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 lips of the righteous nourish many,
but fools die for lack of sense.

Proverbs 10.21 (NIV)

Some people are ‘feeders’ aren’t they – by which we mean they love to cook and / or bake, and make sure people have (more than) enough to eat whenever they are hosting. Jess is definitely a feeder – and I like to eat, hence my current descent into ‘co-besity’. More exercise required!

I don’t think we always realise the effect that our words have on others. This proverb is exaggerating (slightly) in making what we say a life-or-death issue.

‘Sticks and stones,’ we say, meaning, ‘words will never hurt me,’ but they do. And how. Things people have said to me in the past come crushing down on me through the years – I’ve even had weeks of counselling to help me work through some of it.

But also I remember the words that have truly nourished me, fed me – brought life instead of death to me. Words of encouragement, words of care, words of truth and challenge (when given in love).

This might be hard during lockdown, but we all have phones, and some of us have other people who live in the same house – how can you ‘nourish’ or encourage them by what you say, today?

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
Dennis & Dorothy Holland, Frank & Sue Joyce

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.