Sunday 21st February 2021 – 1st Sunday of Lent All Saints Church, Childwall
READ: Psalm 40- Thanksgiving for Deliverance and Prayer for Help
1 I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry.2 He drew me up from the desolate pit, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.3 He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord.4 Happy are those who make the Lord their trust, who do not turn to the proud, to those who go astray after false gods.5 You have multiplied, O Lord my God, your wondrous deeds and your thoughts towards us; none can compare with you. Were I to proclaim and tell of them, they would be more than can be counted.6 Sacrifice and offering you do not desire, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt-offering and sin-offering you have not required.7 Then I said, ‘Here I am; in the scroll of the book it is written of me.8 I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.’9 I have told the glad news of deliverance in the great congregation; see, I have not restrained my lips, as you know, O Lord.10 I have not hidden your saving help within my heart, I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation; I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation.11 Do not, O Lord, withhold your mercy from me; let your steadfast love and your faithfulness keep me safe for ever.12 For evils have encompassed me without number; my iniquities have overtaken me, until I cannot see; they are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails me.13 Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me; O Lord, make haste to help me.14 Let all those be put to shame and confusion who seek to snatch away my life; let those be turned back and brought to dishonour who desire my hurt.15 Let those be appalled because of their shame who say to me, ‘Aha, Aha!’16 But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation say continually, ‘Great is the Lord!’
17 As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord takes thought for me. You are my help and my deliverer; do not delay, O my God.
REFLECT: The theme of the #LiveLent course for this weekend is ‘Come and See’ and we are encouraged to consider how we invite others into Jesus’ story. Hannah Steele, in Living His Story says, “…this can happen in many different ways; through acts of love, through the creative arts, through sharing our experience with others, through pointing to the hidden echoes of the story of Jesus in our world today, through prayer and through healing.” The psalmist, David, was not shy when it came to sharing his own experience of God. David, the boy who killed Goliath; the man who committed adultery with Bathsheba and murdered her husband by proxy. David, the ideal king; overthrown by his own son. David, the forefather of the Messiah. His life story reads like a soap opera. A roller coaster or terrific highs and catastrophic lows. He neither takes pride in his achievements nor tries to sweep his past under the carpet. He tells it exactly as it is, and he sings it out loud and proud in the hope that “Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord.” David is not ashamed to admit that he is poor and needy, and he cannot stop himself from singing the praises of his rescuer. The season of lent reminds us to take a leaf out of David’s book. We pause to remember we are dust; vulnerable, fragile, and in constant need of redemption. We heighten our awareness of God’s saving grace and we emerge with a new song of praise on our lips. A song that describes how God, through Jesus, made it possible for us to be rescued from the worst of all situations- the punishment of death. A song that the world is longing to hear. The pandemic has humbled us all and left many feeling hopeless. Maybe now is the time to turn up the volume. Someone could be waiting to hear your song.
RESPOND: This week, take time to reflect on how your own story of faith began. How did God become real to you? Do you have personal experience of God drawing you up from the “desolate pit”? What is your story? What is your song? Are you ready and willing to let others hear it?
PRAY: My gracious Master and my God, Assist me to proclaim, And spread through all the earth abroad the honours of thy name. Amen. (Charles Wesley 1707-1788)
Dear Friends,
Services in church – All services in church are currently suspended until further notice. Funeral services are still happening at All Saints with a limit of 30 mourners set by government guidelines.
Church Services Online – We are recording our Sunday morning service in church weekly. It will be uploaded to our website to be viewed each week soon after 11am. www.allsaintschildwall.org.uk
Evening Prayer – Every Sunday evening at 6pm the Readers will be hosting a weekly service of Evening Prayer on Zoom at 6pm. The liturgy and the readings will be on the screen and there will be a short reflection on the New Testament passage which has been set for the day. Please join us. Garry Critchley.
Meeting ID: 789 873 7449 Passcode: Newsman1
Weekly prayer meeting – Thursday 6.30pm on Zoom. Why not join a group of us at All Saints that pray regularly. It lasts 40 minutes, you can pray, sit and listen or just contemplate.
Aidan Holmes.
Meeting ID:798 5378 2379 Passcode:7VUQh6https://us04web.zoom.us/j/79853782379?pwd=NEloclhRVEJST3RFeUdUVEowSWJRUT09
#LiveLent Prayer space – Friday-Tuesday 9pm on Zoom. A space for collective, silent prayer focusing on the themes of the #LiveLent course. Cameras and microphones will be switched off to minimise distractions and enable you to pray in the way which you feel most comfortable.
Helen Deegan.
Meeting ID: 724 0532 7716 Passcode: prayers1
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/72405327716?pwd=MFl6cGI3VmJ2cDJEM1BCVll2UlFRQT09
Rock Club Online! – Our youth & children’s worker Gypsey has developed online activities for Pebbles, Rock Club & Boulders. Available on our website: https://www.allsaintschildwall.org.uk/online-rock-club/
If you would like to be kept informed and receive specific emails detailing our Youth & Children’s Worship, please can you let us know by emailing gypsey.allsaintschildwall@gmail.com
#LiveLent course – If you would like to join the Lent course that is being run centrally on Zoom it is starting on Tuesday 23rd February at 7.30pm. It will meet weekly for 1 hour with an opportunity for discussion and further study based on the Archbishop’s Lent book ‘Living his Story’. There will be a short video each week along with discussion and opportunity for questions. Please email Andrew if you intend to join
Meeting ID: 948 786 2454 Passcode: 4allsaints
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9487862454?pwd=M1BITWV3U0xBN1h5WTF4eGJseWlrUT09
All Saints Buddy Scheme – If you are self-isolating and would value some support or a regular chat or know someone else who would, please email Mary Harrison at mary.harrison32@virginmedia.com with details.
Fairtrade Fortnight – Climate, Fairtrade and You – February 22nd –March 7th 2021
This year Fairtrade are focussing on how the changes in the world’s climate is posing an immediate threat to farmers and workers in countries around the world who produce many everyday items that we find in our supermarkets. Bananas, coffee beans and cocoa beans to make chocolate are just a few examples. By choosing products bearing the Fairtrade symbol is one way of standing with these farmers and workers, their communities and their families as they face this crisis.
Please sign up to find out more and how you can help to support them at: www.fairtrade.org.uk/fortnight.
Put Jesus back into Easter with the Real Easter Egg – Due to the pandemic, it is more important than ever that we find ways to share the Easter story in 2021. The Real Easter Egg is a proven way to do this.
Supermarkets have decided not to stock the Real Easter Egg this year so if you would like to order one then please see the attached flyer. The Real Easter Egg is the first and only Fairtrade chocolate Easter Egg to explain the Christian understanding of Easter on the pack. It is also plastic free and supports charity and development projects (For more information visit www.realeasteregg.co.uk).
Weekly News – If you are aware of anyone who is not receiving all the weekly news that we are sending out please ask them to send me their email address so I can add them to our master email list. Thank you.
Weekly Prayer requests – If you would like other members of our church family to pray for you or a family member, please send me their names for this sheet, please ask permission from the person. Please pray for all those who are unwell at this time particularly praying for Bill Maitland, Nicoli Gray (Carole Turner’s daughter) David Miller and Eileen Miller and Jenni Delea. Please pray for the bereaved family and friends of Peter Watson (Ruth Scott’s Father).
Pastoral visiting – Current Government guidelines mean that we cannot visit people and go inside their homes. Any face-to-face visiting will have to happen from the front gate. If you would value a chat or know anyone who would appreciate a visit please let Helen or me know, our phone numbers and email addresses are below.
Tea@4- Weekdays at 4pm. Pop in for a natter. Bring your own tea and biscuits!
Meeting ID: 753 2429 1267 Passcode: teatimehttps://us04web.zoom.us/j/75324291267?pwd=WmdnY1B3WUtRdHdVVkJQdXJGRE1Ldz09
Zoom Sunday coffee – NEW TIME! – Every Sunday at 10.15am – remember to bring your own coffee!
Meeting ID: 842 767 1496 Password:4allsaintshttps://us04web.zoom.us/j/8427671496?pwd=K2dMMnlvTHpwTkxDNEV6bDYwQXBDQT09
With our prayers for you all at this time
Andrew Colmer – Vicar – Tel: 07305 842257 – vicar.allsaintschildwall@gmail.com
Helen Deegan – Curate – Tel: 07984 933467 – curate.allsaintschildwall@gmail.com
Gypsey Tait – Youth & Children’s Worker – Tel: 07961 793435 –gypsey.allsaintschildwall@gmail.com
Bill Forster – Associate Minister – william.forster1@btinternet.com
