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