Sunday 26 April 2020

Sunday 26 April Service

Sorry about posting the service late. We had no landline, ADSL or MTN on the mountain. But nothing will stop God's faithfulness!! We are back!THe sevice is lead by Liz

Sunday 19 April 2020

Sunday 19th April Service

On this beautiful Sunday morning in Hogsback we thank Norma (and her parrot) for a lovely message of hope. Jesus stand among us, even were we find ourselves in our lockdown places of safety!

 
Heavenly Father,

We thank You for Your innumerable Blessings. For sending Your Son, Jesus Christ, to live amongst us; to die on the cross for our sins; to rise again to give us the hope of new and everlasting life,

Lord God in your Word You have assured us so often that we do not need to be afraid. Bur still, Lord, we are fearful.
The world fears the unknown  and  out of control virus taking us on unfamiliar paths. We fear what our world will be like in the future.
We thank you for all who are working tirelessly  to protect the people , contain the virus, care for the sick and comfort  the dying and those who grieve.

We pray for our country. Thank You for leaders who are stepping forward to protect us , those who are trying to plan for the road ahead and a better future for all our people. Please bless them, Lord. May they learn that they are not alone, that they need to turn to You for guidance. This is an opportunity for creative and compassionate thinking . Lead us into a new order with new ideas.

In our community we pray that you will be with those without means of support, those who are hungry, those who have lost their jobs. Bless those who are working to feed the needy, may we who have much be generous in our giving.

Please be with all who are struggling with being in isolation.

We pray for the sick and for those in need………

We ask Your blessing on ourselves, on those whom we love and those who are far away.

Keep  us faithful, Lord, keep us safe  under the shadow of Your  wings . May we always know that Your Hand is outstretched to hold us and lead us in Your Way ..Amen

Sunday 12 April 2020

Easter Sunday 2020: Jesus has risen!!

This morning we celebrate Easter Sunday and rejoice!! Our lord has risen!! The grave is empty!!


 Our prayer intercession:

Gracious God

As we contemplate the empty tomb and the enormous implications of the Resurrection, we rejoice and celebrate.

He who was dead is alive , He who was buried is risen, He who has conquered death has set us free from the power of eternal darkness.

Let the whole world rejoice and proclaim that Jesus Christ our lord has risen today in glory.

We pray for our world, all those whose lives have been turned upside down since the outbreak of the Corona virus pandemic . We bring to You those wonderful people who continue to care for the sick, provide essential services and those working to develop strategies to keep their countries functioning and safe.

Our lives can never be the same, Lord, may this be a chance to change for the good, for a new beginning to view others with compassion tolerance and love and to recognise You in each other.

Lord , In our country the extension of the lockdown is accepted as necessary, but for many the isolation it is regarded with fear and dismay.

Many families are confined in small places and tensions are inevitable between each individual. Help us to look on one another with gentleness and kindness, particularly children who often bear the brunt of adult frustration.

For those spending 5 weeks alone this can be a terrifying and lonely prospect. For those suffering from mental difficulties the confinement could become intolerable, We pray for comfort and forbearance. Help us to keep in touch with those whom we know are in need of a kind and encouraging word.

Bless us Lord and keep us safe. Look kindly on us and may we always remember to be kind.

And now let us say together the prayer that Jesus taught us;

Our Father in heaven

Hallowed be Your name

Your Kingdom come on earth as it is in Heaven

Give us today our daily bread

And forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us,

Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.

For the Kingdom , the Power and the Glory are Yours

now and for ever

Amen

Friday 10 April 2020

Holy Week: Good Friday

Thank you Lord, for saving us.



After Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane He was taken to Caiaphas, the High Priest. The religious leaders had for some time been plotting to kill Jesus, They felt threatened by His teaching and His ability to draw crowds. His popularity was growing. He performed inexplicable miracles, healed the sick and preached Love and Service for our God and our fellow man. This was something very different from the accepted teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

The priests accused Jesus of blasphemy and claiming to be the long-expected Messiah and bayed for
His death.

Jesus was cruelly beaten and tortured and then bound by the Roman soldiers before being taken to appear before Pilate, the Roman governor, for trial. After questioning Jesus , Pilate realised the this was an innocent Man. Fearing for his own political career and afraid of the assembled rabble, he washed his hands of the case. He then handed Jesus back to the clamouring, fickle crowds to be crucified.

The soldiers dressed Jesus in a cloak and put a crown of thorns on His head. mocking and jeering at Him as the supposed King of the Jews. They then led Him out to be crucified. Jesus , badly injured and stumbling, accompanied by a large crowd , and carrying a heavy cross was taken to a hill outside Jerusalem called Golgotha.

There He was nailed to the cross to die.

Thursday 9 April 2020

Holy Week: Maundy Thursday Devotion

Today is the start of our Easter weekend celebrations. The Thursday before Easter is known as either Maundy Thursday, or Holy Thursday. Maundy is derived from the Latin word for "command," and refers to Jesus' commandment to the disciples to "Love one another as I have loved you."


Wednesday 8 April 2020

Holy week: Wednesday devotion

This morning's devotion is all about betrayal and relationships. Have you experienced betrayal? How did it impact on your your relationships?


 

Tuesday 7 April 2020

Monday 6 April 2020

Holy Week: Monday Devotion

This mornings Monday Devotion. May you be blessed this week as we walk in Jesus's footsteps to the cross.



Holy God,  
We have all fallen short of Your love, distanced ourselves from You and denied the truth of our shortcomings to ourselves and others and so damaging relationships with those whom we love and with whom we interact.
Forgive us ,Lord.

You are a great and compassionate God who knows and loves us. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit, to enable us to face our weaknesses, our lack of honesty with ourselves and others, to mend fences and to move on , walking in Your Way with You always beside us.
Bless us lord and keep us safe.
Amen


Sunday 5 April 2020

Palm Sunday

This morning we will be celebrating Palm Sunday in a slightly different way due to the lock-down restrictions in place. This does not mean that we cannot virtually get together in the Spirit and as a community! We will be leading a devotion every morning this Holy week at 10 am. Please join us.




Heavenly Father,
On this Palm Sunday Morning , at the beginning of Holy week,  we consider your journey to the Cross and all You sacrificed for our redemption, taking our sins and dying for us that we might live with you in glory. Help us to walk with You.

We come to you to ask  for your blessing on our world, our land and ourselves, These are dark and trying times, Lord, times of panic, grief and great fear. Thousands have died, thousands are ill and thousands more will become ill  of the corona virus. We do not understand the hows, whys and wherefores of this pandemic.
Large parts of the world are in lock down as we wait for what we do not know. Lord, Bless us

We pray particularly for all those on the frontline of the battle, all healthcare workers ,exhausted, risking their lives and their families to care for others, many thousands of volunteers offering their services to help. The scientists working tirelessly to find a vaccine  to help curb the spread of this disease. All others in essential services keeping law and order, providing power, water and sanitation, safety  and all working in the food industry and shops to keep us fed.  Bless and protect them  that they may know the power and comfort of your care. Be with all who are ill and give them comfort

We are in lockdown, Lord, a time to reflect , keep apart from one another , obey the considered orders from our leaders and above all to pray. For many thousands of our citizens keeping apart, and practising healthy hygiene are just not possible. Our government can only do their best to  provide protection. Gracious Lord, Bless us. 

We pray for ourselves . Lord in this time of isolation help us to draw nearer to you, spend time in reflection, studying your word , keeping in touch with those whom we love and care for and  for those who are alone and possibly fearful and in need of comfort. Bless those who find it difficult to be on their own, who need the company of others. Help the world to slow down , realise what is really important, that You are the God of all , our Creator who loves each of us very especially and that we are called to love one another as you have loved us

Lord God , you know us and our needs and you love us unconditionally . In time this will pass , much will have changed much will need to be renewed and reassessed, guide us all to  follow Your way in the healing of the nations and the people in a better , cleaner, kinder way.

Bless us ,Lord and keep us safe.  Amen

And now let us join together in saying the prayer that Jesus taught us;

Our Father who art in heaven
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespassers
As we forgive those that trespass against us
And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil
For Thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory for ever and ever
Amen