Exodus 15:2 NCV
‘The Lord gives me strength and makes me sing; he has saved me. He is my God, and I will praise him’.

Gracious God, as we turn to You in prayer at the start of a new week, we reflect upon the cacophony of the bird song from our gardens, fields, wetlands, parks and streets. There may be many challenges ahead of us this week, for many different reasons, and there may be many reasons our hearts do not want to rejoice and sing, but just for a moment, as we pause and focus upon the gift of something so beautiful, something we can so easily take for granted, we give thanks for each unique song that reminds us of the wonder and diversity of Your creation and of Your presence in our world. As we clear our minds for a moment of the clamour and noise of the concerns of the day, with the knowledge that just as You love and care for every creature into which you have breathed life, from the tiniest of finches, to the majestic swan in flight, so too You love and care for each and every one of us. As a new week begins, may we journey assured of Your creative, life-giving presence with us and may we give thanks and feel a song of joy in our hearts, knowing we are loved by You. So too, help us to share the power of Your love in our communities this day so that the hearts of all Your people may have cause to sing in praise to You. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

Hello everyone,
I am taking a little time out this coming week and so may I offer you a traditional Irish blessing for the week ahead. Reflections will resume next week, Sue

May God give you…
For every storm, a rainbow,
For every tear, a smile,
For every care, a promise,
And a blessing in each trial.
For every problem life sends,
A faithful friend to share,
For every sigh, a sweet song,
And an answer for each prayer.
Amen.

Matthew 28:20 ERV

“Teach them to obey everything that I have told you to do. You can be sure that I will be with you always. I will continue with you until the end of time.”

Lord God, as we draw close to the end of the first week of Easter, we reflect upon all the events that took place following your resurrection; the tears as the tomb was found empty, the questions as to what would happen, the joy as you appeared to the disciples, the doubts as to whether such a miracle, that reaches beyond all human understanding could have possibly taken place. We think about Thomas who needed to see the scars on Your hands and Your feet to believe it could be true. Living Lord, we admit that some days, when life is difficult, when events occur that scar and hurt us, we may too have those doubts, we may too struggle to believe in the miracle of Easter. And then we read the words You spoke to us, words of assurance that You are with us until the end of time and that nothing can separate us from Your love, words that assure us that You are present in our hearts and minds to guide us and lead us forward. And so, help us to continue to put our trust in You and help us to celebrate the joy and assurance to be found from a living relationship with You, our Living Lord, Amen.

John 14:27    NIV

‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid’.

Gracious God, as we come before You this Thursday morning, we pray especially for all those NHS staff whose mental health has been severely affected by what they have experienced during the pandemic. We continue to give thanks for their self-giving, empathy, skill and compassion, but we appreciate that the unprecedented pressures placed upon them, over past months, has impacted upon their well-being. Living Lord, when You appeared to the disciples in the upper room, following Your resurrection, You offered a peace that only Your love can give. And so, we pray that those healthcare professionals in need of a sense of peace at this time, will receive the practical support they so richly deserve, and so too we pray that they will, in time, experience the peace that comes from being supported and loved by You. We lift them all into Your hands this day. In the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace we pray, Amen.

Luke 24:36     NIV
Jesus Appears to the Disciples

‘While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.”

As we remember the appearances of Jesus following His resurrection, I invite you today to pray using a beautiful reflection composed by Margaret Langdon.

IN THE UPPER ROOM
You came
Although they were frightened
Although they had doubts
Although they couldn’t decide what to do
You came

You came
And wished them peace
And brought them hope
And gave them purpose
You came

You came
And your love overwhelmed their fear
And their doubt and indecision
And your presence brought strength and revelation
…. my Lord and my God ! …….

TODAY IN OUR UPPER ROOM
You come
Although we fear the future
Although we have so many anxieties
Although we don’t know where things will lead
You come

You come
And bring us peace in our hearts
And hope for the future
And courage to plan ahead
You come

You come
And we are overwhelmed by your love
And we rest in your presence
And we cry out to you for inspiration
….. Our Lord and our God !  ……

Romans 8:38-39      (NIV)

‘For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,  neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord’.

Gracious God, as we move on from the Easter weekend celebrations, we reflect upon the feelings of the early followers of Jesus who were left still trying to make sense of His crucifixion and resurrection. Their minds and hearts must have been bursting with joy, bewilderment, uncertainty, excitement and anticipation of what was to come of Jesus’ ministry. And yet, as people living in the light of the resurrection today, we know that the events of Easter brought hope into our world, an everlasting hope with the assurance that nothing, not even death itself, can separate us from the love of God and from a living relationship with Jesus. And so we journey on in faith, with that love and hope in our hearts and minds, this day and in the days to come, Amen.

Holy Week – Maundy Thursday

Mark 14:22-25
During the meal Jesus took some bread in his hands. He blessed the bread and broke it. Then he gave it to his disciples and said, “Take this. It is my body.” Jesus picked up a cup of wine and gave thanks to God. He gave it to his disciples, and they all drank some. Then he said, “This is my blood, which is poured out for many people, and with it God makes his agreement. From now on I will not drink any wine, until I drink new wine in God’s kingdom.”

Gracious God, as Good Friday approaches, we reflect upon the events in the upper room. On the night before He was betrayed, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples in an act of humility and servitude and so may we respond and commit to serving others. On the night before He was betrayed, Jesus spoke of reconciliation between God and His people, so may we continue to nurture relationships rooted in God’s love for us and may we follow His commands and be the people He would have us be. And on the night before He was betrayed, Jesus asked us to remember Him, and so this day we give thanks for His sacrifice upon the cross. As Jesus suffered rejection and persecution, may we support all those who feel rejected, oppressed and unloved. Living God, give us the courage and the strength to witness to the Good News of Jesus Christ and his resurrection, for it is In His name that we pray, Amen.

Holy Week – Wednesday

Mark 12:41-44
Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts.  But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.

Gracious God, as we reflect upon the woman who had so little, yet was prepared to share everything she had, we give thanks for those who give so generously of their time and their compassion for the benefit of others. May we as communities give generously to those in need. So too, we pray that you will give us generous hearts and that you will help us to give whatever we can, in service to You, in order that Your love may be experienced and known in our world. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

Holy Week – Wednesday

Mark 12:41-44
Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts.  But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.

Gracious God, as we reflect upon the woman who had so little, yet was prepared to share everything she had, we give thanks for those who give so generously of their time and their compassion for the benefit of others. May we as communities give generously to those in need. So too, we pray that you will give us generous hearts and that you will help us to give whatever we can, in service to You, in order that Your love may be experienced and known in our world. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

Holy Week – Tuesday

John 12:34-36
The crowd said to Jesus, “The Scriptures teach that the Messiah will live forever. Who is this Son of Man?” Jesus answered, “The light will be with you for only a little longer. Walk in the light while you can. Then you won’t be caught walking blindly in the dark. Have faith in the light while it is with you, and you will be children of the light”.

Gracious God, as the sun shines through and the light nights return, we give thanks for the way light refreshes and restores our minds and warms our hearts. We remember how Jesus brought light into our world, how He faced up to and challenged the things that created darkness in people’s lives. We give thanks for everything He taught us about radiating light into the dark corners of our world, about offering support, empathy and compassion, and we give thanks too that we have witnessed so many examples of this, in our communities, during the pandemic. And so, this Holy Week as we journey with Jesus to the cross, help us to continue to follow His guiding light and may His love shine in our lives and in our world. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.