DIY Sunday Service Kit 19/02/2023 - 'Inclusive' - but inclusive of what?

 

Welcome to our inclusivity-themed DIY Sunday Service Kit! 

I imagine you weren't expecting that topic, in spite of the way that word has been all across our news in the last week, and the likelihood it will be back there again before the end of the month.

So before you jump to conclusions about what we're up to with this one, here's a quick 'foretaste' video of about forty seconds ...

Let's pray

Father we thank you that we enjoy freedom to open your Word and to read it and meditate on it.

Grant us time in peace today to focus on your Word to us and stimulate our minds to benefit from and to rejoice in its truth.

We ask this along with the forgiveness of our sins, in Jesus' Name.

AMEN.

Our Sunday Psalm comes to us today with a little taste of 'Gospel' ...

Let's pray

Revival on American university campuses?

Something unusual has been happening on university colleges in the U.S. which started at Asbury College in Kentucky.

Here's just one report from social media:

This has been going since February 8th. and it's not just happening at Asbury College but has spread to other universities like Samford, Lee, and Cedarville.

It seems that young people are really seeking the Lord fervently, that events are centred on Scripture and that this is not about big personalities but a movement of the Spirit of God.

Let's pray:

• that the Lord will do a deep and genuine saving and sanctifying work in many students' hearts

• that He will protect the work that is being done there and all his servants who are active in the work

• that a genuine work of God will spread across many universities and colleges in the U.S.A.

• and the the Lord will also meet with students here in the UK in deep and life-changing ways.

Ukraine

The Russian invasion of Ukraine started on February 24, 2022 when attacks by Russian forces were reported in major cities across Ukraine and in the capital, Kyiv.

The first anniversary of this conflict is therefore at the end of next week.

The UK government has said that  Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will lead a one-minute silence at 1100 GMT on Feb. 24 and they are encouraging individuals and organisations across Britain to participate.

• Let's pray again this week for all the displaced people who have fled the conflict, particularly those who have come to the UK

• Let's pray for those who are involved in the active military defence of their country, that many of them will put their trust and hope in the Lord as they hear broadcasts from Christian organisations and meet volunteer chaplains moving amongst them to help and encourage them

• Let's pray for those who have lost loved ones, who have been injured or whose minds have been deeply and disturbingly altered by the effects of the conflict.

• Let's pray for a just, lasting and speedy end to the conflict and the restoration of peace and safety to the people of Ukraine, Europe and the UK

Lord, in your mercy please intervene in the affairs of mankind to restrain all that is evil, encourage all that is good and bring your world into true peace with justice.

Industrial unrest

Strikes and rumours of settlements of industrial disputes still persist across the UK.

It's a confusing situation, with differences in the situation in the same industry across different devolved administrations within the UK.

Let's pray for those who are working hard but finding they don't earn enough.

Let's pray for those who are striking because they fear for the future of their service or industry, where the conditions of work are not seeing staff recruited or retained in sufficient numbers.

Let's pray for those adversely affected by the strike action ... especially in schools and the health service.

And let's pray for unity in our land as these matters have such potential to cause division.

Lord in your mercy please ensure that our key workers have enough, that our people will be well-served and that we enter again into a time of industrial peace.

We bring you all these prayers and requests giving thanks that you listen when we pray.

And we pray in Jesus' Name.

AMEN.

Click the Bible below to be taken to the reading for today

The video of the sermon recording is here

Let's sing

Now ... 

To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy

—to the only God our Saviour 

be glory, majesty, power and authority, 

through Jesus Christ our Lord, 

before all ages, 

now and forevermore! 

Amen.

Thanks for being with us again here today. 

We have been making steady progress again this week towards being able to meet at a café in Llandovery again, God willing, in the next few months.

There are still things to resolve which could prevent it, and provision of people and material things will be needed to let it happen, but we'd really value your prayers about it all.

If we can help, please contact us in the usual ways.

If you'd like to help support the work of y GRWP by giving, as usual the giving link is below. just click the offering bag and that will get you there.

And let's remember to pray for God's Word and work to be powerful also in our area this week.

just as a little 'extra' for Sunday afternoon, if you have questions about the awakening that is spreading out from Asbury College amongst students in America at the moment, here are two quite intellectual and conservative people really giving us a good idea about what they think God is doing there.

It's called 'Is Revival Happening in Asbury' and it's just under 50 minutes of personal chatting, but I think it's really helpful. 

I hope you think so too.