| One of my resolutions for the summer months, when things at church are not as busy as usual, is to take more time to pray and to worship. I am more and more convinced that prayer and worship are the most important and distinctive things that we do as Christians. Like most people I want to pray more and more ‘effectively’. I am very conscious that in my work I often encourage people to pray, but do not really help them to pray. Like many people I feel a little guilty when it comes to prayer. I acknowledge its importance. I want to pray, but somehow it is always easy to find something else to do, something more urgent! Prayer matters because in prayer we meet with God. Supposing someone told me that they were married; they had a wedding certificate to prove it, but that they didn’t spend time with their wife, never spoke to her or listened to her. I would very quickly wonder what sense, if any they could be said to actually be married! And so with prayer. In prayer both alone and with others, I meet God as He speaks through scripture; I meet God as I pour out my hopes and fears for others and for myself; and I meet God as He draws near in the Eucharist. As we meet with God so we deepen in our relationship with God and so we grow as Christians in faith and hope and love. The summer might be a good time to develop your relationship with God through prayer. You could join the Diocesan Prayer fellowship, reading a few verses of Scripture and praying the Diocesan Prayer and the Lord’s Prayer every day. Alternatively, you could try coming to the monthly prayer breakfast or the Thursday morning Communion, meeting with others in fellowship and meeting with God in silence and intercession. In the Autumn we will be running The Prayer Course in St Mary’s. The book that is based on the course is sub-titles “a simple guide for normal people.” We need a “simple guide” because we often make prayer and the relationship with God our Father that flows from prayer too complicated. We need a guide for normal people because we were all made for a relationship with God our Father. It isn’t only for spiritual super-humans or living saints. I would urge everyone at St Mary’s to come along in September to the first session and join The Prayer Course. God bless, Tim |
| Following Jesus; Celebrating Life; Welcoming All We are here to help people love and worship God. We aim to be, and encourage others to become, committed and active disciples of Jesus, who love God and worship him, who know the power of the Holy Spirit and who show God’s love in every part of their lives. |
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| Prayer for the month |
| Thought for the month |
| Below you will find extracts from this month's Parish Magazine First Words..., A Prayer for the Month & A Thought for the Month |
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| Paul writes from prison in Rome where he is chained to a Roman soldier. He writes to the small and vulnerable community of disciples in the city of Colossae. The Church there consisted of new Christians who were beginning to face pressure and persecution for following Jesus. Paul writes to encourage them and to help them to continue faithfully as Jesus’ disciples in a hostile environment. In his prayer for the church Paul emphasises three things that the Colossian believers have which will sustain them: their faith in Jesus Christ; their love for all the saints and the hope that they have “laid up in heaven.” Their faith is in Jesus Christ, and not in themselves. They belong to one who has suffered and who has won a victory not only over human evil, not only over the power of the Roman Empire, but who has defeated death and the devil on the cross. As Christians we have a saviour who is greater than any problem or opposition that we will ever face. The faith of the Colossian Christians is seen in the love that they have for all who belong to Jesus. Christians in different parts of the Empire supported one another in prayer and in practical ways, such as the collection for the suffering Church in Judea. In Christ though we are many and diverse, yet we are all one. As Christians we know that nothing divides us: we are one body in Christ irrespective of the differences of race or class, of nationality or gender. We are all children of the one Father in heaven that Jesus revealed to the world. Finally, the Colossian Christians have a hope in heaven. In the world they faced opposition and ridicule; they faced oppression and persecution as Jesus’ followers. But as Jesus followers they are assured of an eternal kingdom which cannot be taken from them. In Christ we are citizens of heaven, in Christ we have a life which cannot be taken from us. Like the Colossian Christians in the First Century we too have a sure faith in Christ, we are called to a love that transcends divisions and barriers, and we too have a hope “laid up in heaven.” May our faith, love and hope shine in the chaos of the world, may we shine for Christ, bringing His light to the world that He loves. Amen. |
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| As usual August this year is a very quiet month. We have a couple of weddings towards the end of the month and visiting bellringers at 10.30am on Thursday 22nd August. The monthly Prayer Breakfast is at 9am on Saturday 10th August. Apart from that there is little on the Church Calendar. The mid-week Communion is every Thursday 9.30 to 10.15am. This quiet month is a good opportunity to relax and refresh. It could also be a time to come along to the Prayer Breakfast or the Thursday communion. Many people - myself included - will be away on holiday during August. I intend to use the time for prayer and study. I always see August as an opportunity to prepare myself for the very busy quarter from September to Christmas. I hope that you find time this August to relax and refresh as well as to re-connect with God. God Bless Tim ___________________________________________________ The Prayer Course By Pete Greig We will be holding the course on Wednesday Evenings at 7.30pm in Church starting on Wednesday 11th September Everyone is invited and encouraged to come along. For more information see Tim |
| Twitter - keep in touch with Tim Gill @RevTimGill |
| The Knave and South Aisle roof works are now complete Our Thanks to all those involved in the works and particularly to the Heritage Lottery Fund and its supporters for their generous contribution. Thanks also to Ecclesfield Feoffees for their contribution to the work done on the North Aisle roof |
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Heavenly Father,
Your son Jesus Christ has called us into His Church here at St Mary's.
Pour out upon us your Holy Spirit:
that we may worship you with all our hearts and minds;
that we may love one another as Christ has loved us;
and that we may be fruitful in your service.
Help us to grow as a Church in faith, in hope and in love;
and add to our number those whom you are calling,
that as a bigger Church we may do bigger work for your glory.
Amen
Your son Jesus Christ has called us into His Church here at St Mary's.
Pour out upon us your Holy Spirit:
that we may worship you with all our hearts and minds;
that we may love one another as Christ has loved us;
and that we may be fruitful in your service.
Help us to grow as a Church in faith, in hope and in love;
and add to our number those whom you are calling,
that as a bigger Church we may do bigger work for your glory.
Amen
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| In our prayers for you we always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, for we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. (Colossians 1:3-5:) |
| Safeguarding at St. Mary's |
| Safeguarding The Parish of St Mary’s Church Ecclesfield is committed to high standards in the safeguarding care of children, young people and vulnerable adults. Our Safeguarding Officer is Andrea Whittaker , who can be contacted by email: andreajane.aw@gmail.com Our Parish Safeguarding Policy with further information can be read in full by following this link Safeguarding at St. Mary’s - Ecclesfield |
| A prayer for St Mary's for 2019 |