It's Wednesday, 24th June 2020. 
Hello everyone, it’s Mr Keep here. 

May the Lord be with you.

We are Bishop Ridley, we are One Community, Learning & Growing Together, Sharing the Love of God.

This week we are thinking about the Christian Value of Love.

Our Bible passage for today carries forward from yesterday - The Way of Love from 1 Corinthians 13:1- 8 

You can watch a short animation of the verse here, or read it below (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8F9_A7XIU6k )

1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned,[a] but have not love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;[b] 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.

Our song for today is a popular ‘classic’ – Colours of Day

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4kFVUfM3PA
 

Our thought for the day

If you joined us yesterday, you will know that this week we are thinking about Love. (Perhaps the medley of songs stuck in your mind, too! I was humming them all day! )

Either talking to someone near you, or using a pencil and paper, try to complete this sentence. You could try to find as any ways to do this as you can in 1 minute and then share your ideas with people near you:

"Love is …. "

I wonder what you came up with? Think about this sentence:

Love is an action. 

I wonder what you think about this? Do you agree? 

I wonder how you know that someone loves you? Hopefully through their actions, words and thoughts. 

I wonder if you think this description of love goes across all the different types of love we talked about yesterday:
•    love between brothers and sisters and other family members,
•    love between friends,
•    romantic love,
•    love you have for your favourite food or
•    the love you feel for your pets. 

The Bible also talks about different types of love. “Agape” love is mentioned many times in the New Testament as it describes selfless, unconditional love. That means, doing something for others without expecting anything in return.

The Christian Aid Week appeal for this year used the tag line 

https://www.christianaid.org.uk/appeals/key-appeals/christian-aid-week
 
Christian Aid have asked all those who support them to give by sharing love, to help others practically. This is another example of agape love. 

Reflection Time 

For our reflection time today, spend a couple of moments thinking about how you can show agape love for others. Helping to share love, without expecting anything in return.

A prayer for today

Today, you could spend a couple of moments praying for the work of Christian Aid and for those countries around the world who do not have access to health care, financial and food support as we do in the UK. Christians believe that prayer is an important action and is useful, even if you are not in a position to give money to support charities.

The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. 
Amen.
 

And finally, by popular demand, another chance to listen to the medley of songs about love.