Daily Prayers Friday, 11 March 2022
Morning Prayer for Friday, 11th March 2022 – The second week of war
I’m writing prayers this week from Ely in Cambridgeshire where I’ve spent two days installing an exhibition of textile art in the Cathedral. Our work hangs in the Norman arches with some on the steps of the (rather ugly) Victorian font. Ely has always been welcoming to people from Milton Keynes: the Cornerstone Choir would have a summer weekend singing in the Cathedral when their choir was away on holiday. It is so long since we have shared faith experiences with other places that it requires a good memory.
While we were busy measuring and hanging and arranging in the space, the life of the cathedral went on just as it had for 900 years – Welcome, Worship and Prayer – in a reliable cycle. We all stood in silence at lunchtime when prayers were said for Ukraine and later when the clergy closed the day in evening prayer. We had come across holes and dips in the Cathedral walls courtesy of Henry VIII’s men but the pattern was never lost. People of faith have kept faith and a regular good order to each day over centuries, through peace and war. Let’s begin today in similar fashion.
Lord God whose order rules the sun and stars, help us to live this day according to your goodness, showing loving kindness and a welcoming smile to all we meet during today. Keep us safe as you have protected your people of faith through the centuries. Thank you for the restful night and the warming glow of this new day. Help us to live up to its opportunities.
AMEN
The West Door is a busy place – visitors to the stained glass museum bump into tourists leaving the gift shop mixed with people who come to pray in the quiet little side chapel. A father with his two young children came to light candles at 4pm but had no light. “There’s usually one candle already burning and we light ours from that one,” he said. They all left, seemingly disappointed. About 15 minutes later they were all back, lighting three candles. They were faithful enough to fetch matches, return, make light and leave prayers.
Lord God, bless your people with perseverance – with the will to keep on keeping on. Buoy up the people of Ukraine: may they know the power of our prayers. Strengthen the resolve of the surrounding states to persevere in their support and assistance: the will to maintain freedom of thought, freedom to pray. Help us all to keep our eyes fixed on peace. Give us courage for Cornerstone to be a place of welcome, a place of dignity, a place where justice is championed and the voice of the poor can be heard by the people of power.
AMEN.
In James 1 we are told that we should “consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” And again, in Galatians 6 :”Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people.”
Ely Cathedral can seem a very grey place – lots of stone with only the occasional flash of colour from the stained glass. I was arranging some small items in a glass case on top of a mirror – not only does this help show 3-D items to best effect, it also brings light into the case. I had just cleaned the mirror when blazing there in front of me was the wonderful painted ceiling in red and gold and full technicolour. I had spent almost two days with my head focused on the end of my nose when if I had only looked up I could have enjoyed the splendour of colour and light. That ceiling had to come to life in reflection before I even noticed it was there.
Lord God, open our eyes to the beauty of your world – the colours of the coming spring, the exciting cultures of our diverse neighbourhoods, the beauty of silence around a single candle. Bless us with a thirst for you in doing good through offering an ever-open welcome to people in need and persistence in practicing our faith.
AMEN
And now may we persevere in faith as we go out to face whatever life may have in store for us today firm in the love of God, the grace of his son Jesus Christ and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.
Cheryl Montgomery
