Church Anniversary

​Gathering.
…we have this treasure in clay pots to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from ourselves” 2 Cor 4:7
Let us draw near to God.

StF 470  -  Lord for the years . By the Choral Scholars of St Martin-in-the-Fields

Prayer
Almighty God, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below,
Heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; 
how much less this house which we have built.

And yet to us as we gather here
this is indeed your house and the gate of heaven.
And we worship you.

Almighty God, to whose glory we celebrate the anniversary of this 
church,
we give you thanks for the fellowship
of those who have worshipped in this place,                                                                                                            and for the fellowship we share today. 
We come this afternoon as into the courts of a King, 
with awe and reverence; 
and yet we come also as your children, 
with love and confidence.

.. and as we come before you remembering 
Your faithfulness – your Constant love and the dependability of your grace,
We are mindful of our own faithlessness our inconstancy and our undependable faith.
For the times when we have failed to live as your people… Lord forgive us.

Help us by your grace to draw closer to you, to grow to maturity in Christ and may we worship you now in spirit and in truth. Amen.

StF 51 Great is thy faithfulness

Reading    2 Corinthians 4:5-12 

StF 513  Take this moment time and space. ​Performance © 2020 Ruth and Joy Everingham

Message

StF 395 Spirit of the living God.  WMTV Music

Prayers of Intercession
In lives that are cracked and broken - may the glory of Christ’s resurrection burst forth.
Thank You, Father, that You have poured into our hearts the light of your gospel, which is from Jesus Christ our Saviour. It is through His sacrifice that we have been so blessed, for without the shining Light of the Spirit of Christ within, we would continue to live in the darkness of the world. 
… and so we come before you now with our prayers for those feeling cracked or broken this day
We pray for the world - those living in oppression and fear - world leaders and governments – peoples living in war torn places
Silence. 
In lives that are cracked and broken - may the glory of Christ’s resurrection burst forth.
We pray for our local community – the care homes, those who live in the neighbourhood, the groups that utilise the building here 
Silence.
In lives that are cracked and broken - may the glory of Christ’s resurrection burst forth.
We pray for this church giving thanks for all those who have been part of this family over many years – for the circuit and for the wider Methodist church family of which we are a part.
Silence
In lives that are cracked and broken - may the glory of Christ’s resurrection burst forth.
We pray for ourselves – Lord you know each of us by name – you know the cracks that we carry, our strengths and our weaknesses – our joys and our sadness. May each of us know your love this day and may the light of your truth, love, and compassion, shine in us, and reflect from us the glories of Christ in all we say and do. In Jesus' name, Amen.

StF 67 This, this is the God we adore

Blessing
Go out boldly, knowing that in our weakness we find His strength, and as we go may the blessing of God Father son and holy spirit be with us and those for whom we pray,