Hello and welcome to our new page From the Study!!
With the church building being closed we need to find new ways to continue being church and stay connected. I will be using this page to post videos, reflections and other items that will help us worship and be inspired as we make you way through this difficult time.
I hope it inspires and helps you connect with God.
Alan
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It’s a time for new opportunities
As most of us have more time on our hands as we self-isolate, there is no reason not to put this time to good use. In between watching the box sets and flicking through social media, why not spend some time reading the books you have wanted to read but never seemed to find the time for, learning a new skill or dusting off that guitar that has sat in the corner gathering dust. Maybe you could take this time to get all those jobs around the house and garden done. We have an opportunity for a love of new things to emerge.
But also let us use this opportunity wisely and develop our time with God. How many times have we said, ‘I need to read my Bible more or pray more?’ To help us to do this, may I suggest some good resources.
If you want to read the bible www.readscripture.org is a good app to download. You can journey through the bible and it has helpful videos to explain the different topics. www.youversion.com is a Bible App and has helpful reading plans that range from a few days to weeks.
It is likely that you may have copies of Our Daily Bread, Word for Today or other devotional books that can be easily utilised again.
To help form a rhythm of prayer why not set aside a time each day to stop and pray. Set an alarm to remind yourself to spend time in prayer. There is so much to pray about in this time in our world and community during this crisis or simply take time to say the Lord’s Prayer.
Even though we cannot meet together for worship, other options are available. You can check Radio Ulster who broadcast a Sunday morning service at 10.15am the frequency is 92-95 FM. Or Downtown Radio who in light of Churches no longer holding services, are producing a special radio programme with uplifting inspirational music from 7am – 10am on the frequency 1026 am.
Please stay safe and let me know if you need anything. Please know, we have a God in whom we can trust and that He is with us during this time.
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Worship
Sit back, make a cup of tea and enjoy a time of singing and then a message from our president Sam McGuffin.
Great is thy Faithfulness
God of this City- Chris Tomlin
Message by Rev. Sam McGuffin
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Youth and Childrens
Irish Methodist Youth and Childrens Department are posting lot of good ideas and material on their facebook page www.facebook.com/imycd/
Have a look
PLAY IT BY EAR
These guys are doing some live storytelling on Sunday at 3pm and Wednesday at 11am. Find them on their Facebook www.facebook.com/playitbyeardrama
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Thought for Tuesday 24th March
Please excuse my tounge
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Sunday 29th March
How great thou art
Good Good Father
Lord Jesus Christ, we ask you to protect us from the spread of the coronavirus. You are powerful and merciful; let this be our prayer –
“Have mercy on me, my God, have mercy on me, for in you I take refuge. I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed.” (Psalm 57:1 )
Jehovah Shalom, Lord of Peace, we remember those living in coronavirus hotspots and those currently in isolation. May they know your presence in their isolation, your peace in their turmoil and your patience in their waiting. Prince of Peace, you are powerful and merciful; let this be their prayer –
“May your mercy come quickly to meet us, for we are in desperate need. Help us, God our Saviour, for the glory of your name.” (Psalm 79:8)
God of all Comfort and Counsel, we pray for those who are grieving, reeling from the sudden loss of loved ones. May they find your fellowship in their suffering, your comfort in their loss, and your hope in their despair. We name before you those known to us who are vulnerable and scared - the frail, the sick and the elderly. [pause] God of all Comfort, you are powerful and merciful; may this be our prayer –
“He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us.” (2 Corinthians 1:10 )
Jehovah Rapha, God who heals, we pray for all medical professionals dealing daily with the intense pressures of this crisis. Grant them resilience in weariness, discernment in diagnosis, and compassion upon compassion as they care. We thank you for the army of researchers working steadily and quietly towards a cure - give them clarity, serendipity and unexpected breakthrough today. Would you rise above this present darkness as the Sun of Righteousness with healing in your rays. May this be our prayer –
“Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.” (Jeremiah 32:17 )
God of all Wisdom, we pray for our leaders: the World Health Organisation, national governments, and local leaders too - heads of schools, hospitals and other institutions. Since you have positioned these people in public service for this hour, we ask you to grant them wisdom beyond their own wisdom to contain this virus, faith beyond their own faith to fight this fear, and strength beyond their own strength to sustain vital institutions through this time of turmoil. God of all Wisdom and Counsel, you are powerful and merciful; may this be our prayer –
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear” (Psalms 46:1-2 )
I bless you with the words of Psalm 91:“Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.” (Psalm. 91:3-7 )
“Answer me when I call to you, my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; have mercy on me and hear my prayer.” (Psalm 4:1 )
May El Shaddai, the Lord God Almighty who loves you protect you. May Jesus Christ, His Son who died for you save you. And may the Holy Spirit who broods over the chaos and fills you with his presence, intercede for you and in you for others at this time.
“The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack and will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory for ever and ever. Amen.” (2 Timothy 4:18 )
“Sovereign Lord, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for you.” (Jeremiah 32:17 )
Amen
A Prayer for Deliverance from the Coronavirus by Pete Greig & 24-7 Prayer
Message from Psalm 42
The Grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all now and for evermore. Amen.
The Grace
Music to lead worship
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Prayer course from your sofa
Tuesday nights @ 7.30 pm starting 14th April.
24/7 prayer have produced a prayer course that runs over 8 weeks using the Lord’s Prayer. Press on the picture above to check it out.
With not being able to meet in person let’s try something new, meeting each week in our homes watching an online session and then discuss together using technology.
The plan is for each participant to start at 7.30pm spend a few moments in stillness and preparation and then watch the 20min session on your laptop or phone. At 8pm we will have a video chat where we will have around a discussion following the questions given and a finish with a time of prayer. I know this may be daunting and has a real possibility to being awkward, but it will be worth it as we study, learn and pray together in this time.
If you are interested in joining in the discussion send me an email at aconly@outlook.com and I will get it set up and guide you through the process if needed.
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Weekly Wednesday thought
give thanks in all circumstances
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Joanmount Worship Playlist
I have put together a collection of worship songs that you can listen to on Spotify.
(you may need to download the app)
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Palm Sunday 5th April
Make way, make way
All creatures of our God and King
Bible reading Matthew 21:1-11
a different perspective
A call to pray
Join us in this island-wide, Church-wide call to prayer today Sunday, 5th April between 3pm-4pm. We will be joining with Christians across the island of Ireland from every background/denomination to lift our hearts and voices together in prayer for our world, our land, our neighbours and loved ones. In unity and togetherness.
Click on the picture above to get some resources to help lead you during that time.
I will be posting a message for Holy Week on Wednesday, Thursday and Good Friday to help us journey to Easter Sunday
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Holy Week Wednesday thought
How deep the Father's love
Meekness and Majesty
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Holy Week Thursday Thought
The servant King
Bible readings
Gospel - John 13 & 1 Corinthians 11:23-26
11:23 For I received from the Lord what I also handed on to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took a loaf of bread,
11:24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me."
11:25 In the same way he took the cup also, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me."
11:26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
Here is love
Rev Alan Lorimer - Maundy Thursday
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Good Friday service of reflection
To access this service click on the image to open up the video.
The complete service is found there in one continuous reflection.
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Songs for Easter Sunday
1. Christ the Lord is risen today
2. See what a morning
3. In Christ alone
4. Thine be the glory
5. Forever
6. Man of sorrows
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Weekly Wednesday thought
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Sunday 19th April
The Methodist Church in Ireland's Lay Leader designate Hazel Loney shares a message “the voice of the resurrected exalted Christ”.
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Weekly Wednesday thought
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Sunday 26th April
Music for worship
Luke 24:13-35
Lord Jesus Christ,
Stay with us, too, we pray,
in every part of our journey,
no matter how full of doubt or fear we may be today.
Through your Holy Spirit,
we pray that you will open our eyes, too
Help us see you as our risen Lord
in all your beauty,
and in all your loving power.
Amen.
John Witvliet,
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Weekly Wednesday thought
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Sunday 3rd May
The Good Samaratin
God of grace, we turn to you in prayer in this difficult time in which the spread of a pandemic infection has forced our governments restrictive measures that limit the normal course of life, they block our sociality and risk making us shut up in our increasingly small sphere, but they are necessary.
God of love, help us to maintain community bonds and solidarity with our sisters and brothers, especially with those who are in sickness and need, and help us to be a family for those who are without a family.
God of healing, we pray for those who have been infected and for their family members, give them the courage to face this moment of illness; we pray for all healthcare workers who are spending so much to manage this epidemic competently and generously, for scientists who are working hard on a cure in a short time; give them all strength and vision to face and try to stop this epidemic.
God of mercy, allow us to live this time as a profitable opportunity to reflect on our experience of faith and on our being part of an easy society prey to fear and discouragement in the face of adversity; help us, despite the difficulties of this situation, to keep us united and open to others, help us not forgetting all the other great tragedies that undermine peace and disrupt the world.
God of salvation, we pray you to support us in fighting the chains of exploitation and injustice and help us to maintain chains of solidarity throughout Europe; please don't abandon us to the fear of contagion, but even more to the contagion of fear for Christ Jesus our brother and savior. Amen
Rev. Mirella Manocchio
Compassion hymn
The power of his name
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Weekly Wednesday thought
Even when I don't see it, You're working.
Even when I can't feel it, You're working.
You never stop, You never stop working.
You never stop, You never stop working.
Way maker
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Sunday 10th May
Because He lives
Blessed assurance
Weekly Wednesday thought
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Sunday 17th May
Alleluia sing to Jesus
Come people of the risen King
Who you say i am
Joanmount Lockdown Life
Sunday Service Material
Weekly Wednesday thought
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Sunday 24th May
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Today we celebrate Aldersgate Sunday with a special service prepared by the Methodist Church in Ireland and have been asked to join together across the island.
We will hear from Gillie Hinds who will bring us a reading and an address, along with President - Rev Sam McGuffin, Lay Leader - Lynda Neilands, Aaron & Amy from the TOM Team and Hannah Alderdice and Elise Turner from The Church of the Resurrection.
Lock Down Life
Keep the photos coming in as we make our way through Lockdown.
Weekly Wednesday thought
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