Dear Friends
Matthew 2:11
They went into the house, and when they saw the child with his mother Mary, they knelt down and worshipped him.
Epiphany (meaning revelation) celebrates the Wise Men’s discovery and worship of the Christ-Child at Bethlehem. So, this week it feels appropriate to ask ‘What is the point of worship?’ So I would like to offer three views on worship:
Worship is the capacity to appreciate what is of value outside ourselves. Without worship something in us dies. Worship takes us beyond ourselves. Our emotions and spirits can become deeply touched by God. Richard Harries, former Bishop of Oxford
Worship is the well of life for all Christian living. How can we have ideas about God if we do not seek to encounter God?' When we seek God with fervour and feel his touch, we are like clay taken up by fire. The courtesy of reverent worship has an effect on the courtesy and care with which we live with others. George Guiver, former vice-principal at Mirfield (a college that trains priests)
We warmly invite you to encounter God’s loving presence in the worship offered across the Benefice this coming Sunday and in the week to come.
SUNDAY WORSHIP ON 7th January 2024
10.00 | St Mary’s | Creative Church for Epiphany with a talk on Gifts |
10.30 | All Saints | Holy Communion for Epiphany with Band and Junior Church |
18.30 | St.Mary’s | Sung Holy Communion for Epiphany |
WORSHIP and EVENTS IN THE WEEK AHEAD
Wed 10th January | 9.00am | Celtic Morning Prayers | All Saints |
Thurs 11th January | 10.00am | Holy Communion | St Mary’s |
Sat 13th January | 12-2pm | Saturday Lunches | St Mary’s |
Sunday 14th January | 10.00 | Holy Communion | St Mary’s |
Sunday 14th January | 10.30 | Messy Muddy Church : Water | All Saints |
Sunday 14th January | 19.15 | Generations Youth | All Saints Hall |
3. Mark Earey, an Anglican adviser on worship and liturgy, is passionate about 'Worship that Cares'. He says that good worship takes us on a journey in four stages:
1 Gathering (Why are we here?),
2 Word (What is God saying to us?),
3 Response (What should we do about it?) and
4 Dismissal (How then shall we live?).
Even our more informal services - Creative Church at St.Mary’s and Messy Muddy Church at All Saints -follow this fourfold pattern. At Creative Church we gather around tables with a cuppa to start, then hear a Bible reading and reflection on a theme, next we respond with a craft and are invited to name people and situations to include in the prayers, finally we go out after a blessing.
At Messy Muddy Church we gather either outdoors or indoors, hear a Bible story, respond by choosing between a few creative activities, pray together and sing or say a blessing. In 2024 Messy Muddy church is taking the four elements: Water – Fire – Air – Earth as exciting entry points into the Bible. January’s service will be water-based as we explore the Baptism of Christ. Expect to get wet!
Praying or singing along to the beautiful words of this hymn by Tim Hughes may help you prepare to worship the Christ-child, before you join us at one of our services this Epiphany
Light of the world you stepped down into darkness, opened my eyes, let me see.
Beauty that made this heart adore you, hope of a life spent with you.
So here I am to worship, here I am to bow down, here I am to say that you’re my God.
You’re altogether lovely, altogether worthy, altogether wonderful to me!
Revd Diane (curate)
PS Please could you return your Mary and Joseph Posada Kits to St. Mary’s this Sunday. Thank you.
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