We have been told that this is a very risky time in the fight against coronavirus. The danger is that we mistake a careful relaxing of the rules for a return to normal behaviour and as a result cause a spike in infections. Depending on our personal situation, today might not have made much difference at all. We've just carried on as we have for the past ten weeks. But for others, things over these next few days may take a few steps back towards 'normality'. There is another danger with this stage.
During the first few weeks of lockdown, I heard and read many people discovering things that they had forgotten in the busyness of everyday life. For us, some of the positives of this time have included daily walks, daily family devotions after breakfast and playing a lot more board games. I've had conversations with others about making sure that things don't go 'back to normal' when this is all over - but that we do things differently because of the lessons from the lockdown. And the danger is that we forget those lessons as the restrictions start to ease. As more things come back into our lives other things will have to make way. That's when we need to ask what we did learn over the last ten weeks? What our priorities are going to be? Because we can't do everything. So if we're going to make space and time for some of the things that we've rediscovered in lockdown, there are going to be other things that we're not going to be able to pick up again, even though we're allowed to. The danger is that we just drift back to where we were. So now might be a good time to take stock once again. What are the things we want to hold on to from this time? And how are we going to make the space and time for those things to happen?
Although Thy Kingdom Come doesn't finish until tomorrow (Pentecost Sunday), this is our last midday prayers - as tomorrow at 12pm we will be meeting virtually together as a church after our morning service. Here is the outline of today's midday prayers. Preparation: As I enter prayer now, I pause to be still; to breath slowly; to re-centre my scattered senses upon the presence of God. [Pause] Rejoice: I choose to rejoice in God’s unfailing love today, joining with the ancient praise of all God’s people in the words of Psalm 48. Great is the Lord, and most worthy of praise, in the city of our God, his holy mountain. 2 Beautiful in its loftiness, the joy of the whole earth, like the heights of Zaphon[b] is Mount Zion, the city of the Great King. 3 God is in her citadels; he has shown himself to be her fortress. … 9 Within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love. 10 Like your name, O God, your praise reaches to the ends of the earth; your right hand is filled with righteousness. 11 Mount Zion rejoices, the villages of Judah are glad because of your judgments. 12 Walk about Zion, go round her, count her towers, 13 consider well her ramparts, view her citadels, that you may tell of them to the next generation. 14 For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end. Spend some time worshipping God. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UzNujfU39A
Ask: Pray 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.
Spend some time praying together, using the following points as prompts if you want. •Pray for the Holy Spirit to put on your heart the desires of heaven for your 5 •Pray for those people and situations that are on our WhatsApp prayer board. •Pray that God will use us – whatever that means (e.g. the courage to open our mouths, the strength to be obedient) •Pray for our community and nation as we’re all affected by the impact of Covid-19. •Pray for our government. Yield: Lord, we pray that you will show us how you want us to be part of the answer to the prayers that we have prayed. Father, help me to live this day to the full, Being true to You in every way. Jesus, help me to give myself away to others, Being kind to everyone I meet. Spirit, help me to love the lost, Proclaiming Christ in all I do and say.
Preparation: As I enter prayer now, I pause to be still; to breath slowly; to re-centre my scattered senses upon the presence of God. [Pause] Rejoice: I choose to rejoice in the God who heals our brokenness joining with the ancient praise of all God’s people in the words of Psalm 147. Praise the Lord. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him! 2 The Lord builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the exiles of Israel. 3 He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds. 4 He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. 5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit. 6 The Lord sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground. 7 Sing to the Lord with grateful praise; make music to our God on the harp. 8 He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills. 9 He provides food for the cattle and for the young ravens when they call. 10 His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse, nor his delight in the legs of the warrior; 11 the Lord delights in those who fear him, who put their hope in his unfailing love. Spend some time praising God. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wBy5KcDcAg Ask: Pray 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.
Now spend some time bringing your five friends and others to God: •Pray for yourself and those others the Lord sends to help show your 5 their route home to God, that they would know the loving father running to greet them. •Pray for those people and situations that are on our WhatsApp prayer board. •Pray that God will use us – whatever that means (e.g. the courage to open our mouths, the strength to be obedient) •Pray for our community and nation as we’re all affected by the impact of Covid-19. •Pray for our government. Yield: Lord, we pray that you will show us how you want us to be part of the answer to the prayers that we have prayed. Father, help me to live this day to the full, Being true to You in every way. Jesus, help me to give myself away to others, Being kind to everyone I meet. Spirit, help me to love the lost, Proclaiming Christ in all I do and say. Amen.
This Sunday as we continue our series looking at Paul's Prayers, we're going to be thinking about Paul's Prayers for those he was writing to - that they would know God better. Our starting point is a passage in Ephesians. Throughout this series, we haven't had the time to look at the background of each letter in any detail. But understanding the background helps us in our attempt to understand and apply God's word for us today. We need to understand what Paul was saying to them, before we can understand what God is saying to us. So, if you want some background on Ephesians, here is the Bible Project video.
