Skip to main content

Lent is upon us!

Hi folks

It's been a while since we've been on the blog - having taken to Facebook for most of the news and messages. With Lent almost upon us, I'm going to resort to the "old fashioned" means do getting our news and views out.

Lent is a special period of preparation for Holy Week and Easter. Originally a period of preparation for Baptism in to the Christian Faith, these days this is a period of denial and accountability to God. Some will give up something they enjoy - alcohol, chocolate, cake, biscuits - some will take on something else - reading their Bible, spending more in prayer, working for a charity, trying to be more "Christian" in a sense.  Personally, I believe that there are great merits to both sides - giving up and taking on more - but that is a personal choice.

What I do ask is that you consider your own hearts and do what is right for you.

Each Wednesday, starting on Ash Wednesday 22nd February at 8pm, there will be a short reflective service in Church. We will be looking at the different Beatitudes from Jesus' great Sermon on the Mount, recorded for us in Matthew chapter 5: 1-12. Here's the plan:

 

Introduction and The First Beatitude - Weds 22nd February, 8pm

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven


The Second and Third Beatitude - Weds 1st March, 8pm

Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the earth.


The Fourth and Fifth Beatitude - Weds 8th March, 8pm

Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for Righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.

Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.


The Sixth and Seventh Beatitude - Weds 15th March, 8pm

Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.


The Eighth Beatitude - Weds 22nd March, 8pm

Blessed are they who suffer persecution for justice sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.


Summary and Preparation for Holy Week - Weds 29th March, 8pm



All are welcome to join us at all the services.













Comments

Popular posts from this blog

AccessNI Check process

 Hi folks Please see the following pages for the process of getting our AccessNI accreditation for our Sunday School and GFS leaders and helpers. You will need to print out the pages and keep a special note of the long number provided to you by email and let me know as soon as possible. We require an Enhanced check for everyone - and use the PIN number 918066 as detailed on the first page. The second page details the forms of identification you will need to provide - one from the first group, and two from the second group. The quicker we can all get the checks completed, the sooner we can get everything back to normal and put this whole process behind us for another three years! If you can photograph yourself (by smartphone or tablet) and email (revdjohnny@gmail.com) or WhatsApp (07488371680) them to me, that'd be great. I will also be available at the Parish Hall on Monday evening from 7pm to 8pm to help you with anything you would like assistance with! If you need any help at all

Pray for Peace

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.” Matthew 5:9   The Holy Land, the place sanctified by the presence of prophets, poets, and priests, crying out for justice, urging on towards hope, and seeking after peace, has been, and continues to be a place sacred to millions of people around the world. We have watched with horror the appalling violence that has been unleashed over the last few days around this sacred place. We have seen families devastated, communities shattered, and countless lives lost.   We, as followers of Jesus are called in this time to pray.    Pray for the end of hostilities, pray for the protection of the most vulnerable on both sides in Israel and Gaza, and pray for a recommitment to a lasting peace between Israelis and Palestinians. We also pray that God might grant comfort to the afflicted, healing to the broken, strength to the weak, and courage to those in authority to lay down the instruments of violence and destruction and stud

Where is forgiveness?

Hi folks I was thinking about the passages for next Sunday, and it brought me to considering the current press coverage regarding the This Morning presenters.  This might be a little controversial - but please, hear me out.  I have no great opinion on what's happening in the media regarding the "This Morning" saga. It seems mistakes have been made, and certainly people misled - but the frenzy and hounding of Phillip Schofield is both unnecessary and unwarranted. I'm very uncomfortable that some members the press and celebrities have made it their lives mission to destroy everything  Mr Schofield has ever done!  It cannot be easy to listen and read so much vitriol being used against him! There's certainly no Christian love being shown to him on the media these days. I remember the words of Jesus when he told us to love one another, and that whoever has not sinned should cast the first stone. I'm certainly not perfect in any way, and don't believe that anyon