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 16.28

Where there are people, there is gossip.

Personally, I think gossip is one of the most dangerous things that happens in our church, because it is so easy and appears to be so harmless.

Gossip is spreading rumours, ‘idle chat’, talking about people behind their back in a way you wouldn’t in front of them. Gossip rarely involves sharing something good, but sharing negative events, feelings, actions. If you’re talking to someone about another person, and they don’t end the conversation with a higher opinion of that person, you’re probably gossipping.

And that’s why it’s so bad. Instead of bringing life into relationships, gossip kills them. It hardens people’s hearts. It spreads malicious ideas. It is the very opposite of harmless – and can be devastating to people when they discover what is being said about them.

Hence the truth of this proverb: it separates close friends, and is spread by wicked people.

Friends, gossip is not harmless. It is not good. It is not kind – even if it’s true. And it isn’t simply women who do it – men are every bit as guilty.

I wonder what would happen if you stopped gossipping and instead starting speak life and God’s truth and promises into people’s lives?

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:

Doug & Irene Dean, Patricia Wood

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: Poverty & Deprivation in Amington

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.