Hello Everyone

14^TH DECEMBER Advent 3 “The Meaning is in the waiting”

In church on Advent Sunday, we light the first candle of the four that are placed round an Advent wreath. Each coloured candle is dedicated to a biblical character for that week. The central candle is white representing Jesus the Light of the world. After the character has been introduced a child or children are often called to light the candle for that week.                       

So – Week one Abraham and Sarah are called as examples of father and mother of the faith and of people whose calling draws them into a lifetime of waiting the fulfilment of Gods promise to them. Our ancestors in the faith are called to wait.

Week two  it’s the Prophets who have expectations of Gods intervention in the world waiting for Jesus return.

Week three is John the Baptist whose ministry existed between the old and new and pointed to things beyond himself.

Week four looks at Mary whose whole life was shaped by waiting for the events beyond her control.

The Welsh Poet and Anglican Priest, R S Thomas, would have taken many Advent Services in the Churches he served.   In 2008 Dr Paula Gooder, a Biblical Scholar, chose the last line of his poem ‘Kneeling”  as the title of her book for Advent. The last line says – ‘The Meaning is in the Waiting.’

Kneeling

Moments of great calm,

Kneeling before an altar

of wood in a stone church
In summer, waiting for the God

To speak; the air a staircase
For silence; the sun’s light
Ringing me, as though I acted
A great role. And the audiences
Still; all that close throng
Of spirits waiting, as I,
For the message.
Prompt me, God;
But not yet. When I speak,
Though it be you who speak
Through me, something is lost.
The meaning is in the waiting.

R S Thomas

In the church, the four weeks of Advent are set aside, in both waiting and preparation for the celebration of the coming of Christ. Antipathy to waiting is exacerbated, if not encouraged, by the world we live. All around us we encounter, day after day, the encouragement not to wait but to have what we want now. Our credit driven society urges us to abandon all thought of waiting and to buy now; so many adverts have as their underlying message ‘why wait’? Improvements in communication only erode the notion of waiting further: We are told that people feel aggrieved if they have to wait for more than 24 hours to receive a reply from an email and mobile phones help us to be available even when we are out. Waiting is, increasingly a strange notion. We have become accustomed to immediacy and swift action.

Given all of this it seems almost ludicrous that the church should have Advent – four weeks dedicated to waiting. Is this not the church yet again, looking backwards to bygone days, to ideas irrelevant to our society, out of touch and out of date? Would it not be a better idea to abandon Advent altogether and simply accept that it is no longer in tune with our culture.?

Part of the clue to a reinvigorated and renewed vision of Advent lies in waiting; a waiting that rests not in frustration but in stillness; not in frenzied anticipation but in the embracing of the present. We are living in strange and difficult times – what will Christmas be like this year, with its various tiers of regulations up and down the country. People are being interviewed for their thoughts daily about the five days surrounding Christmas and what it means to them.

The meaning of Christmas to the populous in general is lost. There is some evidence that churches are looking hard, with some success, at delivering and getting the Christian message across. Within our churches and with the help of the Holy Spirit, may we wait patiently through the difficulties and joys of those people mentioned at the lighting of the four candles in our Advent Wreaths.

R S Thomas’ famous poem ‘Kneeling’ from which the title of Paula Gooder’s Advent book is drawn, articulates the fact that sometimes the really profound moments of our lives occur in the in-between time just before something happens. Truth lurks in the moment between the out breath and the in breath or the moment just before someone speaks. Thomas in his poem recognises the paradox that sometimes the fulfilment of that which we wait robs us of what we were waiting for and that we discover to our surprise that the meaning is in the waiting and not in the fulfilment. Once we recognise this, it becomes clear that Advent is not an irrelevant, cultural dinosaur but vital to our very well- being. If we are able during Advent, to relearn the skill of waiting, then it will have value not only for Advent and Christmas but for the whole of our lives.

ADVENT  READING

Luke 1:8-16

.⁸ Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, ⁹ he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. ¹⁰ And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside.¹¹ Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. ¹² When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. ¹³ But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. ¹⁴ He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, ¹⁵ for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. ¹⁶ He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. 

ADVENT PRAYER

Blessed are you, Lord God for raising up you servants Zechariah and Elisabeth,

Mary and Joseph, to prepare the way for Jesus

Blessed are you for coming to us.

We rejoice as you enter this world with peace and love

and turn our darkness into the light of your presence.

Keep Safe, Keep praying

Peter

Dear All,

As you know we had to plan our fundraising differently this year but we are delighted to announce that at the moment we have a total of £4,406 for ‘Crisis’. 

We have had some very generous donations of time, items to buy and money and our thanks go to everyone who has made this possible.  

Alison and Richard

Hello Everyone

SIT WALK STAND

Recently reading Pauls letter to the Ephesians reminded me of one of Watchman Nee’s books Sit, Walk, Stand.

Read many years ago, now sitting comfortably on one of our bookshelves. It made quite an impact at the time of first reading.

Watchman Nee, Ni Tuosheng, or Nee T’o-sheng, was a Chinese church leader and Christian teacher who worked in China during the 20th century.  In his book, Sit,Walk,Stand, he sub-divides the Epistle of Paul to the Ephesians as you see in the title.

SIT – “The God of our Lord Jesus Christ – raised Him from the dead , and made Him to sit at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come.  

God made Jesus to sit and made us to sit with Him. Christian life does not begin with walking, it begins with sitting. Though the Christian life begins with sitting, sitting is always followed by walking. Sitting describes our position with Christ in the heavenlies. Sitting is where we experience God working in us by His Holy Spirit.

WALK – Walking is the practical out-working of that heavenly position here on earth.  Christian experience begins with sitting and leads to walking, but it does not end simply with Sitting and Walking .  Every Christian must learn also to Stand.

STAND –  “ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his power. Put on the whole armour of God, so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the whole armour of God, so that you may be able to withstand on that evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.  Stand therefore, and fasten the belt of truth around your waist, and put on the breastplate of righteousness. As shoes for your feet put on whatever will make you ready to proclaim the gospel of peace. With all of these, take the shield of faith, with which you will be able to quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.  Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints. Pray also for me, so that when I speak, a message may be given to me to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it boldly, as I must speak.”

Emboldening words from St Paul. They could be the words of a deeply respected army general to his beleaguered troops before they go into battle. This is a spiritual battle and St Paul is in no doubt whatsoever about the powers of evil that confront us.

How do you react to this conviction of his that there are spiritual forces of evil at work?  

Do you have any sense of this kind of struggle in your own life?

St. Paul urges us to put on the whole armour of God. What does your armour look like?  Does it fit well?

Can you imagine a scene where you are given, and then put on, the whole armour of God?

Is it a magnificent piece of shining equipment?  Or does it look altogether different?

How does it feel to be wearing it?

ADVENT READING

Isaiah 43 v 1-5a Israel’s Only Saviour

43 But now, this is what the Lord says—he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel:
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
² When you pass through the waters  I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
³ For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour; I give Egypt for your ransom,
⁴ Since you are precious and honoured in my sight, and because I love you,
I will give people in   for you, nations in exchange for your life.
⁵ Do not be afraid, for I am with you;

ADVENT PRAYER

Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, you make light to shine in the darkness. You guided the children of Israel and led them, after many trials and tribulations, to the Promised Land. As you called them you call us. We ask you to give us strength in our weakness, to dispel our fear of the unknown, to help us to know that we walk in your light and that  you are always near us, leading us to freedom as your children.    Amen

As you bring your thoughts to a close, speak to God as your great ally, who has overcome all evil.

Ask Him for whatever courage you might need to meet the challenges of today.

‘O my heart be wise when your enemies surround you. Keep praying; ask the Lord for help. For he is powerful. That is your weapon; do not lose it. Pray without ceasing, for the Lord is powerful.’  Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Keep Safe, Keep praying

Peter

Hello Everyone

We continue with the Senior Church Leaders Call to Prayer over the four weeks of Lockdown and we continue with the final set of prayers. 

PRAYER FOR WEEK 4 –  30^th November –6^th December

Week 4 

Loving God, your Son Jesus Christ came that we might have life and have it abundantly;
pour out your blessing upon our nation;

where there is illness, bring your healing touch;
where there is fear, strengthen us with the knowledge of your presence;

where there is uncertainty, build us up in faith;

where there is dishonesty, lead us into truth,

where there is discord, may we know the harmony of your love;
this we ask in Jesus’ name.     Amen.

A PRAYER FOCUS FOR US TO USE EACH DAY

MONDAY  SCHOOLS, COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES, CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

We pray for all those involved in the shaping of young lives.   We give God thanks for the sacrifice and commitment of teachers and all those involved in serving children and young people in education.

TUESDAY  ELDERLY, ISOLATED ABD VULNERABLE

We echo God’s commitment to those most at risk of this virus by praying for those who are particularly vulnerable and isolated.   We pray for their deliverance protection and comfort.   We hold before God those who care for them – that they would be strengthened and encouraged in this work.

WEDNESDAY  BUSINESSES, THE WORKPLACE AND ECONOMIC WELLBEING

In this time of great challenge, we pray for the economic wellbeing of the country.   We remember before God those who face great uncertainty in their work.   We lift before God those who have lost their jobs and face an uncertain and difficult future.

THURSDAY  NHS AND OTHER KEY WORKERS

Our God is the great healer – and the agent used more than any other is the NHS.   Today we voice our gratitude for those who serve this country in the National Health Service and pray that God would prosper the work of their hands – that they would be encouraged in their continued work of sacrifice and care amongst  us.

FRIDAY  NATIONAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

We pray for those who are in positions of authority with responsibility for decision making at national and local level at this difficult time.   We ask that God would give great wisdom, deep commitment to all and right judgement.

SATURDAY  ALL WHO ARE GRIEVING AND ALL SUFFERING WITH PHYSICAL AND MENTAL ILL-HEALTH.

‘Lord the one you love is ill.’   John 11.v3

We bring to God all those who suffer in body, mind spirit or with grief.   We ask that in God’s great loving kindness they might know God’s sustaining presence amidst their pain.

SUNDAY  FAMILY, FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES

We lift to God those we hold in our hearts – praying for their healing. their well-being and their sense of hope.   We pray that even when loved ones cannot physically be together, they would not feel apart.  We ask for God’s help in our communicating, our connecting and our caring.

Each week during the season of Advent we will have a scripture to reflect on, followed with a Prayer.

SCRIPTURE READING     ISA 40:27-31

Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak O Israel, ‘My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God’? Have you not known’? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not fail or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint and strengthens the powerless. Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, and they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

PRAYER

Lord, I am poured out, I come to you for renewal.

Lord, I am weary, I come to you for refreshment,

Lord, I am worn, I come to you for restoration.

Lord, I am lost, and I come to you for guidance.

Lord, I am troubled, I come to you for peace.

Lord, I am lonely, I come to you for Love.

Come Lord,

Come revive me.

Come re-shape me.

Come, mould me in your image.

Re-cast me in the furnace of you love.              

Power Lines David Adam

Let us continue to pray for our community, the Crossroads Project and those we know who are struggling at this time with loneliness and the effects of the Virus.

We pray also for the METHODIST ADVENT CHRISTMAS CAMPAGN – GOD IS WITH US’

The campaign name, of course, comes from John Wesley’s purported words on his death bed:

‘the best of all is, God is with us’ and this reminds us that even in the times which feel most uncertain, we can be certain of God.

Who do you know who needs to hear this message over the coming months?

‘Keep praying; ask the Lord for help for he is powerful.

That is your weapon; do not lose it. Pray without ceasing, for the Lord is powerful.’     

KEEP SAFE – KEEP PRAYING   

Peter  

Please come and do some Christmas shopping whilst supporting 3 charities. 

Mandy’s gift baskets, Caroline’s craft stall and lots of other gift sets and decorations will be raising funds for ‘Crisis’. 

The Meltham Shoebox project will have a stall and all the other items sold will support the Crossroads project.  There are lots of Christmas jumpers and sparkly clothes to bring some Christmas cheer!

Hello Everyone

We continue with the Senior church leaders Call to Prayer. We are in week 3 of Lock Down and we will continue with the set prayers. There is a new prayer for week three and we will be following the set focus prayers to be used each day.

PRAYER FOR WEEK 3 –  23^rd -29th

Lord Jesus Christ, in these dark and difficult days, we turn our hearts to you.

In ages past, you have delivered our nation from disaster.

Do it again, we pray.

Give wisdom beyond human wisdom to our leaders,

Give strength beyond human strength to the NHS and all our frontline workers.

Give comfort beyond human comfort to the elderly and all who grieve.

Lord Jesus Christ, in these dark and difficult days, turn your face towards us, have mercy upon us, and heal our land, we pray.
Amen.

A PRAYER FOCUS FOR US TO USE EACH DAY

MONDAY  SCHOOLS, COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES, CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

We pray for all those involved in the shaping of young lives.   We give God thanks for the sacrifice and commitment of teachers and all those involved in serving children and young people in education.

TUESDAY  ELDERLY, ISOLATED ABD VULNERABLE

We echo God’s commitment to those most at risk of this virus by praying for those who are particularly vulnerable and isolated.   We pray for their deliverance protection and comfort.   We hold before God those who care for them – that they would be strengthened and encouraged in this work.

WEDNESDAY  BUSINESSES, THE WORKPLACE AND ECONOMIC WELLBEING

In this time of great challenge, we pray for the economic wellbeing of the country.   We remember before God those who face great uncertainty in their work.   We lift before God those who have lost their jobs and face an uncertain and difficult future.

THURSDAY  NHS AND OTHER KEY WORKERS

Our God is the great healer – and the agent used more than any other is the NHS.   Today we voice our gratitude for those who serve this country in the National Health Service and pray that God would prosper the work of their hands – that they would be encouraged in their continued work of sacrifice and care amongst  us.

FRIDAY  NATIONAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

We pray for those who are in positions of authority with responsibility for decision making at national and local level at this difficult time.   We ask that God would give great wisdom, deep commitment to all and right judgement.

SATURDAY  ALL WHO ARE GRIEVING AND ALL SUFFERING WITH PHYSICAL AND MENTAL ILL-HEALTH.

‘Lord the one you love is ill.’   John 11.v3

We bring to God all those who suffer in body, mind spirit or with grief.   We ask that in God’s great loving kindness they might know God’s sustaining presence amidst their pain.

SUNDAY  FAMILY, FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES

We lift to God those we hold in our hearts – praying for their healing. their well-being and their sense of hope.   We pray that even when loved ones cannot physically be together, they would not feel apart.  We ask for God’s help in our communicating, our connecting and our caring

Next Sunday sees the beginning of the Church’s Calendar- Advent –  so we pray –

A PRAYER BEFORE ADVENT  from St Augustine of Hippo

Lord Jesus our Saviour, the One who is to come, we come to you now.

Our hearts are cold;  Lord, warm them by your selfless love.

Our hearts are sinful;  cleanse them with your precious blood.

Our hearts are weak;  strengthen them with Your joyous Spirit.

Our hearts are empty;  fill them with your divine presence.

Come, Emmanuel:  enter our lives, possess them always and only for yourself.

And let us give thanks for all the progress the scientists have been making in their search for a vaccine.   Let us continue to pray that God will continue to be at work in all the research  they are doing.  

KEEP SAFE – KEEP PRAYING

‘Keep praying; ask the Lord for help for he is powerful. That is your weapon; do not lose it. Pray without ceasing, for the Lord is powerful.’     

Peter  

Hello Everyone

16 NOVEMBER MCT PRAYERS

RACHEL SPENCER-HENSALL Director of Public Health has been in contact with each household in Kirklees during our first week of Lockdown with an urgent and important update on the Covid-19 figures which are rising. Firstly, she offered thanks for everything people have been doing to keep themselves and others safe. She acknowledges how difficult the lockdown period is for us all, the efforts we are going through and the sacrifices we’re making which are a key part in our fight against COVID-19.

FROM THE EVANGELICAL ALLIANCE

Prayer changes things.

From Abraham’s plea to save Sodom to Jesus’ cry for forgiveness of others on the cross, we see the willingness of God to listen.  God invites us to talk to Him, to share with Him our fears, worries, struggles and heartaches, because when we do, God tells us He will act.

The COVID-19 pandemic has left no life unscathed in the UK. The national health crisis caused by the severity of illness for many has pushed our healthcare system and those who work within it to breaking point. The consequences of the resulting lockdowns are wide-ranging and, for many, catastrophic.

Many businesses are unsustainable. Unemployment is booming. Children’s education has been severely impacted. Families have been separated. The vulnerable have been left exposed. For many, experiencing isolation and uncertainty,  has led to an overwhelming sense of hopelessness as we see statistics indicate the rise in divorce, domestic abuse and suicide. 

We need things to change. We need to pray. 

STEPHEN COTTRELL THE NEW ARCHBISHOP OF YORK SAYS –

“Prayer changes things.  It changes things by inviting God into the room.”

A CALL TO PRAYER FROM SENIOR CHURCH LEADERS

A prayer call has been made with the support of senior church leaders –  Churches Together in England, Evangelical Alliance, RC Archbishop of Westminster, Leader of the Pentecostal Church, the Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London, Pete Grieg of 24.7 Prayer International, and the Church of England House of Bishops.

A PRAYER FOR WEEK 2 of LOCKDOWN

Loving Father God be with us in our distress; be with our families, friends, and neighbours, our country and our world.  Give health to the sick, hope to the fearful, and comfort to mourners. Give wisdom to our frontline and key workers, insight to our Government, and patience to us all. Overcome disease with the power of your new life,
through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.    Amen

A PRAYER FOCUS FOR US TO USE EACH DAY

MONDAY

SCHOOLS, COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES, CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

We pray for all those involved in the shaping of young lives.   We give God thanks for the sacrifice and commitment of teachers and all those involved in serving children and young people in education.

TUESDAY

ELDERLY, ISOLATED ABD VULNERABLE

We echo God’s commitment to those most at risk of this virus by praying for those who are particularly vulnerable and isolated.   We pray for their deliverance protection and comfort.   We hold before God those who care for them – that they would be strengthened and encouraged in this work.

WEDNESDAY

BUSINESSES, THE WORKPLACE AND ECONOMIC WELLBEING

In this time of great challenge, we pray for the economic wellbeing of the country.   We remember before God those who face great uncertainty in their work.   We lift before God those who have lost their jobs and face an uncertain and difficult future.

THURSDAY

NHS AND OTHER KEY WORKERS

Our God is the great healer – and the agent used more than any other is the NHS.   Today we voice our gratitude for those who serve this country in the National Health Service and pray that God would prosper the work of their hands – that they would be encouraged in their continued work of sacrifice and care amongst  us.

FRIDAY

NATIONAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

We pray for those who are in positions of authority with responsibility for decision making at national and local level at this difficult time.   We ask that God would give great wisdom, deep commitment to all and right judgement.

SATURDAY

ALL WHO ARE GRIEVING AND ALL SUFFERING WITH PHYSICAL AND MENTAL ILL-HEALTH.

‘Lord the one you love is ill.’   John 11.v3

We bring to God all those who suffer in body, mind spirit or with grief.   We ask that in God’s great loving kindness they might know God’s sustaining presence amidst their pain.

SUNDAY

FAMILY, FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES

We lift to God those we hold in our hearts – praying for their healing. their well-being and their sense of hope.   We pray that even when loved ones cannot physically be together, they would not feel apart.  We ask for God’s help in our communicating, our connecting and our caring.

A PRAYER FOR ALL THOSE AFFECTED BY CORONAVIRUS
Keep us, good Lord, under the shadow of your mercy. Sustain and support the anxious, be with those who care for the sick, and lift up all who are brought low; that we may find comfort knowing that nothing can separate us from your love in Christ Jesus our Lord.     Amen.

KEEP SAFE – KEEP PRAYING

‘Keep praying; ask the Lord for help for he is powerful. That is your weapon; do not lose it. Pray without ceasing, for the Lord is powerful.’

Peter  

Hello Everyone

Ladysmith Black Mambazo sing: ‘Keep praying; ask the Lord for help. For he is powerful. That is your weapon; do not lose it. Pray without ceasing, for the Lord is powerful.’

A Call to Prayer

A prayer call has been made with the support of senior church leaders –  Churches Together in England, Evangelical Alliance, RC Archbishop of Westminster, Leader of the Pentecostal Church, the Coptic Orthodox Archbishop of London, Pete Grieg of 24.7 Prayer International, and the Church of England House of Bishops.

This week we have had several emails from various churches and organizations all pointing to the need for prayer.     There are many different suggestions – i.e. Prayer on specific days, or on each day, prayer at specific time, fasting along with prayer, using bells as a call to prayer.   So many ideas, so many thoughts but no matter how, when or where you pray or possibly fast  the key thing is to take on board the words sung by Ladysmith Black Mambazo ‘Keep praying; ask the Lord for help for he is powerful. That is your weapon; do not lose it. Pray without ceasing, for the Lord is powerful.’

Words from Stephen Cottrell the new Archbishop of York says – “Prayer changes things.  It changes things by inviting God into the room.”

YOU MAY LIKE TO USE THE FOLLOWING PRAYERS

As we have entered a second period of National lock down, let us pray in earnest that people will honour the guidelines set.

PRAYER FOR THE WEEK

Loving God,
at this time of crisis
when so many are suffering,
we pray for our nation and our world.
Give our leaders wisdom,
our Health Service strength,
our people hope.
Lead us through these parched and difficult days
to the fresh springs of joy and comfort
that we find in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

On Wednesday 11^th November let us take a moment to remember all those who laid down their lives in the two great wars and for all lives lost in the wars since the end of the second world war.

YOU MAY WISH TO USE THIS PRAYER FOCUS FOR EACH DAY

MONDAY

SCHOOLS, COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES, CHILDREN AND YOUNG PEOPLE

We pray for all those involved in the shaping of young lives.   We give God thanks for the sacrifice and commitment of teachers and all those involved in serving children and young people in education.

TUESDAY

ELDERLY, ISOLATED ABD VULNERABLE

We echo God’s commitment to those most at risk of this virus by praying for those who are particularly vulnerable and isolated.   We pray for their deliverance protection and comfort.   We hold before God those who care for them – that they would be strengthened and encouraged in this work.

WEDNESDAY

BUSINESSES, THE WORKPLACE AND ECONOMIC WELLBEING

In this time of great challenge, we pray for the economic wellbeing of the country.   We remember before God those who face great uncertainty in their work.   We lift before God those who have lost their jobs and face an uncertain and difficult future.

THURSDAY

NHS AND OTHER KEY WORKERS

Our God is the great healer – and the agent used more than any other is the NHS.   Today we voice our gratitude for those who serve this country in the National Health Service and pray that God would prosper the work of their hands – that they would be encouraged in their continued work of sacrifice and care amongst  us.

FRIDAY

NATIONAL AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT

We pray for those who are in positions of authority with responsibility for decision making at national and local level at this difficult time.   We ask that God would give great wisdom, deep commitment to all and right judgement.

SATURDAY

ALL WHO ARE GRIEVING AND ALL SUFFERING WITH PHYSICAL AND MENTAL ILL-HEALTH.

‘Lord the one you love is ill.’   John 11.v3

We bring to God all those who suffer in body, mind spirit or with grief.   We ask that in God’s great loving kindness they might know God’s sustaining presence amidst their pain.

SUNDAY

FAMILY, FRIENDS AND LOVED ONES

We lift to God those we hold in our hearts – praying for their healing. their well-being and their sense of hope.   We pray that even when loved ones cannot physically be together, they would not feel apart.  We ask for God’s help in our communicating, our connecting and our caring.

KEEP SAFE – KEEP PRAYING    

Peter  

Hello Everyone

On Sunday 1^st November, the Church at large celebrated the feast day of ‘All Saints’.  

Today as we circulate our weekly prayer sheet, it’s Monday 2nd November, the day we pray for departed souls.

May I suggest we make time to pray for all the saints and all souls throughout the week, holding them in our minds eye.   A good way to Start is with thanksgiving and praise to God our Father.

Spend a while in quiet. Invite the Holy Spirit into the space you are creating. Become aware of the presence of the Holy Spirit, with you now… the Spirit who works in you…

A Reading from Ephesians 1:11-14

¹¹ Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God,for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan. ¹² God’s purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God. ¹³ And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good News that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. ¹⁴ The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.

Why do you seek God in prayer?

What are you looking for? . . .

Would you like proof that you are marked with the seal of the Holy Spirit?

When you spend time: listening, seeking, desiring God, this is evidence that the Holy Spirit is in you and at work in you . . .

This Spirit invites you to be a person of hope.

How is Christ inviting you to hope?

If at times you find yourself with diminished hope, you’re not alone. It doesn’t mean you’ve lost the Spirit. It means you’re alive and life involves struggle.

Speak to God about the challenges of holding on to hope… Read the scripture again, see if you can catch something of the bigger picture. God can see and invites you to glimpse hope through the merits of the saints and souls gone before us.

Ponder the presence of God’s Holy Spirit within you: the pledge of your inheritance!

A Prayer for All Saints Day

By Jan Richardson 

God of the generations,

when we set our hands to labour, thinking we work alone,

remind us that we carry

upon our lips, the words of the prophets,

in our veins, the blood of martyrs, 

in our eyes, the mystics’ visions, and

in our hands, the strength of thousands.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.

As I am sending this email out I am reminded that the first one that was sent was at the beginning of the first Lockdown and it was on the suggestion of two members of Churches Together that we could pray daily at a specific time knowing that others would be praying with us.  Obviously this time is not always possible for some but these prayers can be used at any appropriate time during the week.  As we enter into a second lockdown let us take with us the words from a song sung by Ladysmith Mambaza ‘Keep praying; ask the Lord for help. For he is powerful. That is your weapon; do not lose it. Pray without ceasing, for the Lord is powerful.’

KEEP SAFE – KEEP PRAYING    

Peter  

Hello Everyone

Thursday the 15 October, was the feast day of St Teresa of Avila.

“Pray as you Go” a short daily offering of worship can be followed online and it offers an introduction, Bible reading, Thought for the Day followed by a conclusion and prayer.

So, on the 15^th Christine and I heard the Community of Taizé singing in Spanish, ‘Nada te Turbe’. The words are taken from  one of St Teresa of Avila’s most famous sayings: “Let nothing disturb you. Let nothing frighten you. All things pass. God does not change. Patience wins all things. They lack nothing who possess God. God alone is enough.”

This saying of St Teresa is worth keeping in mind as we pray today. It is worthy of holding before us as we go about our daily lives.

A  reading  from the Letter to the Ephesians.     Ephesians 1:3-10

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace that he freely bestowed on us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and insight he has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure that he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to gather up all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

This is beautiful prose and an astounding message. We know God loves every person and even ‘all things.”

God loves everything in the Universe. God loves every star, every planet, every rock, every tree, every animal, every person. God loves you. You are utterly loved by God. You are so loved that God wants to spend eternity with you . . .

This can seem too good to be true and therefore difficult to take in.

Let this God look at you now with love

Consider how God loves all of Creation and wants to “gather up all things in Christ” …

Note how in the Letter to the Ephesians, Paul speaks of God’s Plan for those He loves, and wants to share Eternity with.

REFLECTION

In the quiet read through the sheet again and try to appreciate what is being claimed here.

What do you want to say to this God who loves all things and who loves you?

Let the Holy Spirit lead you into your conversation with God the Father.

Give thanks for all His Love and all His Spiritual Blessings that He pours out on us.

“Let nothing disturb you. Let nothing frighten you. All things pass. God does not change. Patience wins all things. They lack nothing who possess God. God alone is enough.”

A PRAYER PLEADING FOR HELP AS THE COVID VIRUS AFFECTS MORE AND MORE LIVES AS WE TRY TO GAIN CONTROL 

Show us that you are here Lord, that you have not abandoned us to our fate.

Show us you are not blind to our needs or deaf to our entreaties.

Show us that, though everything seems to suggest otherwise, you are with us in this crisis we are facing- that we are not alone.

Show us, above all,  that we matter to you; that you care about what so many are going through; that you are hurting with us, weeping with us and reaching out to us, seeking to help, to hold and to heal. Amen

Let us Pray for our community and all the good will in supporting one another.

Also let us Pray for those involved with the Food Bank, and pray for those known to us who need our prayers.

KEEP SAFE – KEEP PRAYING    

Peter