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Open with God Book - February/March - Ash Wednesday
Open with God Book - February/March - Ash Wednesday
by Christine Odell
February/ March – Ash Wednesday Calendar of Prayers Reading Matthew 6.1-6 Ask those present to write down on pieces of paper what they are giving or taking up for Lent. These will be placed in a bowl during the prayer. All-seeing God, you know us through and through...
Open with God Book - February - St Valentine's Day
Open with God Book - February - St Valentine's Day
by Christine Odell
February – St Valentine’s Day (14 February) Calendar of Prayers Reading Song of Solomon 2.8-13 Have a display of roses, cards etc and play suitable music. God, whose name is Love, we rejoice today as we celebrate your gift of romantic love: a love that causes hearts to leap songs…
Poem: Determination
Poem: Determination
by Marjorie Dobson
Poem: Determination Nothing could deter him. Not religious opposition. Not the wily Herod. Not the prophetic predictions. Not the Pharisees with their plotting, nor the teachers with their testing, nor the disciples and their doubting. Nothing could stop him. Continues... ©Marjor…
Open with God Book - Birthdays
Open with God Book - Birthdays
by Christine Odell
BIRTHDAYS Prayers for Various Occasions Reading Psalm 139.1-6, 13-18 Loving God, we praise you for all that you have done for us: for the beauty and generosity of your creation; for your offers of forgiveness and never-ending love; for your presence with us throughout our lives..…
Open with God Book - Care Homes for the Elderly
Open with God Book - Care Homes for the Elderly
by Christine Odell
CARE HOMES FOR THE ELDERLY Prayers for Various Occasions Reading Psalm 23 God, our loving Shepherd, wherever we go, you are there, whatever we experience, you are with us. We know that we can trust your promise that you will be with us until the end of time. We pray for the elder…
Journeying with Luke - Passion - Holy Week
Journeying with Luke - Passion - Holy Week
by SPCK - Woodward, Gooder and Pryce
5 Passion – Holy Week Exploring the text In the previous chapter we noted the way in which the theme of temptation weaves its way through the whole of the Gospel of Luke, reaching its climax at Jesus’ crucifixion where he is tempted three times – first by the leaders, then by the…
Journeying with Luke - Ordinary Time 2
Journeying with Luke - Ordinary Time 2
by SPCK - Woodward, Gooder and Pryce
8 Ordinary Time 2 Exploring the text We noted in the last chapter that chapters 7—18 of Luke’s Gospel, from which are drawn the passages read during Ordinary Time, contain the vast majority of Luke’s parables. Luke is well known for many things but perhaps the most important are …
Journeying with Luke - Lent
Journeying with Luke - Lent
by SPCK - Woodward, Gooder and Pryce
4 Lent Exploring the text One of the major themes of Lent is, of course, temptation – or, more accurately, resistance to temptation. This theme arises from Jesus’ temptations but also challenges us to reflect upon our need to resist temptation in all its forms. One of the intrigu…
Journeying with Luke - The Easter Narratives
Journeying with Luke - The Easter Narratives
by SPCK - Woodward, Gooder and Pryce
6 The Easter narratives Exploring the text Without a doubt the story of Jesus’ appearance to the disciples on the road to Emmaus must be one of the best-loved of the resurrection stories. Like so much else in Luke’s Gospel, its themes remind us of some of Luke’s major emphases th…
Journeying with Luke - Ordinary Time 1
Journeying with Luke - Ordinary Time 1
by SPCK - Woodward, Gooder and Pryce
7 Ordinary Time 1 Exploring the text Ordinary Time, the time that falls between Epiphany and the start of Lent and between Pentecost Sunday and the kingdom season, gains its name not from what we think of as the meaning of ordinary (i.e. everyday) but from the Latin term tempus o…
Journeying with Luke - The Sundays before Lent
Journeying with Luke - The Sundays before Lent
by SPCK - Woodward, Gooder and Pryce
3 The Sundays before Lent Exploring the text One of the themes which the passages we explore during Christmas and Epiphany bring to the fore is the question ‘Who is this Jesus?’ Who is the Jesus that the shepherds are summoned to visit? Who is the Jesus who can converse with his …
Journeying with Luke - Further Reading
Journeying with Luke - Further Reading
by SPCK - Woodward, Gooder and Pryce
Further reading There are many good commentaries on Luke’s Gospel. The one you choose will be down to your own personal taste. The list below is not exhaustive but includes some of the most important works. Lighter commentaries...
Journeying with Luke - Preface: What is this book about?
Journeying with Luke - Preface: What is this book about?
by SPCK - Woodward, Gooder and Pryce
Preface: What is this book about? The Revised Common Lectionary has established itself both in Anglican parishes and other denominations as the framework within which the Bible is read on Sundays in public worship. It follows a three-year pattern, taking each of the synoptic Gosp…
Reflection: Royalty
Reflection: Royalty
by Marjorie Dobson
Psalm 99 Reflection: Royalty In our so-called civilised world, evil leaders rule with cruelty, violence and a total disregard for the welfare of their people. Other, manipulative people prefer to be the power behind their leader’s throne and use cunning, political scheming, bribe…
Drama: A big question
Drama: A big question
by Marjorie Dobson
Exodus 34: 29-35 Drama: A big question (A dialogue between mother and child. Identity can easily be changed to any related adult) Mum, who’s that man? He’s a special man, dear. Why is he special Mum? Because he’s our leader, love. What’s his name, Mum? Is that special too? All ou…
Paul for Everyone Romans part 2 - Final Blessing
Paul for Everyone Romans part 2 - Final Blessing
by SPCK - N T Wright
Final Blessing ROMANS 16.25-27 I watched as the children played in the swimming pool. The water was about four feet deep. Three of them stood side by side, with linked arms. Then they squatted down, with only their noses above water, and two others climbed on to their shoulders. …
Reflection/Poem: Thankful for the Law
Reflection/Poem: Thankful for the Law
by Marjorie Dobson
Reflection/Poem: Thankful for the Law For those of us who live in settled lands, have homes and families and reasonable stability, make money for our basic needs although it never seems enough, embrace democracy whilst grumbling against the government and are thankful that we do …
Prayer: God of the church