An earlier newsletter this month, as we are keen to point you towards some new resources that may be helpful in the coming weeks.
One idea that the Bible Month materials will help us reflect upon this year is that worship is a key way by which we witness to our faith and reflect our values. It’s all there in the Book of Revelation. (Find out more on the Bible Month page.) That’s why the way we incorporate our concerns about Ukraine, and poverty, and our care of older people into worship is important. These are all appropriate subjects for reflection in our praise, lament, and petition; and they all feature in February and beyond. We hope you find our materials and information helpful.
Ukraine in our worship
As we approach the one-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, the Methodist Church offers a range of service elements to aid those wishing to mark the event.
You can pick and choose from the elements under three headings (Lament – Protest – Act) to add to your service and help your congregation to engage prayerfully and thoughtfully with the ongoing war.
How sweet the sound!
Amazing Grace is John Newton’s most famous hymn (and one of the most well-known in any hymn book). On New Year’s Day this year, the hymn celebrated its 250th birthday.
If you were otherwise engaged that day (StF+ was… ), take a moment to re-visit this evergreen text, with notes and comment. Why did Newton write it? Why was it so close to his heart? And what did John Wesley think of Newton, the man?
For other Sundays and aspects of Lent, resources can be found under our Lent and Easter theme. A sequence of prayers for Lent and Easter is also available on the Methodist Church website.
“Everyone should have a fair say in what happens in society.” Church Action on Poverty Sunday is on 19 February this year, with its theme Dignity, Agency, Power. CAP has provided notes and stories for sermons and reflections, together with reading suggestions and a full range of prayers and poems by Marjorie Dobson, Andrew Pratt and others. Plus, a recipe for pancakes!!
Looking further ahead, MHA, the charity for the care of older people, marks Methodist Homes Sunday on 2 June. With an emphasis this year on intergenerational activity, MHA has information and worship resources now ready for ordering.
Finally, don’t forget this year’s Easter offering theme is No Borders to God’s Love. It is inspired by a verse in the Old Testament book of Leviticus: “The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as a citizen among you; you shall love the stranger as yourself.” (Leviticus 19 :34) All the information you need is here.
We wish you well as you enter on the journey of Lent this year. Maybe it’s a good moment to re-read and re-sing Joy Dine’s fine hymn: “God who sets us on a journey to discover, dream and grow, lead us as you led your people in the desert long ago.” (StF+ website).
