Image: Get behind me Satan – Ilya Repin – 1895 ‘Put me on trial Lord, and cross-examine me. Test my motives and my heart. For I am always aware of your unfailing love, and I have lived according to your truth.’ (Psalm 26, v2 & 3) Opening Prayer: At this moment in time we may […]
Readings: Isaiah 51: 1-6; Psalm 138; Romans 12: 1-8; Matthew 16:13-20 Opening Prayer from Psalm 138 Loving God we come to You in thanksgiving for the unfailing love and faithfulness you show us. When we call out to You, You are there. When we are tried and troubled, You, give us strength. You have not […]
Isaiah 56: 1, 6-8; Psalm 67; Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32; Matthew 15: 10-28 Opening Prayer When we are shocked or offended, make us curious. When we are riled up, breathe calm into us. When we are fearful and want to turn away, keep us connected. In these ways build us into a house of welcome– a […]
1 Kings 19:9-18; Psalm 85:8-13; Romans 10:5-15; Matthew 14:22-33 Opening Prayer When we are beyond help or hope, when we are storm-tossed and sinking, when we do not know where to turn, call to us once more. Speak tenderly to us in silence. Breathe into us your comfort and your strength. Bring us home to […]
Isaiah 55:1-5; Psalm 145:8-9, 14-21; Romans 9:1-5; Matthew 14:13-21 Opening Prayer Like birds in late summer fields, we are drawn to the soil to seek sustenance. Feed us with the food we need. Nurture hearts hungry for safety and peace so that we may offer them to one another. Meet us on the ground of […]
1 Kings 3:5-12; Psalm 119:129-136; Romans 8:26-39; Matthew 13:31-44,52 Opening Prayer Here we are again, Gracious God. Receive us as we are. Feed us with your Word. Guide us by your Spirit. Confirm in us your love. And we will praise you. Amen. Reflection: The kingdom of heaven is like…. This morning we read more […]
Isaiah 44:6-8; Psalm 86:11-17; Romans 8:12-25; Matthew 13:24-30 Opening Prayer We need you, God. More than we realise. We need you to wake us up to reality. We need you to give us the courage to face it. We need you to give us the wisdom to know what to do. And we need you […]
Isaiah 55:10-13; Psalm 65:9-13; Romans 8:1-11; Matthew 13:1-9 Opening prayer Gracious God, generous and wise, how you love us! You come to us in ways old and new, always inviting, always teasing our imaginations, always hoping that we will dare to love you back. You are the source of the fullness of life we long […]
Zechariah 9:9-12, Psalm 145:8-14; Romans 7:15-25a; Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30 Opening Prayer Open my ears to hear the good news of the love and grace at the heart of the universe. Open my eyes to see how that love and grace move in mysterious ways around me. Open my heart to receive this incomparable gift and […]
Jeremiah 28:5-9; Psalm 89:1-4, 15-18; Romans 6:12-23; Matthew 10:40-42 Opening Prayer God of love and freedom, we feel free most of the time. We are free to worship and serve you, and free to reject you. We are free to marry the person we love, free to befriend some people and free to ignore others. […]
