Hello everyone,

This Sunday is National Tea Day. To any occasion, be it need for a catch-up chat with a friend or coping with the shock of receiving devastating news, it is a peculiarly British response to say, “Let’s put the kettle on!” Many an argument has been resolved, crisis averted, or good news celebrated over a cup of tea, so let’s take a moment to appreciate the importance of sharing a good cuppa, and the hospitality that it shows, in our churches and the communities they serve.

Services this week:

This Sunday there will be 10.00am Holy Communion at Normanton, Norton and Swepstone, and at Donisthorpe at the Halfway House Pub led by the Archdeacon of Loughborough Claire Wood. There will also be Breakfast Church at Measham, and Sunday People at Appleby, again at 10.00am.

Looking ahead:

Another busy Wednesday with Midweek Communion in Donisthorpe at Rev’d Edwina’s house at 10.00am, and coffee mornings at Packington from 10.00am to 12.00noon in church, and in Appleby Church Hall from 10.30am to 12.00noon.

Activeage also meet on Wednesday at 11.00am in Measham Church Hall.

On Thursday Kids Kingdom Baby & Toddler group meets in Appleby Church Hall from 9.00 to 11.00am.

Next Sunday (28^th) we have Holy Communion services at Packington and Appleby who also have Kids Kingdom, Donisthorpe have Morning Prayer at the Halfway House Pub, and there will be a Baptism service at Measham, all at 10.00am.

Woodfield Team prayer

God our Father, you long to draw all people into your love.

Increase in number your church throughout the Woodfield Team; deepen us as followers and learners of Christ; and give us courage to share the good news of your kingdom.

We pray this in the power of your Spirit, to the glory of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Collect for Sunday 21^st April – The Fourth Sunday of Easter

Risen Christ,

faithful shepherd of your Father’s sheep:

teach us to hear your voice

and to follow your command,

that all your people may be gathered into one flock,

to the glory of God the Father.

Amen

Reading for 21^st April – John 10:11-18 New International Version (UK)

¹¹ ‘I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. ¹² The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. ¹³ The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.

¹⁴ ‘I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me – ¹⁵ just as the Father knows me and I know the Father – and I lay down my life for the sheep. ¹⁶ I have other sheep that are not of this sheepfold. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. ¹⁷ The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life – only to take it up again. ¹⁸ No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.’

Prayers for today:

We pray:

Eternal Lord, you are our creator and sustainer. We bring before you the needs of our church, our world, our communities, and ourselves.

• We pray for our team of churches, for the many volunteers that keep things running, putting the kettle on and showing hospitality to all who enter our doors. Help us to recognise and give thanks for all the hard work shown by so many who give of their time and energy, quietly supporting the hospitality and day to day activity of our churches so that they may be places of welcome to all.
• Creator God we pray for your world and its peoples with all their needs, questions, and longings. We pray for world leaders that, using Jesus Christ the Good Shepherd as the ultimate model of leadership, they would lead and care for their own flocks in such a way that peace might abound, righteousness flourish, and injustice be eradicated.
• Father God, help us to reach out to strangers in our midst.  As we remember the way the early Church lived in one heart and mind and shared everything they had may we too in the Woodfield Team be always mindful of the needs of others less fortunate and always welcome the newcomer joyfully into our churches.
• Loving God, we pray for those who do not know your peace and for those who are struggling in their lives.  We ask for your healing for those who are sick, your strength for those who are tired, and your love for those who live with despair and fear.
• Merciful God, be close to those who feel the pain of grief at the loss of a loved one whether recent or as each anniversary passes. Help us to support all those who mourn with our prayers, with words of comfort, and with practical help as they struggle to come to terms with their loss. Lead them gently through this time of darkness into the light and peace of your enduring love.
• Everlasting God, we ask that you bless us with vision for the future and reverence for the past.  Guide us each day as we minister to one another and to the world.  Help us each day to follow you and shepherd us in the way we should go; help us always to listen for your voice that speaks of your amazing love for us.

Amen.