Pew News April – June 2026
Readings for the Sunday service
April 2026
| 5th (Easter Day) | Acts 10v34-43 | Colossians 3v1-4 | John 20v1-18 |
| 12th | Acts 2v14a, 22-32 | 1 Peter 1v3-9 | John20v19-end |
| 19th | Acts 2v14a, 36-41 | 1 Peter1v17-23 | Luke 34v13-35 |
| 26th | Acts 2v42-end | 1 Peter2v19-end | John 10v1-10 |
May 2026
| 3rd | Acts7v55-end | 1Peter2v2-10 | John14v1-14 |
| 10th | Acts 17v22-31 | 1Peter3v13-end | John 14v15-21 |
| 17th | Acts 1v6-14 | 1Peter4v12, 5v6-11 | John 17v1-11 |
| 24th (Pentecost) | Acts2v1-21 | 1Corinthians 12v3-13 | John 20v19-23 |
| 31st (Trinity) | Isaiah 40v12-17,27-end | 2Corinthians 13v11-end | Matthew 28v16-end |
June 2026
| 7th | Hosea 5v15-6v6 | Romans 4v13-end | Matthew 9v9-13, 18-26 |
| 14th | Exodus 19v2-8a | Romans 5v1-8 | Matthew 9v35-10v8 |
| 21st | Jeremiah 20v7-13 | Romans 6v1-11 | Matthew 10v24-39 |
| 28th | Jeremiah 28v5-9 | Romans 6v12-end | Matthew 10v40-end |
July 2026
| 5th | Zechariah 9v9-12 | Romans7v15-25 | Matthew 11v16-19, 25-end |
Revised Web Site
You may have noticed that the church web site has been unavailable for a few weeks. This has been due to the site being revised and updated in style and content by Andrew Michael from his location in Colorado, USA. He was concerned about what he could do to be of some help to Zion, but being so far away, practical involvement is unrealistic.
For many years we have been indebted to Tim Prosser for obtaining the church domains, and maintaining them at his own expense as his gift to the Lord’s work here. Andrew has now taken over the domains and the site is being hosted by another company. it will be initially much the same as before, but with greater bandwidth and possibilities to put more content online if we should need it.
The web address is the same as before at zionfreechurch.org.uk You will also find the pew news readings there too.
Springtime
Song of Solomon 2v11-12 reminds us Lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone, the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of the birds is come and the voice of the turtle dove is heard in our land.
It seems to have been a cloudy and wet winter, quite depressing at times, though not with much severe cold. When we get three sunny days together, it gives fresh hope that with longer days and hopefully with some warmer air temperatures, summer is not too far away.
The appearance of the yellow spring flowers, the cheerful song of the blackbird and the sight of jackdaws nesting in the chimneys intent on raising a family reminds us that there is an unstoppable progression of life. The course of nature itself teaches that after the death of winter comes new life in spring and the blossoming of that life in summer.
After the cross, death and burial comes resurrection and life and hope.
Without our intervention, the sun rises and sustains the growth in grasses and crops. The Son of God has overcome the darkness of death, now risen with healing in his wings to minister growth and light to his church. It is inevitable and unstoppable.
Springtime
Song of Solomon 2v11-12 reminds us:
Lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone, the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of the birds is come and the voice of the turtle dove is heard in our land.
It seems to have been a cloudy and wet winter, quite depressing at times, though not with much severe cold. When we get three sunny days together, it gives fresh hope that with longer days and hopefully with some warmer air temperatures, summer is not too far away.
The appearance of the yellow spring flowers, the cheerful song of the blackbird and the sight of jackdaws nesting in the chimneys intent on raising a family reminds us that there is an unstoppable progression of life. The course of nature itself teaches that after the death of winter comes new life in spring and the blossoming of that life in summer.
After the cross, death and burial comes resurrection and life and hope.
Without our intervention, the sun rises and sustains the growth in grasses and crops. The Son of God has overcome the darkness of death, now risen with healing in his wings to minister growth and light to his church. It is inevitable and unstoppable.
Ann Batt
Ann is back at her usual place after a successful amputation of her leg. She seems very pleased about the skill of the surgical team who completed the work to a high standard of cosmetic skill. Ann is suffering very little discomfort but is disappointed that since she was awake for the surgery, the team placed a screen in front of her field of vision so preventing her having a perfect view of the proceedings. She was looking forward to watching how it was done.
We give thanks to God for His mercies, for the quick response of the health service to her urgent need, for the evident success of the surgery and for Ann’s peace of heart.
The Celtic Saints
The names of David, Patrick, Columba, George and Aiden, are known to many but their spiritual legacies less so. There is a prayer attributed to St Patrick known as the shield prayer which resonates with a daily commitment and trust in the Lord. An excerpt is printed below:
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the threeness,
Through confession of the oneness,
Of the Creator of Creation.
Christ is Risen indeed!