Heavenly Father
I pray that this day I may live in your presence and please you more and more

Lord Jesus
I pray this this day I may take up my cross and follow you

Holy Spirit
I pray that this day you will fill me with yourself and cause your fruit to ripen in my life: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control

(John Stott)

We haven't managed to put up a summary of the last couple of weeks' teaching yet, but here's the video we used on Sunday afternoon, introducing the New Testament letter of 1 Corinthians. Urban Life Normanton has spent a couple of weeks understanding who these people were, how it all started (Acts 18) and will now spend some time reading through and learning from this letter as God speaks to us through his inspired scriptures.

​Here's the overview video we watched, which I said we would put up online so you can watch it again, or if you missed it:

This is a painting by Eugene Bernand called the disciples. It is John and Peter running to the grave to see if what the women have told them is true...
​...see the looks on their faces.

​If this is true, this changes everything!

Tomorrow - Easter Sunday - 11am Easter breakfast and worship, followed by the Normanton Churches Easter Procession through the streets of our locality!
​Jesus is alive. This changes everything.
It really does. 

May the truth that is in Jesus 
​illuminate in me all that is dark
​establish in me all that is wavering
​comfort in me all that is wretched
accomplish in me all that is of your goodness
​and glorify in me the name of Jesus.

Matthew 5:13-16

Jesus said:
'You are the salt of the earth. But what good is salt if it has lost its flavour? Can you make it salty again? It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.
'You are the light of the world - like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.'

O God the author of all good
​I come to you for the grace another day will require for its duties and events
​Teach me how to use the world and not abuse it
To improve my talents
​To redeem my time
To walk in wisdom toward those without
​And in kindness to those within
To do good to all people
And especially to my fellow Christians
And to you be all the glory.
​Amen. 

​(adapted from Valley of Vision)

It's not the full film, but here's an intro to the short film we watched in Urban Life yesterday, as a reminder/recap!

Tomorrow at 4pm we will gather as church at St Chads Centre for the final part of the More than conquerors series. We will worship together, pray, encourage one another, and consider the parable of the hidden treasure in Matthew 13 v44. This story from Jesus is wonderfully simple and yet compelling in its call to pursue him and his kingdom as our greatest desire and passion, and so to give everything to love God and to love and serve our community.

Here's the parable. It's just one verse:

Our verse for 2018 is Psalm 90:14

If we pray this regularly - maybe every day - during this year, we will grow strong and clear in our faith as followers of Christ.

Here's a four minute summary of last weekend's teaching on this prayer.

A prayer from our meeting last Sunday:

Disturb me Lord, when my dreams come true
only because I dreamed too small

Disturb me Lord when I arrive safely
only because I sailed too close to the shore

Disturb me Lord when the things I have gained
cause me to lose my thirst for more of you

Disturb me Lord when I have acquired success
only to lose my desire for excellence

Disturb me Lord when I give up too soon
and settle too far short of the goals you have set for my life

Amen

(Simon Guillebaud - More than conquerors)