Rivertown United Reformed Church

The lectionary readings for the month of May are as follows.....

1 May

• Acts 17:22-31
• John 14:15-21
• Psalm 66:8-20
• 1 Peter 3:13-22

EASTER 6

8 May

• Acts 1:6-14
• John 17:1-11
• Psalm 68:1-10, 32-35
• 1 Peter 4:12-14, 5:6-11

EASTER 7

15 May

• Acts 2:1-21
• John 20:19-23
• Psalm 104:24-34, 35b
• 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13

PENTECOST

22 May

• Genesis 1:1-2:4a
• Matthew 28:16-20
• Psalm 8
• 2 Corinthians 13:11-13

TRINITY

29 May

• Deuteronomy 11:18-21, 26-28
• Matthew 7:21-29
• Psalm 31:1-5, 19-24
• Romans 1:16-17, 3:22b-28

PENTECOST 2

Happy reading and fruitful preparation!

My dear friends,

You've probably heard of the playwright Dennis Potter. He wrote such plays as "Pennies from Heaven" and "The Singing Detective", both of which were screened on television. Shortly before he died he was interviewed by Melvyn Bragg on the South Bank Show. He had cancer of the liver and spleen and only had a matter of weeks to live.

It was a remarkable interview because Dennis Potter was totally positive. There was not an ounce of self-pity in the man. He just wanted to live each of his remaining days as it came, and to do all that he could in that time. I found it very moving throughout, but one thing he said has remained with me: "Life can only be defined in the present tense."

What did he mean when he said those words? I think he was saying 'today's what counts.' Dennis Potter said that he cherished every minute and was able to see things with fresh eyes. As he looked at some blossom on a tree he said that it was "the richest, whitest, blossomiest blossom" he'd ever beheld. Isn't that wonderful!

• Amen: The only part of a prayer that everyone knows.
• Notice sheet: Your receipt for attending morning service.
• Recessional Hymn: The last song at Sunday morning worship, often sung quietly, since most of the people have already left.
• Jonah: The original Jaws story.
• Pew: A Medieval torture device still found in some churches.

Thank you to Margery for this item.

The lectionary readings for the month of April are as follows.....

3 April

• Exodus 15:1-11
• John 20:19-31
• Psalm 16
• 1 Peter 1:3-9

EASTER 2

10 April

• Isaiah 51:1-6
• Luke 24:13-35
• Psalm 116:1-3, 10-17
• 1 Peter 1:17-23

EASTER 3

17 April

• Exodus 34:7-15
• John 10:1-10
• Psalm 23
• 1 Peter 2:19-25

EASTER 4

24 April

• Proverbs 4:10-18
• John 14:1-14
• Psalm 31:1-5, 15-16
• 1 Peter 2:2-10

EASTER 5

Happy reading and fruitful preparation!

Peter Rixham would like to say thank you to all, for prayers over the past four years.

*I was ready to "pop my clogs" as Betty would say, as from the start the cancer was inoperable and terminal.

But with the help of prayers from you all and the never-ending love and support of Betty, life is sweet.

Thank you and God bless, Peter.*

Dear Friends at Rivertown,

Thank you for the flowers, cards and to the visitors who kindly visited me in hospital while I was recovering from my hip replacement operation.

It has been a success and I am now feeling much better.

Thanks once again. God bless you all.

Doris Baines.

1. No matter how hard you try, you can't baptise cats.
2. When your Mom is mad at your Dad, don't let her brush your hair.
3. If your sister hits you, don't hit her back. They always catch the second person.
4. Never ask your 3-year old brother to hold a tomato.
5. You can't trust dogs to watch your food.
6. Don't sneeze when someone is cutting your hair.
7. Never hold a Dust-Buster and a cat at the same time.
8. You can't hide a piece of broccoli in a glass of milk.
9. Don't wear polka-dot underwear under white shorts.
10. The best place to be when you're sad is Grandpa's lap.

Thank you to Tom Dale, who has very kindly agreed to be our fabric contact person. If you find anything in church that needs to be repaired or replaced then let Tom know. Tom will not be doing all the work himself but will be able to contact the right people to get the job completed.

At the retirement service held for Mrs Flo Buckell at Shotton Baptist Church recently, many memories were recalled. One related by Mrs Buckell concerned her childhood when she was about five years old. She had three brothers and learnt how to play football, cricket, etc.! but her favourite "game" was playing churches. She would follow an order of service, just as she had seen it done in their local chapel.

Complaining to her mother that her brothers wouldn’t join in this game with her, the boys were told that they should share some time with their sister and take part. Having organised them to sit in a row, and having sung a hymn, she then told her brothers that they would pray. She offered up a prayer, and when sheopened her eyes, her brothers had disappeared from sight and were playing their own games outside! (Did this show the power of prayer in a different way?) It obviously didn’t discourage her from becoming the pastor of Shotton Baptist Church in later life, for which many people were thankful. They certainly filled the building and it was a joyous occasion.

May there always be work for your hands to do,
May your purse always hold a coin or two,
May the sun always shine on your window-pane,
May a rainbow be certain to follow each rain,
May the hand of a friend always be near you,
May God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.

Thank you to Margery for this item.