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 Lord has established Zion,
and in her his afflicted people will find refuge.

from Isaiah 14.32

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.

Proverbs 14.30

GK Chesterton is supposed to have said something like, ‘There are two ways to get enough. One is to continue to accumulate more and more. The other is to desire less.’ Whether he did or not, I don’t know – but there is great wisdom in his saying, as there is in this proverb.

Jealousy is a tricksy little thing; it is linked with dissatisfaction (which is where it often starts). We may be jealous of people’s wealth or lifestyle. We may be jealous of a relationship, a job, leadership, influence, power.

Then again, we may be jealous of people who don’t have the problems we do: health issues, family difficulties, bereavement, redundancy – the list goes on. We need to treat carefully here. Some of these things are hugely challenging. I long for the day when none of us has to contend with cancer, dementia, an abusive partner, a soul-destroying job, and so on.

But even in the midst of even those things we can find peace. The Jesus who calmed a storm so severe that hardened fishermen were terrified for their lives, can calm the storm in you; he is called the Prince of Peace for a reason!

Instead of comparing ourselves to others, instead of longing for what we don’t have, let us turn to Jesus. No matter what else we have or don’t have, all God’s children have Jesus, and his Spirit, who brings life and peace.

Prayers

Pray for Five – pray for your five friends / family from Thy Kingdom Come.

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.

We also pray for: Prayer Meetings

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.

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.