Morning Prayer Friday, 23 April 2021
Hello to everyone coming to pray or praise or liven up this day.
God of promise who never fails us in need, receive our thanks for a peaceful night and this wonderful new morning. Give us grace to discover you in everyone we meet and everything we do until we come to rest again tonight.
Amen
The story of the first Easter is moving along: soon Jesus will have pumped his disciples as full of learning as he could
and will leave them to carry on the mission.
He had managed to convince them of the truth of resurrection through continued presence
and now they have to convince others who had not been witnesses.
One afternoon Peter and John were going to the temple to pray. Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called ‘Beautiful’ where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts. When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money. Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, ‘Look at us!’ So, the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them. Then Peter said ‘Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, get up and walk.’ Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.
Acts 3: 1–7
Gracious God, take my hand and strengthen me with your power so I may freely give of myself today. Open my eyes to see what I need to do, open my hands to be ready to do it and open my heart that I may demonstrate the power of your overwhelming love.
Amen
Here’s a story of service I’ve borrowed from Lucy McGrath.
Long ago a Roman soldier called Martin saw a scantily clad beggar huddled by a wall.
Seeing his need, he cut his military cloak in half and shared it.
The cloak was called a capella.
That night, Martin dreamed of Jesus wearing the half-cloak he had given away saying:
‘Here is Martin, the Roman soldier; he has clad me.’
St Martin of Tours became known as the first capellain or chaplain.
After his ordination, Martin was commissioned to work away from church buildings
in places where people were in special need.
Buildings created for this special work were known as chapels!
The story of St Martin of Tours has all the qualities of a legend
and no one can ever know what really happened to him that night.
What is certain, however, is that he saw someone in need
and did what he could – shared his cloak – to meet that need.
At Christ the Cornerstone we hold a precious resource for the city –
not the large, multi-use Worship Area or the Guildhall, the Café or even the accessible toilets.
Our gift to the city is our Chapel – the small, special, beautiful space
where an individual in need can take time out from the turmoil of life and spend time with God.
Gracious God, we have pledged this sacred space to you.
Help us to maintain it as a place of connection, a place of peace, a place of challenge and a place of power.
May we keep it as a statement of defiance to a city too often capable of skimming the surface of spiritual need,
a city too quick to consume and reluctant to give.
Let its round walls be a symbol to all in power that solutions to the big issues
lie in mutual respect, unity of purpose and common action.
Amen
In four weeks’ time Cornerstone will welcome weekend worshippers to join those who come to Wednesday Mass.
Regulations multiply the work required to keep the Chapel clean and available for anyone in need.
Volunteers to watch and wash are contributing more than they know –
they, too, might dream of Jesus – in a facemask!
Gracious God, as we prepare to meet the world today, we hold the Chapel visitors in prayer,
we hold your promise of resurrection power in our hearts and we hold out our faith to share.
Our confidence rests in Jesus, who lived and died and rose to life once more for us all.
Amen
A gloriously sunny, blessed day to everyone!
Cheryl Montgomery
