Sunday Focus

18th Jan 2026

Welcome to this weeks Sunday Focus, we pray you will be blessed.

This week is the start of the week of prayer for Christian Unity

As Abram called to Lot,
‘Let there be no strife between you and me’;
as the Psalms cry out,
‘How good it is when God’s people live together in unity’;
and as Jesus prayed,
‘May they all be one’:
We gather together today
as one body, in one Spirit, sharing one hope.

Hymn - The Church's One Foundation

Song - Oh How Good it is

1 Corinthians 1:1-9

1Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,
2 To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, 5for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind— 6just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you— 7so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Song - Nicene Creed -

In the reading Paul is reminding the community in Corinth that they are God's holy people, already made holy through Christ and called to live that holiness in daily life as everyday saints. There is no-one more special or set apart, than the other - not even based on the spiritual gifts they may be practicing.

The journey to saintliness, or holiness, is a pilgrimage of its own kind. We have both already arrived and are on the way. We are already sanctified and being sanctified. In the grace and love of God, we are already enough and are always becoming.

The second part of this verse and the letter of 1 Corinthians as a whole has much to offer always, and particularly at the beginning of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The entire letter is a call to get over divisions, power struggles and squabbling over suggested significance.

Later in the letter Paul reminds the church in Corinth, and us who read it today, that we are one body, the body of Christ. The theme for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2026 is One Body, One Spirit.

Song - Take us to the River

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.

Song - Your Hand O God has Guided ( One Church)

Your hand, oh God, has guided Your church from age to age
The tale of love is written for us on every page
Our fathers knew Your goodness and we Your works record
And each of these bear witness, one church, one faith, one Lord

Chorus:
One church, one faith, one Lord of Life
One Father, one Spirit, one Christ
One church, one faith, one Lord of Life
One heavenly King, Lord of all

Your mercy never fails us or leaves Your work undone
With Your right hand to help us the victory shall be won
And then by all creation Your name shall be adored
With earth and heaven singing, one church, one faith, one Lord