
We are a local ecumenical partnership involving: | ||
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MESSY CHURCH
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ST FRANCIS’ RENDEZVOUS COMMUNITY CAFE ![]() Café Open every Wednesday 9.00 a.m. – 12.00 noon. All members of the Community of all ages most welcome. Creche with toys and games for children. Community Information Point for Local Community, Health and Benefits Information. |
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MEN’S BREAKFASTJoin us for a
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Glitter and Glue
Glitter and Glue is an hour of |
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INFORMATION:
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Some of our Home Groups develop their studies around the central theme of our Sunday worship and study. Our teaching theme this week focusses on: Extended Lent Study: Prayer –ADORATION – OUR FATHER IN HEAVENReadings:
On this third Sunday before Lent, we start on the Prayer Course in our Sunday morning services. There are 6 sessions, which can be followed in small groups, and along with two All Age services, this series on prayer will take us through Lent to Palm Sunday. The back bone of the course is the Lord’s Prayer – the prayer that Jesus gave when his disciples asked him to teach them to pray. Therefore we can be confident that it’s a good pattern for us to follow. It’s also a bit like a toolbox, showing us different aspects of how to pray. The first ‘tool’ is adoration – worshipping God for who He is and all He’s done: ‘Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be thy name.’ We don’t always tend to think of adoration as prayer. But first and foremost, prayer is about developing and maintaining our relationship with God. And just as spending time together is vital to grow in relationship with people, so it is with God. Today’s readings show us two characters engaged in adoration. In the Old Testament reading, David embarrassed his wife by dancing in front of the ark of the covenant, the place where God’s presence resided. He tells her that he’s celebrating before the Lord and doesn’t care how that looks. In our gospel reading, Mary sits at Jesus’ feet listening to him, knowing that she is loved by him, just wanting to be with him. Jesus’ scolding of Martha may seem harsh: ‘“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better…’ But his response helps us see the importance of adoration: it enables us to get our perspective right, of God who loves us and provides for us. Praying out of that secure and intimate place of relationship with God helps us get perspective on all that we pray for. The closer we are to God, the more our earthly worries seem less significant and the more easily we will be able to discern and pray for His will to be done.
Spend time praising God and thanking Him for all that is good. Try doing this for some time each day – does it make a difference to you? Sarah. |
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Please note: The Minister’s day off is Friday. For emergencies please contact the Duty Warden or Parish office on that day. |
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General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR): The new data protection regulations, relating to the holding, management and use of personal data by organisations came into force on Friday 25th May. St Francis’ Church takes its responsibilities under GDPR very seriously. You can read our Data Privacy Notice here. If you are a member of St Francis’ Church, or wish to remain in close contact with us, you may give us consent to hold, manage and use your personal data by downloading a Full Data Consent Form 2018 – 27-04-18 and completing and e-mailing it to us at <sfvp91@btconnect.com>. |
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