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.
With their mouths the godless destroy their neighbours, but through knowledge the righteous escape. (NIV)
You can be ruined by the talk of godless people, but the wisdom of the righteous can save you. (GNT)
Proverbs 11.9
We’ve seen a few times how important our words are. They can build up and they can tear down, they can destroy and they can save.
In recent years gossipping has found itself a new forum: social media. It’s too easy to share things on Facebook, to forward things on WhatsApp, and so on. And how we do! I have seen so many unsubstantiated rumours shared, particularly during lockdown, because people are bored, too quick to share, and too slow to think.
If you find yourself sharing or reposting or copy-and-pasting rubbish on Facebook (or wherever) – maybe consider whether you might encourage your friends and followers instead, maybe consider ways of encouraging people to think and be wise.
And if you find yourself salaciously reading the celebrity ‘news’ stories and gossip in newspapers and tabloids – remember that the stories are a) either made-up or exaggerated stories and b) about people.
Ultimately the godless gossip and make-believe that we love to read and share damages and can even destroy people’s lives. Words matter.
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
Don & Jean Sands, Helen Slim, Gill Knight
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.