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.

The name of the Lord is a fortified tower;
the righteous run to it and are safe.

Proverbs 18.10 (NIV)

Where do you feel safe?

I imagine that isn’t a word many of us feel right now. The invisible nature of a virus makes it even more scary – we can’t tell who might be carrying it and showing no symptoms, so we wash our hands raw, and try not to touch our faces!

Then there’s the fear – what if this goes on for months? How on earth is our country going to pay for all the measures being brought in to deal with the pandemic?

Most fears start ‘what if’, because what’s most scary is the unknown.

But there are no ‘what if’s with God. He is like a fortified tower, strong and defended. He is a refuge where we can be safe. He is our loving, powerful, tender, majestic, holy, pure, heavely Father.

And he is with us. So let’s run into his embrace.

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.