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 19.24

This one made me laugh – the mental image of the person who is hungry but so lazy they can’t even be bothered to lift their hand up to their mouth to feed themselves!

Sometimes I find myself wishing I had been born to be a vicar 200 years ago, when vicars had housekeepers and butlers, and regularly dined with the lord or lady of the manor (maybe I’ve been reading too much Jane Austen recently). Wouldn’t it be nice not to have to do chores – wouldn’t it be nice not to have to make your own cups of tea and coffee – wouldn’t it be nice to have someone else refill your glass of water (I have to refill mine a lot!)?

I don’t know how if you are that lazy – but how lazy are you when it comes to your faith? People sometimes say to me they ‘wish they had my faith’ or they ‘wish they knew the Bible as well as me’ – or they ‘struggle to see where God is in this situation’.

Friends, to say or think things like that and do nothing about it is to be like the person who is so lazy they can’t even be faffed to feed themselves.

For we have all the spiritual food we need at our disposal. We all own a Bible – and if you don’t but would like one, tell me and I will let you have one for free. Prayer costs nothing – all you need is a quiet place, away from distraction. Even if you don’t have that, prayer is simply listening and talking to God, which you can do anywhere and whatever else is going on (though I suggest not putting your hands together and closing your eyes if you’re driving).

Don’t be lazy. Eat the spiritual food you have and you’ll find you are refreshed and no longer starving.

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:

Taylor Family (Alex, Chris, Holly, John, Ruby)

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: Place of Welcome

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.