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 take up the cross and follow Jesus,
whatever the cost.

from Luke 14.27-28

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 16.24

It’s quite some time since we’ve had a proverb like this one. Early on we had a run of Proverbs with a common theme: what we say matters.

It’s so hard though, isn’t it? In his letter James quite rightly warns about the dangers of the tongue:

The tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

James 3.5-6 (NIV)

That’s quite the damning indictment! How much damage can be done with so small a thing…

And how much healing can be brought when – with the help of the Holy Spirit – we use our words to speak grace and truth. And note as well: the healing is two-way. Our gracious words bring healing others, and nourish ourselves as well.

Think about how you speak to people: are your words like a spark starting a huge forest fire? Or are they gracious and kind, bringing healing? If you’re like me it’s probably a mixture. So let’s ask the Holy Spirit to help us tame the tongue, and speak words of life and healing instead of death.

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:

Ben & Jess Green, Lesley Willers

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: Local Health, Police & Fire Services

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.