God Is Here.Stories, thoughts, pictures and Bible passages
shared by the church family to encourage us. |
If you have any stories of encouragement or thoughts about what God might be saying to us in this season,
please would you let us know by emailing [email protected]
with the subject heading ‘God Is Here’.
please would you let us know by emailing [email protected]
with the subject heading ‘God Is Here’.
|
Life Groups
It’s been great to hear of all the gatherings that Life Groups and others have been creating at this time. Thank you to all of you who have been sending in photos. It’s great to be able to share them. Do keep sending them in! |
|
|
|
`Practicing Thankfulness
If we are intentional about practising thankfulness, it will become a natural part of our day and we will find ourselves not only naming things we’re grateful for, but looking out for them. Thankfulness changes our perspective and leads us into a deeper sense of wonder and worship.
Here is a downloadable booklet with some ideas to help.
Here is a downloadable booklet with some ideas to help.
Such Singing in the Wild Branches
Poem written by Mary Oliver
Read by Amanda Aston
Poem written by Mary Oliver
Read by Amanda Aston
Lockdown Limerick
Written and read by Brenda Carter
Written and read by Brenda Carter
Vanity has taken a back seat
Gone is that wicked conceit
Some might say pride when obviously I
With chipped red nails drop by
If you see me with uncombed hair
And I really don’t seem to care
Rejoice with me knowing
I am positively glowing
Even though, I’m not all there
My clothes yes tattered & torn
But my eyes no longer mourn
For I’ve learned whats right
Neither black nor white
Just love to be reborn
As the scales drop from my eyes
I see the truth from the lies
Come join the dance
Your very last chance
Before the end is nigh!
Flame of love
Flame of love
Burn within
Burn with passion
Consuming my sin
Flame of love
Flicker within
Spirit breathe on embers
Faint and failing.
Flame of love
Warmth of hope
Soften this heart
Keep it turning out
Flame of love
Burn within
Light my path
Steering me home.
Valerie Winning-Hart, 23rd April 2020
Flame of love
Burn within
Burn with passion
Consuming my sin
Flame of love
Flicker within
Spirit breathe on embers
Faint and failing.
Flame of love
Warmth of hope
Soften this heart
Keep it turning out
Flame of love
Burn within
Light my path
Steering me home.
Valerie Winning-Hart, 23rd April 2020
The Father's Love Letter
Download below.
Download below.
Like a lot of people, I’ve been trying to find ways to pass the time at home and to keep some kind of fitness going. I had to find some alternative to my weekly swim so, for my birthday, Harlem very kindly gave me a bike.
Ever up for a challenge I decided (before I was too “over the hill”) to change me all the stopwatch hills in Bath and to dedicate them to the praise and glory of God, our Heavenly Father, to our Saviour, Lord and King, Jesus Christ and to the Holy Spirit, the transforming, healing and guiding light in our lives. |
Starting each journey from the doors of the Abbey, I’ve been praying, giving thanks to God for my life and using every breath in my body to glorify the Trinity at the top of every hill without stopping.
I can’t say it’s been an easy ride, but in the past week I have conquered a lot of Hills and face Brassknocker for Sunday, as a treat of course! I couldn’t have achieved this without the strength and inspiration of the Holy Spirit. It’s been a joy and a privilege to glorify God in this way. Outside the great wooden Abbey doors, carved into the stone in a circular pattern on the ground, are words that most people walk over without noticing, but they read... This is what the Lord says:
"Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls" - Jeremiah 6:16 |
|
"In vain you rise early and stay up late, toiling for food to eat- for he grants sleep to those he loves."
- Psalm 127:2 |
"Really inspired by this bible quote this morning. God wants us to rest! If you work for all the wrong reasons then you have wasted your time. Better to rest and know God is with you." - Holly
|
|
|
Ella's Easter Prayer:
|
What a wonderful world:
Listen to Millie and Alastair's performance of the song:
|
God's Splendour:
"Always remember that Jesus is risen and He reigns." - Les
Frodo: I wish it need not have happened in my time
Gandalf: So do I & so do all who live to see such times but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.
Gandalf: So do I & so do all who live to see such times but that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.
|
Psalm 23 & Me
Read from The Passion Translation and reflected on in this video. |
|
Shaken and stirred!
"During a phone conversation with a friend one evening I had the ‘stirrings’ of a picture which became much clearer during our ‘virtual’ staff prayers the next day. It seems that we (as individuals and as the church of St Swithin’s) are being stirred up at the moment, a bit like when someone scoops up a container of river water along with all the grit, stones, mud and dirt that are found on a river bed. As the pan gets agitated and shaken around, so the water becomes murkier and dirtier. But as things slow down, the water stops swirling, things begin to settle and what comes to light are the nuggets of gold that were actually there all the time." - Janet
"During a phone conversation with a friend one evening I had the ‘stirrings’ of a picture which became much clearer during our ‘virtual’ staff prayers the next day. It seems that we (as individuals and as the church of St Swithin’s) are being stirred up at the moment, a bit like when someone scoops up a container of river water along with all the grit, stones, mud and dirt that are found on a river bed. As the pan gets agitated and shaken around, so the water becomes murkier and dirtier. But as things slow down, the water stops swirling, things begin to settle and what comes to light are the nuggets of gold that were actually there all the time." - Janet
Some Words of Thanks
"Our foster baby was very ill with a cough and fever the week before last. She had antibiotics and prayers support through the WhatsApp family church group. She made a full recovery and we felt blessed and supported." - Domi
"Our foster baby was very ill with a cough and fever the week before last. She had antibiotics and prayers support through the WhatsApp family church group. She made a full recovery and we felt blessed and supported." - Domi
|
Matthew 6
"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? … “Why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labour or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendour was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you… “Seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." "Cherry Blossom resting in the spring sunshine. It bathes in every ounce of light it can take with plenty to go spare." - James
|
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. - Psalm 19: 1
"I looked out of my window, at the sky and was mesmerized by a cloud shaped as a feather. A few minutes later this changed to a dove. I felt so at peace and unafraid! The sun was shining and so bright as I looked through the Psalms afterwards." - Sue Jones
"I looked out of my window, at the sky and was mesmerized by a cloud shaped as a feather. A few minutes later this changed to a dove. I felt so at peace and unafraid! The sun was shining and so bright as I looked through the Psalms afterwards." - Sue Jones
|
Digging into God's Word
"I started reading the Bible from start to finish using this lovely guide with a study group. Then I had a baby and basically was way too tired to even read....so going to start at the very beginning....in the words of Maria....and see how I do over these next few uncertain weeks” - Emily "Has anyone else noticed how apt our bible readings are at the moment? No matter which bible notes/prayer topics you choose to use, God has been there before us!! I have been truly amazed, and humbled, to see how the Lord has provided exactly the right words of encouragement, compassion and counselling for this strange time in which we are living. Considering how long ago many of these notes and topics were prepared, surely this can only be the work of the Holy Spirit!! We can have confidence in God alone.........Praise to His glorious Name!!! !!" - Fay
|
Bible Alive
"We are grateful to David Kingston for recommending to us ‘The Bible in a Year’ daily scripture readings. (http://bible.com/app). We have been listening to it each day and finding it very helpful. Nicky Gumble starts with a devotional based on the three passages for the day, then David Suchet reads the scriptures. He reads so beautifully that the passages come alive and we are reminded that God’s word has enormous power. Fay mentioned in her article that there is something really appropriate whatever devotional we read, and we have found that to be true each day. Sometimes it feels that the passages were written “for such a time as this” and that brings great comfort and hope. Each day’s reading takes about 25 minutes, but we all have a lot more time to appreciate it than we normally have." - Mary and Roger
"We are grateful to David Kingston for recommending to us ‘The Bible in a Year’ daily scripture readings. (http://bible.com/app). We have been listening to it each day and finding it very helpful. Nicky Gumble starts with a devotional based on the three passages for the day, then David Suchet reads the scriptures. He reads so beautifully that the passages come alive and we are reminded that God’s word has enormous power. Fay mentioned in her article that there is something really appropriate whatever devotional we read, and we have found that to be true each day. Sometimes it feels that the passages were written “for such a time as this” and that brings great comfort and hope. Each day’s reading takes about 25 minutes, but we all have a lot more time to appreciate it than we normally have." - Mary and Roger
|
As One At 10
"A huge and heartfelt thank you for your prayers, guidance and support. I actually felt like I was at church this morning; it was so lovely to hear familiar voices and to know that, across our church family, we were worshipping as one" - Laura "Everyone was so touched to receive this gift of love. How precious it is to be part of this loving church family and, more especially, to belong to The Lord at this time!" - Alastair
"What a precious time!" - Keith
"Thank you for all your work putting together these virtual services! It has really made a difference to me and helped me focus on Jesus and what’s important. The song My Lighthouse lifted my spirit this morning so decided to share it with all my FB friends - some are Christians but many are not." - Melanie
|
|
Goodness of God
|
I love You Lord
Oh Your mercy never fails me All my days I've been held in Your hands From the moment that I wake up Until I lay my head I will sing of the goodness of God All my life You have been faithful All my life You have been so so good With every breath that I am able I will sing of the goodness of God |
I love Your voice
You have led me through the fire In darkest night You are close like no other I've known You as a father I've known You as a friend I have lived in the goodness of God Your goodness is running after It’s running after me Your goodness is running after It’s running after me With my life laid down I’m surrendered now I give You everything Your goodness is running after It's running after me |
CCLI Song # 7117726 | Ben Fielding | Brian Johnson | Ed Cash | Jason Ingram | Jenn Johnson | © 2018 Alletrop Music (Admin. by Capitol CMG Publishing) | Fellow Ships Music (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC) | So Essential Tunes (Admin. by Essential Music Publishing LLC) | SHOUT! Music Publishing Australia | (Admin. by SHOUT! Music Publishing UK) | Bethel Music Publishing (Admin. by Song Solutions)
CCLI Licence No. 3378 |
|
Daffodils
"It was a wonderful gesture and really lightened up what could otherwise have been a very gloomy day" - Jane "Thank you to St Swithin’s Church for this gift. E-Hugs to St Swithin’s church family & thoughts & prayers with anyone self isolating." - Stephen
"Thank you to the most thoughtful and loving team, we received flowers and a lovely card, so thoughtful, God bless everyone during these challenging times!" - Joe
|
Life Groups Going Virtual
Some of our small groups continue to gather together but in a different way.
Some of our small groups continue to gather together but in a different way.
|
|
Amanda’s thoughts on fear and faith...
|
The two mandarin characters for “crisis” are danger and opportunity. There is danger with Coronavirus, yet we have the opportunity to grow in intimacy with Christ and strengthen our bonds with others. Our lifegroup had a wonderful zoom meeting last night and I have so enjoyed frequent FaceTime calls with my son and daughter in London. I was thrilled that a neighbour who’s a chef offering to shop for me this morning. Likewise, it was such a lovely surprise to receive the St Swithins Mother’s Day flowers delivered!
|
Although the natural reaction is to be anxious or have fear, we can choose faith not fear. That in the divine exchange, we give our anxieties to Jesus and he gives us his peace and his power to overcome as we put our minds on good, noble and lovely things (Philippians 4:6). We can renew our minds ( Rom 12:2) with the living word of God and grow closer to our loving Heavenly Father. As we enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise ( Ps 100:4), it’s good to be grateful and thankful for everything.
|
One songwriter pens, “when all us stripped away and we simply come.” In this time of testing we can discover that Jesus is truly enough. I recommend Julian’s prayer (Julian of Norwich), which I pray every morning after my sunrise walk to Charlcombe ancient church garden and well ...
|
God of goodness give me Yourself.
You are enough to me.
I can ask for nothing else,
for then I would not be worshipping you.
And if I ask for anything less,
I will always be left wanting.
Only in you
Do I have everything!
You are enough to me.
I can ask for nothing else,
for then I would not be worshipping you.
And if I ask for anything less,
I will always be left wanting.
Only in you
Do I have everything!
|
|
We're looking to Your promise of old
That if we pray and humble ourselves You will come and heal our land You will come You will come We're looking to the promise You made That if we turn and look to Your face You will come and heal our land You will come You will come to us |
Lord send revival start with me
For I am one of unclean lips And my eyes have seen the King Your glory I have glimpsed Send revival start with me CCLI Song # 2297208 | Matt Redman | © 1996 Thankyou Music (Admin. by Integrity Music). | CCLI Licence No. 3378
|
