Morning Prayer:

 

God is the living Centre of everything

 

Friday January 23rd 2015

Said all together except for the sentences marked ‘Call’ which are for the Leader only.

+ indicates that you may make the sign of the cross.

 

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

 

Opening sentences:
One thing I have asked of the Lord,
this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life;
to behold the beauty of the Lord
and to seek Him in His temple.

Call: Who is it that you seek?
Response: We seek the Lord our God.
Call: Do you seek Him with all your heart?
Response: Amen. Lord, have mercy.
Call: Do you seek Him with all your soul?
Response: Amen. Lord, have mercy.
Call: Do you seek Him with all your mind?
Response: Amen. Lord, have mercy.
Call: Do you seek Him with all your strength?
Response: Amen. Christ, have mercy.

 

Declaration of faith:

To whom shall we go?
You have the words of eternal life,
and we have believed and have come to know
that You are the Holy One of God.

Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ,
King of endless glory.

 

Today’s Scripture Reading: Philippians 1: 3-6 and 9-11

3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus…

…9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God.

 

Reflection on the passage

read through the passage slowly, listening with your heart as well as your head.

when you find a verse or phrase that holds your attention, ruminate on it, rumble it over in your mind and your heart

respond by talking to God about what you’re thinking and feeling.

Rest in the truth of the words you’re reading. Make a note of them. Come back to them through the day, maybe at lunchtime, in the car or bus, over making coffee, etc

 

 

 

Today’s Meditation:

Living in Wholeness From Eugene Petersen: ‘The Contemplative Pastor’

 

‘Live…a life Jesus will be proud of: bountiful in fruits from the soul’ Phil 1:10-11. The Message)

 

Christian spirituality means living in the mature wholeness of the gospel. It means taking all the elements of your life – children, spouse, job, weather, possessions, relationships – and experiencing them all as an act of faith. God wants all the material of our lives…

            The assumption of spirituality is always that God is doing something before I know it. So the task is not to get God to do something I think needs to be done, but to become aware of what god is doing so I can respond to it and participate and take delight in it.

 

 

Prayers for others and for the day:

pray for the church of Jesus Christ across the country and across the world: that we will be true disciples of Jesus and live for him whatever our situation.

pray for our services this coming Sunday, for Kids Club and 24/7, that God will pour out his Spirit as we meet and worship.

pray for Youth Club meeting tonight: for the kids who come, for their families and for the youth club team.

pray for Eric and Sarah Harris-Bafende, soon to return to medical work in Guinea with BMS World Mission. Pray for all involved in combatting the current ebola outbreak, and all who are suffering.

lay out your own day before God

 

Canticle:
Christ, as a light
illumine and guide me.
Christ, as a shield
overshadow me.
Christ under me;
Christ over me;
Christ beside me
on my left and my right.
 

This day be within and without me,
lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Be in the heart of each to whom I speak;
in the mouth of each who speaks unto me.
This day be within and without me,
lowly and meek, yet all-powerful.
Christ as a light;
Christ as a shield;
Christ beside me
on my left and my right.

 

Blessing

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you,
wherever He may send you.
May He guide you through the wilderness,
protect you through the storm.
May He bring you home rejoicing
at the wonders He has shown you.
May He bring you home rejoicing
once again into our doors.

 

+ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen