Weekly Worship Week Beginning 18012021 Collective Worship Theme

Weekly Worship Week Beginning: 18/01/2021 Collective Worship Theme: What do you want?

Peace Sunday 2020 ‘Peace alone is holy. Not war. ’ Pope Francis Sunday 17 January This Sunday our Holy Father Pope Francis will share a world peace day message. Loving God of peace, Strengthen my determination to work for a world of peace and justice; My conviction that, whatever our nationality or race, we are all global citizens, one in Christ; My courage to challenge the powerful with the values of the gospel; My commitment to find nonviolent ways of resolving conflict— personal, local, national and international; My efforts to forgive injuries and to love those I find it hard to love. Amen

Sundays Gospel Reading A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John ‘We have found the Messiah' As John stood with two of his disciples, Jesus passed, and John stared hard at him and said, ‘Look, there is the lamb of God. ’ Hearing this, the two disciples followed Jesus turned round, saw them following and said, ‘What do you want? ’ They answered, ‘Rabbi, ’ – which means Teacher – ‘where do you live? ’ ‘Come and see’ he replied; so they went and saw where he lived, and stayed with him the rest of that day. It was about the tenth hour. One of these two who became followers of Jesus after hearing what John had said was Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter. Early next morning, Andrew met his brother and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ – which means the Christ – and he took Simon to Jesus looked hard at him and said, ‘You are Simon son of John; you are to be called Cephas’ – meaning Rock.

Gospel Reflection ‘What do you want? ’ They answered, ‘Rabbi, ’ – which means Teacher – ‘where do you live? ’, they were clear in what they wanted and in approaching Jesus in this way this was the beginning of their vocation. Many of us would have responded to “what do you want? ” with a “oh nothing, do not worry about Jesus”. But Andrew responded in a way that was clear and confident. He knew without doubt what he wanted, he wanted to be a follower of Christ. Jesus is also very clear in what he wants for us. Throughout scripture we are each called to kindness, to love our neighbour, to forgiveness, to greatness. Take some time to reflect on this Sundays gospel and how you would answer that question “what do you want? ”. For lots of us especially at the moment if Jesus were to ask us “what do you want? ” we would need to respond “Jesus I need you, in all of my worry and anxiety I need you. In the unknown and the struggles I need you. In the world I need you. ” And that would be enough.

Weekly Prayer “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart” Jeremiah 1: 5 God knows us. He already knows what we want when we come to him which makes our prayers all the more powerful: Pray for your own vocation. Pray for your faith. Pray for your hopes. Pray for God’s plan. Heavenly Father we come to you with all we want, help us Lord that we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ and be faithful followers and active Christians. We ask this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Saint of the Week St. Sebastian Feast Day: 20 January Saint Sebastian (c. AD 256 – 288) was an early Christian saint and martyr. According to traditional belief, he was killed during the Roman emperor Diocletian's persecution of Christians. He was initially tied to a post or tree and shot with arrows, though this did not kill him. He was, according to tradition, rescued and healed by Saint Irene of Rome, which became a popular subject in 17 th-century painting. In all versions of the story, shortly after his recovery he went to Diocletian to warn him about his sins, and as a result was clubbed to death Saint Sebastian is the patron saint of Athletes and Soldiers. Due to his unwavering commitment to Christ and the courageous way he faced his martyrdom, he serves as an example of true love of God. He is usually depicted standing in front of a tree with an arrow pierced through him Prayer to Saint Sebastian O Lord, grant us the spirit of fortitude, so that guided by the example of the martyr St. Sebastian, we may learn to bear witness to the Christian Faith and patiently support the sufferings of life. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen

Quote of the Week

Ullathorne Way This terms focus is Faith-Filled and Prophetic