Welcome to our online worship today. Today we celebrate harvest, and in our afternoon family service at 3pm at the building we will be exploring creation and giving thanks to God (this will be inside as its too cold and windy to be outside so don't forget your mask! If you would like to make donations to our Harvest Appeal, we are collecting donations for NightWatch who work with the homeless in Croydon - they would be happy to receive non-perishable goods and toiletries. If you want to donate please drop off at church - we are normally open Monday, Wednesday and Thursday as well as when we are open for worship. If you are unable to donate goods, we can also give monetary donations to NightWatch.
After this morning's service we will gather on zoom for after church coffee. The link is here
Worship
"The desert and the parched land will be glad;
the wilderness will rejoice and blossom
Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom
it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy" Isaiah 35:1-2a
As we come to worship today let us pray and give thanks for all that God has given us and all that God has promised us for the future.
Songs for today - you might want to save a couple for the end. You might particularly want to save 'Beauty for Brokenness' for after the prayers
Isn't the world amazing? Isn't the way things grow amazing? This is God's creation. He did this. Watch this sunflower grow....
Creation sings a song that tells of God's glory. Give thanks to God for the world we live in and the food we have to eat.
Prayers for the World
As we move into a seventh month of pandemic restrictions in the UK and the virus continues to spread across the world, the brokenness of the world is very much evident. In our prayers we lift the brokenness to God and ask for healing.
Creator God, at this harvest time we thank you for your provision
But we also recognise that not everyone has what they need.
As the effects of the pandemic spread across your world, we pray for those who are left behind
For the sick and the dying, for the mourning and grief stricken.
Lord bring your healing upon the nations
As those in poverty struggle to find their way amongst the uncertainty, we pray for those who do not have enough.
For the hungry and struggling, for those losing their homes and livelihoods
Lord bring your healing upon the nations
As people wait to hear about their jobs at the end of furlough, we pray for those who do not know how they will live
For the suddenly redundant, for those who can't pay their rent or mortgage
Lord bring your healing upon the nations
As the prospects look more difficult for those who struggled before, we pray for those who do not have a home to call their own
For those that NightWatch works with, for those who have no bed
Lord bring your healing upon the nations
On National Police Memorial Day we pray particularly today for the families of those who have lost loved ones in the line of duty. We think particularly of the family of Sgt Matt Ratana.
Lord bring your healing upon the nations
Creator God, God of the Harvest, may we and may those we pray for see the abundance of your harvest, be lifted from despair, be restored to live life in all in its fulness.
Amen
Word
Our minister Claire continues our series looking at 'Who is Jesus' with the Samaritan Woman. You might find it helpful to read John 4:4-42 before you watch the video