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.

I am going to start using two translations – I will continue with the NIV (which is what we have in church) but also include the version from the Good News Bible, which can be rather more vivid!

Proverbs 11.2

It’s one of the great ironies of this age that the word ‘humbling’ has been totally inverted. Have you noticed? I was reading a post by a vicar who said it was ‘humbling’ that so many people were watching his online services. That isn’t humility, that’s pride!

But then, neither is it humbling to be disappointed by how few people are watching your online offerings (said he…)!

CS Lewis said, ‘Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.’ Paul said, ‘do not think of yourself more highly than you ought’ (Romans 12.3).

We might say that wisdom comes from learning and knowing your place – or rather, learning and knowing God’s place. True humility means making God the centre and focus of our lives, rather than ourselves.

So the question is this: how often do you think about yourself? Or: who is at the centre, the focus of your daily thoughts and actions? Is it God?

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
Bruce & Judith Ackers, Tony & Janet Land

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.