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Spreading Love & Hope...
Welcome to this week's devotion. These resources have been gathered for your use at home during these days of physical social distancing and virtual social connection. May this devotion and the links provided help you stay connected to God and the wider community.
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Have a close look at the photos. Can you tell what the Australian 'canvas' is? They are shared by Kathy, a friend and active member of the Uniting Church of Australia. And the photos of berries is from Fiona's walk in Wiltshire!)
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If you have items to share -- a prayer, song, Bible verse, reflection, photo, link -- please send it, so we can share them with everyone.
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Blessings & peace, Ana & Tod
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Wisdom
from Barbara Brown Taylor
'After years of being taught that the way to deal with painful emotions is to get rid of them, it can take a lot of reschooling to learn to sit with them instead.'
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It is well with my soul
Story behind the words
written by Horatio G. Spafford (1828-1888)
And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding,
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shall keep your hearts, your minds through Christ Jesus.
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Horatio G. Spafford was a successful lawyer and businessman in Chicago with a lovely family — a wife, Anna, and five children. However, they were not strangers to tears and tragedy. Their young son died with pneumonia in 1871, and in that same year, much of their business was lost in the great Chicago fire. Yet, the business flourished once more.
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On Nov. 21, 1873, the French ocean liner, Ville du Havre was crossing the Atlantic from the U.S. to Europe with 313 passengers on board. Among the passengers were Mrs. Spafford and their four daughters. Although Mr. Spafford had planned to go with his family, he found it necessary to stay in Chicago to help solve an unexpected business problem. He told his wife he would join her and their children in Europe a few days later. His plan was to take another ship.
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About four days into the crossing of the Atlantic, the Ville du Harve collided with a powerful, iron-hulled Scottish ship, the Loch Earn. Suddenly, all of those on board were in grave danger. Anna hurriedly brought her four children to the deck. She knelt there with Annie, Margaret Lee, Bessie and Tanetta and prayed that God would spare them if that could be God's will, or to make them willing to endure whatever awaited them. Within approximately 12 minutes, the Ville du Harve slipped beneath the dark waters of the Atlantic, carrying with it 226 of the passengers including the four Spafford children.
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A sailor, rowing a small boat over the spot where the ship went down, spotted a woman floating on a piece of the wreckage. It was Anna, still alive. He pulled her into the boat and they were picked up by another large vessel which, nine days later, landed them in Cardiff, Wales. From there she wired her husband a message which began, “Saved alone, what shall I do?” Mr. Spafford later framed the telegram and placed it in his office. Another of the ship’s survivors, Pastor Weiss, later recalled Anna saying, “God gave me four daughters. Now they have been taken from me. Someday I will understand why.”
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Mr. Spafford booked passage on the next available ship and left to join his grieving wife. With the ship about four days out, the captain called Spafford to his cabin and told him they were over the place where his children went down. According to Bertha Spafford Vester, a daughter born after the tragedy, Spafford wrote “It Is Well With My Soul” while on this journey.
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When peace like a river attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll, Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul.
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It is well with my soul, It is well, it is well with my soul
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Anna gave birth to three more children, one of which died at age four with dreaded pneumonia. In August 1881, the Spaffords moved to Jerusalem. Mr. Spafford died and is buried in that city.
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Musical Inspiration
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Lift every voice and sing
The 'Black National Anthem' of the United States of America
Even though I'm late for Black History Month, I want to share this beautiful song. We sang it in Chicago at my year-eight graduation ceremony in 1969 -- a hundred children's voices -- awe-inspiring! It's one of my favourite songs of all times.
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Lift every voice and sing, till earth and heaven ring, Ring with the harmonies of liberty; Let our rejoicing rise, high as the listening skies, Let it resound loud as the rolling sea.
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Sing a song full of faith that the dark past has taught us, Sing a song full of hope that the present has brought us;
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Facing the rising sun of our new day begun, Let us march on till victory is won.
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Stony the road we trod, bitter the chastening rod, Felt in the days when hope unborn had died; Yet with a steady beat, have not our weary feet, Come to the place for which our fathers sighed?
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We have come over a way that with tears has been watered, We have come, treading our path through the blood of the slaughtered; Out from the gloomy past, till now we stand at last Where the white gleam of our bright star is cast.
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God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, Thou who has brought us thus far on the way; Thou who hast by Thy might, led us into the light, Keep us forever in the path, we pray. Lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met Thee, Lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget Thee. Shadowed beneath Thy hand, may we forever stand, True to our God, true to our native land.
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Send in your favourite music links to share.
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Sunday 29 November
the First Sunday of Advent
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Sunday Worship online and on-the-phone 10:30
Join in through your computer or using your landline telephone. If you would like to learn more so that you can join us in worship and communion, contact your Church Secretary or the Ministers or reply to this email:
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Andover, Broad Chalke & Salisbury congregations
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of the United Reformed Church gather on Zoom for united worship service.
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Click on the blue button above to visit Worship Words for prayers and reflections for the Sundays of the Advent Season.
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Reminder - Tuesday's Bible Study & Fellowship Group
14:30-16:00 for fellowship, Bible study and prayer.
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Everyone is welcome. Bring your Bible and a cup of tea.
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Readings prepare us for Sunday worship.
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(Zoom Meeting ID: 852 5929 3409)
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Here's the Zoom link to copy into your browser: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85259293409
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In case you missed it...
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Previous Home Devotions Missed a Devotion? Find it here.
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