Daily Prayers Friday, 16 September 2022

We returned from holiday earlier this week, so I thought I would share with you some special memories from that, before moving on to other matters which may be foremost in your mind.

The pictures above are of Escomb Church, which was built about 675AD.  We stayed opposite this little church for the first week of our holiday and were made very welcome by the congregation when we joined them for their service on the Sunday morning.  It struck me that people have been building and caring for beautiful places to worship God for centuries, and, like the congregation at Escomb, we have a duty to care for our building and welcome strangers whenever they choose to visit – either for worship, or at other times. Many people say that we do our best to achieve this goal – invitations to coffee after the service, the welcome given by our weekday receptionists and the support offered by pastoral workers. But it does no harm to remind ourselves of the importance hospitality.

At present, following the death of The Queen, many more people are coming to use the chapel.  Let us pray for them and all who mourn at this time.

Loving God, at this time of national mourning and thanksgiving for the life of Queen Elizabeth 11, we pray for all those who seek a moment with you in the quiet of our chapel.  We pray that the peace and beauty of the surroundings may bring them the comfort that they seek; that they may be upheld by you and leave our building with the peace of Christ in their heart.

We pray for members of the Royal Family and for all who feel the loss of those they love, whether they died recently, or some time ago.  We pray that they may know the comfort of your continuing presence with them and the love and support of friends.  We pray that they may they know the peace which only you can give. 

During our holiday, we also visited Durham Cathedral.  Among others buried here is St Bede.  On the internet I found the following prayer of St Bede, who lived at the time when Escomb Church was built.  I was struck how a prayer nearly 1400 years old is still relevant today.

Lord God almighty,
open wide the door of my heart
and illumine it with the grace of the Holy Spirit,
that I may seek what is pleasing to your will.
Guide my thoughts and my heart,
and lead my life in the way of your commandments,
that I may always seek to fulfil them,
and that I may grasp the eternal joys of the heavenly life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

And now a hymn, which feels particularly appropriate at this time:

It is God who holds the nations in the hollow of his hand

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DU1tV7CSuVg

It is God who holds the nations in the hollow of his hand;
It is God whose light is shining in the darkness of the land;
It is God who builds his City on the Rock and not on sand:
May the living God be praised!

It is God whose purpose summons us to use the present hour;
Who recalls us to our senses when a nation’s life turns sour;
In the discipline of freedom we shall know his saving power:
May the living God be praised!

When a thankful nation, looking back, has cause to celebrate
Those who win our admiration by their service to the state;
When self-giving is a measure of the greatness of the great:
May the living God be praised!

God reminds us every sunrise that the world is ours on lease –
For the sake of life tomorrow, may our love for it increase;
May all races live together, share its riches, be at peace:
May the living God be praised!

Rosemary Kearsey