Hello everyone,

Two lots of readings, prayers, and notices for you this week as the Team Office will be closed for a week for half term, reopening Monday 28^th October.

This is the week of Prayer for World Peace. With so many places in our world ravaged by war and conflict, please pray for all people still living in fear and under threat of violence, and for world leaders, that they would seek ways to find reconciliation and a lasting peace.

Upcoming Services:

Sunday 20^th October, we have Holy Communion at Normanton, Norton, and Swepstone, a lay led service at Donisthorpe, Sunday People at Appleby, and Breakfast Church at Measham, all at 10.00am.

Sunday 27^th October at 10.00am, we have Holy Communion at Appleby and Packington, Morning Prayer at Donisthorpe and Measham, and later on Swepstone have a Lights of Love Memorial service at 5.00pm.

Do invite any families you know to these special services of remembrance and reflection. During the service we will pray by name for those who are to be remembered, and you can light a candle for your loved one. There will be two more Lights of Love services in our team this year, both on Saturday 2^nd November: Donisthorpe at 2.00pm and Packington at 3.00pm.

Looking ahead:

On Monday 21^st there will be a Deanery Laity Meeting at Measham Church Hall from 2.00 to 3.00pm where all lay members of church are invited to drop in for a coffee and a chat.

Appleby have Coffee & Chat in the church hall from 10.30am to 12.00noon on Wednesday 23^rd.

Packington also have a Coffee morning in church on Wednesday 23^rd from 10.00am.

Activeage meet at 11.00am in Measham Church Hall each Wednesday.

On Thursday 24^th, Packington have half-term Toastie Thursday from 12.00noon to 2.00pm in church

On Friday 25^th, Donisthorpe Church have ‘Lunch Light’ and would like to welcome anyone bereaved who feels they need company and support to lunch from 12.30pm to 2.00pm. The cost is £3 per person and if you would like to come, please call Janet Hall on 07968 421872 with any dietary requirements. ‘Lunch Light’ will run on the last Friday of each month (except December and August) throughout the year now the church has reopened.

Saturday 26^th from 10.00am to 12.30pm there will be a Charity Autumn Fayre at Packington church with refreshments, raffle, cakes and crafts in support of the British Heart Foundation and the Royal British Legion. Entry £1 to include tea/coffee, children free.

After half-term on Thursday 31^st, Kids Kingdom Baby & Toddler group return from 9.00am to 11.00am in Appleby Church Hall.

Packington’s ‘Come and See’ for school years 7-9, is also back after half term on Thursday 31^st at 3.45 to 5.00pm in church for games, Bible, fun and noise.

Little Fishes next meet on Friday 1^st November at 10.00am in Measham Church Hall.

Further ahead, Donisthorpe will be having a Beetle Drive evening in church on Friday 15^th November at 7.00pm with a two-course meal and a drink, followed by the Beetle Drive. Tickets are £12 available from Joan Smith, 07837 028439.

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 20^th October – The Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity

Almighty God,

in whose service lies perfect freedom:

teach us to obey you

with loving hearts and steadfast wills;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

Reading for 20^th October – Mark 10.35-45 New International Version (UK)

The request of James and John

³⁵ Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. ‘Teacher,’ they said, ‘we want you to do for us whatever we ask.’

³⁶ ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ he asked.

³⁷ They replied, ‘Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.’

³⁸ ‘You don’t know what you are asking,’ Jesus said. ‘Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptised with the baptism I am baptised with?’

³⁹ ‘We can,’ they answered.

Jesus said to them, ‘You will drink the cup I drink and be baptised with the baptism I am baptised with, ⁴⁰ but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.’

⁴¹ When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. ⁴² Jesus called them together and said, ‘You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. ⁴³ Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, ⁴⁴ and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. ⁴⁵ For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.’

Collect for Sunday 27^th October – Bible Sunday

Merciful God,

teach us to be faithful in change and uncertainty,

that trusting in your word

and obeying your will

we may enter the unfailing joy of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

Reading for 27^th October – John 5.36b-47 New International Version (UK)

³⁶ ‘I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish – the very works that I am doing – testify that the Father has sent me. ³⁷ And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, ³⁸ nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. ³⁹ You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, ⁴⁰ yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

⁴¹ ‘I do not accept glory from human beings, ⁴² but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. ⁴³ I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. ⁴⁴ How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?

⁴⁵ ‘But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set. ⁴⁶ If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. ⁴⁷ But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?’

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.

• Heavenly Father, empower by your spirit all Christian people and the work of your church in every land. Give us grace to proclaim the gospel joyfully, not only by word but especially by deed and by the way in which we live our lives.
• Creator God, we pray that you will guide those who administer justice that they may be honest and merciful in all that they do and give wisdom to all who make laws, ensuring that the laws that they make may always prevail for the common good.
• Father God, we pray that children may be brought up in the knowledge of faith and with a sense of respect and responsibility for others.  Bless the parents of our children, and their teachers as they have a half-term break from school. We pray for all the events and groups in our churches where our children and young people might meet with you and learn more about you: for Come-and-See and Toastie Thursdays, for Kids Kingdom and Little Fishes groups, and for our Open the Book team who visit our schools to share Bible stories in different ways.
• Everlasting God, be present in all places where there is suffering, violence or pain. We especially pray for those people living through war or oppression and the many who are forced to leave their homes to seek refuge elsewhere.  Be with those who are trying to bring peace in areas of warfare and terrorism, and bless the work of relief agencies trying so hard to bring food and medicine to those suffering.
• Gracious God, we pray for those we know who are ill in mind, body, or spirit.  Bless those who care for the sick, encourage all that is being done for their good, and surround them your healing care.
• Loving God, we remember in these prayers those who have died, those we have known and loved, and those known only to you.  Help us to leave them with you in perfect trust, knowing that you care for them and for us with infinite love.
• Faithful God, we commend ourselves and all for whom we have prayed to your mercy and protection.

Amen.