- Oldfield Drive
- Vicars Cross
- Chester
- Cheshire
- CH3 5LL
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Message from the Minister
It feels strange to be writing what I hope and pray will
be the last worship booklet.
The first service was written for 23rd March
2020 with the promise that I would continue to produce the booklets for as long
as was needed. Fifteen months later we
are cautiously re-entering the world knowing that the only thing unchanged is
the love of the Trinity.
Preparing and distribution of the worship booklets has
been a real team effort and it would not have been possible without the help
and support of so many.
I have enjoyed writing services and formatting the worship
booklets and would like to offer thanks to everyone who has helped make this
possible
·
Elizabeth
Bentley, Mary Carter, Sheila Dunbar, Pam Hughson, Fergus O’Neil, Ken Peters,
Ron Reid, David Roberts, Marje Robinson & Kathleen Sharp for writing services
for the booklet.
·
Debbie
Ormerod for copying, collating and getting the worship booklets ready for
distribution
·
Elders
and the large number of volunteers who have distributed the worship booklets.
·
To
members of the church family who have offered support and encouragement in our production
of the booklets.
In this time of restrictions and lockdown we have come
together in different ways, using a variety of means. Ways we would never have considered or thought possible prior to
the pandemic.
We have all had to learn how to “do things differently”,
we have picked up skills that laid dormant and, some of us, have learned new
ones.
I pray that as we come out of restrictions, we keep Christ
at the centre in our lives, discussions and decision making as we move forward
in faith and hope.
May God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit hold us, guide us and
sustain us as we seek to walk along the path that He is leading us as
individuals and as church community.
May God bless you all.
Ruth
Rev. Ruth Wilson
revruthwork@gmail.com
Tel: 01244 372622
Mobile: 07470 992673
Worship Update
Upton URC will recommence
in-person worship on Sunday 27th June (government guidance and local
infection rates permitting).
Joint Worship
The Chester Churches will have joint services on the third Sunday of
each month in June, July and August to keep the connection between Upton URC,
Vicars Cross URC, Hoole URC & Caldy Valley Neighbourhood Church. The dates for these are:
13th June 2021
18th July 2021
15th Aug 2021
On Sunday 11th July the URC General Assembly is inviting all churches to join General
Assembly worship at 11.00am. It will be
live-streamed on the URC website (https://urc.org.uk), YouTube and Facebook. Details and links will be available in mid-June which I will
distribute.
If you do not have internet access
you are most welcome to join in-person services at
Vicars Cross URC, every Sunday
from 23rd May. Services
start at 10.30am
Hoole URC, every Sunday
from 23rd May. Services
start at 10.30am
Caldy Valley Neighbourhood Church, 2nd & 4th Sundays from 23rd
May. Services start at 10.45am
Using the Worship Booklet
Please read the words that are indented and in BOLD print aloud.
The Scripture reading(s) in bold type are linked to
the reflection each week.
The booklet is an opportunity for us all to be worshipping
together using the same material simply in different locations.
I continue to work from home and am happy to be contacted so
please do get in touch. Elders and
pastoral visitors are in regular contact with members of the church family and
happy to receive calls too.
We are the church and called to be disciples of Christ in
all that we do, so I pray that we can all be beacons of light and hope in our
community.
Ruth
Rev. Ruth
Wilson
revruthwork@gmail.com
Tel: 01244 372622
Mobile: 07470 992673
Sunday 20th June
(by Elizabeth Bentley)
Let us say aloud or read with joy.
JUBILATE
O shout to the Lord in triumph all the earth:
serve the Lord with gladness and come before his face with songs of joy.
Know that the Lord he is God: it is he who has made us,
and we are his we are his people and the sheep of his pasture.
Come into his gates with thanksgiving and into his courts with praise:
give thanks to him and bless his holy name.
For the Lord is good his loving mercy is for ever:
his faithfulness though out all generations.
Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be.
Amen.
Prayer of Confession
God of all ages,
who from generation to generation
has heard the cries of your children
humbly seeking forgiveness,
and has welcomed sinners
back into your embrace,
hear the thoughts of our hearts,
examine our motives,
and forgive us our faults.
We ask this through your Son
who died and rose that we might know
the true cost of forgiveness.
Amen.
As Paul wrote to Timothy
‘The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners – of whom I am the foremost. ‘
Later we will read how Paul’s faith guided by the Holy Spirit helped him in facing challenges proclaiming God’s word.
The Lord’s Prayer
Readings
Job 38: 1-11 Psalm 107: 1-3,23-32
2 Corinthians 6: 1-13 Mark 4: 35-41
Reflection
The account of Jesus calming the storm is found in Matthew, Mark and Luke’s gospels. Before this the disciples have seen Jesus perform miracles, so they are aware that as well as being an effective teacher he also has extraordinary powers.
The disciples included, Peter, Andrew, James and John, all fishermen, who knew more about how a boat could weather a storm, than the carpenter asleep in the stern. With the others they panicked and called on Jesus to rescue them.
Today’s reading from Job states that God created and limited the extent of the seas. In Psalm 107 v 28-29 we read that God has rescued sailors in the past when they called to him. So why didn’t the disciples call out to God? Why did they wake Jesus?
Jesus knew why. The disciples had listened to his teaching about building their faith in God on Jesus’ words (Matt 7 v 24-27) but that firm foundation of belief was still a work in progress.
In the disciples defence however they decided to do something in their time of peril. They went and asked the person who they felt might help them and he did. So, this miracle happened not in response to faith, but because of lack of faith and Jesus’ gracious response to the disciple’s fear.
In the passage from Corinthians Paul lists the challenges he has experienced and his response. Faced with beatings, imprisonment and other trials would we respond like Paul with kindness and genuine love? To do so Paul relied on God’s guidance and power though the Holy Spirit and for that he needed to have faith, faith in the forgiveness of sins and through accepting Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour.
For our Church families in Upton and Vicars Cross the last year has been a challenge. The waves of disruption caused by the pandemic may be receding, but its effect will be felt for months ahead. How are we going to pick up the pieces? What is the plan? Like the disciples in the boat, we need to ask for help to move on. So let us meditate on the words of the following hymn and ask in faith for God’s guidance for ourselves and our Church family.
O Breath of Life, come sweeping through us,
revive Your Church with life and power;
O Breath of Life, come, cleanse, renew us,
and fit your church to meet this hour.
O Breath of Love, come breathe within us,
renewing thought and will and heart;
come, Love of Christ, afresh to win us,
revive your church in every part.
O Wind of God, come bend us, break us,
till humbly we confess our need;
then in your tenderness remake us,
revive, restore - for this we plead.
Revive us, Lord; is zeal abating
while harvest fields are vast and white?
Revive us, Lord, the world is waiting -
equip your church to spread the light.
Amen
Prayers of Intercession
Prayer for Our Oceans
May we be alert to the thirst for power, which destroys…
Help us to challenge short-sighted greed. Help us to address unjust structures and practices and change our relationship with Creation to one of care.
We have a vision. We have courage. We have the presence of the Risen One whose power to love is greater than all the powers of destruction.
May we together bring peace to planet earth, its many creatures and many peoples.
(Archbishop Winston Halapua 2016)
Prayer for UN World Refugee Day
We worship you as the God of those in exile
to whom you hold out the hope of finding peace and security.
We pray for those on a journey away from their homes.
For sisters and brothers on the move who are fearful hungry and tired.
For those in camps, facing the dangers of COVID-19 without a safe place to isolate.
For those separated from loved ones, holding onto the hope of reunion.
For all at risk of exploitation and trafficking.
We pray for those on the journey of seeking asylum in the UK.
For sisters and brothers struggling to make ends meet with little support.
For those in lockdown, forced to relive the traumas of past experiences.
For those hoping for a better future for themselves, their loved ones and the country they call home.
For all awaiting good news.
Be with everyone on a journey, God of Hope,
And give us the wisdom and perseverance to keep travelling towards your kingdom of peace for all people.
Amen.
Prayer for Father’s Day
Heavenly Father,
you entrusted your Son Jesus,
the child of Mary,
to the care of Joseph, an earthly father.
Bless all fathers
as they care for their families.
Give them strength and wisdom,
tenderness and patience;
support them in the work they have to do,
protecting those who look to them,
as we look to you for love and salvation,
through Jesus Christ our rock and defender.
Amen.
Let us lift to God in prayer all the people, places and situations that are on our hearts today.
As Jesus said to his disciples and speaks to us today, let us draw His words into our hearts: ‘ Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.’ (John 14 v27)
Amen.
Close
The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ and
the love of God and the fellowship of
the Holy Spirit be with us now and
for evermore.
Amen