Families Meal, Sunday 18th January, 5.00-7.00pm in the Canterbury Room
Please come and pray for the life of our parishes and seek God’s guidance for the New Year ahead. This will take place in the Canterbury Room at St Thomas’. Coffee and croissants from 8:15am, followed by prayer for the life of our churches. Finished by 9.30am. Please do join us.
St Andrew’s coffee morning A reminder that there is no coffee morning in January. The next one takes place as usual on the fourth Wednesday of the month on February 25th.
Phone free childhood – ask your MP to support raising the social media age to 16 This week Keir Starmer said he’s considering an Australia-style age limit on social media. That means this issue is live in Parliament right now so there is an opportunity to shape what happens next. You can e-mail your MP now so they know how much this matters to their constituents: https://smartphonefreechildhood.eaction.org.uk/raise-the-age This provides a pre-written email (that you can personalise or just send as-is) and takes 60 seconds. Anyone can send this - parents, carers, grandparents, aunts, uncles, young people.
Join in Morning Prayer together. Please do. We offer ourselves in worship, listen to the Bible and pray for our world and church members in turn.
This week we are asked to pray:
Prayers for the week from Roots on the web Lord, in the stillness of this moment, help us to think back over this past week and ponder: Where have you revealed yourself to us this week? In nature around us? In the smile of a friend or family member? The kindness of strangers? Through your word? If this week has seemed dark and difficult, point us to a lighter moment that we perhaps didn’t notice at first. Help us to cling onto the truth that, whether we noticed you or not, you were there and always will be beside us. Lord, reveal yourself to us That we may show you to others. Lord, as we turn our thoughts to the world, we see so much turmoil and unrest. We see wars and rumours of wars. We pray for the situation in Iran. We continue to lift Sudan, Gaza, Israel and Ukraine to you. Lord, in our world we also see untold sorrow. We see distrust and confusion. Yet we know that you are Lord of all. We know that one day all kings and rulers will bow down before you. We pray for our leaders now, Lord… Show yourself to them in 2026, we pray. Astonish them by your presence. Give them wisdom, particularly where there are difficult decisions to be made about the welfare of the people they serve. Help them, and us, to be bringers of peace. Lord, reveal yourself to us That we may show you to others. Lord, we pray for those in our community who need fresh vision of who you are just now. We remember those who are in pain, sickness or sorrow. Lord, be their comfort and healer in ways they could not previously have imagined. Enable us to be there for them, with a word of encouragement, a loving arm around the shoulder, practical action, whatever they need. Show us new ways to be your eyes, your feet, your hands. We pray for our health services, social services and all those who provide community care. Help us always to be supportive of those who support us, in whatever way. Lord, reveal yourself to us That we may show you to others. Lord, we pray for the places around us where there seems to be darkness instead of your light. We pray for people who feel enmeshed in the darkness of addiction, trauma or depression. Show us where and how we can be light bringers. May your kingdom come. Reveal yourself in the small things, giving people the hope they need to keep going even when all seems difficult or dark. Reveal yourself in the big things, giving flashes of inspiration and joyful moments. May this year bring transformation, hope and light. Lord, reveal yourself to us That we may show you to others. Lord, we focus now on the week ahead. We picture the places we expect to be going to and the people we expect to meet. Help us to bring your love into each situation. We pray particularly about any moments that may be difficult or uncomfortable. Help us to know that you are walking alongside us and give us your peace. Enable us to be surprised by you this week, too, Lord - not so hooked on our routines that we aren’t able to make space for the unexpected. Help us to see where you are within those moments and to follow where you lead. Bring us back here next week with a renewed sense of purpose and joy. Lord, reveal yourself to us That we may show you to others. And send us out from here with a willingness to be your hands and feet, your followers and disciples, bearing your love into every corner of our community. Amen.