Stockton Methodist Circuit

LENT 3A 8th March 2026 A short act of worship and daily devotions Opening Prayers As you sit here in this space you call your own ready to meet the living God remember… You are connected to people of faith worshipping in different ways and places. You are part of a community of saints that have worshipped for generations. You are joined with others across the world choosing to do the same. Here in this special space where God has been for all time you are free to worship. So

LENT 2A A short act of worship and daily devotions Opening Prayers Throughout the ages, people have turned aside from productivity and business in order to worship. Across the centuries, we have turned our praise to God on high. Today, you are joining in with this ancient tradition, And marking this Lord’s day, in this place, wherever you are today. Hold a period of quiet, and then join in with these words, reading aloud or in your head, when you are ready. Loving Lord, As

LENT 1A 22nd February 2026 A short act of worship and daily devotions Opening Prayers Now is the time to worship, Now is the time to open your heart, Now is the time to receive God’s blessing, Now is the time to be inspired to follow Christ again this week, Now is the time to be attentive to what the Spirit may be asking you to do. Now is here, come Lord Jesus. Christ, the forgiver and redeemer, I praise you. How wonderful that you know what it is to be in the wilderness, wa

TRANSFIGURATION SUNDAY A 15th February 2026 A short act of worship and daily devotions Opening Prayers Sit down, close your eyes and breathe three deep, slow breaths. Keeping your eyes closed – pay attention to your breath for a minute or more and in doing so, when you breathe in, imagine you are breathing in the love of God. When you open your eyes look around you, what do you notice in your room that reminds you of the love of God? If this is something you can hold, hold it

EPIPHANY 5A 8th February 2026 A short act of worship and daily devotions Opening Prayers Hush. Be still. Rest in this House of God. You are welcome here. Hush. Be still. Come with all you are, the bitter and broken bits, the shining and shimmering parts, the questions and the doubts, the convictions and the certainties. Hush. Be still. Bow your knees in quiet humility (you might like to physically do this, or simply imagine it). As you, find a way to confess and know your ow

EPIPHANY 4A 1st February 2026 A short act of worship and daily devotions Opening Prayers Lord of fresh starts and new beginnings, At the start of this new month, Show me how to start again, show me how to love you and follow in your way, This and every day. And as I come to this space today to praise you, O God, I acknowledge that I sometimes feel like I am carrying the burdens of this earthly world. [space for quiet reflection] Loving God, thank you that I can come to you

EPIPHANY 3A 25th January 2026 A short act of worship and daily devotions Opening Prayers God is everywhere In this space and all spaces In this time and all times. God is waiting to meet you and is ready to welcome you Just as it has been for all eternity So be still. Pause Get ready to notice the spirit working Through words on the page Through sounds around you Through familiar and unfamiliar smells Through all that you see when you look up from what you are reading T

EPIPHANY 2A 18th January 2026 A short act of worship and daily devotions Opening prayers Here I am, stepping out of the kingdom of comfort, And into the kingdom of heaven, Leaving behind productivity and busy-ness, Entering a place of stillness and be-ing. We are only human and sometimes we can be blinkered, too scared to shine, live a life hiding so much of ourselves, feeling unworthy… BUT, we are told… You are worthy… You are loved… Your name is written on my hand, Every h

BAPTISM OF THE LORD SUNDAY A 11th January 2026 A short act of worship and daily devotions Opening Prayers When all around is noisy and busy, help me in this moment to be still with you Silence When my mind is chaotic and full of wondering, help me in this moment to be sure of you Silence When my soul is troubled, help me in this moment to be calmed by you Silence If you feel able speak these words aloud Still, calm and sure I come to worship you. You may now wish to say the

ADVENT 4A 21st December 2025 Opening prayers You might like to spend a few moments in quiet, perhaps with a candle or two lit around you. Amongst all the noise, busy-ness and advertising of this December season, lean into the stillness of Advent. Into the darkness of this world, Shine your light I pray. Into the fears and doubts of this community we call home, Shine your light I pray. Into the anxiety, worry and pain that I carry, Shine your light I pray, This Advent and alw

ADVENT 3A 14th December 2025 Opening Prayers O come, O come Immanuel, Come that I might know you close, Come that I might encounter you, Come that your Spirit might be in the midst of today’s conversations and stillness, This day’s working and playing, My striving and my resting. Ever faithful and loving God, I come before you today on the third Sunday in advent. Come, O come, I pray Amen. Hymn / Song 176 STF – Like a candle flame, flickering small in our darkness – YouTube

ADVENT 2A 7th December 2025 Opening Prayers I have come into this space, Come, O come, Lord Jesus, Immanuel. May I know your presence here with me, in this advent season. May I know the light of your love shining through and into my life. Peaceful and Gracious God, I thank you today on this second Sunday in Advent, For fulfilling your promises, spoken through prophets, in your son Jesus Christ, Bringing chances of hope and peace in the prospect of a new era of justice. Teac