Notices: Sunday 19th September
Well, another week has passed so once again, here is our service sheet and notices for the week ahead!
Our gospel reading, Luke 18:1–8, tells of a widow who refuses to give up until justice is done; a story Jesus uses to remind us of the power of persistence and the importance of not losing heart. Whether you're someone who prays daily or someone who simply wonders now and again if anyone is listening, this story has something to say to us all.
It's been another week full of unsettling headlines, from global conflicts to worries closer to home about the cost of living and the strain on our communities. In the midst of all that, faith can feel difficult to hold on to. Yet around the North West, we continue to see glimpses of quiet hope: churches opening their doors as warm spaces, small groups helping to create communities, neighbours sharing meals, volunteers giving time to listen. These small acts are themselves a kind of prayer, a lived-out faith that says, "we haven't given up."
Jesus ends the parable with a question: "When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?" What tone you read that with, will depend on how your receive it; for some it might land as a challenge, but a warmer tone transforms it into an invitation - to keep going, to keep hoping, to keep showing kindness even when the world feels heavy.
So wherever you find yourself this week, whether that's full of faith, full of questions, or somewhere in between, may you be encouraged. God meets us right where we are, and every act of compassion, every moment of quiet trust, every honest prayer (or even the longing to pray) matters.
And with that, here is the notices! Do come and be part of it all,
Best Wishes, Claire
