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:

Let us build with care,
building on the foundation of Jesus Christ.

from 1 Corinthians 3.10-11

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.

Proverbs 15.25

We’ve not had a ‘left-wing’ proverb for a while!

In a society where most people are subsistence farmers – growing enough food for themselves and their families – being a widow was a Very Bad Thing. Many of them – especially the older ones – would have been unable to work the land without help (for example, the story of Ruth). If they had no children (or at least, no good children) they would have no-one to stand up for them or fight their corner if they got into trouble.

Except, that is, for God.

In fact, one of God’s titles is ‘defender of widows’ (Psalm 68.5, NIV). He ‘sustains the fatherless and the widow’ (Psalm 146.9, NIV).

So often in the Bible God is on the side of those who cannot stand up for themselves, against those who take advantage of them. Jesus demonstrates this in his ministry by the way he eats with ‘sinners’ and allows disreputable women to follow him.

Living four doors from Muriel I think it necessary to point out that these days widows are much more capable of standing up for themselves (!) – but others are not. So the question is: if Solomon were writing this proverb today, who would be the ‘widows’ that we need to stand up for and defend with God?

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: Reopening – Wisdom & Safety

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.