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Both the book, the app and the accompanying daily reflections encourage all Christians to think about their calling, how to share their faith and reflect on the difference Christ makes in our lives. Click on the button for more information about downloading the app or signing up to receive daily emails.
Friday 26th February
Read
Reflect
Reflect
Luke 15.11-32 (NLT)
To illustrate the point further, Jesus told them this story: “A man had two sons. The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.
“A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.
“When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’
“So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’
But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.
“Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house, and he asked one of the servants what was going on. ‘Your brother is back,’ he was told, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.’
“The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him, but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!’
“His father said to him, ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!’"
Reflect
Reflect
Reflect
A lost sheep. A lost coin. And now a lost son. Henri Nouwen writes movingly about his first encounter with Rembrandt’s painting The Return of the Prodigal Son in a book subtitled ‘A Story of Homecoming’. Nouwen was at a moment of his life when he felt bone-tired and alone. As he saw a reproduction of this painting, a poster pinned to a door, what spoke to him was its tenderness. The son has returned, filthy, broken, without any of the wealth the father had given him. Yet there is no lecture from the father, no reluctance to receive and embrace the son. There is just tenderness, acceptance, and love.
When we come to God as our loving parent and friend we may be aware of our own poverty and emptiness. Yet God receives us with love, with open arms, with tenderness.
We are welcomed home.
Pray
Action
Action
Loving God, thank you that you look for us and that you find us and you welcome us into your family. Thank you that you receive us with open arms. Amen.
Action
Action
Action
This week, take time to read one of the synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark or Luke) and reflect on the love that Jesus shows there. You might like to use a journal or notebook to record your observations.
Please join us for our online service each Sunday – and hear familiar voices. The link currently is:
https://slfchurch.org/pre-lent-and-lent-2021 and is also displayed on our Facebook page. If you or anyone you know would like a CD then contact Rev Elaine or Andrew and Wendy Rudd to arrange.
Lord God,
You have called your servants
to ventures of which we cannot see the ending,
by paths as yet untrodden,
through perils unknown.
Give us faith to go out with good courage,
not knowing where we go,
but only that your hand is leading us
and your love supporting us,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
Who are we?
Baptisms and Weddings
Baptisms and Weddings
We are a warm, welcoming and inclusive Church of England congregation in the small market town of Frodsham. We belong to Inclusive Church and welcome all people to our services. Normally, our church is open in daylight hours on most days but currently it is more limited - please see the notice above. You are most welcome to visit
We have a Church School which you can link to here.
Baptisms and Weddings
Baptisms and Weddings
Baptisms and Weddings
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Services
Baptisms and Weddings
Services
Normally, we are a church which likes to offer Communion as many times as we can to help those with busy lives.
Our communion services in normal times:
Sunday 8am (spoken)
Sunday 10am (sung)
Tuesday 7pm (spoken)
Wed'day 10am (spoken)
Thursday 11am Parish Hall
Sunday evenings we have a BCP Evensong service at 6.30pm.
This Year's Charity
Each year we support a different charity and fundraise for them. Sometimes it is an overseas charity and sometimes it is a local or national charity.
This year we are supporting the local charity Stick 'n' Step.
One of our congregation has been helped by this charity and you can read their story here.
We also support Christian Aid, MuCAARD-UK and The Children's Society on a long-term basis.
Local charity