April 2017 Prayer Column

When I behold the wondrous cross

All through his ministry, in all he said and did, as well as in his person, Jesus revealed Emmanuel : God with us; God one of us. He came to earth from heaven, and opened the way to heaven for us, following his death and resurrection. Behold, see, wonder!

In his parables he took the things of earth and showed how they pointed also to heavenly truths. In his miracles he demonstrated the kingdom of God – His will being done on earth as it is in heaven. In his person he combined the heavenly Son and the earthly human, as his disciples found (by sight, touch, and hearing), and as they told, that we too might have eternal life with him, open fellowship with other believers, and full joy within.

And he bequeathed to us the gift of prayer: the liberty to speak with God the Father. In prayer we can lift up the needs of ourselves and others for help, and from him bestow blessings in return, living out his kingdom on earth, proclaiming in spirit and in truth His Lordship over all he has made.

Roy LS

A prayer for each week

Father, forgive, for we know not what we do – so often wilfully deaf and blind to your truth and your way. Please take us by the hand and lead us. Amen.

The promise of paradise with you, dear Lord, is the goal of our pilgrimage and the reward of all our faithful endeavours. Please keep till the end. Amen.

Lord God of all that is right, please help us arrange all our lives and relationships in the light of your love and righteousness, for your glory. Amen.

Welcoming Lord, more eager to receive our requests than we are to come to you in need, please help us pray faithfully and thankfully at all times. Amen.

Faithful Lord, upholding the despairing and empowering the weary, please help us to trust you every step of our journey, with you and to you. Amen.

Your own prayers

Comments

Christmas Day Worship 2021

Today is the day - Christmas! The central candle is lit. The waiting is over. The child is born. As we celebrate the Feast and Holy-Day of Christmas, with the Psalmist (Ps. 98:4-6) we proclaim: Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; make music to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn – shout for joy before the LORD, the King. Prayer Let us pray: Generous God, even as we praise you for the good news of today, and seek to shout for joy at the coming of the Christ-child, we acknowledge Mary’s mix of pain and joy, both today and in the days to come. As we do so, we face our own emotions on this difficult and delightful day, and ask your help to live it well. Amen. Carol You might like to sing, or reflect on the words of Geoffrey Ainger’s hymn at StF 193/H&P 95, Born in the night, Mary’s child, a long way from your home; coming in need, Mary’s child, born in a borro...

Pastoral Letter - 9 December 2021

Dear friends We have been through a lot together over this last 18 months since the pandemic first started, as households, as communities and as the people of the church. At times we have struggled, but we have also recognised the support we can offer one another in times of adversity. When things have been far from normal, we have adapted in new ways to continue the life and mission of the church. In the face of great hurt and great need, we have found the value of faith and hope. Since the summer we have seen signs of hope in the re-opening of buildings and the re-starting of some of our church and community groups. However, recent news of a new variant of the virus has once again raised the level of concern. Clearly, the pandemic is not yet over. Consequently, as I am sure you are already aware, the government has decided that there is a need for greater restrictions to be in place once again - see detailed guidance dated 8th December. In the light of this, the Methodist Church...

Prayer Column - January 2022

The turn of the year As a new year approaches we tend to wonder what lies ahead, hoping always to shake off the past’s bad record and for something better to come, as if hoping could make it so. We wonder about next year because of course we don’t know what lies around the corner (however great the store of human knowledge, and however thorough our Googling). Search as we may, and it’s a royal honour to do so (Prov 25:2), some things are known only to God: times and seasons fixed by his authority are not for us to know (Acts 1:7), for the future is his. This is a time to remind ourselves of God’s omniscience: he does know (Rom 11:33). He knows the plans he has for us – plans to prosper us and not to harm us, plans to give us a hope and a future (Jer 29:11). And it’s time to remember also that God is not far-off and aloof, but a loving, heavenly Father who wants a close living relationship with each of us, day by day and breath by breath – he sent Jesus to bring us back to him. So ...

Bradford North Circuit

Search This Blog