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.

Fools find no pleasure in understanding
but delight in airing their own opinions.

Proverbs 18.2 (NIV)

This is the verse for the current pandemic – the pandemic of fake news.

What started out as a good academic practice – questioning and double-checking things for yourself – has turned into a lack of trust in authority and expertise. And ironically the attitude that started it all – double-checking things we read – appears to have all but disappeared.

Whenever I preach, I encourage you to have your Bibles open – and this is why. We need to learn not to be fools, airing our opinions, but people who love understanding – and the only understanding, the only wisdom worth having, is God’s.

Think back to the conversations you’ve had recently. Do you love to air your opinions – on subjects about which you know nothing – or do you love to learn from others who understand more than you?

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
Marian Cox, Christine Farmer, and Judith Walker

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.