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Events, Talks, News Sheets and more
Events, Talks, News Sheets and more
Thursday 25 Feb
Gratitude
“Rejoice always, … give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5.16-18)
Studies have shown that the attitude of gratitude can increase our happiness by as much as 25%. It helps us savour the good things in life. But it’s not enough to feel gratitude – we need to express it. Some people write down three things they are grateful for each night. The Book of Psalms is full of songs of gratitude to God. The Apostle Paul wrote a letter full of gratitude to God … from prison! (Read Philippians 4.4)
> Which gratitude habits could you adopt? Read Psalm 103 and write your own list of what you’re grateful to God for.
(This is from a longer article by Curt Thompson. Read the full article here…)
By now, most of us have noticed. And either we or someone we know is talking about it. Zoom fatigue. Irritability. No fever, cough or body aches necessary. Just the normal, run-of-the-mill symptoms of social distancing. And mostly, people are describing how much more exhausted they are at the end of their days compared to what their lives were like before three weeks ago. All of this highlights one element of what it truly means to be human that our encounter with the coronavirus has drawn our attention to: our bodies.
God made our bodies as part of what it means for us to be human, and much like asking someone to breathe air that is only 15% oxygen instead of the normal 20%, we’re asking our bodies to do things they were not made to do. Even so, along with other suggestions I have offered regarding COVID-19, here are some additional things you can do to help:
Our bodies are hard at work. And although we are in a season in which we are asking them to work differently and harder than usual, know that you are not alone, and your work is not in vain.
Wednesday, 24 Feb
A hope that doesn’t disappoint
Viktor Frankl, a survivor of the Auschwitz Nazi concentration camp, tells how hope was the most important factor in surviving. Hope is the belief that things can change. It sustains us. It helps us deal with suffering and disappointments. It’s important that we learn to deal effectively with such disappointments, including the need to mourn a sense of loss before moving on. Often, when we trust God, he will bring turnaround in his way and his timing. As Christians, our deepest sense of hope is that Jesus paid for our sins on the cross and rose triumphantly from the grave. All things will be put right when he returns!
> Bring your disappointments to God and renew your trust in him. Read and meditate on Romans 15.13.
On Sunday, Christoph talked with Samuel Kpagheri at Church Coffee Online. Samuel works with Wycliffe Bible Translators in Togo and West Africa as a translation consultant.
We talk about the bible in Ncam, the local language, to which Samuel contributed. It was completed in 2015. Alongside it runs a literacy programme especially geared towards women who have a crucial role in the education of the next generation. Many people do not have the resources to buy their own Bible in Ncam. This Lent, can you make a contribution towards free and subsidised Bibles so that many more can read the Bible in their mother tongue?
You can give online by clicking here,* or make an online bank transfer (details below).
Watch the interview:
*(All online donations made until Good Friday will be given to our Lent Appeal).
Details for online bank transfer:
Denham Parochial Church Council
Barclays Bank Uxbridge
(Please make sure you spell the name exactly like this as banks are clamping down on the smallest mistake due to widespread fraud)
Account No.: 30305553
Sort Code: 208916
Type of Account: Business Account
Payment Reference: Bibles
Tuesday, 23 Feb
Beloved
The most significant truth about our new identity in Jesus is that we are deeply loved. If you are a follower of Jesus, you are loved by him and the Beloved of God (see Ephesians 1.5-6 and Colossians 3.12). How does God usually reveal his love for us?
> Slowly read and meditate on 1 John 3.18 and Romans 8.15-17.
Monday 22 Feb
Freedom from Fear
Not all fear is bad – it can be the right response to danger, releasing adrenaline when we need it! The fear we are talking about today is the fear that is stealing our peace or that becomes a prison. The first step is to identify your fear and put a name to it. God’s love can replenish us and heal our fears as we see in the story of Elijah (1 Kings 19ff).
To confront your fears you may need a trusted friend or spiritual leader to pray with you. If you are aware of obvious fears, write them down. What are the roots and when did they take hold? Ask God to reveal other fears that are less obvious and bring them all to him. Ask God to fill you with his perfect love (1 John 4.18). Consider seeking the help of a counsellor if you have ongoing crippling fears.
WEEK THREE: EMOTIONAL WELLBEING
Sunday 21 Feb
Emotional health matters
You may think you’re doing quite well with your emotional health. Dave Smith, the author of this course, only realised how much better his emotional health could be when he faced some of the ‘shadow sides’ of his personality type. Or you may be experiencing symptoms of depression or even burnout. God has a plan for our replenishment and wellbeing.
Our emotions matter! We see in Jesus’ life that he sometimes was joyful, angry, sad, grieving. God’s Spirit wants to heal us so that we can express our emotions in a healthy way. There is a place for both ‘positive’ and ‘negative’ emotions. Problems arise when we carry negative emotions long-term. For every negative emotion you endure, try to experience two or three positive ones! As Christians develop their relationship with the Holy Spirit, they experience the positive ‘fruit’ of his presence: ‘love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control’ (Galatians 5.22-23)
Take another look at your emotional dial: Is it red, amber or green? Invite the Holy Spirit to heal you and grow positive ‘fruit’ in your life.
Today we are exploring emotional wellbeing and coming together to chat, pray, sing, read the Bible and learn together is proven to improve our wellbeing. Edda and Christoph are leading the service live from the Rectory. [Find all the links below]
Sign up for The Wellbeing Journey…
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES:
Bible puzzle colouring in sheets…
Download the latest Denham Parish News…
LIVE LENT app…
OR CALL FREEFONE 0800 804 8044
Saturday 20 Feb
Habits for physical wellbeing
The key to making progress is establishing healthy habits. Routines and habits – good ones and bad ones – make up around 45 percent of our everyday actions! Small changes can have big effects over time. In his book Atomic Habits, James Clear suggests three steps:
Plan to make a change, based on this principle, for example: put out your running shoes before you go to bed and treat yourself to a hot bath or some nice music or a favourite book or magazine after your run.
Take some time today to review what you’ve learned this week. Which one step could you take in the areas of sleep, diet and exercise?
If you’d like to explore the Christian faith, we’d love to be part of your journey of faith. There are also some helpful websites as a starting point:
St Mary’s Church Office
Village Road
Denham UB9 5BH
Tel: 01895 832771
Monday 09:30am – 12.00pm
Tuesday 09.30am – 12.oopm
Wednesday Office Closed
Thursday 12.30pm – 3.00pm
Friday 12:30pm – 3:00pm