Tag Archive for: death

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Thank you to everyone who contributed to a weekend of thanksgiving for Her Majesty at St Mary’s Church.

St Mary’s Church will be open on Monday, 19 September, from 1pm to 8pm, to reflect, pray, light a candle or sign the Book of Condolence.

 

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has written:

As a faithful Christian disciple, and also Supreme Governor of the Church of England, she lived out her faith every day of her life. Her trust in God and profound love for God was foundational in how she led her life – hour by hour, day by day.

In The Late Queen’s life, we saw what it means to receive the gift of life we have been given by God and – through patient, humble, selfless service – share it as a gift to others.

Read his full statement here…

A prayer of thanksgiving for the life of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Creator of Heaven and Earth,
Through all our days you fashion us and by your grace we grow.
We thank you for all that was accomplished in your servant Elizabeth.
Throughout her life she glorified your name.
May that also be true for each of us and for our nation;
And may our dearly departed Queen rest in peace and rise in glory.
Amen.

 

King Charles III delivers his address to the nation and the Commonwealth from Buckingham Palace, London, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday. (Photo: Yui Mok/PA Wire)

A prayer for the new King
Everlasting God, we pray for our new King.
Bless his reign and the life of our nation.
Help us to work together
so that truth and justice, harmony and fairness
flourish among us;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

A remarkable life: Ravi Zacharias, 1946-2020

UPDATE (February 2021):

Over the last months harrowing details have emerged of how Ravi Zacharias abused his position of trust and influence and abused and damaged the lives of people. In a recent blog post, LICC wrote these words, which we wholeheartedly echo:

“No apologetic can suffice. We must face tough questions on the charisma cult, wilful blindness to narcissistic leadership, lack of accountability, and defensive posturing making people deaf to those who spoke truth. Reparations must be made, where care and some sort of ‘justice’ for survivors is first priority.”

Read the whole article here…


 

Ravi Zacharias (26 March 1946 – 19 May 2020) was an Indian-born Canadian-American Christian speaker and writer. Zacharias was the author of more than 30 books revolving around “Apologetics” (helping believers think and thinkers believer), including Can Man Live Without God?, as well as Christian bestsellers Light in the Shadow of Jihad and The Grand Weaver. Zacharias was the founder and chairman of the board of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM) and OCCA (Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics), which provided speakers for our Rethink week in 2018.

“Does God Exist?”

It is a question also asked behind the walls of Louisiana State Penitentiary, also known as Angola Prison, the largest maximum-security prison in the United States. Zacharias had prayed with prisoners of war all those years ago in Vietnam but walking through Death Row left an even deeper impression. Zacharias believed the gospel shined with grace and power, especially in the darkest places, and praying with those on Death Row “makes it impossible to block the tears.” It was his third visit to Angola and, such is his deep connection, the inmates have made Zacharias the coffin in which he will be buried. As he writes in Seeing Jesus from the East:

“These prisoners know that this world is not their home and that no coffin could ever be their final destination. Jesus assured us of that.”

Read the full article here…

Audio Service 29 March 2020: A claim, a promise, an obligation

This talk is based on John 8.46-end.
The reading is included in the recording.

Reader: Ian Jennings
Preacher: Christoph Lindner

Sermon: Do not be afraid

Talk given by Christoph Lindner at our Sunday service on  29th December 2019.

Sermon: The Beauty of the Aged

25 August 2019, 10.30am, Christoph Lindner

This sermon is based on the following Proverbs:
Grey hair is a crown of glory; it is gained in a righteous life. (Proverbs 16:31)
The glory of youths is their strength, but the beauty of the aged is their grey hair. (Proverbs 20:29)

The following Bible passages are referred to:

2 Corinthians 4.5-10, 16-18

John 19. 23-27

The sermon refers to John Wyatt’s book Dying Well, which you can order here…