Churches open for private prayer
Monday – Tarleton, 10am-2pm
Tuesday – Rufford, 10am-2pm
Wednesday – Tarleton, 10am-2pm
Thursday – Rufford, 10am-2pm
Friday – Tarleton, 10am-2pm
Saturday – Rufford, 10am-2pm
Sunday 21st February – First Sunday of Lent
✝️ Virtual worship only from 10.30am
Today’s readings – 2 Genesis 9.8-17, Psalm 25.1-9, 1 Peter 3.18-end & Mark 1.9-15
We are not people of fear, but people of courage. We are not people who protect our own safety: we are people who protect our neighbours’ safety. We are not people of greed, we are people of generosity. We are your people God, giving and loving, wherever we are, whatever it costs, for as long as it takes, wherever you call us. Amen.
The Collects
Almighty God, by the prayer and discipline of Lent may we enter into the mystery of Christ’s sufferings, and by following in his Way come to share in his glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Almighty God, whose Son Jesus Christ fasted forty days in the wilderness, and was tempted as we are, yet without sin: give us grace to discipline ourselves in obedience to your Spirit; and, as you know our weakness, so may we know your power to save; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Old Testament – Genesis 9.8-17
9 8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him, 9 ‘As for me, I am establishing my covenant with you and your descendants after you, 10 and with every living creature that is with you, the birds, the domestic animals, and every animal of the earth with you, as many as came out of the ark.[a] 11 I establish my covenant with you, that never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of a flood, and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.’ 12 God said, ‘This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: 13 I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.’ 17 God said to Noah, ‘This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.’
New Testament – 1 Peter 3.18-end
3 18 For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, in order to bring you to God. He was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison, 20 who in former times did not obey, when God waited patiently in the days of Noah, during the building of the ark, in which a few, that is, eight people, were saved through water. 21 And baptism, which this prefigured, now saves you—not as a removal of dirt from the body, but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers made subject to him.
Gospel – Mark 1.9-15
19 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 10 And just as he was coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens torn apart and the Spirit descending like a dove on him. 11 And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’ 12 And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. 13 He was in the wilderness for forty days, tempted by Satan; and he was with the wild beasts; and the angels waited on him. 14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, 15 and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.’
🙏🏼 For the sick and those in need: Zena Ashcroft, Margaret Baxter, Colin Brown, Pam Dutton, Bill Duggan, Sheila Gillibrande, Wayne Jackett, Jimmy Johnstone, Elsie Latham, Paddy MacDonagh; Tony Morgan, Ruth Middlesborough, Donald Sephton & Amanda Soady.
🙏🏼 Rest in Peace: Audrey Harrison, Margaret Bolton & Ian Campbell.
🙏🏼 Year’s mind: Gladys Mary Barron, Mary Barron, Elizabeth Chadwick, Thomas Chadwick, May Caunce, Elizabeth Duckworth, Benjamin Harris, Robert Heywood, Percy Heyes, James Thomas Holcroft, Marie Horner, Stanley William Magill, Jack Marsh Parker, John Rigby, Harold Edwin Roby, Hugh Sutton, John Trafford, William Charles Yates & Betty Wilson.
🙏🏼 We pray for the Cathedral, Dean & Canons and for the vaccination centre in the crypt.
🙏🏼 In our cycle of prayer, we pray for those living in Carrington Way and Chandler’s Croft.
Monday 22nd February
Today’s readings – Leviticus 19.1-2, 11-18, Ps. 19.17-end, Mark 25.31-end
🙏🏼We pray for those struggling with their mental health.
Tuesday 23rd February – Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, Martyr c155
Today’s readings – Isaiah 55.1-11, Ps. 34.4-6,21-22 & Mathew 6.7-15
🙏🏼 We pray for hope for those who feel their lives are on hold; that they may find hope.
Wednesday 24th February – Ember Day
Today’s readings – Jonah 3, Ps. 511.-5,17-18 & Luke 11.29-32
🙏🏼 We pray for the ministry of all Christian people, for the Archbishops of Canterbury & York, their support teams and central Anglican decision makers.
Thursday 25th February
Today’s readings – Isaiah 55.6-9, Ps. 138 & Matthew 7.7-12
🙏🏼 We pray for all involved in researching, manufacturing, distributing and administering the vaccines.
Friday 26th February – Ember Day
Today’s readings – Ezekiel 18.21-28, Ps. 130 & Matthew 5.20-26
🙏🏼 We pray for vocations, ordained & lay and for those without a permanent home.
Saturday 27th February – Ember Day, George Herbert, Priest, Poet, 1633
Today’s readings – Isaiah 58.9b-end, Ps. 86.1-7 & Luke 5.27-32
🙏🏼 We pray for those being ordained today, for all in the prison systems and we give thanks for Christian poets.
Next Sunday – Sunday 28th February – Second Sunday of Lent
✝️ Virtual worship only from 10.30am
Today’s readings – Genesis 17.1-7, 15-16, Psalm 22.23–end, Romans 4.13-end & Mark 8.31-end.
🙏🏼 We pray for deeper prayer and generous almsgiving in Lent.
🙏🏼 In our cycle of prayer, we pray for those living in Chapel Meadows.
