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).
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