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 16.4

Cause and effect. Actions have consequences. Reap what you sow.

We all know phrases like that – this is one of the Bible’s versions of those. The Bible teaches us that this life is not all there is, and that our decisions in this life have eternal consequences.

But do we really believe it?

Sure we do.

But do we? If we really believed that, would our behaviour not change?

I have a weakness for pizza, especially delicious deep-crust pizzas with mountains of toppings and lashings of cheese. I could eat takeaway pizza several nights a week – if only I didn’t have to deal with the consequences. The problem with food – apart from all the most delicious things being the most unhealthy – is that there is a delayed reaction to your waistline. I think if our waists started to expand as we eat, none of us would ever need to go on a diet!

There is a similar delay when it comes to the eternal consequences of our decisions and actions today. To put it crudely – if we could feel the fires of hell licking around our feet as we faced moral and faith decisions… I wonder how our lives would change!

And I wonder if we would be a little bolder in sharing our faith with those who don’t yet know Jesus?

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:

Young Family (Blithe, Mo, Quincy, Richard)

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: Church Wardens (Carol & Geoff)

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.