Hello everyone,

The weather has finally warmed up ready for the May Bank Holiday this weekend. Why not take the opportunity to take a walk through some bluebell woods, or listen to the birdsong in the garden? Let us take a moment to breathe in the beauty of God’s creation and give thanks as it blossoms in all its springtime abundance.

Services this week:

This Sunday we have 10.00am Holy Communion services at Measham and Snarestone, Morning Prayer at Normanton and Swepstone, and Morning Worship at Packington with guest speakers from Scripture Union.

Looking ahead:

Snarestone have a coffee morning at Manor Barns in Main street 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 (12^th) there will be Holy Communion services at Packington led by the Archdeacon of Loughborough, at Appleby with Kids Kingdom Sunday School, and at Donisthorpe at the Halfway House pub, and lay led Celtic Morning Prayer at Measham, all at 10.00am.

Further ahead, Norton are holding an Open Flower Weekend on 8^th – 9^th June with the church open to visitors from 11am to 4pm each day ending with a Songs of Praise service at 4pm on Sunday 9^th.

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 5^th May – The Sixth Sunday of Easter

Risen Christ,

by the lakeside you renewed your call to your disciples:

help your Church to obey your command

and draw the nations to the fire of your love,

to the glory of God the Father.

Amen

Reading for 5^th May – John 15.9-17 New International Version (UK)

⁹ ‘As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. ¹⁰ If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. ¹¹ I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. ¹² My command is this: love each other as I have loved you. ¹³ Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. ¹⁴ You are my friends if you do what I command. ¹⁵ I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. ¹⁶ You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit – fruit that will last – and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. ¹⁷ This is my command: love each other.

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.

• Faithful God, your Son Jesus Christ gave us a new commandment, of love for each other and so we ask you to teach us to love you in our neighbours that by serving them we might also serve you.
• Mighty God, we pray for your church which day by day gathers to praise you and to hear your holy word.  We pray for our Christian sisters and brothers worshipping around the world in small rural churches and great city cathedrals. May we with them be every inspired by your love and go out from our Sunday worship with full hearts and hands that are ready to serve.  
• Creator God, the world so often seems to be a violent and fearful place.  Give us the strength to love our enemies and to pray for those who by violence and acts of terrorism damage and distort your wonderful creation. We pray for the peoples of the world that they may enjoy safety and security, and especially for the people of Israel and Gaza at this time. We pray that those who use violence to bring about their desires and those who then so readily seek revenge may instead pursue all that makes for peace.
• Father God, may our closeness to family and friends make us never exclusive, shutting others out, but always inclusive, welcoming others. Encourage us in outgoing hospitality and keep us from becoming possessive with those we love. 
• Loving God, help us all to be a part of the healing ministry of your church.  Encourage us to constantly pray for those we know who are suffering in body, mind or spirit.  Deepen our love for our neighbours especially those who are weak, help us to console the sorrowful and give hope to the dying.
• Merciful God, we remember with thankfulness and gratitude all those who have left their mark on our lives by giving us love and laughter, but who have now gone before us to be with Christ. We hold them in our hearts, knowing that you, Lord, hold them in yours.
• Faithful God, we offer you our prayers and ourselves, that we may play our part in your response. Help us to keep your commandments and to love one another as you love us.

Amen.