Adrian

Sunday 22 May 2022

Posted: Sun, 22 May, 2022 (2 days ago) - by Adrian
Sunday 22 May 2022

Derrick leads us in worship as we explore the ascension and return of Christ.

A service order is available to view or download by clicking here.

The live stream will appear here on Sunday morning:

https://youtu.be/5d4lkBJDYX8

 

 

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Adrian

Easter Sunday

Posted: Sun, 17 Apr, 2022 (1 month ago) - by Adrian
Easter Sunday

Join us in person or online for a contemporary Easter communion service, suitable for all ages.

Service sheet here:

Online stream here: https://youtu.be/wIBblHzDiRA

 

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Adrian

Ukraine - would you like to help?!

Posted: Tue, 12 Apr, 2022 (1 month ago) - by Adrian
Ukraine - would you like to help?!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NEWS IN...

A NEW OPPORTUNITY has arisen to help a family of 6 Ukrainians, currently trapped in Europe en route to find refuge in UK.

Details and to donate click here

(If donating, please note you do not have to add extra to your gift for GoFundMe - select "Other Amount" and type 0 in the box - thank you!)

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

There are ways we can all help with the desperate situation unfolding in Ukraine, not least by prayer. Even better if we can join up our thinking and efforts. Please let me know if you think you could offer practical support with any of the following…

You can simply give, from your own purse or through a fundriasing effort. There are various agencies doing good work. One that is especially receommended is The Disaster Emergency Committee fund: https://www.dec.org.uk/

Local people are doing what they can. In Flordon, people have collected goods for local collection points. Others in Mulbarton are planning to fill their vans with local donations and drive to the Ukrainian border to offer support. Others are thining about fundraising events to raise money for the DEC appeal. Look out for fundraising events at the Village Hall and news of local collection points.

A big development this week has been the new government scheme, to open UK homes to Ukrainian refugees: https://homesforukraine.campaign.gov.uk/

Please do consider if you can help with the housing effort, should we have applicants directed this way…
 


Peter and Cathy invite support for helping with homing and supporting refugees here…

All of us, I'm sure, are appalled, saddened, grief-stricken and many other emotions about the situation in Ukraine and the plight of 2.8 million (and rising) refugees. And I'd guess most of us are wondering what we can do to help.

On Monday, the government announced its Homes for Ukraine scheme, which will provide accommodation for an unlimited number of refugees who want to come to the UK. Ukrainians will be applying to come from Saturday, and expect to stay somewhere for at least 6 months.

As some of you know, our home in Hethel is in two parts, with a self-contained cottage next door that people we know use for retreats and other breaks. It is hardly booked at the moment and we feel we should offer it into the scheme. Others in our churches may have accommodation or spare rooms that they also are thinking of offering.

For some years, Cathy and I have been involved with the People from Abroad Team (PfAT) in the city, working with two Syrian refugee families and we are full of admiration for the wrap-around support that the team provides. For a start, registering individuals with a GP and any other specialist medical help they may need, enrolling children into schools, connecting people with the benefits system and probably opening a bank account for them, and then the ongoing provision of English learning opportunities. Needless to say, people living in any of our villages will need help with transport too and day-to-day support as questions and needs arise. Quite a list, multiplied in its complexity by the fact that these friends from overseas are certain to be deeply traumatised by their experiences.

This is a big commitment and, although the government has made a broad statement about support from local authorities, for understandable reasons there is little detail at the moment. Our thinking is that a small team of people from across the benefice would make the support task more manageable, for us and for anyone else thinking of offering accommodation. Having a team also makes it possible for more from our churches to be involved if they so wish.

Anyway, although this is completely nebulous at the moment, I thought I'd wave a flag and invite anyone who would like to offer some help to get in touch. I can't see this programme happening instantly and, to be honest, we can't know whether any offer we (or you) make will be taken up: there has already been a huge response - 25000 offers in the first three hours of the website going live. But we feel led to making the offer.

After all, Jesus made clear that when we welcome the stranger, we welcome him (Matthew 25.31-40). And vice versa.
 

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Adrian

Sunday 27 Feb 2022

Posted: Sun, 27 Feb, 2022 (3 months ago) - by Adrian
Sunday 27 Feb 2022

We welcome Annabelle's family to the service today as we celebrate her baptism, and as we consider the mountain top experience of the first disciples of Jesus, at his transfiguration.  Moments of change.

A service sheet is available to download here: https://mulbchurch.org.uk/res/Service_Sheets/2022_02_27_Annabelle_Baptism_Next_Before_Lent.pdf

APOLOGIES!  No broadcast for the service this morning, since the internet is down in Church!

 

 

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Adrian

Sunday 20 Feb 2022 - Living before the throne of God

Posted: Sun, 20 Feb, 2022 (3 months ago) - by Adrian
Sunday 20 Feb 2022 - Living before the throne of God

This week, Derrick leads our worship, and reflects on the next part of Luke's gospel, following on from last week, as Jesus explains to his disciples how his coming fulfils the Jewish religion.

All the words for the service are available to view or download here: https://mulbchurch.org.uk/res/Service_Sheets/2022_02_20-1.pdf

The service will be broadcast on YouTube here on Sunday morning:  https://youtu.be/ihVKfqUWWsE

 

 

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Adrian

Sunday 6 Feb 2022 - Out of our depth?

Posted: Sun, 6 Feb, 2022 (4 months ago) - by Adrian
Sunday 6 Feb 2022 - Out of our depth?
This morning, we thought about Peter going back out to fish after a night of failure at work. Not expecting much, the fishermen did what Jesus told them, and landed a massive catch. You would expect Peter to be happy, but he wasn't. Instead his shame surfaced. And yet Jesus still invited him to follow and join in with the important work of sharing God's love.
 
When work isn't working, when relationships are reeling, when shame is surfacing, Jesus calls us to follow, invites us deeper into love.
 
I wondered if the reason Peter got on his knees in shame after this encounter was because he became aware that he was being called, that his life had meaning and purpose after all, that he could catch the fish, that he could succeed...
 
And then the shame hijacked the call, shouting at him "But you can't! You of all people should not be here!"
 
And so it came out. The shame surfaced. Peter begged Jesus to go away. He couldn't cope with this.
 
And Jesus didn't seem to bat an eyelid. He saw it. He invited Peter anyway.
 
Anybody here ever suffer from "imposter syndrome"? You know that person you fear you could never really be, but you try to fake it til you make it? The real you is even better! Shame will tell you different. Shame is wrong. Dare you believe it?
 
Check out this poem, "Our Deepest Fear", taken from Marianne Williamson's book A Return to Love :
 
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness
That most frightens us.
 
We ask ourselves
Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
 
Your playing small
Does not serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking
So that other people won't feel insecure around you.
 
We are all meant to shine,
As children do.
We were born to make manifest
The glory of God that is within us.
It's not just in some of us;
It's in everyone.
 
And as we let our own light shine,
We unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we're liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.
 
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Adrian

Sunday Worship - 30 Jan 2022: "Enough and more"

Posted: Sun, 30 Jan, 2022 (4 months ago) - by Adrian
Sunday Worship - 30 Jan 2022: "Enough and more"
  1. Meditative Service led by Rachel and Sarah, exploring "Enough and more".

A creative worship response is available here, which you might want to print off and use at home: https://mulbchurch.org.uk/res/Service_Sheets/JugandJar_Reflection.pdf

If you want to follow along, you can download a PDF with all words here: https://mulbchurch.org.uk/res/Service_Sheets/2022_01_30_Meditative_Enough_and_more.pdf

Two videos are used in the service:

The service is live on YouTube, and available to catch up with later here: https://youtu.be/m75ai_b9k48

 

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Adrian

Sunday Worship - Water into Wine

Posted: Sun, 16 Jan, 2022 (4 months ago) - by Adrian
Sunday Worship - Water into Wine

Join us remotely for our monthly communion service at Mulbarton Church, where Adrian will be leading an exploration about the story of Jesus turning water into wine at the outset of his public work.

A service sheet, with all the words for the service, including song lyrics is here (this will open in a new tab): https://mulbchurch.org.uk/res/Service_Sheets/2022_01_16_Epiphany_2_Communion.pdf

YouTube videos of the worship songs are here, in case you'd rather watch along:

The live YouTube link failed today!  I thought I had turned the power switch on for the laptop charger when I set the live stream going before heading to Bracon Ash; but in fact the laptop was running on battery, so went into standby and ended the stream before the service had begun.

So, no recording of the service today, but the service sheet is there, with links to the songs!

In my talk, I reflected on three things arising out of the passage about when Jesus turned the water into wine, from John 2:1-11.

Transformation of water into wine.  Using the Jewish ceremonial washing pots, symbolising the fulfilment of the Jewish traditions, in how Jesus came to bring transformed religion that revealed the love of God in fresh ways.  150 gallons of water into the same amount of wine!  This was serious transformation.  We have a God who turns things around and brings change - which is welcome news for many of us at the outset of 2022!

Obedience of the servants, after Mary had told them "do whatever he says".  Not obeying human authority, which can often mislead us, but listening for the voice of Jesus, and our own God-given conscience, above the authority of the church or the given dogma.  There is an innate human need to belong and fit in, and comply, which can be exploited, and has been used to control people inside the church as much as outside of it.  Our task as Christians is to obey Jesus only, and in any leadership responsibilities we have, to do as Jesus did in leadership, to serve and not to be served - to offer a direction and not to demand obedience, to be safe and not exploitative.

Everyday context of the miracle.  It wasn't a special religious setting in which Jesus showed this first miraculous sign, which revealed his glory.  It was a wedding party, where the wine had run out prematurely, and risked bringing shame on the family.  There was a real need in a non-religious setting, and Jesus helped meet it - and most people there were unaware that a miracle had happened.  The quiet, unnoticed miracles, meeting a need in every day ordinary life - that's the essence of what Christianity calls us to.  Making a difference with what we have where we are, to help our neighbours.  The specific religious stuff, like Sunday worship, praying with others, singing worship songs, preaching a 3-point sermon with points, whose first letters spell "TOE", etc. - all of that can be really helpful and is important to try to get right - but it is intended to resource God's people for service, and not to be the end in itself. And sometimes that stuff can be used in a hypnotic way, to control thoughts, beliefs and behaviour.  The account of water into wine at a wedding to meet the need as it presented itself draws us back to the heart of servanthood worship.

 

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Adrian

Sunday Worship - 9 Jan 2022 - The Baptism of Christ

Posted: Sun, 9 Jan, 2022 (4 months ago) - by Adrian
Sunday Worship - 9 Jan 2022 - The Baptism of Christ

Join us as we worship God together and explore what the baptism of Christ means for us, at the start of this season of epiphany.

YouTube live stream is available on our YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/WbsFO7-ZsFA

Or embedded right here below:

 

 

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Adrian

Sunday Worship - 2 Jan 2022 - New Year, new journey

Posted: Sun, 2 Jan, 2022 (5 months ago) - by Adrian
Sunday Worship - 2 Jan 2022 - New Year, new journey

Adrian leads a communion service, as we explore the journey of the magi, and our own journey into a new year.

Service without music on YouTube Channel here:

We also introduced Norwich Diocese adapted "Covenant Prayer" and the new hymn Susannah Gunner has written for 2022, full text reproduced below...

Adapted Covenant Prayer

I am no longer my own but yours.
Put me to prayer.
Put me to deepening my life with you by deepening my life of prayer.
Put me to the faithful setting aside of time;
put me to listening;
put me to wonder;
put me to holding a broken world in your love;
put me to trusting.

I willingly expect to be changed by prayer:
I freely and wholeheartedly yield to being transformed by Christ.
Let me be changed by you and so change the world for you.
Glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, you are mine and I am yours.
So be it.
And this covenant now made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven.
Amen.

Transformed by Prayer

Transform, O Christ, your people
assembled in this place;
our longing to be prayerful
is gathering depth and pace:
just as those first disciples,
we too make our request –
‘Teach us to pray, Lord Jesus,
and lead us on our quest.

We glimpse you in the gospels
before the break of day,
alone there in the shadows
and making time to pray:
inspired by your example,
give us the grace to dare
to deepen our discipleship
through deepening times of prayer.

Who knows how this will change us?
What challenges await?
Who knows where prayer might lead us?
What love might come from hate?
So light the fire within us,
stir us afresh to pray;
we’re frail but long for faithfulness: transform us, Christ, today!

We long for peace and plenty
where all we see is war;
we long to feed the hungry,
to change the global law
which keeps the poor from thriving
and elevates the rich;
we long for holy justice:
teach us to pray for this.

We long to heal the forests,
protect the suffering seas,
to halt the melting ice-caps,
increase the hum of bees;
we know our need for wisdom
(so close to the abyss),
for unity, humility:
teach us to pray for this.

Transform, O Christ, your people assembled in this place,
attune us to your presence,
still us in your embrace:
then grace us as we listen,
hearts opening until,
with boldness and with vision,
we’re nerved to do your will.

Susanna Gunner, November 2021

 

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Adrian

Sunday Worship - 19 Dec 2021

Posted: Sun, 19 Dec, 2021 (5 months ago) - by Adrian
Sunday Worship - 19 Dec 2021

This Sunday, we celebrate holy communion, as we worship God using lively contemporary settings of traditional carols.

The service will be broadcast on YouTube as normal - available below.

With covid cases increasing, we continue to take the rules seriously, and require those attending worship to wear masks, unless exempt on age or health grounds.

Live stream on YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/RLBQrxJezCI

 

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