Sing to the Lord, and praise him! Proclaim every day the good news that he has saved us (Psalm 96.2, GNB).

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Opening

Speak these words out loud:

Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord.

Psalm 27.14 (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 21.17

The way you read this Proverb may reveal something about your attitude to wealth. Did you read it as warning against luxuries, so you can grow in wealth? Or did you read it as a choice between enjoying life and storing up wealth?

The reality for most of us in this country, is that we’d have to buy a lot of wine and olive oil to become poor. We are probably more likely to describe wine as a ‘luxury’ than olive oil – but even then I suspect we’d see expensive wine (or chocolate, or whatever) as the luxury, rather than the item per se.

I find this one tricky. Generally, I prefer less of an expensive thing (making it a treat), than more of a cheap thing (making it an everyday item). In reality, if there is (expensive) chocolate in the room, I generally shove it into my face in a very undignified manner.

The other – much more important – question is this: how are we best to use the wealth we have? I don’t see a problem in using what we have to buy things we like – as long as we don’t get selfish and greedy. Are you using what you have to help others, to support others? Or, when you have some spare cash, do you splash out on an expensive bottle of wine / chocolate / takeaway / meal out / gadget / etc?

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:

Wayne, Claire & Jude Pinner-Rosenbach

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: Church Musicians

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.