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Friday 1 February 2019

A few thoughts on healing

On Sunday at our 10 am service we will have a time for prayer for healing and anointing with oil. We know that God can and does heal today. We see in the Bible Jesus’ love and compassion as he heals those who ask him.Yet each of us will have our own questions about healing. Why does God not always heal? What part does our faith and, indeed our desperation play? How do we pray sensitively for others? What does healing look like in our fallen world? 

It is Jesus who teaches us how to pray: “your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven”. And that is true too for prayer for healing. We pray trusting in the one who knows us and loves us and whose will is perfect unlike our own. As Jesus asked blind Bartimaeus “What do you want me to do for you”, so too as we tell him our deepest longings and surrender ourselves to him,  he can begin to transform us and make us whole. He is our greatest need and only in him will we find life in all its fullness, both now and for eternity.

Rev Sarah Jones

BURN 24/7 - Last minute changes!

Due to the weather conditions and the difficulties of coming to and parking around St Matthew's, the organisers of Burn 24/7 have decided to move tonight's event to:
New Hope Church
95 York Road
Reading RG1 8DU
Burn 24-7 Reading! This is a gathering of people from across Reading for a time of non-stop worship and prayer.  All are welcome. Come for as little or long as you like.
Family-friendly worship happens between 4-5pm. https://www.facebook.com/Burn247Reading/

Book your place NOW

Come to St Matthew's on the following days to book and pay:

Monday 4 Feb --- 2 - 4pm
Tuesday 5 Feb --- 9 - 10am
Wednesday 6 Feb --- 2 - 4pm
Friday 8 Feb --- 5 - 6pm

£2 per day and 50p for tuck!
 
Do you have any pretty glass jars that can be painted over?

Lynn would like to use them for some of the crafts during Holiday Club. Please bring them to church on Sunday or drop them at the office. Thank you!


Holiday Club could still do with a few extra helpers
Please consider joining us for this exciting event, even it's only for one morning. We meet at 9.30am for prayer and finish by 12.30pm. Coffee and donuts on arrival for all the volunteers!
We all enjoy our coffee and a chat after the service, but our wonderful Coffee Team is short of a couple of people. It doesn't seem like much but it makes a big difference to us if we can count on some regular extra help. Please consider joining this friendly team. If you are new, it's a brilliant opportunity to get to know people. And no need to commit for life... perhaps for a term, or maybe for 2019? The church provides everything so you don't need to spend any money, and you only need to get here about 10 mins before the service. Commitment is normally 2 or 3 times per term.
GIVE IT A GO!
Please let Jan Ball or Isabel know. We'd love to hear from you!
 
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