Broadstone & No .46 Blandford URC Postal ChurchPhoto: Margaret Tudor
7 February 2021 broadstoneurc.org - blandfordurc.com
orship is such a crucial part of our A Tudor Garden Some snowdrops at Kingston Lacy lives together as to remind us of the beauty around us, even in Winter Wchurch and I love digging into the Bible each week to see what it is that God might be trying to reveal to us each week. This week though a new sensation occurred on Tuesday morning as my mind started to consider what was coming up; a genuine sense of excitement about who might be involved leading us in prayer and our Bible readings this week!
Thank you to those who have signed up so far and please don’t allow my excitement to add pressure! I hope that more of you might feel able to get involved, there are no set ‘ways’ of praying that must be followed, but we can offer you some guidance to work with if you’d like. If it’s the video that worries you, we are also happy to receive written prayers for someone else to record!
I have found it to be a real blessing and encouragement to be led by others, and it gives a much wider scope for our life of prayer together as our experience and moment and so this is a After Church Zoom timely reminder for us all, as it regularly is for me, that we Follow this link at 11.30 on Sunday may find a renewed strength and meet up for a virtual cuppa with through our hope in God. everyone after church!
Photo by Rumman Amin us02web.zoom.us/j/82091299887 Psalm 147 is a collection of on Unsplash three hymns, of which we explore the first two. Our first hymn seems to be understanding is all so guidance, as astrology was referring to the gathering in different. exceedingly popular at the of exiles to a reclaimed time. Jerusalem which happened This week’s readings: God is the source of all life in 587 BCE, it then follows • Isaiah 40.21-31 and strength says Isaiah, He with praise of God who heals • Psalm 147.1-11,20c will not grow tired or weary. broken hearts and binds up • 1 Corinthians 9.16-23 This is an experience that is their wounds. How many will • Mark 1.29-39 being faced globally at the return after our pandemic
Isaiah 40 is quite a personal reading to me as a scribbled Exploring different paths to prayer note with Isaiah 40v31 Are you managing to get outside to exercise or into the written out on it was handed garden if you are shielding? If so, what about to me after my ordination. combining your prayers with walking? In recent Friends had been praying decades “prayer walking” has become popular, which during the service and felt it some link to the earlier monastic traditions of praying in would be encouraging. That cloisters and gardens. In Jos 6, the Israelites were little note is barely readable encouraged to walk around the walls of Jericho and 1Th now as it is so faded. It’s 5: 17 we are encouraged to “pray continuously”. Prayer been stuck to the shelves walking provides an opportunity to lift up the people next to my desk ever since! and places we pass asking God’s blessing upon them Our passage begins with and maybe asking that one day they may join us in God being a little critical of BURC. If walking is difficult, we can still take part in a Israel for seemingly prayer walk tracing the steps in our hearts and again forgetting who God is: “Do asking God’s blessing on those places we are reflecting you not know?” and what upon. Why not give it a go? Happy praying! follows is a poetic reminder of God who is creator and source of life itself. All else is nothing by comparison; the rulers that the people are subject to and the very stars in the sky which the Babylonians would certainly Photo by Andrik Langfield on Unsplash be looking to for their exile? How will anyone begin - thank you!) for all that is many of us would feel their healing and rebuilding? around us and sustains us. comfortable doing that? God understands the depths Let us put our trust in God’s Whilst it feels like a practical of our being and can sustain unfailing love! guide to ministry and us all. evangelism, what he says is Paul does something that clearly deeply rooted in two Our second hymn calls us to feels really quite brave; he key elements of the Gospel: grateful praise (much like puts himself forward as an it is free to all and it comes Mick in our prayers last week example. I wonder how to each of us just where we are, in our own communities, beliefs, jobs and strength. Margaret, Paul & Jim’s Paul is applying the gospel to his life as much as to his Quick Quiz! preaching, not an easy thing This week's quiz is on Hats to do, but one we must all constantly wrestle with. From the descriptions below, just name the hat. Lastly our Gospel reading 1. Tall, furry hat worn by The Brigade of Guards when in from Mark draws us back to full dress uniform. the power of prayer. Not long back from driving out 2. A hard, felt hat with a rounded crown Created by Lock demons at the Synagogue, & Co., for the 2nd Earl of Leicester as protective Jesus is straight into a family headgear for his gamekeepers. Also known as a Coke setting and healing Simon’s and in the USA as a Derby. mother-in-law. I imagine 3. A bell shaped ladies’ hat, popular during the roaring Jesus is already exhausted at twenties. this point, but the crowds arrive at the door. Jesus 4. A warm, close fitting, tweed hat with brims front and name is growing popularity - back and ear-flaps that can be tied under the chin. something he always seems 5. Lightweight and rigid cloth covered helmet with brims to walk away from - but he front and back. Widely worn, particularly by Europeans responds in grace healing (men and women) in hot climates up until the Second and blessing any and all. World War. It is a rare thing after a long 6. Red felt hat, in the shape of a truncated cone – also and tiring day that I decide it known as a tarboosh. would be beneficial to get up extra early the next day, 7. Cap with a flat circular top and a peak. In Europe but Jesus knows what food commonly associated with French military and police he needs and it is very uniforms. difficult to hear God’s word 8. A formal headpiece, for women, commonly made to him, when life is full of using feathers, flowers, and beads and attached to the meeting the needs of others. head by a comb, headband or clip. That quiet space for prayer is absolutely crucial to Minute for MISSION : ShelterBox
Thank you to everyone who supported last year’s Youth Charity, ShelterBox. With last year’s communion offering, a number of generous donations and support via the Sunshine Bags we were able to send a cheque for £783-76 to them in December.
We have decided to continue with our support for ShelterBox during 2021 and so February’s communion offering is for this charity. We are raising money for “Shelter Kits” which can be quickly deployed to disaster areas to help those made homeless as a result of hurricanes, earthquakes, flooding etc. Included in each kit is a selection of hardwearing tools and materials such as 2 heavy duty tarpaulins, rope, nails & wire to enable families to quickly build a shelter. These can also be used to carry out repairs, cut firewood, clear rubble and even tend crops. A recent example of ShelterBox’s work was the help they provided in the aftermath of typhoon Goni in the Philippines where an estimated 13,000 homes were damaged or destroyed.
If you would like to support ShelterBox via the February Communion Offering, please do so by means of a cheque made out to “Broadstone URC” with “ShelterBox” on the back (so that we may know that this is what your cheque is for and can claim the gift aid). Please either send the cheque to Martin Sales, (50 Chalbury Close, BH17 8BS) or put it in the church post box. Please do not send cash.
sustaining him in the mission And (with apologies from the the Chamber Choir of the he has received. editor) last weeks MG First Presbyterian Church, offering: Lexington, Kentucky.
Music Group In one of our anthem books youtube.com/watch? is this meditation on these v=z1oDTZ_uVO4 An anthem celebrating words from Psalm 119 creation, from the pen of "Teach me, O Lord, the ways John Rutter - "For the Live Streamed Worship of your statutes, and I will beauty of the earth". The keep it unto the end." - a Worship this week will be led Music Group have sung this repeated refrain within the by Andy and will include twice at harvest time, it is Psalm, itself a prayer for communion. You can join the sung here by the choir of enlightenment and service on Sunday at Kings College, Cambridge. guidance. The music is by 10.30am (or as a recording The video includes the lyrics. Thomas Attwood afterwards) here: youtube.com/watch? (1765-1838), a composer to v=xlBkpAm3fhw the Chapel Royal and youtu.be/Ao9hYHa40pQ organist at St Paul's Cathedral, and here sung by Many Prayerful Voices Blessed are you, Source of all example of St Francis of hope and peace, inspire us Assisi; his love for the As a church we are seeking with your love so that we in poorest and his openness to to increase the number of turn may hope to bring light all. people leading intercessions to those with whom we live I have a couple of copies of on Sunday mornings. If you and work. Renew in us all the the book left if anyone would would like to volunteer to sense of joy, filling every like one. record intercessions ahead of corner of our hearts with love the service, or to find out and hope so that we may The groups will be: more about what’s involved overflow, giving you thanks Wednesday Evening Group then contact Kevin who is always for all things you have 24th Feb, 7.30pm coordinating the Intercession given us. Send us the light of rota. If you would like to the world to enlighten our Thursday Morning Group volunteer but would like lives. 25th Feb, 10.30am some help putting them Blessed are you, Source of all together then he is happy to Both will run for six weeks healing and strength, we ask help. Kevin: 07825 616524 with a seventh session you to pour your healing or [email protected] planned for sometime after light on those who suffer Easter to tackle the last physical or mental pain. Give chapter of the book. Prayer With Saz our spirits power to climb to the fountain of all light and Both will be held on zoom Blessed are you, Source of all hope. Shine in splendour, and a link will be sent nearer light and truth, you have sent your calmness, your solace the time. a light to lighten the world. and your healing peace to We ask that your light may our faithful souls. You are the Get in Touch redefine and make all things journey, and the journey’s new and bring your end. Send us the light of the Andy Hall 01202 698638 transforming radiance to this world to enlighten our lives. [email protected] world so that it may truly and fully reflect your glory. Send Blessed are you, Source of all
us the light of the world to things, we give you thanks.
enlighten our lives And let us say Amen. Fascinator. 8.
Blessed are you, Source of all Kepi. 7.
vision and sight, we ask you CTIB Zoom Lent Groups
to give us the vision to see Fez 6.
We are basing this years Lent
your love in the world in Helmet. Pith 5. groups on Pope Francis
spite of human failings. Give
Encyclical Letter entitled: Deerstalker 4. us eyes that are clear-sighted Fratelli Tutti: On Fraternity
in all of your clear cut truth.
and Friendship. Cloche. 3.
Lead us in the ways of justice
and of love, that each may Pope Francis uses the story Bowler. 2.
live for all and all may care of the Good Samaritan as his
for each. Send us the light of base for the book which is Busby). (NOT Bearskin 1.
the world to enlighten our also inspired by the life and Answers Quiz Quick lives.