Dear Friends,

 

I am sure we have all been deeply pained by the pictures coming out of Ukraine!

 

I ask myself how anyone can direct missiles and bombs towards innocent women and children, or  towards homes and hospitals, and clearly the answer is that President Putin can. This must only be evil and is something that we have to condemn.

 

I wonder what it must be like to be old and frail and have to fear being blown up, or to know that one's sons and grandsons are risking death in defence of your country....all these things are beyond my imagination and all I seem to be able to do is stand by and watch.....I expect you all feel the same.

 

The one thing that we can do is to hold all of these people and situations in prayer.

 

Especially at this time of Passiontide and Easter Our Lord is at one with suffering, persecution and rejection. We should pray that as Love conquered the Cross and turned death into life so out of all this blackness and bleakness will come light and hope.

 

In a way it is happening already, as neighbouring countries serve and help the refugees pouring over their borders and even open their doors to offer succour and shelter to those who have nothing left but a need for compassion.....What a juxtaposition it is to behold.....bombs and destruction in one area and just a few miles across the border food ,care and compassion!!          

                             Yours in the faith of Christ….Roger

My prayer as I watch all of this on the news...often moved to tears.....is one that I read recently:-

 

 

Lord of all people and all nations,

We lift before you the people of Ukraine and the people of Russia,

Each girl and boy, each woman and man living in fear of what tomorrow might bring,

We long for a time you spoke of through your prophet Isaiah,

When weapons of war would be beaten into ploughshares,

When nation will no longer lift up sword against nation,

We cry out to you for peace,

Protect those who only desire and deserve to live in security and safety,

Comfort those who fear for their lives and the lives of their loved ones,

Change the hearts of those set on violence and aggression,

Fill earthly leaders with great wisdom to find paths to peace,

Please Lord come and have your way in your world,

May your will be done here, on earth as it is in heaven,

May your peace reign. Now and always,

We lift this prayer to you, our God who is able to do

more than we can ever ask or imagine,

In the name of Christ our saviour,

Amen

 

 

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Holy Matrimony

 

17th February -     Daniel Jordan Mossop/Emily Mary Potter

19th March -          Dharmesh Bharat Tailor/Charlotte Sarah

                                                                             Coley

4th April -               Ryan John Edwards/Olivia Louise

                                      Shuttleworth

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

 

 

A Prayer for Easter Day

 

How blessèd is this day, when earth and heaven are joined and humankind is reconciled to God!

May the light of Jesus shine continually to drive away all darkness. May Christ, the Morning Star who knows no setting, find his light ever burning in our hearts—he who gives his light to all creation, and who lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

 

 

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The Prayer of St Francis.

 

Lord make Me an instrument of Your peace
Where there is hatred let me sow love.
Where there is injury, pardon.
Where there is doubt, faith.
Where there is despair, hope.
Where there is darkness, light.
Where there is sadness joy.
O Divine master grant that I may
Not so much seek to be consoled as to console
To be understood, as to understand.
To be loved. as to love
For it's in giving that we receive
And it's in pardoning that we are pardoned
And it's in dying that we are born...
To eternal life.

Amen.