WHAT GOD DOES IN OUR LIVES - REVEREND VANESSA WYSE-JACKSON

"God gives us love and grace. God understands. God cares. God wishes to have a relationship with us."

                                                             Reverend Vanessa Wyse-Jackson

Public sermon by Reverend Vanessa Wyse Jackson December 2014; Dublin Ireland

Song of the open table

God gives us Love and Grace so wide, so deep, so free,
A Mercy flowing endlessly to all humanity;
He understands our sorrow, each hidden joy and tear,
And whispers through the silence, “My dearest child, I'm here.”

For God desires relationship, not distance cold and far,
But closeness like a friendship that knows us as we are;
From dawn of time He’s called us, through ages past and new,
“To walk with Me in covenant, My heart belongs to you.”

From east to west His welcome rings, from north to southern lands,
Through every tongue and nation, held gently in His hands;
The peoples of all ages - past, present, yet to come - 
Are gathered at His table where broken hearts are one.

No one is turned away there, no soul is left outside,
For Christ has opened fully the door none can divide;
At heaven’s feast He calls us, where love will never cease -
A banquet of forgiveness, of joy, of perfect peace.

So let us turn to God now, our true and living Way,
The Path that leads us homeward, the Truth that will not sway;
Let us all thank Christ Jesus, Who bore our sin and shame,
Who gave Himself in Mercy, and called us each by name.

Let us rejoice we’re children of God’s redeeming plan,
Created for His Glory, restored in Son of Man;
Let kindness mark our footsteps, let truth our hearts refine,
And faithfulness be our offering to Love that is Divine.

Poem inspired by Rev Vanessa's sermon

mage courtesy of ChatGPT with CN Whittle "God embracing His children" 

PROMISE OF JESUS - REVEREND VANESSA WYSE-JACKSON

 

"Jesus promises to guide and equip us with everything we need in our lives."

                                                          Reverend Vanessa Wyse-Jackson

Public sermon by Reverend Vanessa Wyse Jackson December 2014; Dublin Ireland

Walking home with Christ

Jesus promises to guide us, to equip us day by day,
To walk with us in mercy along the narrow way;
He does not call and leave us to struggle on alone,
But shares with us His Goodness, and makes our hearts His home.

We need His love to hold us when life feels cold and dim,
We need His grace to strengthen each faltering step to Him;
We need His tender Presence when fears begin to rise -
The steady Light of Jesus, the Truth that never lies.

Our Saviour came to free us from chains we could not break,
To lift the weight of sinfulness no human hand could take;
And now He walks beside us, a friend both near and true,
Companion on the journey in all we say and do.

He gives the holy sacraments, rich gifts of sacred grace,
Through water, Word, and altar, He meets us Face to face;
Freely bestowed, yet treasured; received with grateful heart,
They keep us on the pathway when life feels torn apart.

Yet still He gives more graces than we could understand,
The hidden strength we needed, the touch of His own Hand;
He knows our deepest longing, the needs we cannot see,
Christ fills each empty corner with Divine abundance free.

He is our loving Shepherd, our refuge and our song,
The One who leads the weary and makes the broken strong;
He is the Son of Heaven, in majesty arrayed -
In Our Lord alone we trust; unshaken, unafraid.

So help us, dearest Jesus, to follow where You lead,
To trust Your faithful promise, to rest in You indeed;
Equip us with Your Spirit, and guide us till we see
The home You’ve set before us - Your Love eternally.

Poem inspired by Rev Vanessa's sermon

Image courtesy of ChatGPT and CN Whittle

MEANING OF ADVENT - REVEREND VANESSA WYSE-JACKSON

"Jesus comes to bring meaning to our lives."

                                       Reverend Vanessa Wyse-Jackson

Public sermon by Reverend Vanessa Wyse Jackson December 2014; Dublin Ireland

Christ-Meaning of our lives

Jesus comes to walk our earth, to fill our days with light,
To give a weary world again its purpose, pure and right;
He enters in our silence, our sorrow and our strain,
And turns the weight of aching hearts to hope and love again.

Christ gives a name to teardrops that fall unseen and slow,
He speaks into our darkness a peace the world can know;
Where fear once held its shadow and doubt would claim its place,
He brings the gentle assurance of His redeeming grace.

Christ breathes upon the broken, and life begins anew,
He calls the dead to rising with power Divine and true;
The blind behold His Glory, the sick are made to stand,
For healing flows like Mercy straight from His wounded Hand.

No day is lived in meaninglessness, no step without His plan,
For every soul is cherished within the heart of Man;
We rise not toward a voidness, but toward a promised home,
With Christ Himself beside us, we never walk alone.

The sacraments sustain us, like rivers full and deep,
Where grace becomes the water that wakes the soul from sleep;
In each sacred moment, we learn anew and see,
That Christ has loved us wholly, and loves us endlessly.

So we are not forgotten, nor drifting without end -
But pilgrims on a journey where heaven’s roads descend;
Each morning holds a calling, each evening finds its rest,
For every life is woven into God’s eternal quest.

All praise to Christ our Saviour, the living Lord above,
All praise to Him Who meets us with everlasting Love;
All praise to Christ our King of Light, whose Mercy makes us free,
For He has filled our lives with hope and joy, that we may holy be.

Image courtesy of ChatGPT with CN Whittle "Advent journey under starlight" 

Poem inspired by Rev Vanessa's sermon

GOD'S PLAN OF RESTORATION - REVEREND VANESSA WYSE-JACKSON

"Advent speaks of God's Plan of restoration, to bring His people back to Him."

                                                                  Reverend Vanessa Wyse-Jackson

Public sermon by Reverend Vanessa Wyse Jackson December 2014; Dublin Ireland

Christ-Bridge between God and world

Advent is the dawn of God’s restoring plan,
The healing of creation, the heart of God and man;
For heaven once was shuttered, its bright gates sealed in night,
But Love Himself has opened them in Mercy, Truth, and Light.

The bond once torn asunder, when humankind fell away,
Is gently being mended in the promise of this day;
For God does not abandon the work His Hands have made -
He enters into darkness, that none of us be strayed.

A Child is born in stillness, in poverty and mild,
The Infinite made humble, the everlasting Child;
In Mary’s arms He rests there, in Joseph’s faithful care,
The Maker of all heavens now breathing earthly air.

In that quiet dwelling, a mystery takes its form -
The bridge between all brokenness, our shelter in the storm;
For Christ is God among us, the path we must obey,
The living way to Heaven which clearly shows the way.

Yet still the ancient battle resounds through time and space,
As pride and shadow struggle against this gift of grace;
For satan and his legions would keep us far apart,
Yet Christ has come to conquer them with meek and pierced Heart.

The war is not yet ended, but victory is assured,
For every word God speaks is forevermore secured;
History bends forward to the day all things are healed,
When God will reign in fullness and everyone has kneeled. 

So Advent is our waiting, but also our surcease -
The promise of restoration, the dawning of His peace;
For we are God’s own people, though still we have travail,
He has come to find us, His grace will give avail.

Image courtesy of ChatGPT and CN Whittle "Advent journey under starlight" 

Poem inspired by Rev Vanessa's sermon

TRUE LOVE

"True love involves vulnerability."

                   Reverend Vanessa Wyse-Jackson

Public sermon by Reverend Vanessa Wyse Jackson December 2014; Dublin Ireland

Love untold

When two souls meet and truly see,
A quiet truth in dignity;
No trumpet sounds, no grand display -
Yet God is near in that still way.

A glance that lingers, soft and deep,
A vow unspoken both hearts keep;
In eyes that shine with gentle light,
Love’s sacred flame is born in sight.

And God, who formed each tender heart,
Beholds their union from the start;
He blesses love both pure and true,
When one lives more for thou than “you.”

Yet love is not a path of ease,
Nor always filled with joys that please;
For woven through its golden thread
Are trials where tears are quietly shed.

To love is risk, to trust, to give,
To place one’s heart in how two live;
Each soul laid bare, each weakness known,
No longer walking life alone.

At times the road grows steep and long,
And burdens test the faithful strong;
Yet hand in hand, through dark or day,
God grants the grace to find the way.

In every trial, a chance to grow,
In every pain, His mercies flow;
To learn of Him, of self, of grace,
Reflected in the other’s face.

For love that seeks the other’s good,
And serves as Christ has always stood;
Will rise above the selfish thought,
And bloom more bright by true support.

So step by step, though skies may dim,
Their journey draws them nearer Him;
While hearts once joined in earthly love,
Are led at last to Heaven above.

Image courtesy of ChatGPT with CN Whittle "Divine Blessing on love" 

Poem inspired by Rev Vanessa's sermon

O MARY, QUEEN OF MAY

 

O MARY, QUEEN OF MAY

Queen of May, O gentle Mother fair,
You watch our weary world with tender care;
From heaven’s light your loving gaze descends,
Upon your children, whom your heart befriends.

With blossoms bright we crown your holy brow,
In love and prayer we make our humble vow.
Each petal laid, a quiet act of grace,
A sign of faith no darkness can erase.

You held dear Jesus, so fragile, pure, and mild,
And taught the world through care of holy Divine Child.
In simple deeds, in kindness softly shown,
We echo love that in your life was sown.

In troubled times, as ever they have been,
When hearts grow faint and hope becomes unseen;
We turn to you, O Mother, calm and bright,
To guide our steps again toward heaven’s true light.

Lead us, dear Mother Mary, upon the narrow way,
Through shadowed paths wending onward into eternal day.
We ask you keep us close, whatever may befall;
Sweet Queen of May, our Mother, our dear beloved all.

With thanks to Youtube

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

GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH IS AT ALL NIGHT PRAYER VIGIL. WHY NOT JOIN US?

 

GOOD SHEPHERD CHURCH IS AT ALL NIGHT PRAYER VIGIL. WHY NOT JOIN US?

We pray for:

• Peace in the world and an end to war and violence
• Food for those in need
• Mercy for those in need of mercy
• Justice for those in need of justice
• For those who struggle with addiction
• For all who have been affected by abortion
• For all in prison
• For the conversion to holiness of all
• The poor, the hungry, and the homeless
• The sick, the suffering, and those in hospital
• Those struggling with anxiety, depression, and loneliness
• Families facing hardship, division, or loss
• Children who are neglected, vulnerable, or without guidance
• The unemployed and those burdened by financial stress
• Workers facing exhaustion, injustice, or unsafe conditions
• Leaders of nations, that they may act with wisdom and justice
• The Church and her mission in the world
• Those who have lost faith or feel far from God
• Victims of crime, abuse, and injustice
• The elderly, especially those who feel forgotten
• Students and teachers, for perseverance and wisdom
• Those discerning their vocation in life
• The protection of unborn life and respect for all human dignity
• Care for creation and the environment
• Those who have died, and the comfort of those who mourn
• Gratitude for blessings received and prayers for continued guidance
• For conversion to faith of those who are lonely for the Word of God
• We pray for all in financial difficulty
• We pray for all in legal difficulty
• We pray for all new parents
• We pray for those who have suffered bereavements

Prayer for the Needs of the World

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Opening Prayer

Heavenly Father, we come before You with humble hearts, entrusting to You the needs of the world. May our prayers rise before You with faith and trust.

For Peace in the World

We pray for peace among nations, an end to war and violence, and for all who suffer from conflicts.

For the Poor and the Suffering

We pray for the poor, the hungry, the homeless, the sick, and all who endure hardship in body or spirit.

For Families and Communities

We pray for families facing division, for children in need of care, and for healing in homes and communities.

For Workers and Those in Need

We pray for the unemployed, for workers facing difficulty, and for all seeking dignity and purpose in their labour.

For the Church and All Souls

We pray for the Church, for those who have lost faith, for the dying, and for the souls of the departed.

Pray the Holy Rosary:

https://www.comepraytherosary.org/

Pray at Lourdes:

https://directfromlourdes.com/lourdes_live_tv

Pray the Divine Mercy Novena

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sfYoiwZAEg

With thanks to Comepraytherosary.org, directfromlourdes.com and Youtube

Image courtesy of ChatGPT with CN Whittle "Divine Blessing over earth"