This week sees the Winter Olympics begin in Milan and Cortina. In many ways, it is a less heralded event than its summer counterpart probably because the levels of participation in the sports are lower than for the summer events. It’s more difficult to imagine yourself riding a bobsleigh over the line than ducking for the finish line of the 100m. Yet there is something oddly compelling about curling which makes me look at my kitchen brush with greater purpose.
The beginning of these events are moments of hope. Hope that the years of training might all come together for the competitors. Hope that the nations can come together in a celebration of a shared purpose and joy in sport. Hope that what we see across these two weeks of competition can inspire the world to work hard towards unity and peace.
Sadly, there are moment when that hope is like a snowflake held in the hands, it melts when it comes into contact with the heat of our lives. Yet, like Olympians, Christians are called to be a people of hope. We hope tomorrow will be better than today, that the coming of God’s Kingdom will bring with it peace and justice. But where hope in humanity often fades quickly, our hope in God is a sure foundation on which we can build our lives. Where Olympians must place their trust in themselves and their teammates, Christians must put their trust in God and across the generations, God’s faithfulness means that trust is well placed. It gives our hope stability, and in that, our hope gains a transformational power that brings us peace.
On Sunday, we will hold this hope as we gather to pray at 9.30am. Do join us at church if you can, but if you can’t be there in person, do pray with us using the prayer points at the end of this email.
At 10.30am we will gather for a service of Holy Communion. If you can’t be with us in person, please do join us on zoom by following this link or using these meeting details.
Meeting ID: 795 391 015
Password: Luke
At 6pm we have our Praise & Prayer Service. This is an opportunity for extended times of worship and prayer, seeking to encounter and be led by the Holy Spirit. Come with your expectation of what God will do amongst us!
Following his death, Albert Roderick’s funeral will be held on Friday 27th February at 12.30pm at St Luke’s Church. Please note that this time is half an hour earlier than I had announced last week. Do please pray for his family and friends as they mourn his death.
The next meeting of the Women’s Book Group is on 5 March at 7.30pm. They will meet at Anne Littler’s home, 9 Orchard Close, Upton. They will be exploring ‘Framed’ by Frank Cottrell Boyce. For more information, please do talk to Jenny Gilbertson.
The next New Wine Chester Celebration is on Sunday 8 March at St Mark’s Church in Saltney. This is an evening of extended, passionate worship with Bishop Jill Duff as the speaker. Doors and refreshments are from 6.30pm and the celebration starts at 7.00pm. This event means our March Praise & Prayer will be a week later on 15 March.
If you want to listen to previous sermons, they are uploaded to our ‘A Church Near You’ page. You can listen to them here:
Prayer Points
In the News: Pray for the leaders of the nations and wisdom as they lead
In the News: Pray for places where warfare rages including Ukraine and Sudan
In the News: Pray for the Winter Olympics as a celebration of sport and humanity
Faith & Discipleship: Pray that hope would grow in our lives and see the world transformed
St Luke’s Mission: Pray for our Start course – for people to want to find out about Jesus
Our Parish: Saighton Army Camp and Crown Park housing estates
Society: Media, the Arts and Charity Sectors
Children & Youth: Bishops High School & Dee Banks School and Christians who witness and work in these communities
Mission we support: Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) and particularly the work of Steve and Philippa Forsyth
St Luke’s Mission: Small Groups as a focus of discipleship and fellowship
St Luke’s Fellowship: Our PCC and Mission Action Planning as a church
Sunday Focus: The coffee and refreshments team
Sick & Bereaved: Those we know who are sick and bereaved at this time
Faith & Discipleship: A hunger to read and reflect on the Bible
Lord of hope,
may the power of the resurrected Jesus redeem this world
transform mourning into dancing and fear into joy
may we be agents of change and bringers of peace
for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord