Introduction by Revd Alex Pease: What we are about in Itchen Valley Parish is encouraging people to become followers of Jesus Christ; to become his disciples; to be empowered by the Holy Spirit for God’s purposes in our lives.  A key staging post on that journey is saying the prayer set out at the end of this post.  If said with sincerity, we start to change in a wonderful way.

Our Valley Worship services this year have focused on what St Paul says in his letter to the Philippians about the ways in which we can expect to change.  In February we heard about the New Heart – the whole new attitude we have in Jesus Christ.  In March we heard about the New Purpose that we have for our lives – a purpose which is beyond ourselves and this month we are hearing from Gerry about the New Attitude which we will have to life and to others.

A recording of Gerry’s talk follows:

Philippians 2:1–11(NRSV)

Imitating Christ’s Humility

2If then there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation from love, any sharing in the Spirit, any compassion and sympathy, ² make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. ³ Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility regard others as better than yourselves. ⁴ Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others. ⁵ Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,

⁶ who, though he was in the form of God,

did not regard equality with God

as something to be exploited,

⁷ but emptied himself,

taking the form of a slave,

being born in human likeness.

And being found in human form,

⁸ he humbled himself

and became obedient to the point of death—

even death on a cross.

⁹Therefore God also highly exalted him

and gave him the name

that is above every name,

¹⁰ so that at the name of Jesus

every knee should bend,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

¹¹ and every tongue should confess

that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

A Prayer for a New Heart

Lord Jesus Christ
I am sorry for the things
I have done wrong in my life
(take a few moments
to ask for His forgiveness
for anything that is on your conscience)

Please forgive me.

I now turn from everything
that I know that is wrong.

Thank you that you died on the Cross
for me, so that I could be forgiven
and set free.

Thank you that you offer me forgiveness
and the gift of your Spirit.

I now receive that gift.

Please come into my life
by your Holy Spirit,
to be with me for ever.

Thank you Lord Jesus

Amen