EVENSONG AT ST MARY'S
The Ordinariate Group Choir at St Osmund's sang Evensong at St Mary's with Reverend Harrop and Father Grieves officiating.
LENT LUNCH PROVIDED BY JUDITH ELGEY
ON WEDNESDAY 24th FEBRUARY 2016
We made £95 for The Newcastle Justice and Peace Refugee Project run by John and Audrey Marshall and £200 at St Osmund’s the week before.. They gave us an inspirational talk at our Churches Together in Gainford AGM. They are over eighty and work tirelessly to support Asylum Seekers in Newcastle. The system of recognising people who apply for Asylum seems very arbatory some are left for years without any official support, but not allowed to go home as it is too dangerous. The project helps them with food parcels and an allowance of £5 per week. Next week the Lunch is at Geoff Taylor’s 14 Academy Gardens on Wed 2nd March and the last one is at Hilary Heslop’s , 23 Low Green on the 9th of March, both from 12.30 am.
Churches Together in Gainford Service for Christian Unity on Sunday 23rd January at St Mary’s
It was a joy to meet together with some members of or three Churches for a service written by Christians in Latvia.
Canon Neil Russel lead the Service and was joined by Reverend Andrew Stobart from the Methodist Church and Father Grieves from St Osmund’s Roman Catholic Church. They all took part in reading the thoughtful words and prayers, which called on Christians to be salt and light to the world a quotation from the ‘beatitudes’ in St Mathew’s Gospel. Members of the three Churches read and we all lit a candle and tasted the salt, which definitely had not lost its saltiness.
The Reverend Maureen Alderson preached an enlightening sermon about God’s love and his call to be one.
Revd Maureen Alderson’s Sermon for the Week of Christian Unity Service
Sunday 24th January at St Mary’s
The Service written by the people of Latvia is well balanced and moves us forward in our desire to be more effective as salt and light in our individual lives and in our work together as a Christian community. Words from the leaders welcome at the beginning of the service focus on the right priority, “that we may grow in our communion with Jesus and then with all our brothers and sisters.”
It is from our union with Christ and our relationship with him that all else flows. If that isn’t right then our efforts will be limited.
The service began with prayers for the Holy Spirit to dwell in us and open our eyes to need for the removal of divisions as we trust in Jesus.
The readings from Isaiah and Psalms reflect God’s love for us. Then we have the practical bit in letters to Peter and in the beatitudes. Let us think for a moment about those words from Peter. God’s choosing and our commitment.
“You are a chosen race”
God always chooses for a good purpose. The whole of our life as a Christian is a journey, discovering the purpose of our calling and ways in which God would use our daily, ordinary lives to show his love both individually and as a Christian community.
“You are a royal priesthood”
Royal because we are children of the king and his Kingdom people. Priesthood – not a person in a dog collar, but all of us
I recently came across the root meaning of the Latin word ‘priest’ and discovered it meant ‘bridge builder’ Well, the greatest gap ever bridged was between God and man on the cross. We are called to be that cross today bringing together God and man, a man and God. Especially today in this service of Christian Unity to look for and develop ways that will bridge the gap in our common desire to increase the ways we can serve God together. It’s helpful to remember not only our calling, but also the power of God given to us as we depend upon him and not ourselves.
“You are a dedicated nation”
In a Christian sense ‘dedicate’ means, “to devote with solemn rites to the service of God.” This brings us back to our Baptism and the words, “shine as a light to the Glory of God the Father.” We are reminded in this service that we are called out of darkness into his marvellous light. What a joy and how much brighter the light shines when we are joined together in worship and work.
“A race, a priesthood, a nation”
These are all expressions that suggest belonging. Belonging primarily to God. As said earlier, our unity lies finally in him and from that source we belong to one another.
I recently read an article on faith groups and the need to relate generosity and honesty. It struck me that these are several parallels between inter- faith and churches together. A phrase, which I remember was “living well together”, sharing common concerns that bridge the differences.
“Living well together” is like a strand that could possibly be woven into future church activities here in Gainford, strengthening and broadening the good work that already exists.
Guided by the service book so far we have reflected on God’s love God’s love in readings from the Old Testament. The Letter of Peter helps us to think about choosing and our commitment. Finally we are now thinking about our calling to be light and salt from Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount.
When we refer to someone as being “salt of the earth” it’s a real compliment. They are folks of solid character, firm and true. Later in the service we will all take small pinch of salt to remind us that we are called to be salt of the earth- remaining true to our calling as God’s chosen people. We will all take a light from one fame symbolising our unity.
“You are light of the world” a very powerful and vivid statement. We are called to reflect the light of God’s love in our world. We can only reflect what we have received and share.
I share a personal experience, which I hope will be helpful or perhaps encouraging. Some years ago, while I lived here in Gainford, I went to a convent for a few days retreat. One morning in the chapel after morning service the chapel was in partial darkness. I was alone praying and after a while I looked up and discovered I was opposite a small window and the sun shone through the darkness onto the very spot where I was sitting. Words from a familiar hymn came to mind “Lord the light of your love is shining” It was a very special moment.
Many months later as a family we faced a dark and difficult time dealing with a serious illness. During the whole of the time I was sustained and guided by the words given at the convent.
Reflecting on this I believe that whenever we pray as individuals or a gathering, when we hold people or situations before the Lord I find it helpful to remember we release them into the light of God’s love. This is one way in which we become as lights to the world.
Sunday 24th January at St Mary’s
The Service written by the people of Latvia is well balanced and moves us forward in our desire to be more effective as salt and light in our individual lives and in our work together as a Christian community. Words from the leaders welcome at the beginning of the service focus on the right priority, “that we may grow in our communion with Jesus and then with all our brothers and sisters.”
It is from our union with Christ and our relationship with him that all else flows. If that isn’t right then our efforts will be limited.
The service began with prayers for the Holy Spirit to dwell in us and open our eyes to need for the removal of divisions as we trust in Jesus.
The readings from Isaiah and Psalms reflect God’s love for us. Then we have the practical bit in letters to Peter and in the beatitudes. Let us think for a moment about those words from Peter. God’s choosing and our commitment.
“You are a chosen race”
God always chooses for a good purpose. The whole of our life as a Christian is a journey, discovering the purpose of our calling and ways in which God would use our daily, ordinary lives to show his love both individually and as a Christian community.
“You are a royal priesthood”
Royal because we are children of the king and his Kingdom people. Priesthood – not a person in a dog collar, but all of us
I recently came across the root meaning of the Latin word ‘priest’ and discovered it meant ‘bridge builder’ Well, the greatest gap ever bridged was between God and man on the cross. We are called to be that cross today bringing together God and man, a man and God. Especially today in this service of Christian Unity to look for and develop ways that will bridge the gap in our common desire to increase the ways we can serve God together. It’s helpful to remember not only our calling, but also the power of God given to us as we depend upon him and not ourselves.
“You are a dedicated nation”
In a Christian sense ‘dedicate’ means, “to devote with solemn rites to the service of God.” This brings us back to our Baptism and the words, “shine as a light to the Glory of God the Father.” We are reminded in this service that we are called out of darkness into his marvellous light. What a joy and how much brighter the light shines when we are joined together in worship and work.
“A race, a priesthood, a nation”
These are all expressions that suggest belonging. Belonging primarily to God. As said earlier, our unity lies finally in him and from that source we belong to one another.
I recently read an article on faith groups and the need to relate generosity and honesty. It struck me that these are several parallels between inter- faith and churches together. A phrase, which I remember was “living well together”, sharing common concerns that bridge the differences.
“Living well together” is like a strand that could possibly be woven into future church activities here in Gainford, strengthening and broadening the good work that already exists.
Guided by the service book so far we have reflected on God’s love God’s love in readings from the Old Testament. The Letter of Peter helps us to think about choosing and our commitment. Finally we are now thinking about our calling to be light and salt from Jesus’ words in the Sermon on the Mount.
When we refer to someone as being “salt of the earth” it’s a real compliment. They are folks of solid character, firm and true. Later in the service we will all take small pinch of salt to remind us that we are called to be salt of the earth- remaining true to our calling as God’s chosen people. We will all take a light from one fame symbolising our unity.
“You are light of the world” a very powerful and vivid statement. We are called to reflect the light of God’s love in our world. We can only reflect what we have received and share.
I share a personal experience, which I hope will be helpful or perhaps encouraging. Some years ago, while I lived here in Gainford, I went to a convent for a few days retreat. One morning in the chapel after morning service the chapel was in partial darkness. I was alone praying and after a while I looked up and discovered I was opposite a small window and the sun shone through the darkness onto the very spot where I was sitting. Words from a familiar hymn came to mind “Lord the light of your love is shining” It was a very special moment.
Many months later as a family we faced a dark and difficult time dealing with a serious illness. During the whole of the time I was sustained and guided by the words given at the convent.
Reflecting on this I believe that whenever we pray as individuals or a gathering, when we hold people or situations before the Lord I find it helpful to remember we release them into the light of God’s love. This is one way in which we become as lights to the world.