16th May 2021 All Saints Church, Childwall
READ : John 17 v9-26 9 “I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those you gave me, for they belong to you. 10 All I have is yours, and all you have is mine; and my glory is shown through them. 11 And now I am coming to you; I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world. Holy Father! Keep them safe by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one just as you and I are one. 12 While I was with them, I kept them safe by the power of your name, the name you gave me. I protected them, and not one of them was lost, except the man who was bound to be lost—so that the scripture might come true. 13 And now I am coming to you, and I say these things in the world so that they might have my joy in their hearts in all its fullness. 14 I gave them your message, and the world hated them, because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. 15 I do not ask you to take them out of the world, but I do ask you to keep them safe from the Evil One. 16 Just as I do not belong to the world, they do not belong to the world. 17 Dedicate them to yourself by means of the truth; your word is truth. 18 I sent them into the world, just as you sent me into the world. 19 And for their sake I dedicate myself to you, in order that they, too, may be truly dedicated to you.20 “I pray not only for them, but also for those who believe in me because of their message. 21 I pray that they may all be one. Father! May they be in us, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they be one, so that the world will believe that you sent me. 22 I gave them the same glory you gave me, so that they may be one, just as you and I are one: 23 I in them and you in me, so that they may be completely one, in order that the world may know that you sent me and that you love them as you love me.24 “Father! You have given them to me, and I want them to be with me where I am, so that they may see my glory, the glory you gave me; for you loved me before the world was made. 25 Righteous Father! The world does not know you, but I know you, and these know that you sent me. 26 I made you known to them, and I will continue to do so, in order that the love you have for me may be in them, and so that I also may be in them.”
REFLECT: Jesus had been preparing his disciples for what was to come; teaching them about himself and how they were to live in his absence. Facing death, with friends ready to betray him and enemies ready to execute him, Jesus still took time to pray. Here we get a rare chance to overhear one of his prayers. He prays for himself, the disciples gathered for his last Passover meal and for us, his faithful people to come. On the night before his passion, his thoughts are with the ones closest to him. Those who will be left behind. Those who will continue his ministry on Earth, when he is no longer physically present. His prayer for us is wide ranging. He wants us to experience joy, glory, holiness, truth and love, but his main concerns are that we should be kept close to him, protected from evil, and that we should remain in unity with our fellow believers. Jesus asks God to protect us from the world that we might be one as Jesus and God are one. Protection not from physical hardship and the trouble the world brings, but from those things that might separate us from God. We see the same themes reflected in the words of the ‘Lord’s Prayer’. The prayer that Jesus taught us to say. Only here, Jesus demonstrates how to turn our inward facing requests outwards. I think that there are two reasons we are allowed to listen in on this intimate moment between the Father and Son. Firstly, there is comfort and reassurance in knowing that Jesus prayed for us, all those years ago, and continues to pray for us today. Secondly, there is a reminder to follow his example and pray for those we are called to love. Those closest to us, those who are already part of his Church and those who have yet to know him. It strikes me that worldly life is full of departures. Every day we wave each other off to work or school, children fly the nest, people emigrate, some are forced to seek asylum, death comes to us all. The question is do we love enough to pray with compassion and conviction for those we temporarily leave behind? Do we pray that God will draw them close, keep them safe and bring them the joy that only he can give? Do we really love one another as Jesus loves us?
RESPOND: Thy Kingdom Come is a global prayer movement that invites Christians around the world to pray from Ascension to Pentecost for more people to come to know Jesus. Following our Lord’s example, we are encouraged to choose five people close to us and pray for them throughout the eleven days and beyond. Pray that those living in darkness will come to know Jesus and those living in the light will have their faith deepened and unity strengthened. Pray for protection. Pray aloud where the hearing of your words may provide comfort and pray in private. Pray for your five as Jesus prays for you.
PRAY: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven. Give them today theirdaily bread. Forgive them their sins as we forgive those who sin against us. Lead them not into temptation but deliver them from evil. For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours now and for ever. Amen.
(Curate at All Saints, Childwall)
Dear Friends,
Church Services
We are currently piloting some changes to our Sunday services. These changes will be reviewed monthly and we would appreciate your feedback during this time of transition.
Our earlier service is now at 9.15am and our second service remainsat 11am.
Communion which will take place weekly but will alternate between the 9.15am and the 11am service. We will receive only bread in the form of wafers and it will be administered to you where you sit. The preacher at both services will be the same as will the rest of the service except for communion.
Children’s work – Rock Club
If you would like to receive specific information about our Children’s and Youth work please email Gypsey, our Youth and children’s worker directly, who will add your email to her master list for youth and children. gypsey.allsaintschildwall@gmail.com
Unfortunately, we are still currently not able to re-open our Crèche.
Sunday 16th May – 9.15am Service with Communion 11am – Service of the Word
Thursday 20th May – 10.45am BCP Communion Service
Sunday 23rd May – 9.15am Service of the Word 11am – Service with Communion
Social distancing measures will be in place and masks will still have to be worn.
Online Church Services – We are continuing to record our Sunday morning service in church weekly. It will be uploaded to our website to be viewed each week soon after 11am. www.allsaintschildwall.org.uk
Zoom Sunday Coffee – Every Sunday at 10.45am – Meeting ID:842 767 1496 Password: 4allsaintshttps://us04web.zoom.us/j/8427671496?pwd=K2dMMnlvTHpwTkxDNEV6bDYwQXBDQT09
Morning Prayer– Common Worship Morning prayer service with words on screen.
Optional Chat after the service. Meeting ID: 865 694 0214 Passcode: mprayer
Evening Prayer – Every Sunday evening at 6pm led by the Readers. The liturgy and the readings will be on the screen and there will be a short reflection on the New Testament passage which has been set for the day. Please join us. Meeting ID: 789 873 7449 Passcode:Newsman1
Weekly prayer meeting – Thursday 6.30pm on Zoom. Why not join a group of us at All Saints that pray regularly. It lasts 40 minutes, you can pray, sit and listen or just contemplate. – Aidan Holmes
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/8802380315?pwd=cGxQTnQ0QVRjU1gyUnBrYnJMMzZldz09
Please note new joining ID. Meeting ID: 880 238 0315 Passcode: yt76bq
Our Annual Parochial Church meeting (APCM) is on Monday 17th May 2021 at 8pm.
It will take place in our church hall as it did last year but it will also be live on Zoom. The Zoom details are on the top of the Agenda. With Covid restrictions we will have room for approximately 30 people and everyone will have to wear a mask, gel hands and sign in on arrival.
To receive the Annual Report along with the Agenda and the minutes of last year’s meeting please will you email Alan Woods. alanwoods18@hotmail.com by Saturday 16th May.
Alan will send out one email on Sunday to everyone that requests these documents.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank the following members of the PCC for their commitment and service over the last 3 years as they finish their terms of office this year.
Garry Critchley, Diane Deacon, Andrew McCaldon, Sue Parry and Stuart McLelland.
This year there are 6 vacancies for the PCC and 4 Deanery Synod Rep vacancies. To stand you have to be proposed and seconded and meet the following Church of England eligibility criteria:
Be nominated. Be over 16 years old. Able to consent to your appointment.
Be on the Electoral Role of All Saints Childwall.
Legally allowed to be a Charity Trustee (which PCC members are).
Have received Communion at least twice in the last year.
Please think and pray if you could serve on the PCC and would be willing and able to contribute to the decision making and leadership of the life of All Saints Church Childwall. If you have any questions, or would like to know more please speak to one of our Wardens, Alison Kefford or Barbara Critchley or one of our Deputy Wardens Mary Harrison or Graham Deacon or myself.
The Leprosy Mission – A big thank you to everyone who donated to the recent appeal for Mozambique
by The Leprosy Mission, either through me or directly. Cheques totalling £380 were sent off. This of course will be doubled to £760with the UK Aid Match scheme. This money will help change the lives of many people affected by leprosy. Many thanks. Sandra Dunn
Baptisms – Over this last year there are now 21 Baptisms that have not been able to take place because of Covid restrictions. We are in the process of trying to reschedule these for the families concerned. As a result of this we are not yet in the position to take any new bookings for Baptisms. Hopefully we will be able to take new bookings from July onwards. Currently Vestry hour which normally takes place at 7pm on Tuesday evening is still suspended and will be for the foreseeable future.
Christian Aid Week 2021: 10th to 16th May 2021 – The climate crisis hurts us all. But people living in poverty fight the worst of it every day. From drought to flooding, climate change robs people of control over their lives. Extreme weather means people are struggling to survive without a reliable source of water.
Your gift could help a community build an earth dam, so when the rains do come, they will have the water they need to live. A reliable source of water will help families withstand long drought or relentless rainstorms. Every gift can change lives. So how can we give this year?
You can give through the Christian Aid Week Website:
https://www.christianaid.org.uk/appeals/key-appeals/christian-aid-week
Or just use the collection boxes at church. Whatever you can afford to give, thank you for your generosity, every donation will make a difference to peoples’ lives. If you would like to get involved with any of the virtual events this Christian Aid week please follow the link:
https://www.christianaid.org.uk/appeals/key-appeals/christian-aid-week/virtual-events
Weekly Prayer requests – If you would like other members of our church family to pray for you or a family member, please send me their names for this sheet, please ask permission from the person. Please pray for all those who are unwell at this time particularly praying for Nicoli Gray (Carole Turner’s daughter) and David Miller. Please pray for the bereaved family and friends of Eileen Miller and Kathleen Bristow
Pastoral visiting – If you would value a visit or know anyone who would please let Helen or me know, our phone numbers and emails are below.
With our prayers for you all at this time
Andrew Colmer – Vicar – Tel: 07305 842257 – vicar.allsaintschildwall@gmail.com
Helen Deegan – Curate – Tel: 07984 933467 – curate.allsaintschildwall@gmail.com
Gypsey Tait – Youth & Children’s Worker – Tel: 07961 793435 –gypsey.allsaintschildwall@gmail.com
Bill Forster – Associate Minister – william.forster1@btinternet.com
Adeyinka Olushonde – Ordinand –adeyinka.allsaintschildwall@gmail.com
Please see the information below on the ‘Thy Kingdom Come’ Prayer initiative that is happening from the 13th May-23rd May. This is an opportunity to join in with a Prayer movement that is inviting Christians from around the world to pray at the same time. There are lots of different and varied ways to get involved.
