Thanks for Sundays

Hi, on this page I will be sharing, reviewing, and recommending resources for children’s, family, and all-age, church-based work. I love to explore and discover new ideas, and creative ways of supporting this fantastic ministry. It’s such a privilege to serve the church and to help make worship meaningful and fun for children and families. I hope you’ll find my ideas and recommendations helpful.

I enjoy writing this blog on a Monday because we have just had Sunday! I don’t know about you, but I wake up every morning wishing there was some Good News to read about in ‘The News’. The world seems in turmoil and now with our new government it appears there is even more turmoil and disunity. But there is still hope!

**Children’s Families and Caregivers Communion Service Chichester Cathedral every Sunday 9:30 am**

Thanks for Sunday services that give us our regular weekly respite of rest, reassurance, stability, friendship, love, and good plain common sense. It also gives me hope to cling onto when all else seems to be falling apart. I was so heartened yesterday to see in our 9:30 am weekly Children’s Families and Caregivers Service, children enjoying themselves in a pure and simple act of worship, enjoying the singing, the interactive talk, the prayers, and each other’s company.

Thanks for the people who prepare and present these services week in and week out with thoughtfulness, prayer, and a sense of the pastoral needs of their congregation.

Thanks for the people who are led by the Holy Spirit who open themselves up to God for guidance about the message to bring that will uplift and encourage people to go and live out our Christian faith another day.

And finally, thanks for being able to go home from church with God’s blessing having heard God’s word and for all the encouragement that worship brings to our hearts and minds. Although the world may be in turmoil we are not, if we look to Jesus and not to the news.

LET US PRAY

I love this part of the post-communion liturgy:

All Almighty God,

we thank you for feeding us

with the body and blood of your Son Jesus Christ.

Through him we offer you our souls and bodies

to be a living sacrifice.

Send us out

in the power of your Spirit

to live and work

to your praise and glory.

Amen.

We go out to serve God.

The service ends with:

Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

All In the name of Christ. Amen.

RESOURCES

I love this extract from the Henri Nouwen Society:

Dear Lord,

Today I thought of the words of Vincent van Gogh: “It is true there is an ebb and flow, but the sea remains the sea.” You are the sea. Although I experience many ups and downs in my emotions and often feel great shifts and changes in my inner life, you remain the same. Your sameness is not the sameness of a rock, but the sameness of a faithful lover. Out of your love I came to life, by your love I am sustained, and to your love I am always called back. There are days of sadness and days of joy; there are feelings of guilt and feelings of gratitude; there are moments of failure and moments of success; but all of them are embraced by your unwavering love. . . . O Lord, sea of love and goodness, let me not fear too much the storms and winds of my daily life, and let me know there is ebb and flow but the sea remains the sea.

Amen.

“Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.” – Psalm 143: 8

24:7 Prayer Be Still Series Explore the simple, transformative practice of a daily quiet time with God.

Bible Reading Fellowship: 80 Creative Prayer Ideas: A resource for church and group use.