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 28th February – Second Sunday of Lent
✝️ Virtual worship only from 10.30am
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, Almighty God, you have created the heavens and the earth and made us in your own image: teach us to discern your hand in all your works and your likeness in all your children; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit reigns supreme over all things, now and for ever.
Today’s readings – Genesis 17.1-7, 15-16, Psalm 22.23–end, Romans 4.13-end & Mark 8.31-end.
Old Testament – Genesis 17.1-7,15-16
17 1 When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said to him, ‘I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless. 2 And I will make my covenant between me and you, and will make you exceedingly numerous.’ 3 Then Abram fell on his face; and God said to him, 4 ‘As for me, this is my covenant with you: You shall be the ancestor of a multitude of nations. 5 No longer shall your name be Abram, but your name shall be Abraham; for I have made you the ancestor of a multitude of nations. 6 I will make you exceedingly fruitful; and I will make nations of you, and kings shall come from you. 7 I will establish my covenant between me and you, and your offspring after you throughout their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you.
15 God said to Abraham, ‘As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her Sarai, but Sarah shall be her name. 16 I will bless her, and moreover I will give you a son by her. I will bless her, and she shall give rise to nations; kings of peoples shall come from her.’
New Testament – Romans 4.13-25
13 For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith. 14 If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. 15 For the law brings wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation.
16 For this reason it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants, not only to the adherents of the law but also to those who share the faith of Abraham (for he is the father of all of us, 17 as it is written, ‘I have made you the father of many nations’) — in the presence of the God in whom he believed, who gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. 18 Hoping against hope, he believed that he would become ‘the father of many nations’, according to what was said, ‘So numerous shall your descendants be.’ 19 He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was already as good as dead (for he was about a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. 20 No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, 21 being fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. 22 Therefore his faith ‘was reckoned to him as righteousness.’ 23 Now the words, ‘it was reckoned to him’, were written not for his sake alone, 24 but for ours also. It will be reckoned to us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead, 25 who was handed over to death for our trespasses and was raised for our justification.
Gospel – Mark 8.31-38
8 31 Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, ‘Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’
34 He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. 35 For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. 36 For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? 37 Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? 38 Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.’
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.
Prayer intentions
🙏🏼 We pray for deeper prayer and generous almsgiving in Lent.
🙏🏼 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 Margaret Bolton.
🙏🏼 Year’s mind: Leslie Douglas Beamish, Walter Braithwaite, Catherine Chambers, George Chambers, Jane Coulton, Olive Courtnall, Elizabeth Dandy, Linda Hinchcliffe, Stan Gornall, Ethel Latham, Tom Linguard, Jim Mawdesley, George Spencer, Phoebe Stazicker, Margaret Wilcock & Elizabeth Wilson.
🙏🏼 In our cycle of prayer we pray for those living in Chapel Meadows.
Monday 1st March – David, Bishop, Patron of Wales, c601
Today’s readings – Daniel 9.4-10, Psalm 79.8-9,12,14 & Luke 6.36-38.
🙏🏼 We pray for Christians in Wales, for national politicians and civil servants.
Tuesday 2nd March – Chad, Bishop, Missionary, 672
Today’s readings – Isaiah 1.10,16-20, Psalm 50.8,16-end & Mathew 23.1-12.
🙏🏼 We pray for all in the Northern Province and for those facing loss of employment or their businesses.
Wednesday 3rd March
Today’s readings – Jeremiah 18.18-20, Psalm 31.4-5,14-18 & Matthew 20.17-28.
🙏🏼 We pray for mature Christians; that they retain their belief even in isolation.
Thursday 4th March
Today’s readings – Jeremiah 17.5-10, Psalm 1 & Luke 16.19-end.
🙏🏼 We pray for all young Christians who are missing their group activities.
Friday 5th March
Today’s readings – Genesis 37.3-4,12-13,17-28, Psalm 105.16-22 & Matthew 21.33-43,45-46.
🙏🏼 We pray for those wondering about belief; that they may find a way in to understanding God’s infinite love.
Saturday 6th March
Today’s readings – Micah 7.14-15,18-20, Psalm 103.1-4,9-12 & Luke 15.1-3,11-end.
🙏🏼 We pray for those unable to go out into their area and for those missing friendship & social interaction.
Next Sunday – Sunday 7th March – Third Sunday of Lent
✝️ Virtual worship only from 10.30am
Today’s readings – Exodus 20.1-7, Psalm 19, 1 Corinthians 1.18-25 & John 2.13-22.
🙏🏼 We pray for all leading worship today; in person or virtually.
🙏🏼 In our cycle of prayer we pray for those living in Church Road.
