Morning Prayer Friday, 12 February 2021
I wish a very good morning to all our Cornerstone followers, seekers and friends
on New Year’s Day, 12 February, in the Year of the Ox!
Let’s celebrate the gift of a pristine morning!
We give thanks to you, Lord, for the blessing of this new day.
You provide us with rest and the excitement of morning.
In all we do and see and say today may we reflect your goodness.
Amen
This almost halfway day in February is full of events worthy of celebration.
It’s Valentine’s Day on Sunday and that could have provided a theme for today.
There were at least two Saint Valentines, both executed by Emperor Claudius II.
One Valentine, a priest, was martyred for solemnising marriages of soldiers
when marriage for the army was forbidden.
The celebration of romance began with Chaucer
when 14 February marked the beginning of birds’ mating season.
We’ll leave that rich seam for Sunday.
This is Abraham Lincoln’s birthday, a date still marked as a holiday in some states in the USA.
In my childhood it meant a day off school, regardless of where it fell in the week –
a random day in honour of an honourable President.
Maybe that will inspire us as the year moves on.
Today begins the traditional new year for people of Chinese heritage.
The week’s festivities mark the renewal of life in the coming spring
and the many lanterns are defiant against the winter dark.
Our faith in Christ the Redeemer brings us into a new way of life.
The old, dark burdens are cast aside like the old shell of a crab or the too small skin of a snake.
We are made into a new humanity!
Here’s how our presence in God is described in 2 Corinthians 5: 17–21:
For anyone united to Christ there is a new creation: the old order has gone, a new order has already begun. All this has been the work of God. He has reconciled us to himself through Christ and has enlisted us in this ministry of reconciliation: God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, no longer holding people’s misdeeds against them and has entrusted us with the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors. It is as if God were appealing to you through us: we implore you in Christ’s name, be reconciled to God! Christ was innocent of sin and yet for our sake God made him one with human sinfulness so that in him we might be made one with the righteousness of God.
So, become new!
Unifying and refreshing God, in these times of challenge and danger renew our spirit,
strengthen our souls and guide our lives to be your ambassadors of reconciliation.
If we go to work today help us ease the burdens of our colleagues through new words of kindness.
If we remain enclosed with family refresh our patience and help us make a new day’s restart to life at home.
If the ‘we’ is just ‘me’, provide inspiration for new connections,
new ideas and new experiences of this strange new world.
Reconciling God, we pray for people whose new day brings no relief
from pain and anxiety for self and others.
Shower them with your love and renew their spirits to live deeply within you and your peace.
Amen
In Milton Keynes the Chinese Overseas Christian Mission has been training people in mission to people of Chinese heritage for a generation. Their graduates serve across Europe, bringing the good news to Chinese communities. Let’s wish them a very Happy New Year within the new creation of God’s people and our own vast Milton Keynes’ people of faith.
Lord of all things new thank you for the Chinese Overseas Christian Mission and its wide-ranging ministry.
Help us, with them, to be good ambassadors for Christ,
proclaiming the overwhelming love of God in all we do today.
Amen
On a day of celebration let’s jump right into the party that is this shiny new Friday.
