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:

The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.

Isaiah 9.2 (NIV)

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 19.14

I suspect some of you may have objected to yesterday’s proverb about nagging – maybe thinking it was a little sexist. Where here’s another sexist proverb – only this one is positive rather than negative! This illustrates one of the most important reasons why we must learn to take and read the Bible as a whole, rather than in parts.

If you are a husband and you have a prudent wife, I hope you see her as a gift from God, and give thanks for her, and tell her. We’ve seen time and again that what we say, the words we use, matters. They are powerful. Do not underestimate the power of encouraging words.

Those two principles – recognising the gifts God has given us, and speaking encouraging words – apply to everyone, not simply husbands and wives.

Why not this morning count your blessings? Spend a few moments giving thanks to God for the good things he’s given you. I know there will be some bad stuff going on at the moment – we need to pray about that too – but sometimes our complaints and needs crowd out the thanksgiving that God deserves.

And if you’re giving thanks for a person, why not tell them that you are grateful to God for giving them to you?

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:

Jean Austin, Joshi Family (Alan, Jess, Paul)

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 Secondary Schools & Colleges

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.