pansies in pot

Spreading Love & Hope...

Welcome to today's devotion created for your use at home during these days of physical social isolation and virtual social connection. We connect as Church through telephone & technology, so important during this time of Coronavirus. May this devotion and the links provided help you stay connected to God and the wider community.

If you have items to share -- news, a prayer, song, Bible verse, reflection, photo -- please send it by email (just click on the blue envelope-icon) so we can share them. Thanks to Leslie for the music suggestions.
Blessings & peace, Ana & Tod
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Music

musician, Bath Abbey
Be transported to a place of tranquility and delight as you listen to 'Downland Suite' by John Ireland (1879 -1962, English composer) and watch the beautiful accompanying countryside views.
This piece is a favourite of Leslie S.
Send in your favourite music links to share.
'Music is therapy.
Music moves people.
It connects people, in ways no other medium can. It pulls heartstrings;
it acts as medicine.'
— Macklemore
When this is over, shared by Alison
from Alison
A sign at the Bishop's Mill, Salisbury
Thanks sign at Mill Pub, Salisbury UK - close up smaller
heroes in scribs

Today's Prayers

Join Christians around the world praying daily at 12:00 noon, making each day a World Day of Prayer.
'The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our God wants us to live.
1 Timothy 2.1-3, The Message
Haines blossoming tree

A Psalm a day: Psalm 5

Psalm 5:6
You [God] destroy those who speak lies;
Yahweh abhors the bloodthirsty
and deceitful.

Yikes! The psalmist puts liars right up there with murderers! Reading this psalm which condemns liars three times, has made me recall the relatively new phrase 'fake news.' So much damage can happen from a truth being withheld, bent or scrambled. This is true on a national level, a global level and on a local or personal level.

Why lie? To hide an error? To falsely portray myself as something or someone I am not? To gain what is not mine, not ours? The outcome is almost always trouble for someone else, if not for ourselves.

In these anxious times it was reported that under-70's were trying to sneak in during early shopping hours. Where else are we being tempted to 'be deceitful'? May we all find courage in our faith to be truthful. May our prayer be:
Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness
because of my enemies;
make your way straight before me.
Psalm 5:8

Bible on stand, Salisabury URC
Click on the blue button above to read all the Lectionary Readings designated for this week of Lent.
Sun

In case you missed it...

Yesterdays' Daily Home Devotions
Missed a Daily Devotion? Find it here.

Virtual Zoom Worship

IMG_1588
in the midst of the congregation
I will praise you.
Psalm 22:22 and Hebrews 2:12
'Uplifting'
'It was good to see so many faces.'
'It felt like a true community.'
'It felt as if we were together.'
'And we didn’t even have to find a parking space!'
What a wonderful experience, to gather as a congregation to praise God. Who would have thought that an on-line worship service could bring us into 'true community'? It was a blessed gathering of spirit. The technology (called Zoom) created a powerful worship-in-the-round experience, with everyone sitting comfortably in the front row/pew! True spiritual unity and equilibrium. We're already looking forward to next Sunday!
Progressive Voices cover
Progressive Voices Magazine is full of thoughtful articles, poems and theological reflections for the thinking Christian. It is the regular publication of the Progressive Christian Network of Great Britain. Click on the button above to read the complete March edition. Look for the poem by Ana Gobledale (page 23).

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