Welcome to Cornerstone Evening Prayers.

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God.

Who is worthy of all thanksgiving and praise.

Heavenly Father, as evening falls you renew your promise to reveal among us the light of your presence. May your word be a lantern to our feet and a light upon our path this night and always. Amen

I love this hymn which reminds us that the worship and witness of faithful Christians goes on 24 hours a day somewhere in the world.

The day thou gavest Lord is ended: 
the darkness falls at thy behest;
to thee our morning hymns ascended,
thy praise shall sanctify our rest.

We thank Thee that thy Church unsleeping
while earth rolls onward into light,
through all the world her watch is keeping, 
and rests not now by day or night.

As o’er each continent and island
the dawn leads on another day,
the voice of prayer is never silent,
nor dies the strain of praise away.

1 John 3. v.1

How great is the love the Father has lavished upon us, that we should be called children of God!

And that is what we are!.

!!!!! The original Greek did not have exclamation marks, but I am glad our version has put them in,-twice- because it shows John’s sense of wonder at his status as a child of God, and his desire that his readers should share it.

I remember my feelings of joy and wonder on June 17^th. 1962, when I was ordained as a Deacon in the Church of England. After years of study and service I was now an ordained clergyman, and no longer a layman. Not better………..but different.

I invite you to remember a time when your status changed: perhaps from boyfriend or girlfriend to fiance or fiancee, or as a wife when you adopted your husband’s name, or when you graduated or qualified for a new job. Did you experience a sense of wonder and even feel somewhat strange in your new role? What about when you became a Christian, or made a real commitment to Christ?

If sometimes you feel a little bit low, remember who you are—a beloved child of God.

Rejoice!

A Prayer of Saint Augustine

Watch dear Lord, with those who wake, or watch or weep tonight, and give your Angels charge over those who sleep. Tend your sick one, O Lord Christ. Rest your weary ones. Bless your dying ones……sooth your suffering ones……pity your afflicted ones. And all for your love’s sake. Amen.

A Moment of silence for your own petitions.

The sun that bids us rest is waking,
our brethren ‘neath the western sky,
and hour by hour fresh lips are making
thy wondrous doings heard on high.

So be it, Lord, thy throne shall never,
like earth’s proud empires, pass away,
thy kingdom stands, and grows for ever,
till all thy creatures own thy sway. 

In peace we will lie down and sleep;

For you alone Lord, make us dwell in safety.

Abide with us, Lord Jesus,

For the night is at hand and the day is now past.

As the night watch looks for the morning,

So do we look for you, O Christ.

May the Lord bless and keep us, this night and always

Blessings, Jill and Paul Le Sueur.