Saturday 8 August 2020

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I hope you are enjoying the glorious sunshine and can delight in the beautiful world God has made.

I look forward to seeing many of you at church tomorrow. We have managed to fit everyone into church but it will be completely full.

As always, you can also follow the service online
Thank you to Hector and Martin who have put together the material online.

Booking seats for next Sunday, 16th August, will begin on Monday morning. Please try to book your seat before midnight on Wednesday. You can use the link or you can ring the office.

We are all called to follow Christ and to encourage one another along the way. Please pray particularly for Rachel who will be baptised at St Ursula's on Sunday 23rd August. Rachel has been preparing for baptism for some time and would value your prayers and support as she takes this important step and makes a public declaration of her commitment to Christ. Please also pray for our young people who were due to be confirmed in June. The confirmation has been postponed but several of the young people will be baptised in the coming months. Please pray for Delali and Joana Agoba, Daniel and Michael Hanggi, and Manu Lehmann.

As we pray for Rachel and our young people, let us also reflect on our own discipleship and pray that we might respond to God's call on our lives and be faithful in following Christ.

In the words of one of our modern songs:

Will you come and follow me
if I but call your name?
Will you go where you don't know
and never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown,
will you let my name be known,
will you let my life be grown
in you, and you in me?

Lord, your summons echoes true
when you but call my name.
Let me turn and follow you,
and never be the same.
In your company I'll go
where your love and footsteps show.
Thus I'll move and live and grow
in you, and you in me.

We might also want to pray the prayer of Richard of Chichester (from 13th century):

Lord Jesus Christ, we thank you
for all the benefits that you have won for us,
for all the pains and insults that you have borne for us.
Most merciful redeemer,
friend and brother,
may we know you more clearly,
love you more dearly,
and follow you more nearly,
day by day.
Amen

With my love in Christ,
Helen