate Cakes should be handed in to the school hall by 11am so that judging can take place - the winners will be announced in the hall after the opening of the Lees Village Fete, and the cakes will then be on sale.
Registrations for the Dog Show open from 11 am. Various classes are available, and the entry fee is £2 per class. The Dog Show starts over on the Church lawn at 12.30 pm, and runs throughout the day.
A Celebratory Quarter Peal will be rung on our Church Bells at 11 am, with the help of friends from neighbouring towers. This will announce our Village Fete far and wide, so even if you're not able to be with us in person you'll hear the joyful sound if you live anywhere near Lees.
The Victorian themed Lees Village Fete will be officially opened by Harvest Queen Annie at 12 noon at the church gates. Admission is free of charge, and refreshments will be on sale.
Musical entertainment will be in church. At 12.30 pm we are delighted to welcome Saddleworth Male Voice Choir to sing for us , and at 1.15 pm, come and be entertained by the wonderful Barnhowlers Ukelele Group.
The Lees Village Fete will take place mainly in the school and schoolyard (except for the Dog Show, which will be on the church lawn with access from Thomas Street), and promises lots of fun for the whole community. There will be a variety of stalls and activities for all the family to enjoy, including Tombolas, Lucky Dip, Toy stall, Splat the Teacher, Hook a Duck, Penalty Shoot-Out and many more games. We will also be supported by Body Shop by Louise, Knitwits and Handmade Jewellery by Elaine.
Sunday
There will be a Parish Eucharist Service in Church at 11 am, led by our Area Dean, the Revd. Daniel Ramble. Our Sunday School children will be singing, and the combined choirs of St Thomas’ and St Agnes’ will lead us in hymns which have been chosen by congregation members, accompanied by Mr Warren Andrew, our former organist.
Refreshments will be served in our Community Room after the service, and we will remain open until 2 pm for friends and visitors to drop in.
Welcome to our Sunday Worship on the Third Sunday after Trinity. Our Church Services today are at the usual times of 9.15 am at St Agnes' and 11 am at St Thomas'. If you are unable to be with us in person, you can find today's Gospel reading, a reflection and prayers below.
Our first hymn this morning is "Beauty for Brokenness"
Today's Gospel
Matthew 10:24-39Coming Persecutions
Jesus said to the twelve disciples, “A disciple is not above the teacher, nor a slave above the master; it is enough for the disciple to be like the teacher, and the slave like the master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign those of his household!
“So have no fear of them; for nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known. What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light; and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops. Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. And even the hairs of your head are all counted. So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.
“Everyone therefore who acknowledges me before others, I also will acknowledge before my Father in heaven; but whoever denies me before others, I also will deny before my Father in heaven.
“Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and one’s foes will be members of one’s own household.
Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.”
Reflection
At first sight this can be quite a difficult message that Jesus is relaying to his disciples, so I’ve used an article from Faye Rowland (aka Mother Clanger), who has interpreted it better than I could and also asks us to think about what this means for us. Paul
[There are a lot of juicy bits in this passage, a few pretty sound-bites and a couple of hard sayings. It is important that we don’t just pick out the bits we like and ignore the rest, but we can get a better grip on trickier passages when we take them in context. This is particularly important if a superficial reading seems to put it at odds with the rest of the Bible.
For example, take verses 34-36: Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn “a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law – a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.” Yeesh!
Q: If you only had that part of the Bible, what sort of person would you think Jesus was? What parts of the Bible support that, and what parts contradict?
On their own, these verses paint a terrible picture. Jesus came to bring the sword and destroy families?
Surely that can’t be right. No, certainly not. When we take this verse in the context of the passage, the gospel, and the whole message of the Bible, it makes much more sense. Jesus is describing the effect that his message will have – some will accept joyfully, others will angrily refuse – and different family members might have very different responses. Even Jesus’s own family were divided at first (see Mark 3:20-21).
The Christian message of salvation is good news for those who realise they need saving, but a stench in the noses of those who think they have no need, and folks react accordingly.
Q: How have you experienced opposition to the gospel? How can we make sure that we are not making the message harder to receive?
This passage comes as part of Jesus’ pep-talk to the disciples before he sends them out to spread his message. (I have to say, it’s not the most encouraging team boost I’ve ever heard, but perhaps is it as well to be prepared.) The whole talk can be summarised by verse 24: The student is not above the teacher, nor a servant above his master.
“I get this kind of treatment all the time”, Jesus is saying, “so don’t expect anything different yourselves. Sometimes it will be rough, I’m not going to lie to you. Following me is not some little hobby for when you have nothing better to do. This takes commitment. You up for it?”
Q: How do we sometimes treat our faith as if it were a hobby? What can we do about that?
This outing for the disciples was short-term and limited to just the “lost sheep of Israel”. Later, Jesus expanded the mission to Jerusalem, Samaria, Judea and the ends of the earth. He also expanded the mission team, from the twelve disciples to include all of us.
And what’s the mission? To do Jesus-stuff. To be Jesus in our communities. Our calling is to be like him. Our confession is that we belong to him. Our destiny is to follow him.
Q: How will you fulfil this calling in your situation?]
Faye Rowland
Our Prayers
Heavenly Father,
You call us to follow you and spread the Good News of Jesus to everyone.
Please join us for our 175th Anniversary Weekend Celebrations - ALL ARE WELCOME! This promises to be a joyous weekend of celebrations for the whole Community so please come along in Victorian costume if you wish and help us celebrate.
Friday 30th June
10 am to 11 am - The weekend begins gently with Taizé worship in Church, where we will light candles and pray with calming music, and there will then be quiet time for private prayer.
11 am to 5 pm - Church is open to visitors of all ages, except for the times of scheduled school visits from St Hugh’s and St Agnes’ from 11 am to 12 noon, and St Thomas’ whole school assembly from 2.15 to 3.15 pm.
Saturday 1st July
10 am to 5 pm - Church is open all day for visitors to explore our Church and the historical displays.
10.30 am to 12 noon - The Ladies of Leesfield are hosting a Coffee Morning in the Church Community Room.
11 am - A Celebratory Quarter Peal will be rung on our Church Bells, with the help of friends from neighbouring towers.
11 am - Victoria Sponge, Fruit and Chocolate Cakes should be handed in by 11am so that judging can take place - winners to be announced in the hall after the opening.
12 noon - Official opening of the Lees Village Fete by Harvest Queen Annie – at the church gates.
12 noon to 4 pm - Victorian themed Lees Village Fete in the school and schoolyard – lots of fun for the whole community. Admission is free of charge, and refreshments will be on sale. There will be a variety of stalls and activities for all the family to enjoy, including Tombolas, Lucky Dip, Toy stall, Splat the Teacher, Hook a Duck, Penalty Shoot-Out and many more games. Body Shop by Louise, Knitwits and Handmade Jewellery by Elaine will also be there supporting us.
12.30 pm - We are delighted to welcome Saddleworth Male Voice Choir to sing for us in Church.
12.30 pm - The Dog Show starts over on the Church lawn and runs throughout the day with various classes. Registration will be open from 11 am.
1.15 pm - Come and be entertained by the wonderful Barnhowlers Ukelele Group in Church.
Sunday 2nd July
11 am - Parish Eucharist Service in Church, led by our Area Dean, the Revd. Daniel Ramble. Our Sunday School children will be singing, and the combined choirs of St Thomas’ and St Agnes’ will lead us in hymns which have been chosen by congregation members, accompanied by Mr Warren Andrew, our former organist.
12 noon to 2 pm - Refreshments will be served in our Community Room, and we will remain open for friends and visitors to drop in.
We're really looking forward to seeing you, and a group from Church have been out and about in the village last weekend with the Town Crier, publicising the events. See the photo below.
Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on the 2nd Sunday after Trinity. Our church services are at the usual times of 9.15 am at St Agnes' and 11 am at St Thomas'. If you are unable to be with us in person, you can find the Gospel reading, a reflection and prayers below.
Our first hymn this morning is "God Forgave my Sin (Freely, Freely)"
Today's Gospel
Matthew 9:35-10:8(9-23) The Mission of the Twelve
Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and curing every disease and every sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
Then Jesus summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to cure every disease and every sickness. These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon, also known as Peter, and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; Simon the Cananaean, and Judas Iscariot, the one who betrayed him.
These twelve Jesus sent out with the following instructions: “Go nowhere among the Gentiles, and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. As you go, proclaim the good news, ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. You received without payment; give without payment. [Take no gold, or silver, or copper in your belts, no bag for your journey, or two tunics, or sandals, or a staff; for laborers deserve their food. Whatever town or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you leave. As you enter the house, greet it. If the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet as you leave that house or town. Truly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
“See, I am sending you out like sheep into the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of them, for they will hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; and you will be dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and the Gentiles. When they hand you over, do not worry about how you are to speak or what you are to say; for what you are to say will be given to you at that time; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you. Brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in one town, flee to the next; for truly I tell you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.”]
Reflection
I want you to imagine for a minute, that when you woke up this morning something out of the ordinary happened. As you sat down to eat your breakfast you glanced through the window and saw an elderly neighbour, bent over and hobbling past with her daughter. You don’t know her that well, but you are aware that she is suffering from dementia, is partly blind and also has physical limitations which is why she hobbles slowly with a stick and is bent over.
As you ate another spoonful of cereal, a part of your heart felt sorrow for her. But then something strange happened and she suddenly stood up straight and lets go of her stick. Then she turned to her daughter and lucidly said, “look how beautiful the blossom is on that tree”. Her mind was sharp and so were her eyes.
Then as you head out to the shops, you witness an accident. Without looking, a young child comes scooting out of a side street into Lees High Street on his bike and the inevitable happens. He collides head on with a lorry. There is much screaming from other passers-by as he disappears under the truck and there is a horrible crunching sound. Then silence……. An eternity seems to pass by and amidst all this you are yourself silently hoping and praying for the best. But deep down, folk around you are thinking, there is no way this is going to end well, that poor child must be dead.
Your heart pounding as the ashen faced driver jumps out of his cab and looks under the lorry and people move forward to help. Then the boy peeks out from under the rear axle, rolls out into the road and gets up. He cries out, “My bike is wrecked”, but he is unscathed.
Gradually, amongst the mayhem, you recall the faint remnants of a dream you had during the night. You heard someone say, “I am going to send you out with the ability to cure the sick and lame and raise the dead”. As you look up and down the High Street, past the butchers, the chip shop and the post office, you begin to wonder, have these miracles happened because of me? As the day goes on, more incredible things happen. A friend you visit in hospital seems to be making an unprecedented recovery from cancer, and then you realise that your son no longer has that annoying affliction of hay fever which has been making his life awful over the last few weeks.
So, now what do you do? I can’t of course answer that question for you, so why not make a brew and take 10 or minutes or so just to ponder this for yourself. Before you read on to the end, reflect on what would you do if you were endowed with the miraculous powers that Jesus gave His apostles?
As I said, I have no idea how you would use this wonderful gift. Maybe you would start by thinking about people you know that you would like to cure first? Or visit as many hospices and hospitals that you could. Perhaps, walk around the streets and cure everyone you see who was ill, from the disabled to the drug addicts. Some folk might even think about how much fame or money they could make from such a gift.
The possibilities are endless! Jesus could of course see this, so He gave guidance to the apostles. He told them that they were to start with the ‘lost sheep’ even though they would be putting themselves at grave risk. He reminded them that they were to use these gifts to demonstrate that they are doing this in the power of Jesus who performed similar miracles Himself. After all, Jesus was the first to do such things and it is only through His power that the apostles could do similar things and not through their own power. It is only through the power of Jesus and His authority that miracles are performed.
He also reminded them that the abilities were a gift from Him freely given and that they should never be used make a profit or personal gain. All gifts from the Spirit should be given freely to others they are not ours to sell.
I have spoken with a small number people who claim to have some healing powers to have healed people through prayer, laying on of hands and the power of the Holy Spirit. For most of us, that is probably not going to happen in an instant and miraculous way.
However, I am convinced that we can all make minor miracles happen when we ‘freely share’ the fruits of the Holy Spirit which include, Love, Joy, Peace, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness, Faithfulness, Longsuffering and Self Control.
Moreover, I am also convinced, that through the power of prayer and the grace of God the big miracles happen as well, but not always as soon as we ask. Paul
Our Prayers
Heavenly Father,
thank you for the advice,
that Jesus gave to His apostles and also to us.
Thank you for the gift of your Holy Spirit,
to empower us with riches to share with others,
That we may show love, compassion and mercy
and share your message
of Good News and peace
to all who are willing to listen.
In Jesus Name we pray.
Amen
Today's final hymn is "Forth in Thy Name, O Lord, I Go"
Notices
The PCC meets on Tuesday 20th June, 7 pm at St Thomas’ (please note the change of date). The updated Parish Profiles for our parish and St John's, (documents providing information about our parishes for potential applicants for the post of Parish Priest), are now complete, and have been approved by both PCCs. They will now be forwarded to the Archdeacon in readiness for advertising the post.
Finally, the plans for the celebration of St Thomas’ 175th Anniversary on the weekend 30th June to 2nd July are well under way, and our Sunday School families have been out around the village this morning with the Town Crier, publicising the Village Fete. There is some information below about what is happening, and we will add to that as our plans develop.
This promises to be a joyous weekend of celebrations for our congregation members and community alike, so please invite as many people as you can to come and join us.
Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on the First Sunday after Trinity. Our Church Services today are at the usual times of 9.15 am at St Agnes' and 11 am at St Thomas'. If you are unable to be with us in person, you can find today's Gospel reading, a reflection and prayers below.
Our first hymn this morning is "The Peruvian Gloria"
Today's Gospel
Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26The Calling of Matthew
As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth; and he said to him, “Follow me.”
And he got up and followed him. And as he sat at dinner in the house, many tax collectors and sinners came and were sitting with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he heard this, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have come to call not the righteous but sinners.”
While he was saying these things to them, suddenly a leader of the synagogue came in and knelt before him, saying, “My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” And Jesus got up and followed him, with his disciples. Then suddenly a woman who had been suffering from haemorrhages for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak, for she said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be made well.” Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well. When Jesus came to the leader’s house and saw the flute players and the crowd making a commotion, he said, “Go away; for the girl is not dead but sleeping.” And they laughed at him. But when the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took her by the hand, and the girl got up. And the report of this spread throughout that district.
Reflection
The gospel passages contain a calling of one of Jesus’s disciples and two miracles of healing. For today, I will reflect on the calling of Matthew. Perhaps that’s fair, since after all it is Matthew who wrote this Gospel. Interestingly if you look at the accounts of Matthew’s calling in Mark and Luke, both refer to him as Levi, son of Alphaeus. However, from the accounts of Mark and Luke, it is pretty obvious that this is one and the same person and we know of many other instances that encounters with God or Jesus are often followed by a change of name, such as Abraham, Sarah and of course Simon, who was renamed Peter.
The calling of Matthew occurs shortly after Jesus has called His first disciples, the fishermen Simon, Andrew, James and John. But the calling of Matthew is distinctively different. Matthew was a tax collector.
In our times, a tax collector is often the butt of humour, but in reality it is a an honourable profession. If you are a law abiding citizen paying your taxes, there is no logic in spurning people who work for the Inland Revenue. So perhaps the derision associated with tax collectors is inherited from times past. Certainly in the times of Jesus the situation was very different.
As a tax collector, Matthew would have been despised. They were considered amongst the lowest people in society. To start with they worked for the Romans who were an occupying and oppressive force in the region, and anyone associating with the Romans would have been scorned. In addition, many of the tax collectors were often corrupt, they stole from the Israelites who they collected taxes from and also the Romans.
In short, they were considered to be unpatriotic, dishonest sinners.
The Pharisees, on the other hand, considered themselves to be a cut above the rest of society. Many were self-righteous, religious zealots who often used the scriptures and ancient laws for their own advantage. They interpreted the laws of the Old Testament and often made new laws to suit their own purposes. It would not be unreasonable to assert that many of the Pharisees considered themselves, ‘holier than thou’ and as such would never associate with or go anywhere near sinners for fear of contamination. Imagine their horror when they saw Jesus, a respected teacher, eating and mixing with not only sinners but also tax collectors.
Jesus’ response was, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice”.
Take a few minutes to think about what must have been going through Matthew’s mind when Jesus called him and said, “Come follow me”.
Here is someone who is considered a pariah of society being called to follow a well respected rabbi, who had a considerable and growing reputation amongst the Jews. How must Matthew have felt at that moment? How absolutely powerful must that call have seemed to him as Jesus not only acknowledges him but also asks him to be one of his followers? Can you begin to imagine the wonderful experience that Matthew was going though? It must have been overwhelming. How merciful is that?
Next we hear that Jesus is eating and drinking with Matthew and also surrounded by other tax collectors and sinners. I am inclined to believe that Matthew was so overjoyed and proud to be called by Jesus, that he threw a party and invited his friends around to share in the experience and the mercy he had received.
We come back to Jesus’s words, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice”. The Pharisees were so focussed on the old teachings and rituals dating back to Moses, that they failed to see the obvious. They put rituals such as sacrificing animals and making burnt offerings to please God above the need to love one another.
The Old Testament reading for today (Hosea 6:6), says; For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.” Jesus is bluntly telling the Pharisees to ‘Go and learn what this means’.
He is telling them that love is paramount above all other things. We need to appreciate and respect everyone, no matter what walk of life we come from and no matter what we have done wrong in the past. We are to first of all show mercy and compassion, because that is what Jesus desires of us, just as He loves us no matter how sinful we are at times. Paul
Our Prayers
Father God, your son Jesus,
taught us to show mercy.
We pray that you will forgive us,
for the times when we have sinned.
Give us the strength and compassion,
to love our neighbours,
including those who are despised by others,
or who have done wrong
and to forgive them too.
Amen
Today's final hymn is "Come, Thou Almighty King"
Notices
We're really busy right now, planning for the 175th Anniversary of St Thomas' Church. There is a full programme of events taking place throughout the weekend from Friday 30th June to Sunday 2nd July.
Welcome to Sunday Worship in Leesfield Parish on Trinity Sunday. Our Church Services today are at the usual times of 9.15 am at St Agnes' and 11 am at St Thomas'. If you're unable to be with us in person, you can find today's Gospel reading, a reflection and prayers below.
Our first hymn this morning is "I Bind Unto Myself This Day"
Today's Gospel
Matthew 28:16-20 Jesus Appears to His Disciples
The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Reflection
The passage above contains the closing words of Matthew’s Gospel. It concludes with one if the most awesome and reassuring lines in the bible – “remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” If that doesn’t fill you with warmth and comfort, then I’m not sure what will!
The whole passage is often referred to as ‘The Great Commission’. In the last few words of his Gospel, Matthew shares Jesus’s instruction to the disciples regarding what He wants them to do after He has gone to heaven. It is clear that what he is telling them is a ’command’ rather than just a request or a suggestion. To emphasise this, Jesus starts by saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” As we have seen so many times in Matthew’s Gospel, he does not allow for any doubt that Jesus is one with The Father. He is not just a messenger or a teacher, a miracle worker or a prophet. He is the Lord!
What Jesus is telling them to do is an instruction from God. He is delivering a divine commission that the eleven should build the church by making disciples of all nations. Let’s think for a minute about the word all…..
Jesus wasn’t saying go back to your home villages and tell your friends and neighbours about the good news of Jesus who was raised from the dead for the forgiveness of all our sins; He was telling them to go far and wide and tell everyone. He didn’t just say go and tell the Jews, He was clear that they were to make disciples of people in all nations, from all different backgrounds, cultures and religions. To do that they are required to “baptise them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you”
It is not about superficial storytelling, or persuading folk that coming to church services is a good thing, it’s about creating new followers and believers in our Lord. To put it another way, if we had a church full of non-believers every Sunday what would that achieve? Jesus wants a world full of people who are willing to be baptised. People who truly believe in the Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. People who can relate to a Lord who died, was buried and raised from the dead for us.
Jesus gives that same divine challenge and instruction to us. It’s not just the remit of priests and preachers, but for all of us to encourage discipleship and new believers. It is our mission too! He even tells us how to go about it: by teaching them to obey His commands and observe His ways. He is willing and waiting to reach out His hand to all who are willing to follow Him now and forever….. because we have His divine promise that - He will be with us always until the end of the age. Paul
Our Prayers
Almighty and everlasting God, you have given to us your servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of your divine Majesty to worship the Unity:
Keep us steadfast in this faith and worship, and bring us at last to see you in your one and eternal glory, O Father; who with the Son and the Holy Spirit live and reign, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen
Today's final hymn is "Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty"
