Morning Prayer Wednesday, 3 February 2021

Good morning to you all.
Yesterday was Candlemas and we are half way between Christmas,
with the shortest days, and Ladyday, with equal day and night times.
It is very much winter still, but we can now feel a bit nearer springtime.

O Lord hear my prayer
and let my crying come before you.
Hide not your face from me
in the day of my distress.
Incline your ear to me when I call,
make haste to answer me.

But you, O Lord, shall endure forever;
your name through all generations.
You will arise and take pity on Zion;
it is time to have mercy upon her;
surely the time has come.
For your servants love her very stones
and feel compassion for her dust.
Then shall the nations fear your name, O Lord,
and all the kings of the earth your glory.
When the Lord has built up Zion
and shown himself in glory;
when he has turned to the prayer of the destitute
and has not despised their plea.

Psalm 102: 1–2 & 12–17

My help comes from the Lord.
Have pity on our frailty, O God, and cast us not away, for you are our eternal refuge,
through Christ Jesus our Lord.

Amen

Common Worship

He left that place and came to his home town, and his disciples followed him. On the Sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue and many who heard him were astounded.

They said, ‘Where did this man get all this?  What is this wisdom that has been given to him? What deeds of power are being done by his hands! Is not this the carpenter the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon and are not his sisters here with us?’ And they took offence at him.

Then Jesus said to them, ‘Prophets are not without honour, except in their own town and among their own kin and in their own house.’ And he could do no deed of power there, except that he laid his hands on a few sick people and cured them. And he was amazed at their unbelief.

Mark 6: 1–6a

The theme of the psalm is ‘O Lord, hear my prayer’.
The gospel is the story of our Lord teaching and healing in his home town, but being rejected.
How often, since then, has God had reason to show amazement at the unbelief of his own people;
only too regularly, I fear! ‘Mea culpa’ – ‘my failure’.
The prayer book provides us with the short prayer we have already used.
‘Have pity on our frailty, O God.’
Let us add to that, a prayer that we may, at this time, be more trusting in the power of God,
to worship him and be ready to be what he would have us be
and to do those things he would have us do.

Let us pray for the church in this period Ordinary time, between Epiphany and Lent.
Pray that it will not be frozen or waterlogged,
but ready to move forward and continue to show the love of God to the whole world.
Yesterday was Candlemas, when we remembered Joseph and Mary taking the young Jesus
to present him to the priests in the Temple,
where they met a man called Simeon.
He is described as being ‘righteous and devout and looking forward to the consolation of Israel.’
He offered a prayer which has been used regularly from that time,
known by its Latin opening words, the Nunc Dimittis.

Now, Lord, you let your servant go in peace; your word has been fulfilled.
My own eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared in the sight of every people;
A light to reveal you to the nations and the glory of your people Israel.

Common Worship

We pray for Christ the Cornerstone and for the two initiatives in youth work and in building a worshipping community in Campbell Park.

Almighty God, who called your church to witness that you were in Christ reconciling the world to yourself; help us to proclaim the good news of your love, that all who hear it may be drawn to you; through him who was lifted up, on the cross and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Amen

This week is Child Mental Health Week,
so let us remember all children, parents and carers,
teachers and schools trying to give all children the best learning experience in these strange times.
Without the opportunities to make friends and enjoy finding out new things together
it can be hard for all our young people
and it appears that mental health problems are more prevalent with this generation.
The news media report that self-harming cases of children from primary-school age
are arriving in A & E.
We pray for all children who are vulnerable because of neglect and abuse,
for those who are not keeping up with on-line lessons for whatever reason
and for all who may be feeling lonely or without hope.

Lord of all life, we pray that as young people in each new generation discover your world in their own way,
they may catch a glimpse of your glory and use their energies creatively in your service and for the benefit of others.
Be there for all children whose hearts are troubled
and offer them the comfort that they lack and bring them to enjoy the light of your love.

Amen

Throughout the world we hear of people being oppressed
when military force is used to gain or maintain power,
in Russia, China, Myanmar, Ethiopia, Yemen and no doubt many other areas.

The world is still struggling to reduce the spread of this coronavirus outbreak
as new mutations appear and health services everywhere are severely stretched
including our own in the UK.

We are still neglecting the earthly environment with our greed and waste
and our governments need to formulate new policies
and we people in the so-called developed world need to modify our lives urgently
to tread more lightly on the earth.

Eternal God, in whose perfect realm no sword is drawn but the sword of righteousness,
and no strength known but the strength of love;
so guide and inspire the work of those who seek your kingdom
that your people may find their security in that love which casts out fear
and in the fellowship revealed to us in Jesus Christ our Saviour.

Amen

May your day lift your heart and may you have opportunity to share that lightness of spirit.
Pick a day with half reasonable weather in the next two weeks
and share a walk in the Campbell Park area with one other person.