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:

The Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead
is living in us;
he who raised Jesus from the dead will give us life
because of his Spirit who lives in us.

from Romans 8.11

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 Lord does not let the righteous go hungry,
but he thwarts the cravings of the wicked.

Proverbs 10.3 (NIV)

Hmmm. Really?

It might not be true to describe Jeff Bezos (CEO of Amazon) as ‘wicked’, but some of his company’s employment practices are certainly not ‘righteous’.

For example, they upgraded their warehouses to follow Government guidelines on social distancing – yesterday. In fact, so many of its staff are upset about its lack of concern for them during the current pandemic, that they are staging a walkout.

As well as being the CEO of Amazon, Jeff Bezos is also the world’s richest man – so I’m not entirely sure it’s true to say his ‘cravings’ have been ‘thwarted’ by God. He recently bought an estate in Beverley Hills for $165m, which has its own golf course – and which he could buy 800 times over, he has so much money.

So what’s going on? Apart from you being consumed with jealousy right now?! Remember… Luke 12.15.

Some of the Proverbs describe the way things are, as we have seen over recent weeks. But others describe the way things should be – and one day will be; this is one of those.

Jesus told a parable that helps us understand this. Why not look it up? You’ll find it in Matthew 13.24-30 (and his explanation in 13.36-43).

Prayers

Our daily prayer sheet includes the names of everyone for whom we have a signed church family directory form – and local parishes and senior church leaders.

Today we are praying for
Roger Myring, JoAnne Griffin, Joyce Madeley

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.