St Mary's Parish Church, Chaddesden, Derby

08/09/2026

Reading for the day: Jude 3 Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints… 22 have mercy on those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.

Prayer: Most precious and Holy God, who has given to us a very great salvation in Jesus Christ, snatching us from the fire to make us his own holy people – help us by your Holy Spirit and by the preaching and meditation on your word to hold onto the true faith and indeed contend for it. May we have the wisdom to know when to have mercy on a doubter, when to warn a wanderer and when to avoid a deceiver. For our soul’s sake, as well as our saviour’s glory, we pray. Amen.

07/09/2026

Here is a tiny taste of some of the music you could here during our open day. Thanks again to Pipe-Up!

07/09/2026

Reading for the day: 3John 9 I have written something to the church, but Diotrephes, who likes to put himself first, does not acknowledge our authority.

Prayer: Lord God, who alone as Father, Son and Spirit, are the author, master and shepherd of the church, we pray that you would protect your people. Sometimes leaders can be very foolish and start to treat your people like their personal club. Sometimes Christians can be very foolish and allow a wolf to shepherd the sheep. Protect your people from the likes of Diotrephes, and wake such leaders up to their folly, so they can find contentment in serving the servant king – our Lord Jesus, in whose name we pray. Amen.

06/09/2026

03/09/2026

Reading for the day: 1John 5:19 We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. 20 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.

Prayer: Most faithful and kind God, who has promised eternal life to all who turn in faith to his Son and a full adoption into your family and people by your Holy Spirit – keep us safe in your hands and your will. Protect us from the evils of this world, and from our own old desires. You have given us understanding and new eyes to see the world through, so complete your work in us to make us holy. For Christ’s sake, amen.

02/09/2026

Happy Autumn (well at least the meteorological one)! Best wishes to everyone returning to school, college and work after the summer break. Here at St Mary's we are starting a new sermon series. Why not join us to learn why despite the potential cost, following Jesus is worth it!

02/09/2026

Reading for the day: 1John 4:10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Prayer: Loving Father, who has shown us what real love looks like in the sacrificial giving of your own Son, and in Jesus giving himself to save people who refused and denied him – we pray that your whole church will obey your command to love one another. Grant us a move of your Spirit in our souls, hearts and minds that we learn from our Teacher not to love in feelings or in words only, but in deliberate and chosen action, as our saviour did – in whose name we pray. Amen.

01/09/2026

Reading for the day: 1John 3:1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.

Prayer: Our Father in heaven – thank you for adopting us to be your children! Thank you for the incredible, undeserved love that you showed us in Christ! Most Holy Father, help us by your Spirit and by your word persistently going around our minds to be increasingly like our adopted Father. May we share the same likeness as Christ – holy in our lives, generous with our possessions, serving even to death those we are now delighted to be family with. In Jesus’ name, amen.

28/08/2026

Reading for the day: 1John 2:15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.

Prayer: Creator of all things, and giver of all good gifts, who has created a beautiful world to be enjoyed and cared for – forgive us for the corruption and the evil ‘world’ that we and our forebears have brought into your creation. Help us, as citizens of your better country yet to come, not to be distracted by such desires and evils, but look to you and the glory you promise in Christ as our hope and true joy. Amen.

27/08/2026

Reading for the day: 1John 1:8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Prayer: Most Holy God who dwells in unapproachable light, and who sent his Son to cast out darkness in our world, our hearts and our pasts – we confess our sins. We admit that we have lived in the dark, hidden our faults, mistakes and deliberate lawlessness. Thank you that Jesus genuinely came in the flesh to take our sin and lies, and bring us into life, light, truth and forgiveness. Help us, we pray, to live in that light and keep fellowship with him forever. Amen.