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 16.21

We’ve had an awful lot of Proverbs challenging us to listen, and listen well, to recognise wise advice, to accept we might be wrong.

But there is a flip side to that of course: giving advice.

There’s not much use in being the wisest, most discerning person in the world, having a heart of perception and depth – if when we speak to others we do so harshly and unkindly, with arrogance and disdain.

My parents used to look after puppies for Guide Dogs. One of them, called Onyx, we actually ended up having back because her owner wasn’t caring for her properly and she became unwell and hugely fat. She was also the most timid Labrador I’ve ever known. At times it was quite frustrating, because normally to call a dog, you need a note of command in your voice. But with Onyx, if you did that, she cowered as if you were screaming at her. It was difficult – especially if you needed her to come quickly! Once or twice I actually had to go and pick her up to move her because she was frozen to the spot…

As with the fine tradition of the Proverbs, I’m exaggerating to make a point. If we know someone needs to hear something, we need to think carefully about how to tell them in such a way that helps them to hear what they need to hear, rather than puts them off.

I’ll be honest, I don’t always find this easy, especially when I’m in a hurry. But it’s a crucial part of people learning: speaking with gracious words.

How gracious are your words?

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:

Vacancy (All Souls)

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: Polesworth Deanery

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.