Our church building may be closed, but God’s eyes are open and his ears are attentive to our prayers (2 Chronicles 7.15).

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Opening

Speak these words out loud:

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust.’

Psalm 91.1-2 (NIV)

Today’s Proverb

Read the proverb through three or four times, slowly. Pause in-between, maybe write it out by hand – savour the words, let them speak deeply to you.

A person’s steps are directed by the Lord.
How then can anyone understand their own way?

Proverbs 20.24 (NIV)

This is one of my favourites of all the Proverbs. I believe God has called me to be married to Jess, I believe he’s called me to be a vicar, I believe he’s called me to be the vicar of Amington – but what a winding, twisty, convoluted path I’ve taken so far!

I can’t imagine it being any other way, or how I’d have ended up here if I had made different choices – not all of them good ones. Somehow, God has directed my steps – all the faithful steps and all the mis-steps – and led me to this place.

I don’t understand how, but he has.

And the same is true for you. Really! Look back over key moments in your life, and ask God to see how he has guided you, carried you, directed you, corrected you – see how he has loved you through all the good and bad things you have done.

Say thank you – and ask him to help you be more attentive to his direction in the future!

Prayers

Our daily prayer sheet includes the names of everyone for whom we have a signed church family directory form.

Today we are praying for
Rosemary Baxter, and Allan & Anne Baldwin

Father, please bless them with your peace, and a deep awareness of your presence with them, every day and in every way.

Please pray for our leaders and healthcare workers, and all those working to keep us safe, well, and fed. Please pray that people would unselfishly put others before themselves, and buy only what they need.

Church Family Prayer

Come Holy Spirit,
and make us one in heart and action,
so that we can serve God faithfully:
abounding in love,
maturing in holiness,
and seeking out the lost.
Help us grow as disciples of Jesus –
in commitment, in depth, and in number –
that we may be a blessing to Amington;
to the glory and praise of God the Father.
Amen.

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.

Closing Prayer

Unless the Lord builds the house,
the builders labour in vain.
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus
the only way to the Father.

Psalm 127.1, Hebrews 12.2 & John 14.6

May Christ our Saviour give us peace.
Amen.