Theme: ‘So deeply do we care’
Preparation
Opening
Opening Hymn:
Opening Prayer
We bring ourselves to a moment of quiet,
to a place of peace, to this place of safety and welcome.
We bring ourselves to cast off the cares of the world
and for a time to reflect on you, Lord God,
that our batteries may be recharged,
our direction be refocused and our energy renewed;
that we may let go of things that hamper us
and be free to care gently for those we share time with.
O God, we pray, renew us that we may renew others.
Amen.
A Prayer of Thanksgiving
We give thanks, Lord God,
for the gentle caring people in the world
whose love of you radiates from their lives.
For their gentleness of voice and touch,
for their gentle smile, their listening ear,
their quiet reassurance and understanding,
their patience and perseverance with us.
We thank you, Lord God,
that you have touched the lives of these people
and have enabled them to touch our lives
and bring us to our faith and enrich our knowledge of you.
Amen.
Readings
Bible Readings and Psalm:
1 Thessalonians 2.1-8
Paul recalls the confidence in God required to preach in the challenging circumstances facing them in Thessalonica. They focused not on their own needs but on God’s good news, and their authority as apostles was expressed not in self-promoting demands but in self-giving tender care.
Reflection:
- How and When does ‘care for someone’ require strength ?
- How and When does ‘care for someone’ require gentleness ?
Audio reflection: based on Deuteronomy 34
Anthem:
Prayer
Prayers of Intercession:
Lord God, we pray for those who have brought us to faith, who have shown us your love, who have tended to our needs, physical, emotional and spiritual.
We pray for those who have put themselves in harm’s way for us and others. We pray for those whose lives have been made harder because they have sought to serve you and help their fellow human beings.
We pray for those whose selfless acts have caused them distress.
We pray for those who have at any cost shared the gospel of Christ.
We pray for those imprisoned and tortured for their faith and witness.
May they be blessed in abundance with your love and care.
Amen.
Collect for today:
Merciful God teach us to be faithful in change and uncertainty that trusting in your word and obeying your will we may enter the unfailing joy of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The ‘Our Father’
We draw all our prayers together in the words of –
Our Father who art in heaven…
…for ever and ever. Amen.
Affirmation of Faith:
Do you believe and trust in God the Father,
source of all being and life,
the one for whom we exist?
We believe and trust in him.
Do you believe and trust in God the Son,
who took our human nature,
died for us and rose again?
We believe and trust in him.
Do you believe and trust in God the Holy Spirit,
who gives life to the people of God
and makes Christ known in the world?
We believe and trust in him.
This is the faith of the Church.
This is our faith.
We believe and trust in one God,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Amen.
A sending out prayer
From the security of our homes and those who love us, be with us, eternal God, as we step into the world of ‘mixed-up all-sorts’. May we be kind and caring to all people, no matter how they treat us. May we be true to ourselves and hold our heads high, sharing your love and your care with all those we encounter.
Amen.
Blessing:
Closing Hymn:
Organ Voluntary: