GUNVILLE METHODIST CHURCH 2nd November 2025
Today we begin a 4-week series on types of prayer. Our preacher will be Sue Wiggans, speaking on John 17, a prayer for unity. Alan and Paul will be leading.
This evening from 8 to 9 at Gunville Kerith will be praying for the Persecuted Church (it’s the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church), and also for the Newport Youth Project which Peter Herman heads up. As usual everybody from Gunville Methodist Church is welcome.
Next Sunday will be Remembrance Sunday, and we shall be observing this during the service. Our series on prayer will continue with Prayers of Lament (quite a few Psalms). Kevin will be leading, with Martin preaching.
This week
Mon: Bonny Babies in Hall 9-2 Thu: Neurodiversity, Hall 10-12
Tue: The Ark am Thu: Line Dancing (church) 5.45-7.45
Wed: Nellie’s in the hall 2-4 Fri: Bonny Babies in Church 9.30-11.30
Wed: Line Dancing (church) 5.45-6.45 Sat: Community Fun Day 1.30-4.00 (see over)
Dates for your Diary
Sunday 30th November: Advent Tea Service 4.00
Friday 19th December: Singing round the tree 6.00
Wednesday 24th Dec: Carol Service 4.00 + Midnight Communion
Thursday 25th Dec: Kerith Christmas service at Gunville at 10.00, to which everyone is welcome
Pater Noster
In our series on prayer we shall in a couple of weeks be looking at the Lord’s Prayer. Here it is, as recorded in Matthew 6:9-13, in three languages. Can you sort out which is which? DON’T WORRY! If you can have a stab at only one of the languages, see if you can spot that one.
There are 6 bits in each language. Getting them in the right order would be a bonus.
| A. Notre Pėre qui es aux cieux, que ton nom soit sanctifié. | J. e non esporci alla tentazione, ma liberaci dal male. |
| B. Dein Wille geschehe auf Erde wie im Himmel. | K. Venga il tuo regno |
| C. Dacci oggi il nostro pane quotidiano. | L. que ta volonté sot faite sur la terre comme au ciel. |
| D. Donne-nous aujourd’hui notre pain quotidien. | M. Unser täglich Brot gib uns heute. |
| E. sia fatta la tua volontá, in terra come in cielo. | N. Que ton rėgne vienne, |
| F. Padre nostro che sei nei cieli, sia santificato il tuo nome | O. Unser Vater in dem Himmel! Dein Name werde geheiligt. |
| G. Ne nous induit pas en tentation, mais délivre-nous du malin. | P. Dein Reich komme, |
| H. Und vergib uns unsere Schuld, wie wir vergeben unsern Schuldigern. | Q. E perdonaci i nostri debiti, come anche noi perdoniamo ai nostri debitori; |
| I. Und führe uns nicht in Versuchung, sondern erlȍse uns von dem Ȕbel. | R. Pardonne-nous nos offences, comme nous aussi nous pardonnons à ceux qui nous ont offensés. |
| French: | German: | Italian: |
Community Fun Day: This coming Saturday, 8th November, 1.30-4.00. Gunville Community Association invites you to come along and join in the various activities and refreshments.
Church Cleaning: We shall be needing one or more people to take on weekly cleaning of the church. If you are willing, or if you know of someone, please see Linda or Paul. This is a paid job.
Rejoice! Another piece by Jeff Lucas, contributed by Ruth
Scripture repeatedly calls us to ‘rejoice’. Joy is a hallmark of the disciple, and surely that involves laughter!
I love what Tom Wright says:
’Wherever Jesus went there seemed to be a celebration; the tradition of festive meals, at which Jesus welcomed all and sundry, is one of the most securely established features of almost all recent scholarly portraits. He was making these meals and their free-for all welcome a central feature of his programme.’
The living, active church is called to be the primary sign of the kingdom – a living banquet, a working model of life lived under the love and lordship of Jesus, but a party with an open-door policy, where all are invited to come in from the cold and join in with the fun.
Graham Tomlin uses the analogy of the church being like the 12th century character of legend, Robin Hood. In that story, the honourable and good King Richard is absent from the country, and so the land is ruled by his despicable brother, King John. Harsh taxation and national oppression lead Robin, Maid Marion and a band of ‘merry men’ to go underground – or specifically, into the undergrowth, of Sherwood Forest.
Their acts of defiance and charity (robbing the rich to give to the poor) keep the knowledge of the good-King-to-come alive. And they are a mischievous, subversive lot, characterised by their playful ability to laugh in the face of suffering, because they know that the reign of evil is but temporary. As we delight in story, laughter, and outrageous celebration and kindness, we become living signs of a reign that is here, and is but yet to come in its fullness.
‘The images Jesus used to describe the kingdom were always full of delight. It is like a feast with lavish food and great hilarity, or a woman finding a priceless lost necklace and throwing a party to celebrate. The picture of a bunch of outlaws celebrating with huge joyful meals deep in the forest in defiance of the false powers is the same kind of story. This is no stern, solemn king, exercising a humourless, cold, rule. It is the rule of the gracious host, inviting us into his home, the place where he is in charge, and where there is lots of deep, rich laughter. Miserable, gloomy and dull churches have simply missed the point.’
As you read this today, I pray for each and every one of you, that whatever your circumstances, you will experience what might seem to be irrational joy. I know that, for some, life is filled with uncertainty and dark shadows. But may grace hold you.
May peace settle you.
May faith enable you to rest well at night, when your sleep would usually be robbed.
And may joy be yours, as you declare that you are His and He is yours. God bless you.
Pater Noster – Answers
| French: A N L D R G | German: O P B M H I | Italian: F K E C Q J |