i am sitting at home on a beautiful frosty winter’s morning looking out at the snow covered, sun drenched mountains. it is already New year’s day in Australia and my thoughts and prayers are still with my family in Sydney. However I am also ready to welcome in this new year with a sense of God’s eternal presence and thought that I would share yet another prayer with you that came to me while we were travelling
God is the eternal rock
From year’s beginning to its end
God is faithful
In each day God is present
In each action God comes close
Through all eternity
God is trustworthy
Yesterday, today and forever
Sustaining, enlivening, making all things new
God is the eternal rock
I am sitting in the airport in San Francisco waiting for our flight to Seattle. The new year is almost here and I have been reflecting on my hopes and expectations for the time that lies ahead. I find that his prayer, adapted from one I wrote last year, has really helped me to focus.
A new year coming and God is with us
In loving, in caring, in hoping and expecting,
God is with us and never lets us go
God live in us, God live with us, God live through us
God keep us faithful through the days that lie ahead
God keep us caring as we see the pain that fills your world
God keep us serving as we seek to do your will
God live in us, God live with us, God live through us
God keep us loving toward neighbours near and far
God keep us trusting through the uncertainties of life
God keep us sharing from your generous abundance
God live in us, God live with us, God live through us
Amen.
For those who love to both begin and end the day with prayer particularly during this season here are the prayers that we will be using over the next few weeks
Evening Christmas liturgy
Let we join in the dance of God this night,
And sing our praises to Christ our Saviour.
Let us celebrate the joy of Christ’s birth,
And shout aloud: Emmanuel, God is with us!
Pause to light the Christ candle and remind yourself of the many names by which Christ is known in the Bible. Allow time for each person to call out the names that are most meaningful to them)
Lord Jesus Christ,
A thousand names cannot confine you
You are King of Kings and Lord of Lord
Wonderful counselor, Prince of Peace,
Saviour, Restorer and Redeemer
You are the Lamb who was slain,
Lord Jesus Christ,
A thousand names cannot confine you
God of justice and truth how can we know you?
You are majestic and holy, abounding in love and faithfulness
You are the source of life, our provider
You walk beside us as companion and friend
Lord Jesus Christ,
A thousand names cannot confine you
God of glory, God of power you care for the vulnerable
Protector of widows and orphans,
Compassionate to the poor, comforter of the downcast
You heal all our diseases and bring us wholeness
Lord Jesus Christ,
A thousand names cannot confine you
God in whom we trust, you are always with usl
You are all things good, known yet unknowable
You are the way, the truth and the life,
We worship you
Lord Jesus Christ,
A thousand names cannot confine you
Read the evening psalms from the daily lectionary
Lord Jesus Christ, your name is proclaimed in all the earth.
You were God almighty yet you made yourself nothing
You came as a vulnerable child to live amongst us.
You were God all powerful
Yet you came as a humble servant
You were faithful as a son,
You went through death so that we might find life
Your blood was shed so that we could be redeemed
Your body was broken so that we might be made whole
Therefore God has exalted you and given you the name above all names
So that one day all peoples will proclaim you
As Jesus Christ the Lord
God who calls us all by name
Have mercy upon us
Christ who invites us to share life as one family
Have mercy on us
Spirit who welcomes us home together into God’s eternal world
Grant us peace
Our Father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
Jesus, as members of your family, help us to proclaim your names in all the earth
Make us instruments of your life today
Through our words and actions help us to proclaim you as saviour and redeemer to all peoples
Lord make us instruments of your love today
Where there is war may we proclaim you as the Prince of Peace
Lord make us instruments of your peace today
Where there is despair may we proclaim you as the God of all comfort
Lord make us instruments of your comfort today
Where there is sickness may we proclaim you as the great physician
Lord make us instruments of your healing today
Where there is oppression may we proclaim you as the God who brings freedom
Lord make us instruments of your freedom today
Where there is hunger may we proclaim you as the God of abundant provision
Lord make us instruments of your generosity today
Jesus may we be proclaimers of your names through all the earth
Lord make us instruments of your kingdom today
The Wonderful Counsellor guide you,
The Mighty God protect you,
The Everlasting Father be with you.
The Prince of Peace inspire you,
And the blessings of God be upon you, now and evermore.
Amen
nativity – Lu Lan China
With Christmas just a few days away I thought that some of you might be interested in morning and evening prayers for the Christmas season. I thought that I would post these in separate posts so here are the morning prayers
God of joy and celebration
God of love and mercy
God of peace and righteousness
We sing aloud and dance with the angels.
The ruler of all worlds, the shepherd of creation
Jesus Christ has entered our world
Our Saviour Christ has come into the world,
Not in power, not in might, but in the tenderness of love,
He comes as the promise of life hidden in a mother’s womb.
In this season of God with us we celebrate with the angels
We are graced by the wonder of God’s presence
We are filled with the tenderness of Christ’s love,
(Pause to light Advent and Christ candles)
Love and faithfulness meet together,
Righteousness and peace kiss each other,
Faithfulness springs forth from the earth
Shout aloud Hallelujah! God’s faithfulness comes down from heaven
God has kept his promise, the Saviour has been born and a new world begun .
In this season of God with us we rejoice for God’s salvation has come
The redeemer of all creation has come to earth
And we catch glimpses of God’s Messiah healed world
Shout aloud Hallelujah! God’s faithfulness comes down from heaven
God has kept his promise, the Saviour has been born and a new world begun .
This is the time we believe once more that perfect love casts out fear
That generosity transforms scarcity into abundance
That righteousness overcomes oppression with justice
Shout aloud Hallelujah! God’s faithfulness comes down from heaven
God has kept his promise, the Saviour has been born and a new world begun .
We are graced by Christ’s presence and filled with his love
May we become bearers of God’s light,
And go out to transform our troubled world.
Shout aloud Hallelujah! God’s faithfulness comes down from heaven
God has kept his promise, the Saviour has been born and a new world begun .
Scriptures of the day from the daily lectionary
The whole earth shouts with joy to God
The world declares God’s praise.
Praise to the compassionate and gracious One,
Who sent the son to dwell among us.
Praise to the incarnate One, Jesus Christ our Redeemer
Who fulfills God’s covenant of love and compassion to all humankind
Praise to the indwelling one, the Holy Spirit the giver of life
Who proclaims God’s mercy and justice throughout the earth
Praise to the three in One
Praise to the One in Three
Praise to God on high
Our Father who art in heaven hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil, for thine is the kingdom the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen.
Jesus you come
In the voice of the poor
In the hurting of the sick
In the anguish of the oppressed
Open our eyes that we may see you
Jesus you come
In the weakness of the vulnerable
In the questions of the doubting
In the fears of the dying
Open our ears that we might hear you
Jesus you come
In the celebration of the saints
In the generosity of the faithful
In the compassion of the caring
Open our hearts that we might embrace you
Almighty God whose great love and compassion came into our world in the person of your incarnate son, Jesus Christ, plant in every heart your concern and care for all humankind. May the light of Christ ignite our hearts and shine out brightly from our lives, proclaiming your salvation to all the earth.
May the light of God shine on us,
May the love of Christ shine in us,
May the life of the Spirit shine through us.
This day and evermore
Amen
Today is Thanksgiving in the U.S. I did not grow up with this celebration but have embraced it with enthusiasm. We have so much to be grateful for even when life seems difficult. Here is the thanksgiving prayer we will be using today as part of our celebration
A Thanksgiving Liturgy
God we gather in thankfulness for the many blessings in our lives,
We praise you for your generous goodness which is new every day,
To you God we offer our praise and thanksgiving.
God to you who created the earth and the heavens,
To you who are always merciful and forgiving,
To you God we offer our praise and thanksgiving.
God to you who call us into relationship with yourself,
To you who give us the gift of family and friends,
To you God we offer our praise and thanksgiving.
(Pause to remind yourself of all you have to be thankful for)
For the universe immense and unknown
For the earth on which we live
For humankind made in your image
Thanks and praise to God our creator
For entering human history as one of us
For your life poured out in sacrifice for us
For dying that we might live
Thanks and praise to Christ our redeemer
For the comfort of your indwelling presence
For the wisdom of your guidance and direction
For drawing us together as one family
Thanks and praise to the Holy Spirit our enabler
Through your will we are made whole,
Through your love we are renewed in body, mind and spirit
Through you we become one community from every tribe and nation.
Thanks and praise to Father, Son and Spirit through all eternity.
Psalm 92: 1-8 (NLT)
Give thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness.
Let the whole world know what he has done.
2 Sing to him; yes, sing his praises.
Tell everyone about his wonderful deeds.
3 Exult in his holy name;
rejoice, you who worship the Lord.
4 Search for the Lord and for his strength;
continually seek him.
5 Remember the wonders he has performed,
his miracles, and the rulings he has given,
6 you children of his servant Abraham,
you descendants of Jacob, his chosen ones.
He is the Lord our God.
His justice is seen throughout the land.
8 He always stands by his covenant—
the commitment he made to a thousand generations.
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
A reading from the Gospel according to Luke.
Glory to you, O Lord.
Luke 22:14 – 20 (NLT)
When the time came, Jesus and the apostles sat down together at the table. Jesus said, “I have been very eager to eat this Passover meal with you before my suffering begins. For I tell you now that I won’t eat this meal again until its meaning is fulfilled in the Kingdom of God.” Then he took a cup of wine and gave thanks to God for it. Then he said, “Take this and share it among yourselves. For I will not drink wine again until the Kingdom of God has come.” He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this to remember me.” After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
Let us pray together now in the words Jesus taught us.
Our Father, who art in heaven hallowed by your name. Your kingdom come your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil for thine is the kingdom the power and the glory for ever and ever. Amen
Pause to offer up prayers of praise and thanksgiving
Gracious and generous God we give you thanks
For the gift of life for we are made in your image,
We pray for all your loved ones in whom your divine image is still hidden and distorted
We pray for your mercy and compassion to rest upon them
God in your mercy be with all those you love
Caring and providing God we give you thanks
For our homes that shelter and protect us,
We think of those without shelter and water and protection today
We pray for your provision to be poured out upon them
God in your mercy be with all those you love
Abundant and giving God we give you thanks
For our food that nourishes and strengthens us,
We thing of those without food and nourishment today
We pray that you will feed them with the bread of life
God in your mercy be with all those you love
Loving and compassionate God we give you thanks
For our friends and family who love and comfort us in times of need
We think of those who are alone and feel abandoned today
God comfort and surround them that they may sense your presence
God in your mercy be with all those you love
Gracious and generous God
We remember all the gifts you have given us,
We remember how lavishly you have provided,
We remember how lovingly you have cared,
We remember especially that greatest gift of all,
Jesus Christ our Saviour,
And we give you thanks.
Amen
Its All Saints Day and Tom and I are back home in Seattle . In spite of the cold drippy weather it is a delight to be here. There is nothing quite like coming home to evoke warm fuzzy emotions of joy and satisfaction. The sighting of familiar faces at the airport, the enthusiastic greeting of our golden retriever Bonnie, and that first glimpse of house and garden all overwhelm us with contentment. This is the place our hearts have longed for during our long drawn out journey. This we know is where we belong. It sights, sounds and smells are all part of something we feel incomplete when away from, no matter how enjoyable the experiences in other places might be.
No wonder we often view our entry into the kingdom of God as a joyous homecoming feast, an event that seems very appropriate to think about on this All Saints’ Day. Our coming home to God’s kingdom is the ultimate homecoming, what Richard Foster describes as a “coming home to the heart of God.” It is a fulfillment of the deepest longings of our souls, that sometimes heart wrenching craving for a closer and more intimate relationship with God which makes everything else fade into insignificance. This is the place where our spirits truly belong.
Coming home to the kingdom of God is about more than reaching a destination however. It is indeed an incredible welcoming feast when we sit down at table with all those who have gone before us, not just our loved ones and our ancestors, not even just the saints of old, but also those that God has brought in from the highways and byways – the poor, the disabled and the marginalized.
Chris Lawrence, one of the people we were with in England this last week once held a banquet feast in his neighbourhood at which the police officers and the city council members served table for the homeless, the drug addicts and the welfare single parent families. I suspect that this is something of what the kingdom banquet feast will look like and heading those that wait at table will be Jesus, coming to all of us as a servant, filling our plates with the choicest of food and our glasses with the finest of wines. What an incredible homecoming that will be – something that all of us should indeed long for in the depths of our being.
So what images come to mind when you think of homecoming? And in particular what comes to mind when you think of the homecoming banquet of God?
Here is one of my favourite All Saints scriptures to help you reflect. (Hebrews 11:32 – 12:2)
32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were put to death by stoning;[a] they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.
39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
Hebrews 12
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Come into a place of solitude
Come into a garden of prayer
Come feast on a slience of plenty
For God await us there
Come to where your heart is calling
Come into God’s place of quiet
Leave your worries and distractions
Come walk in the garden of life
Last night we facilitated a meeting at the London Institute for Contemporary Christianity. It was great to reconnect to friends we have not seen for a long time as well as to meet many new people who I am sure will become friends in the future.
I particularly enjoyed seeing worship leader Andy Flannagan again. We met him last year at Black Stump in Australia where he shared his very moving song Bring Heaven to Earth which you can download for free here. He started our worship with a 5 minute silence – a time to shut down our minds, refocus our thoughts on God and renew our spirits after the busyness of the day. It was so refreshing and inspired me to write the prayer above.
Silence is a form of prayer that most of us (except my Quaker friends), know very little about and yet God so often comes to us in the quiet whisper that can only be heard in the midst of silence. I wonder how often we miss what God is wanting to say to us because our lives are always so surrounded by noise.
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