Morning Prayers Friday, 1 May 2020

A reading from Isaiah 43: 1–3.

This is the word of the Lord, the word of your Creator, the one who fashioned you, Israel:
‘Have no fear, for I have redeemed you;
I call you by name; you are mine.
When you pass through water,
I shall be with you;
when you pass through rivers,
they will not overwhelm you;
walk through fire
and you will not be scorched,
through flames and they will not burn you.
I am the Lord your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Deliverer.

Isaiah 43: 1–3

Good morning, Cornerstone People, on this first morning of the new month of May!

I have been pondering in this time of solitude how our God is the God of surprises.
When our expectations are low our sadness is broken with something new.

At the beginning of Holy Week, I set out my seed packets,
getting ready for the growing season on the allotment:
the fancy gourds for Martha,
extra sweetcorn for the YMCA,
beans for the family,
pumpkins for Harvest Festival
and soup for Reverend George.
But there were only two seeds in the pumpkin packet
and they were almost five years old.
Without much hope, I pushed them into the soil.
To my surprise a strong shoot is becoming a good plant
to carry the heavy orange fruit through summer into autumn.

Lord, we welcome this new day with its promise of unknown surprises.
Help us to treat each unfolding hour as an opportunity to see you afresh
in a world familiar yet strange to us.
Like the friends sadly walking to Emmaus,
surprise our hearts to recognise you there.

We pray Lord for your companionship in a time of loneliness.
Burst into our quietness and jolt us into contemplative care.
Nag our lazy spirits to send that card, type that email,
text that old friend with a message of connection and of hope for the future.

Surprise those in authority with fresh inspiration
and a wide understanding of how we live in local communities.
Give them wisdom to plan and manage civic life to the benefit of us all.

We give thanks for all the surprising acts of spontaneous generosity
freely undertaken during this time of lockdown:
the fundraising, volunteering and neighbourliness at large in our community.
Give us all long memories of this care-full life
so we can create a surprising NEW NORMAL when the sickness subsides.

Hear our prayer for the people who work in health and social care
as they minister to all in need despite the rising risks they face.
Protect them, keep them safe whether they welcome new life or console the dying.

We lift to you the emptiness and pain of loved ones lost.
Grant comfort and blessed relief to all who suffer.
As we each begin this new day alone yet embraced in community,
surprise us with your fresh, green love, dependable as ever.

As Paul wrote to the Church at Ephesus:

With deep roots and firm foundations may you, in company with all God’s people be strong to grasp what is the breadth and length and height and depth of Christ’s love and to know it, though it is beyond knowledge. So, may you be filled with the very fullness of God!

Ephesians 3: 17b–19

Greet the day, Living Stones, and be open to the God of surprise.

Amen

Cheryl Montgomery