Costessey Baptist Church Notices Sunday services in the Church hall have resumed at 10.45am. Procedures for church attendance will be closely followed and anyone wishing to attend needs to book a seat in advance as numbers are restricted to allow social distancing in the space available. Do read the Procedures and please follow government guidelines if you have any symptoms of Coronavirus. Pastor Peter Lillystone will continue to record Bible messages on YouTube and you find the message for each Sunday on the Pastor's page and earlier messages on Peter's archived talks. You can watch and listen to this in your home. To help you gain more from the Bible message, the notes for the current Sunday are available to download by clicking the icon alongside the title of the message on the Pastor's page. Please continue to encourage one another by phone, email or letter. If you are not local, then you may wish to find a church near to where you live or an online service on Network Norfolk or A Church Near You websites.
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Prayer changes things
Our thoughts and prayers are with Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth and all the Royal family as they mourn the death of HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh. May God's Presence bring comfort and daily strength to support them at this time of sorrow.
In this time of national and international upheaval, our faith is in Jesus Christ, and we pray to One who has power and authority to help mankind. Give thanks that the number of people in hospital in all UK nations continues to fall and that the Lockdown measures can slowly ease.
As a Church, we need to pray that God will give wisdom to all in Government and help all who are affected by this difficult time. Listen to the news and pray about what you hear. Pray for all those who have been bereaved this year and for those ill in hospital. Remember all who are recovering at home from the effects of COVID-19 and those whose lives have been changed by complications. Pray for all NHS staff who are providing essential services and healthcare to all who are in hospital or care homes. Many staff are feeling the pressure of a constant heavy workload. Let's pray for an end to this pandemic which is affecting people across the world. The pandemic in Brazil is affecting many at the present time. Pray for those awaiting treatment for other conditions which has been delayed due to the current crisis. Pray for health and well-being of all staff and pupils as schools have started the summer term. Pray for the physical and mental health of all students at universities and colleges. Let's pray for all students who are doing remote learning that they remain positive and succeed in their efforts. Give thanks for the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out in the UK and all those working in the vaccination centres. Laboratories in many countries are producing vaccines on a large scale. Pray for the ongoing work by scientists and that vaccines will soon be available worldwide, accessible to all.
Pray for those facing job loss or homelessness who are anxious about what happens next. This crisis has had a profound impact on many but particularly those in the 16-25 age group. Many people find themselves out of work in the retail and hospitality sectors. Pray for all who provide meals and shelter to the homeless and that provision will be made for all who are in need through the Food Banks around the country.
The Bible says: "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." 1 Peter 5 verse 7 You may contact the Pastor using the contact page or by phone or email.
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There is a freephone service called "Daily Hope" which is provided by the Church of England. Calls are free and particularly useful to people who may not have access to the internet. This could be a way to bless elderly relatives and friends who can listen on speaker phone. Please try it yourself so you can explain to others how the options work. There is new content for January and more options to choose from so have a pen and paper to jot them down. Happy listening! |