Morning Prayer Wednesday, 9 September 2020

Good morning, Cornerstone people.
Let us get ready to share some thoughts to set us up for the day.
Firstly, I am sorry that those of you who cannot use the voice recording did not get a written script last week.
It was all my fault. I am not brilliant using my computer and kept sending Robin a redundant incomplete file.
Today’s psalm is probably the next best known after number 23, it’s Psalm 121.

I lift my eyes to the hills;
from where is my help to come?
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not suffer your foot to stumble;
he who watches over you will not sleep.
Behold, he who keeps watch over Israel
shall neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord himself watches over you;
the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
neither the moon by night.

The Lord shall keep you from all evil;
it is he who shall keep your soul.
The Lord shall keep watch over your going out and your coming in,
from this time forth and for evermore.

Psalm 121

The Lord shall keep you from all evil.

Lord, ever watchful and faithful, we look to you for defence
and we lift our hearts to know your help:
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

In the morning, when he returned to the city, he was hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the side of the road he went to it and found nothing on it at all, only leaves. Then he said to it, ‘May no fruit ever come from you again!’ And the fig tree withered at once.

When the disciples saw it, they were amazed, saying, ‘How did the fig tree wither at once?’

Jesus answered them, ‘Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, “Be lifted up and thrown into the sea” it will be done. Whatever you ask for in prayer in faith, you will receive.’

Matthew 21: 18–22

This little episode comes in the morning after our Lord has overturned the money changers tables in the Temple courtyard
and then healed a great number of people there.
It seems a bit uncharacteristic for our Lord to curse the tree.
Was he still angry from the events of the day before?

The message from both readings is in any event clear.
Ask in faith, God is faithful, if he knows it to be good for us, it will happen.
Our faith is never quite up to that idea.
Moving mountains has become a metaphor for difficult things.
Our Lord’s message is that we can achieve difficult things; we just need faith.
It is another of these truths which we find difficult to grasp or put into practice,
like the idea that, what we bind or loose on earth will be bound or loosed in heaven, which we heard about on Sunday.

This is a time when churches would begin a new session of normal activities
with house groups, Bible study sessions, choir practices, social and fund-raising events.
Not so easy this year, but our churches are beginning to have services in our buildings
but many folk are reluctant to return and some on the fringes of things may not do so,
even when the risks are gone.
Some smaller churches have very few attending and are concerned about their survival.
We had our first service in the church building last Sunday with over forty people attending
and probably at least as many following the service on the internet.
People gathered on the Friday evening before for a choir practice, so when music is restored in our worship,
we shall enjoy this enhancement to worship from listening to the anthems
which call us to worship and send us out at the end with music in our ears.
And, when, possibly at a later date, we can all sing, we shall have the choir ready to lead the rest of us in the hymns.
Plans are afoot for Bible study sessions.
Things are moving and we have established a format for providing worship on a daily basis
for anyone to join when they cannot be in the building and this can still be part of what we can offer.

We pray for the church in our city, our country and in the various parts of the world
where there are Christians gathering for worship and witness.
We ask that your servants may be granted faith in your power
that they will expect great things from you and in so doing
attempt great things for you in furthering the good news
that your love for us, both redeems and empowers your people.
We ask for your guidance in all that is done in your name today,
and particularly for our witness in Central Milton Keynes.

Amen

If we scan the news media we find that the world is still in turmoil and confusion.
It is easy to be fearful and despondent.
At many levels there are people making great efforts to help those around them who have less of this world’s resources.
Scientists are still working to create a safe vaccine for Covid 19.
Hospitals and health services are still seeking to care for and cure those who are ill.
Growers are planting ready for next year’s harvest to provide food.
Teachers and support staff are providing the means for our young people to learn and develop as tomorrow’s citizens.
People are communicating to help bring different groups and nations closer together
rather than increasing the rifts in relationships.
Let us pray for all people of goodwill that they will not lose hope that the world can be improved.

We pray today for all those seeking to serve others in what they do.
We offer those healing rifts in families and groups at local level,
those acting at national level and on international matters.
We ask that you will prosper their actions, give them encouragement to make further efforts
for the benefit of humankind and for the preservation of our earthly environment.
Guide each of us today to seek ways in which we can share your love with those around us.
We pray this, not for our own satisfaction, but that those we meet will have a glimpse of your love for them.

Amen

Go in faith, good people; lift your eyes to the hills, your help comes from God,
with that you are potential mountain movers!