Worship in the Four Church Benefice
We aim to provide a variety of worship opportunities across the Benefice in person and also on line.
Sunday Worship
Every Sunday there will be two services in the Benefice. One will be a Holy Communion Service the other will be All Age or Modern Morning Worship. They will be at 9.30 or 11.00 am depending on which church they ae being held at. For full details go to the Calendar events section to see what servcies are happening this week.
Morning Prayer
This is currently held weekly on a Tuesday and comes via zoom. See calendar events section for the link to the service. There is a good attendance at this meeting and all are warmly welcomed
Refresh Worship
This is held monthly on a Wednesday evening and is currently held via zoom but as soon as we are able we will return to meeting in person. This is an opportunity to engage in more modern worship with opportunity for Bible Reading, Reflection and Prayer. All warmly welcomed. For details go to calendar events section.
House Groups
It has been difficult to hold these dring the pandemic but we held a Lent Course in Lent and plan to do another course in the Autumn
See Calendar Events Section for details
Video Recordings of our weekly Service
Every week the 9.30 am service is recorded and available via a link on the website from about 1.30 pm. We can email the link to you if you’d prefer. Simply contact the Rector
Audio Recordings
For those who don’t have access to the internet we edit the weekly recording and make it available on CD delivered to your door. If you would like to receive this service or know someone who would please contact the rector: rector:thefourchurchbenefice.org
Sermons
Our sermons are available every week on the website. See the Sermons page
A Prayer for Ukraine
God of peace and justice,
we pray for the people of Ukraine today.
We pray for peace and the laying down of weapons.
We pray for all those who fear for tomorrow,
that your Spirit of comfort would draw near to them.
We pray for those with power over war or peace,
for wisdom, discernment and compassion to guide their decisions.
Above all, we pray for all your precious children, at risk and in fear,
that you would hold and protect them.
We pray in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace.
Amen
Psalm 31
1 In you, O Lord, I seek refuge;
do not let me ever be put to shame;
in your righteousness deliver me.
2 Incline your ear to me;
rescue me speedily.
Be a rock of refuge for me,
a strong fortress to save me.
3 You are indeed my rock and my fortress;
for your name’s sake lead me and guide me,
4 take me out of the net that is hidden for me,
for you are my refuge.
5 Into your hand I commit my spirit;
you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.
6 You hate[a] those who pay regard to worthless idols,
but I trust in the Lord.
7 I will exult and rejoice in your steadfast love,
because you have seen my affliction;
you have taken heed of my adversities,
8 and have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy;
you have set my feet in a broad place.
9 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress;
my eye wastes away from grief,
my soul and body also.
10 For my life is spent with sorrow,
and my years with sighing;
my strength fails because of my misery,
and my bones waste away.
11 I am the scorn of all my adversaries,
a horror[c] to my neighbours,
an object of dread to my acquaintances;
those who see me in the street flee from me.
12 I have passed out of mind like one who is dead;
I have become like a broken vessel.
13 For I hear the whispering of many—
terror all around!—
as they scheme together against me,
as they plot to take my life.
14 But I trust in you, O Lord;
I say, “You are my God.”
15 My times are in your hand;
deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors.
16 Let your face shine upon your servant;
save me in your steadfast love.
17 Do not let me be put to shame, O Lord,
for I call on you;
let the wicked be put to shame;
let them go dumbfounded to Sheol
18 Let the lying lips be stilled
that speak insolently against the righteous
with pride and contempt.
19 O how abundant is your goodness
that you have laid up for those who fear you,
and accomplished for those who take refuge in you,
in the sight of everyone!
20 In the shelter of your presence you hide them
from human plots;
you hold them safe under your shelter
from contentious tongues.
21 Blessed be the Lord,
for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me
when I was beset as a city under siege.
22 I had said in my alarm,
“I am driven far from your sight.”
But you heard my supplications
when I cried out to you for help.
23 Love the Lord, all you his saints.
The Lord preserves the faithful,
but abundantly repays the one who acts haughtily.
24 Be strong, and let your heart take courage,
all you who wait for the Lord.