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.

Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning,
but a rod is for the back of one who has no sense.

Proverbs 10.13 (NIV)

Sometimes I wish this Proverb described how things always are – and other times I’m glad it isn’t!

This Proverb describes how things sometimes are. I personally have known the ‘rod’ – used in the Bible to describe the way God might correct or discipline us (his children).

Another way to look at it is the way Paul describes it in Romans 1.28 (‘God gave them over to a depraved mind’) – in other words, sometimes God allows us to feel the pain of the (bad) decisions and choices we have made, as a way of correcting or disciplining us.

Now this is not to say that every bad thing that happens to us is God punishing us. God is not like a schoolboy setting fire to ants with a magnifying glass. He is a loving parent, who – sometimes – turns our pain into good by teaching and guiding us through it.

Note the contrast between ‘wisdom’ and ‘no sense’. One is good – the other is not, and God will use any and every situation to teach us wisdom – if we are willing to listen, and learn.

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
Marian Cox, Christine Farmer, 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.