Easter Gardens

Created from recycled items

by Adam & Izabela

Created by Jacob & Rebecca

An garden of eggs created by Leslie

'For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.'

1 Corinthians 3:17b

Take time to pause and look around at God's creation and creatures as you care for 'God's temple' on your daily walk or during a garden-workout. Thanks to Fiona and Leslie for the lovely photos from your walks.

Music

Global Songs

Click on the blue button to enjoy ‘Sing for the World: Global Songs’ by John Bell and Alison Adam.

The first song, I hope, will be Uyai Mose 'Come, All You People' from Zimbabwe, the Global Partner Andover URC has through Commitment for Life.

Send in your favourite music links to share.

Sunday Worship on-line 10:30

Sunday worship on-line

Andover, Broad Chalke & Salisbury congregations of the United Reformed Church gather for worship. Everyone is welcome. To join the Zoom worship service, click on the button above.

Lectionary readings

Click on the blue button above to visit Worship Words for prayers and reflections related to the Lectionary Readings for this Easter season.

In this time, a prayer

by Revd Richard Bott, Canada

In this time of COVID-19, we pray:
When we aren’t sure, God, – help us be calm.
When information comes – from all sides, correct & not, help us to discern.
When fear makes it hard to breathe, and anxiety seems to be the order of the day, slow us down, God.
Help us to reach out with our hearts, when we can’t touch with our hands.
Help us to be socially connected, when we have to be socially distant.
Help us to love as perfectly as we can, knowing that ‘perfect love casts out all fear.’

For the doctors, we pray,
for the nurses, we pray,
for the technicians and the janitors and the aides and the caregivers, we pray,
for the researchers and theorists,
the epidemiologists and investigators,
for those who are sick,
and those who are grieving, we pray,
for all who are affected,
all around the world…
we pray
for safety,
for health,
for wholeness.

May we feed the hungry,
give drink to the thirsty,
clothe the naked and house those without homes.
May we walk with those who feel they are alone,
and may we do all that we can to heal
the sick—
in spite of the epidemic,
in spite of the fear.

Help us, O God,
that we might help each other.

In the love of the Creator,
in the name of the Healer,
in the life of the Holy Spirit that is in all and with all,
we pray.

May it be so.

Revd Bott is Moderator of the United Church of Canada.

A Psalm a day: Psalm 13

Psalm 13:3b

'Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death,'

Psalm 13 is a cry for help, the shortest such prayer for help in the Psalms. Reading it, I reflect on how we come to learn that life is more worth living when we live in the light of God. Where do we receive lessons in opening ourselves to God's light? When have we realised we do not want to sleep walk through life but would rather live in the illuminated world of faith?

During this lockdown, my daughter and granddaughter have created a sacred space in their home, a place holding books, a candle, pencils and paper, a small box to hold symbols. In the midst of the world's darkness, Cora is being taught how to ask for help, and how to ready herself to receive God's light. For her the ending of Psalm 13 rings true:

But I trusted in your steadfast love;
my heart shall rejoice in your salvation.
I will sing to the Lord,
because he has dealt bountifully with me.

An activity for today:

Psalm 9 is an acrostic psalm where every line begins with a successive letter in the Hebrew language.

Try writing a psalm, a song, to God expressing your faith in this historic time of affliction.

Spreading Love & Hope...