Midday prayers 2010: Relationship not Rules

                               

                              January

                           Christian Unity

 

Mon: witness through celebrating life

 

Jesus said:”I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

John 10:10

Reflect for a moment about how you and your church celebrate life.

How might others learn from you that Christ is alive?

O God, who created us out of your love

and who longs for love to flourish,

we pray for those whose spirits are grieved,

whose hope has died,

enduring the gloom of half light

and longing for morning to come.

 

God, in Christ Jesus, is the life that rises

from the depths of all our failure, pain and grief.

This life is never defeated.

Thanks be to God!

We celebrate the God who conquered death.

We hold ourselves open to a new creation in us.

We believe that in every child of God

the Spirit breathes a thousand, thousand gracious possibilities.

Dorothy McRae-McMahon

Tues: witness through hope and trust

I know that my Redeemer lives,
and that in the end he will stand on the earth.

Job 19:25

Reflect for a moment on how Christian Communities may

encourage one another in faith and hope.

God our comfort and guide,

when our doubts are deepest

and our fears are darkest,

you are there,

though our clouded perception may

miss your presence.

 

Make us each secure and supportive,

atune to the sensitivities of others,

that we may be encouraged in faith

and hope on our journey to you.

We will carry the life of your cross

into the church, O God,

among our separations,

that all may one day see in us

the miracle of your power to make us one

 

Lift up your risen life in us, O God,

that all the earth may see and believe

that the Christ has come

Amen

Dorothy McRae-McMahon

 Wed: witness through faithfulness to the scriptures

Your word is a lamp to my feet
and a light for my path. 

Psalm 119:105

Reflect for a moment on how God’s word encourages

understanding and love between Christians.

 God, we praise and thank you for your saving word

reaching out to us through the sacred scriptures.

We thank you, too, for the brothers and sisters

with whom we share your word

and discover together the abundance of your love.

We pray for the light of your Holy Spirit,

so that your word may lead and direct us

into the unity you will for the sake of the world.

 

Give us grace, O Lord,

not only to hear your word with our ears,

but also to receive it into our hearts

and to show it forth in our lives;

for the glory of your great name.

Amen

Source unknown

 Thurs: witness through heritage and tradition

 What we have heard and known,                                                       what our fathers have told us,
we will tell the next generation
the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord.

Psalm 78:3-4 

Reflect for a moment on how you can share

the good things of your faith and heritage.

Grant us, O Living and Redeeming Lord,

the eyes to see into and beyond our traditions.

Give us the gift of discernment

so we can share with each other those things

which build up your Body,

which is your Church.

 

Give me eyes to see,

and ears to hear your voice of love.

Show me how to live each day

that I may express the unity which is in your

church and world.

God, we pray for overwhelmed souls

broken by shattering events,

dismayed by fading dreams,

grieving and grasping in equal measure.

May salvation’s story in Jesus Christ

be their strength and song.

 

Fri: witness through awareness

Your own ears will hear him.
Right behind you a voice will say,
“This is the way you should go,”
whether to the right or to the left.

Isaiah 30:21

Reflect for a moment on when, and in what ways,

you are aware of God’s presence.

Lord Jesus,

you encounter us

and walk alongside us in everyday life.

 

We pray for the grace to be aware of your loving presence

and of all that you offer us,

so that we may give greater witness

to our faith and trust in you.

God we walk the same road as those

from whom the incidents of history have divided us.

 

Draw us ever closer,

so that together we may reflect the unity

for which your son prayed.

Give us love for each other on the way, O God.

Show us your footsteps on the path, Jesus Christ,

and hold us safe as we go, Holy Spirit,

the one who prays for us,

even as we cannot find the words.

Amen

Sat: witness through hospitality

 

I was hungry and you gave me something to eat,

I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink,

I was a stranger and you invited me in.

Matthew 25:35

Reflect for a moment on the ways you and your church

reach out through hospitality.

God of the open hand,

in whom all find a welcome:

help us to

feed the hungry,

give refreshment to the thirsty,

provide covering for the naked,

care for the sick,

extend a hand of friendship to the isolated,

as fellow pilgrims of Love’s embrace.

Loving God

we are all your family;

united in our devotion to you

and our care for others.

Help us to reflect that love

through the life of the churches,

so that people may know

that yours is an open and warm-hearted family,

ready to welcome anyone

who needs your care.

In Jesus’ name.

Amen

Marjorie Dobson

Wave of Prayer for Mothers’ Union

 Lord, we remember with thanks

the unity of Mothers’ Union worldwide.

Today we pray for the people and work of: 

 

1 - 5   Rwanda: Cyangugu; Southern Africa: Lesotho; Sudan: Lainya; Nigeria: Kebbi;

                Uganda: North Karamoja; Canterbury: Bermuda & Canterbury

 

6 - 10  Rwanda: Shyira; Nigeria: Awka, Enugu & On the Niger; West Africa: Gambia;

                Sudan: Ibba; York: York

 

11 - 15 Southern Africa: Angola; Myanmar: Myitkyina & Mandalay;
West Africa: Bo & Freetown; Canterbury: Diocese in Europe & London

               16 - 20 Uganda: Bunyoro-Kitara, Masindi-Kitara, Ruwenzori & South Rwenzori;                Nigeria: Lokoja; York: Durham

21 - 25 Uganda: Muhabura & Kitgum; Canada: Algoma & Saskatchewan;

                Tanzania: Masasi; Sudan: Kajo-Keji; Canterbury: Winchester

26 - 31 Central Africa: Matabeleland; Nigeria: Katsina; Kenya: Mumias;
Indian Ocean: Fianarantsoa; Nigeria: Ogbomoso; Wales: Bangor

 

 A moment of silence is kept.

We bring before God our prayers for the world and ourselves.

 Intercessions 

                           Final Blessing

                                    

May God, give us hope and faith 

to trust in the kingdom to come.

May Christ feed us with his word

and lead us in his truth.

May the Spirit give us unity

to witness in the power of his name.

Amen