Thy Kingdom Come

“Thy Kingdom Come” are some of the most powerful words of the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples and teaches us today. They invite, welcome, anticipate and encourage into our lives, what God desires for the world. Not the little kingdoms that we build around ourselves, but the bigger, bolder vision of a world created, at rest, in love, and at peace. Sometimes we feel a fair distance from that, and yet – each week – we sincerely pray it.

 “Thy Kingdom Come” is the strapline for this time of prayer between the feasts of Ascension and Pentecost. A time when the church prays for the coming of God’s kingdom, in that we accept the task that Jesus gives us and wait and pray for the Holy Spirit to help us in that task. For us in the parishes it is also a time of APCMs and the importance of reflecting together whilst looking back on what we have noticed and been part of, and looking forwards towards where we might be taken by the Holy Spirit in the coming year. 

This is also the week that Christian Aid Week occurs, a time when we can be part of and are invited into being part of seeing God’s kingdom come through the work of this Worldwide Church. Envelopes are available in both churches as we worship together this week.

Our services this week include

8:00am – Holy Communion – All Saints

10:00am – Sung Holy Communion (followed by the APCM) – St Marys

10.30am – Muddy/Messy Church – All Saints

7.15pm – Generations – All Saints

THE WEEK AHEAD 

Tuesday 14th May

10:30am – M4T – St Mary’s

Weds 15th May

9:00am – Celtic Morning Prayer – All Saints 

Thursday 16th May

10:00am – Holy Communion  – St. Mary’s 

Friday 17th May

11:00am – Living After Loss – St. Mary’s  

Saturday 18th May

10:00 – 11:30 – Christian Aid Coffee Morning – St. Mary’s 

12:00 – 15:00 – Spring Fayre (with Dog Show) – All Saints 

12.00 – 2:00pm – Saturday Lunches  – St Mary’s  

Sunday 19th May

10:00am – Sung Holy Communion– St. Mary’s 

10:30am – Holy Communion – All Saints 

12.00  – All Saints APCM 

I love the month of May – especially when we see the sun a little more. I found a 7 fold piece of poetry about creation that I wanted to share with you, as we are invited into the rest that God desires for his Kingdom.

Blessing and rest, delight in everything, 

Sustained by your strong love and richly blest, 

This is the gift you give, the day you bring

Blessing and rest.

This is the ‘gladness of the best’, From the lines in the east where linnets sing, 

To where the last light lingers in the west.

You lift the cares to which I used to cling, 

As you yourself descend to be my guest 

And show me how to find in everything 

Blessing and rest.

Malcolm Guite  – Parable and Paradox

May you all know the blessing and rest that God desires for the Kingdom.

Blessings

Revd Lizzie