Sunday Service – July 26th

Hi Everyone!

I hope that you’re all doing well.

This week sees us arrive at the climax of St. Paul’s letter to the Romans, the final verses of Chapter 8: a glorious affirmation of the love of God, in Christ Jesus, for us all – and the fact that there is nothing in all creation that separate us from that love. I was struck by the way in which the epistle builds and builds to this theological crescendo, so there’s a bit of Beethoven to which to listen in the online service, in musical echo of the scriptural climax!

Please note that there will be no Cranmer Group Online Services on Sundays 2nd and 9th August, since I will be on leave (supporting Clare as she looks to complete her dissertation; spending time with Esther; and doing at least some of the jobs I haven’t yet managed to do since moving into Aslockton!). If you are managing to have some time off over the rest of the summer, I hope that you have a very blessed break.

I recommend that you may wish to visit the Southwell Minster website, where they have a Sunday service at 10AM, or indeed in the Minster in person, also at 10AM (Eucharist) and 3pm (Evening Prayer). Alternatively, other local churches such as St. Nic’s in the centre of Nottingham also have good online Sunday service provision, or you could try out something completely different!

We will be back with our online Sunday service on 16th August!

Do watch our Online Service video here at 9.30AM on Sunday 19th, and then, as usual, join us here on Zoom (Meeting ID: 864 0083 1074; Password: 549794) from 10.15AM for a catch-up with all your Cranmer Group friends.

And of course you can also catch up later with the Online Service, on our YouTube channel here, and we’ve re-instigated our podcasts as well, for those who may prefer to listen to them – they are here.

Our worship today has been led by Deb Hubbard and Deborah Davies – thank you both so much as usual:

Be Thou My Vision
Played by Deb Hubbard

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best thought, by day or by night,
Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light. 

Be Thou my wisdom, be Thou my true word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, and I Thy true son;
Thou in me dwelling, and I with Thee one.

Be Thou my breastplate, my sword for the fight;
Be Thou my whole armour, be Thou my true might;
Be Thou my soul’s shelter, be Thou my high tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O power of my power.

Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise,
Thou mine inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, the first in my heart,
High King of heaven, my treasure Thou art.

High King of heaven, Thou heaven’s bright sun,
O grant me the joys after vict’ry is won!
Great heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be Thou my Vision, O Ruler of all.

Irish c.8th Century; Eleanor Hull

Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer 
Played by Deborah Davies

Guide me, O thou great Redeemer,
Pilgrim through this barren land;
I am weak, but thou art mighty;
Hold me with thy powerful hand:
Bread of heaven, bread of heaven
Feed me till I want no more.
Feed me till I want no more.

Open thou the crystal fountain
Whence the healing stream doth flow;
Let the fire and cloudy pillar
Lead me all my journey through:
Strong deliverer, strong deliverer
Be thou still my strength and shield.
Be thou still my strength and shield.

When I tread the verge of Jordan,
Bid my anxious fears subside;
Death of death, and hell’s destruction,
Land me safe on Canaan’s side:
Songs of praises, songs of praises
I will ever give to thee.
I will ever give to thee.

William Williams

As usual, if you’d prefer to read rather than watch the video, the sermon transcript, reading, prayers for today, and worship lyrics can be downloaded here:

And if you cannot make it to our churches for private prayer (see the homepage for the times when each church is open every week), do keep joining us for our online prayer gatherings.

Wishing you all every blessing,

Rev. Tim Chambers
Vicar
The Cranmer Group

E-mail: curate@stgilesparish.com 
Mobile: 07946 526569

Sunday Service – July 19th

Hi Everyone,

I hope you’re all doing well.

I’ve been struck this weekend by the announcement of the death of American Civil Rights activist, Congressman John Lewis.

As we’ve been looking at St. Paul’s letter to the Romans, we have been thinking about the freedom which we enjoy in Christ Jesus, echoing Paul’s words to the Galatians: “It is for freedom that Christ set us free.” Lewis participated in the ‘Freedom Rides’ of 1961, in which he and other protestors put their lives on the line, travelling across the segregated bus networks of the southern USA, in order that they be forced to open up to people of colour as well as whites.

He continued to stand up publicly for social and racial justice right to the end, secure in his faith and in the rightness of his cause. John Lewis famously said – in words that could almost have come straight from St. Paul – “Hold only love, only peace in your heart, knowing that the battle of good to overcome evil is already won.” Heavenly Father, we thank you for those men and women of courage and faith, who stand up for God’s justice, and seek to build your Kingdom here on earth.  

  

Do watch our Online Service video here at 9.30AM on Sunday 19th, and then, as usual, join us here on Zoom (Meeting ID: 864 0083 1074; Password: 549794) from 10.15AM for a catch-up with all your Cranmer Group friends.

And of course you can also catch up later with the Online Service, on our YouTube channel here.

Our worship today has been led by Deb Hubbard and Deborah Davies – thank you both so much as usual:

There Is a Hope that Burns within My Heart
Played by Deb Hubbard

There is a hope that burns within my heart,
That gives me strength for every passing day;
A glimpse of glory now revealed in meagre part,
Yet drives all doubt away:
I stand in Christ, with sins forgiven;
And Christ in me, the hope of heaven!
My highest calling and my deepest joy,
To make His will my home.

There is a hope that lifts my weary head,
A consolation strong against despair,
That when the world has plunged me in its deepest pit,
I find the Saviour there!
Through present sufferings, future’s fear,
He whispers ‘courage’ in my ear.
For I am safe in everlasting arms,
And they will lead me home.

There is a hope that stands the test of time,
That lifts my eyes beyond the beckoning grave,
To see the matchless beauty of a day divine
When I behold His face!
When sufferings cease and sorrows die,
And every longing satisfied.
Then joy unspeakable will flood my soul,
For I am truly home. 

Stuart Townend & Mark Edwards Copyright © 2007 Thankyou Music

Love Divine, All Loves Excelling 
Played by Deborah Davies

Love divine, all loves excelling,
Joy of Heaven to Earth come down;
Fix in us Thy humble dwelling,
All Thy faithful mercies crown.
Jesu, Thou art all compassion,
Pure, unbounded love Thou art,
Visit us with Thy salvation,
Enter every trembling heart. 

Come almighty to deliver,
Let us all Thy life receive;
Suddenly return and never,
Never more Thy temples leave.
Thee we would be always blessing,
Serve Thee as Thy hosts above,
Pray, and praise Thee without ceasing,
Glory in Thy perfect love. 

Finish then Thy new creation,
Pure and spotless let us be;
Let us see Thy great salvation,
Perfectly restored in Thee.
Changed from glory into glory,
‘Til in Heaven we take our place,
‘Til we cast our crowns before Thee,
Lost in wonder, love and praise.

Charles Wesley

As usual, if you’d prefer to read rather than watch the video, the sermon transcript, reading, prayers for today, and worship lyrics can be downloaded here:

And if you cannot make it to our churches for private prayer (see the homepage for the times when each church is open every week), do keep joining us for our online prayer gatherings:

To join Morning Prayer on Zoom, Wednesdays & Fridays 9.00-9.30AM, click here (meeting ID: 873 3636 1158; Password: 629570).

To join Evening Prayer on Zoom, Thursdays 8.00-8.30PM, click here (meeting ID: 873 3636 1158; Password: 629570).

Go well this week, and God bless,

Rev. Tim Chambers
Vicar
The Cranmer Group

E-mail: curate@stgilesparish.com 
Mobile: 07946 526569

Sunday Service – July 12th

Hi Everyone! 

I hope that this finds you well – it’s good to have some sun again!

In today’s sermon, I mention the diocesan ‘Real Life’ course which we will be helping to host in the Benefice from this autumn. Keep an eye out for more details, but at this stage, I’ll just encourage you to join us for great teaching and discussion about what it means to be a disciple of Jesus Christ, living your life for him and the Kingdom.

I also said last week that our Benefice Council and I are working on how and when to re-open our church buildings for public worship, as now permitted by Government and Church of England guidance. We’ve agreed to move cautiously, with some services resuming by the beginning of September at latest. But, to inform our decisions, we’ll send out to you soon a brief questionnaire about both how we’ve been able to minister to you to date during lockdown, and what your hopes and concerns might be about having services in church again. It would be great if, in due course, you could please complete this, and return it to us. Thank you so much in advance.

Do watch our Online Service video here at 9.30AM on Sunday 12th, and then, as usual, join us here on Zoom (Meeting ID: 864 0083 1074; Password: 549794) from 10.15AM for a catch-up with all your Cranmer Group friends.

And of course you can also catch up later with the Online Service, on our YouTube channel here.

Our worship today has been led by Deb Hubbard and Deborah Davies – thank you both so much as usual:

Breathe on me, Breath of God 
Played by Deb Hubbard

Breathe on me, Breath of God
Fill me with life anew,
That I may love what thou dost love,
And do what thou wouldst do.

Breathe on me, Breath of God,
Until my heart is pure;
Until with thee I will one will,
To do and to endure.

Breathe on me, Breath of God,
Till I am wholly thine;
Until this earthly part of me
Glows with thy fire divine.

Breathe on me, Breath of God:
So shall I never die,
But live with thee the perfect life
Of thine eternity.

Edwin Hatch

Come Down, O Love Divine
Played by Deborah Davies

Come down, O Love divine!
Seek thou this soul of mine
And visit it with thine own ardour glowing;
O Comforter, draw near,
Within my heart appear,
And kindle it, thy holy flame bestowing.

O let it freely burn
Till earthly passions turn
To dust and ashes in its heat consuming;
And let your glorious light
Shine ever on my sight,
And clothe me round, the while my path illuming.

Let holy charity
Mine outward vesture be,
And lowliness become mine inner clothing;
True lowliness of heart,
Which takes the humbler part,
And o’er its own shortcomings weeps with loathing.

And so the yearning strong,
With which the soul will long,
Shall far outpass the power of human telling;
For none can guess its grace,
Till we become the place
Wherein the Holy Spirit makes his dwelling.

Bianco da Siena, trans. R.F. Littledale

As usual, if you’d prefer to read rather than watch the video, the sermon transcript, reading, prayers for today, and worship lyrics can be downloaded here:

And if you cannot make it to our churches for private prayer (see the homepage for the times when each church is open every week), do keep joining us for our online prayer gatherings:

To join Morning Prayer on Zoom, Wednesdays & Fridays 9.00-9.30AM, click here (meeting ID: 873 3636 1158; Password: 629570).

To join Evening Prayer on Zoom, Thursdays 8.00-8.30PM, click here (meeting ID: 873 3636 1158; Password: 629570).

Best wishes, and God bless,

Rev. Tim Chambers
Vicar
The Cranmer Group

E-mail: curate@stgilesparish.com 
Mobile: 07946 526569

Sunday Service – Café Church Online – July 5th

Hi Everyone!

Welcome to the second of our Café Church online services! I hope you are doing well.

This week, we’re exploring who is our neighbour, and what it looks like to love our neighbour, with the help of Jesus’ Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37).

Vincent Van Gogh – The Good Samaritan
Kröller-Müller Museum, Otterlo

It’s extremely pertinent, firstly as we’re starting to make the first significant steps out of the Coronavirus lockdown, with all the questions that raises about how we maintain and build on the connections and relationships we’ve built during these times of restrictions and physical isolation, especially with the most vulnerable in our communities. And, secondly, as we seek to engage well with the Black Lives Matter movement, with its imperatives for repentance across our society and indeed within the Church of England, whilst acting to build a more racially just society.

I’d like to thank all those who came to the Time of Prayer in Orston this last Wednesday, as we lowered the Black Lives Matter banner that members of St. Mary’s and of the wider Orston community had been instrumental in putting up as a statement of our Christian solidarity with those who’ve been victims of racial injustice. We are planning to continue this dialogue in the coming weeks and months, and will give you details of an Open Evening on a Christian perspective on racial justice and social justice, with speakers from the BAME community, when these are finalised – God willing, in the autumn.

We’re also continuing to work on when, how and where best to open our churches again for services, albeit under hygiene and social distancing restrictions – our Archdeacons will be sharing with us their advice on how to go about this, this coming week. Our first concern is for the safety of all of you in our church family, so we will be prudent in starting up services again, whilst acknowledging the desire that many of us have to be back in our sacred spaces as soon a realistically possible, and perhaps especially to share Communion once again. I will let you know as soon as we have any particular developments.

Do watch our Café Church Online video here at 9.30AM on Sunday 5th, and then, as usual, join us here on Zoom (Meeting ID: 864 0083 1074; Password: 549794) from 10.15AM for a catch-up with all your Cranmer Group friends.

And of course you can also catch up later with the Online Service, on our YouTube channel here.

Our more contemporary worship today has been led by Amy Taylor and Clare Chambers – thank you both so much:

Jesus, Lover of My Soul 
Played and sung by Amy Taylor

Jesus, lover of my soul
All consuming fire is in Your gaze
Jesus, I want you to know
I will follow you all my days
For no one else in history is like you
And history itself belongs to you
Alpha and Omega, You have loved me
And I will share eternity with You

It’s all about You, Jesus
And all this is for You
For Your glory and your fame
It’s not about me
As if You should do things my way
You alone are God
And I surrender to your ways

Paul Oakey

Good, Good Father
Played and sung by Clare Chambers

I’ve heard a thousand stories of what they think you’re like
But I’ve heard the tender whispers of love in the dead of night
And you tell me that you’re pleased
And that I’m never alone

You’re a good good father
It’s who you are, it’s who you are, it’s who you are
And I’m loved by you
It’s who I am, it’s who I am, it’s who I am

I’ve seen many searching for answers far and wide
But I know we’re all searching
For answers only you provide
‘Cause you know just what we need
Before we say a word

You’re a good good father
It’s who you are, it’s who you are, it’s who you are
And I’m loved by you
It’s who I am, it’s who I am, it’s who I am

Because you are perfect in all of your ways
You are perfect in all of your ways
You are perfect in all of your ways to us

Chris Tomlin

As usual, if you’d prefer to read rather than watch the video, the sermon transcript, reading, prayers for today, and worship lyrics can be downloaded here:

And if you cannot make it to our churches for private prayer (see the homepage for the times when each church is open every week), do keep joining us for our online prayer gatherings:

To join Morning Prayer on Zoom, Wednesdays & Fridays 9.00-9.30AM, click here (meeting ID: 873 3636 1158; Password: 629570).

To join Evening Prayer on Zoom, Thursdays 8.00-8.30PM, click here (meeting ID: 873 3636 1158; Password: 629570).

Best wishes, and God bless,

Rev. Tim Chambers
Vicar
The Cranmer Group

E-mail: curate@stgilesparish.com 
Mobile: 07946 526569

Cranmer Kids – The Good Samaritan

Hi everyone!

We hope you’re all doing well, and that many of you will join us for Café Church this morning – details are on the homepage.

This week’s Cranmer Kids is all about loving your neighbour, from the Parable of the Good Samaritan (St. Luke’s Gospel, Chapter 10, verses 25-37).

There’s lots of great stuff for you to watch, listen to, and do, as usual – enjoy!

God bless,

Tim, Clare, Esther and Ella