Phone: 01695 578990|office@lancashirewest.org.uk

About admin

This author has not yet filled in any details.
So far admin has created 102 blog entries.

Finding Beauty in the Small Things

Can you find one thing inside or outside your home that is small but precious and beautiful to you? It may be a pebble, a flower, a favourite toy or something that you have made yourself. We are all precious in God's Eyes, however small we may be.

This week many of us will have seen and felt the gentle rainfall of Spring after many days of beautiful dry sunny weather.

Some families in far away places right now, don't have the joy of the rain. Rainfall is precious to them. Their world is dry, meaning that they may face many different challenges to us.

In Peru, Gloria, age 9 said " If I could change the world, I would collect water and grow plants, they help give us life, they protect us so that we can breathe fresh air

Thank you God that we can breathe fresh air and enjoy both the sunshine AND the rain.

Here are two activities which you may like to do together in your family, you could each even spend some quiet time on your own and then later share your thoughts about the small things.

Collect some rainwater and make a little rain pond, (you can use tap water if you don't have any rain)

Use any small or large container.

Fill your little pond with anything you find, stones, shells, grass, petals, anything at all… Say thank you to God for the joy of His life giving water.

Share a piece of bread and take a drink of water with your family.

One cup, one bread, one family.

2. Make a Nature Box thanking God for all his Creation.

Any carton will do. You can use an egg box if you have one.

Collect small things from around your home or on your daily walk.

Talk about the things you have put in your box and say "We thank you God"

Finding Beauty in the Small Things2021-05-20T13:02:03+00:00

I Can Pray a Rainbow

"I can pray a rainbow…" Genesis 9 v 13

God placed a rainbow in the sky as a symbol of his promise never again to send a flood like the one Noah survived in the ark. Today, the rainbow is a symbol of hope for us all.

Here are two rainbow inspired activities for you and your family to explore together.

A RAINBOW PRAYER HUNT

Go on a search round your house and try to find something of each of the colours below.
Here is a prayer you can say for each colour as you find them.

RED  ❤️ Thank you God that you love us and are always with us.

ORANGE (amber traffic light picture ) Dear God please help us to be patient, to  listen to you as we wait for this crisis to end.

YELLOW (sad face emoji) Dear God, please help all those who are scared. May they know your perfect peace that takes away fear.

GREEN (first aid sign) Dear God please look after all those who are sick, give them the treatment and help they need.

BLUE (NHS sign) Dear God please protect all those who are working for the NHS, thank you for all they are doing to protect us.

PURPLE ( purple crown symbol) Thank you God that we are children of the King of Kings. Thank you that even though we are in difficult times we can trust in you.
Amen

RAINBOW LEAF PRINTS

Use washable coloured markers to colour a rainbow pattern on the back of a big leaf. Keep changing colours. Now you are ready to print. Grab some paper and a damp paper towel. Wipe across your paper with the paper towel so that it is just damp, not soggy. Turn the coloured part of the leaf on to the paper and press down gently. Press all over and then carefully remove the leaf. Try a fresh leaf and a different rainbow pattern – spirals, stripes, classic rainbow arches. They all turn out differently but they are all bright and beautiful.

I Can Pray a Rainbow2020-04-27T11:36:41+00:00

Isolation

Lord God we pray for all the people who believe they are alone in isolation

Lord we know that they are not alone as you are with them offering strength, courage and comfort

Close their minds, hearts, ears and eyes Lord to fear, anxiety and solitude

Open their minds Lord to unlock your love and allow them to cast all their anxieties on to you

Open their eyes Lord and allow them to see your presence

Open their ears Lord and allow them to listen to your message of hope

Open their hearts Lord, uplift them and strengthen their faith so that they shall not be afraid

Lord God give them this courage and comfort in your name

Amen

 

George Lloyd

Isolation2020-04-25T10:31:38+00:00

A Prayer for our Schools

Heavenly Father, we thank you that the students are able once more to go back into our schools, to work, learn and play together.

We are grateful to everyone who has worked so hard to make our schools safe for this to happen. Despite unprecedented challenges faced with COVID-19.

We pray that school leadership, parents, and students will have amazing learning and growing experiences and they will come to appreciate one another as never before.

We pray that challenges will become opportunities to learn not only academically but to discover new life lessons as well.

We pray that hearts will turn to Jesus Christ and find in Him their source of joy, peace, and fulfilment. May we seek ways to bless and encourage one another throughout the school year and be carriers of God's love and presence.

Thank you in the name of Jesus,

Amen

A Prayer for our Schools2020-04-24T19:06:47+00:00

Prayer

Loving Father, we thank you for your presence during these troubled times. We ask that you guide us and help us to reflect on the part we can play in accepting that the life and society we thought we enjoyed is now subject to fundamental change.  May we take this opportunity to focus on new directions.  May we adapt and prepare ourselves and our communities for whatever lies ahead.  Thank you for those who use their skills to care for others.  May we, too, in whatever way we can, spread your love and care to those around us.  Grant wisdom to our decision makers and may they be guided by your ways of compassion, truth and justice. Amen

Barrie

Prayer2020-04-24T14:48:46+00:00

A Prayer for those on the Frontline

Heavenly Father, thank You for all those caring for, protecting, and serving our communities, our families, and us. Thank You for all those people daily risking their own health and safety for others.

Gracious God, we pray for their protection. Please give then the courage and strength to deal with the demands made upon them.

Please provide everything they need, both for the people they are serving and for their loved ones. Help us to support them and their families as they care selflessly for others.

In Jesus' Name, Amen.

A Prayer for those on the Frontline2021-01-21T14:41:31+00:00

Prayer for a Pandemic

May we who are  inconvenienced remember those whose lives are at stake.

May we who have no risk factors remember those most vulnerable.

May we who have to cancel our trips remember those who have no safe place to go.

May we who are losing our margin money in the tumult of the economic market remember those who have no margin at all.

May we who settle in for a quarantine at home remember those who have no home.

May we who have the luxury of working from home remember those who must choose between preserving their health or making their rent.

May we who have the flexibility to care for our children when their schools close remember those who have no options.

As fear grips our country, let us choose love.

During this time when we cannot physically wrap our arms around each other, let us yet find ways to be the loving embrace of God to our neighbours.

Amen.

Prayer for a Pandemic2020-04-18T17:37:58+00:00

Creation Garden

On your daily walk (or even indoors), collect some items that you can make a mini prayer garden with. A paper plate, an egg box, anything will do. Just add things, that you collect and say thank you to God for all that he has created for you.

Creation Garden2021-01-21T14:33:26+00:00

Thank You Prayer

Use chalks to create your own family prayer picture. Draw your home and family, you can even cut out people using paper and add them to your picture. Include the names of people you'd like to pray for. If you can make bubbles, send a prayer as each bubbles floats away, or even shout out loud the name of someone who is helping you everyday and say thank you.

Thank You Prayer2021-01-21T14:32:10+00:00

The Good Samaritan

And now an activity from Rachael, Reuben and Myah who read the Story of the good Samaritan together.

One day Jesus told a story to a man who asked him how to be a good neighbour.  "There once was a Jewish man walking along a road.  He was coming from Jerusalem and was heading to Jericho, which was a full day or two of walking.The road was rocky and there were small hills all around. The man was just humming to himself and enjoying the nice day when suddenly a group of men jumped out from behind a hill. They took all his belongings and tore off most of his clothes. They didn't want him to follow them so they beat him up very badly, and left him lying and bleeding on the side of the road. A few minutes later, a priest was walking down the same path and noticed the man lying on the side of the road. But he crossed the road and walked on the other side and acted like he didn't see the man. About an hour or so later, another man, called a Levite, was walking down the road.  Levites were people who assisted priests with their work. He slowed down and walked a little closer to the man, but then kept walking without helping him at all. Just a few minutes later, another man came walking. He was a Samaritan.  But as soon as he saw the man, he went over to him and felt compassion for him.  He put bandages on his sores and poured oil and wine (which were quite expensive) on the sores to prevent them from getting worse.  Then he lifted the man on his own donkey and took him to a hotel to take care of him. After Jesus finished the story, he asked, "Which of the three men do you think was a neighbour to the man who was left beaten on the side of the road?" The man who asked him the question at the beginning replied, "The one who had compassion and helped him." Jesus told him, "Go and do the same."

The story of the good Samaritan demonstrates that friendship is defined by love and compassion, not race. This handprint craft will encourage us to think of ways we can lend a helping hand to our neighbours.

The Good Samaritan2021-01-21T14:30:06+00:00
Go to Top