Elland, West Yorkshire, UK
On Saturday 8th September, Southgate will be holding a day of prayer. Church will be open for prayer from 9am to 5pm. There will be prayer ‘zones’ around the Church with prayer suggestions and prayers will be led each hour by various members of the Church. Please feel welcome to pop in for as much or little of it as you are able.
Daily Prayers will take place initially, Monday to Wednesday in the choir stalls in Church, (unless otherwise advised on the weekly notices) at 9.00am for 20 minutes or so.
If you are unable to be present, please join us in prayer where ever you may be at 9.00am. If it is not convenient at 9.00am then set aside 20 minutes at some part of your day to offer your daily prayer, using the prayer booklet as a guide.
An order of daily prayer, a reading and a Psalm along with a hymn are provided for each weekday. No readings are provided for Sunday, as that will continue to be chosen by the relevant preacher. No readings are provided on Saturday either; please use your devotions on Saturday to reflect on that which you have read and shared during the previous week.
All the hymns are taken from Hymns and Psalms and the readings in Church will be taken from the NIV pew Bibles.
Suggested topics for your prayers:
Southgate Methodist Church – its mission, ministry and people / our ecumenical partners in Elland/ the Circuit/ the wider and world church.
The local area/ national life/ the Government and leaders/ the wider world.
People and situations known to us/ illness/ end of life/ bereavement and loss.
Any other topic for which prayer is needed.
“Pray without ceasing”
I Thessalonians 5:17
For the moment at least – still dry and barbecue going ahead in the car park.
This Friday from 6-8pm is the next Soup and Sandwich event at Church. Despite a few spots of rain today it looks like the weather is going to be very warm again over the next few days. The plan currently is to run as a barbecue in the Church Car Park. However, it is possible that rain and storms may disrupt things so ‘flexibility’ is the word. All welcome!
Today we met for our 2nd barbeque in 3 days – this time to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Revd Colin’s ordination, the Baptism of Olivia Charlotte and the 98th birthday of Irene.
Bible Month – June 2018 – The Book of Jonah
I’m sure we’ve all been thankful of the recent hot and sunny weather? Due to this being expected to last into the weekend and beyond, we have relocated this months’ ‘Soup and Sandwiches’ event to the church car park (on the Langdale Street entrance). In addition to the usual fayre there will be burgers and hot dogs available. As usual, there is no charge and a warm welcome guaranteed!
The BBQ will take place from 6pm-8pm on Friday 25th May 2018.
On this Easter Sunday we bring flowers and place them on the cross. We transform the cross of pain and shame into something which speaks of life, and of the beauty of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
On Good Friday we imagine hammering in the nails that held Jesus on the Cross.
John 19:17-19
So they took Jesus; and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them. Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, ‘Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.’
Hymn: We sing
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble,
tremble, tremble;
Were you there when they nailed him to the tree?
Prayer: We pray together:
Lord have mercy, Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy. Amen.
On this Maundy Thursday we place a towel and a bowl at the foot of the Lent Cross – God came among us to serve. How can we do anything less?
John 13 v 4 & 5
Jesus rose from the table, took off his outer garments and tied a towel round his waist. Then he poured some water into a bowl and proceeded to wash the disciples’ feet and dry them with the towel.
Hymn: We sing:
Kneels at the feet of his friends,
silently washes their feet,
Master who acts as a slave to them.
Jesu, Jesu,
Fill us with your love,
Show us how to serve
the neighbours we have from you.
Prayer: Let us pray together:
God of mystery and mercy, grant us new life with you, as we draw near in remembrance, approaching the end of this journey with you through Lent. Amen