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A few things to say about the readings today ...

Genesis 24 only (Reading)

Genesis 22:20-25:11 (Reading)

Genesis 22:20-25:11 (Sermon)

Let’s say sorry to God, as children coming to their Father troubled because of how we’ve wronged Him, but also confident of His eagerness to forgive and restore!

Our Father,

You made us from the dust of the earth
You gave us life
You knitted us together

We had no part in this at all

Yet we've been thankless

discontent,
prayerless,
Without praise or adoration right and reasonable for such extraordinary love, power and wisdom!

You made us for Yourself
With eternity in our hearts
For you made us to love You and be loved by You.

We had no part in this at all

Yet we've been rebellious
lawless,
Idolatrous,
Without proper regard for your loving, rightful and good rule over us.

We have sinned against you,
We’ve done wrong,
said wrong
and thought wrong

Against you
And against others,
those you’ve made in your image.

Forgive us, we pray.

You promise that when we confess our sins
Turning from them
You will forgive us and cleanse us.

We have no part in this at all

Yet you are our gracious Father
Full of compassion
Slow to anger
And rich in mercy

May you treat us this way because of Jesus
Who loved us and gave Himself for us on the cross.

By Your Spirit would you please change our wayward and foolish ways,
mend our hearts,
renew our minds,
that we we might love you
and enjoy Your love
in the way you intend us to.

To Your praise and glory

Amen


Be comforted, as you draw near to God, He will draw near to you (James 4:8).
The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbour his anger for ever. He does not treat us as our sins deserve, or repay us according to our iniquities. As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him. (Psalm 103:8-13)

Let’s express our faith in the words of the Apostles Creed:

Speaking to our Father in Heaven

Our community

Pray for those involved in key roles in our community

  • the schools closest to you
  • the closest hospital to you
  • your MP.

His Kingdom

Tom Martin and his family are moving to West Smethwick to begin the process of gathering a team to help re-plant West Smethwick Congregational Church. Joann's daughter and son-in-law are committed to moving up too. Pray for those moves. For a diverse and united team to live and speak for Jesus in West Smethwick. For God to use them to share the gospel with many and for people of every age and from all kinds of backgrounds to become followers of Christ. 

Ourselves

Pray for those particular need (Sylvia A, Rachel & bump due this week!, Donna ....)

Pray for patience and trust in God for us all through this ongoing ‘lockdown’

Pray for wisdom in our day to day lives and in our unity in Christ as a church family as and when lockdown is eased.

[Our experiences are so different! But as we think about the 'next steps's. Some of us may have our lives filled with all kinds of decisions and extra work in order to function at work or as parents of school age children, some of may be ill or swamped by caring for those who are ill and can't think beyond that, others may feel our lives are empty and rather than feeling safe and protected, feel imprisoned and insignificant. Praying for one another is a way God uses to strengthen us all and is a practical way God gives us of expressing and of growing in our love for one another. Sometimes it's as we pray for others God gives us perspective on our own lives too!]

The God of peace, 
who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, 
make you complete in everything good
so that you may do God's will, 
may He work in us what is pleasing in His sight
through Jesus Christ 
to whom be the glory forever. 

Amen  


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