Daily Prayers Wednesday, 1 June 2022

by Ian Trimnell · 1 June 2022

Prayers for the Day, Wednesday

Good morning, Cornerstone Friends.

As you will all know by now, I am very keen on worship resources written by the Iona Community! Some of you may have seen on television before Easter three programmes about pilgrims following part of the St Columba route from Ireland to Iona. St Columba lived in the 6th century and was an abbot and missionary traditionally credited with the main role in the conversion of Scotland to Christianity. He founded the important abbey on Iona and over the centuries millions of pilgrims have come to this cradle of Christianity seeking healing, inspiration and new beginnings. The Iona Community is based there and it “remains committed to rebuilding the common life through working for social and political change, striving for the renewal of the church with an ecumenical emphasis and exploring new, more inclusive approaches to worship”. In the 80s, I remember, a group went from the Cornerstone to Iona. Maybe you were one of them!

St Columba’s Day falls on the 9th of June so I thought we would start today with a prayer asking God to give us some of the gifts of St Columba and to help us to further the on-going work of the Iona Community and our local community of Milton Keynes.

O God, who gave to your servant Columba
the gifts of courage, faith and cheerfulness,
and sent people forth from Iona
to carry the word of your gospel to every creature:
grant, we pray, a like spirit to your church,
even at this present time.
Further in all things the purpose of our community,
that hidden things may be revealed to us,
and new ways found to touch the hearts of all.
May we preserve with each other
sincere charity and peace,
and, if it be your holy will,
grant that all places of your abiding be continued still
to be sanctuaries and full of light.
Through Jesus Christ.
Amen (Iona)

Our reading for today is Psalm 18 in the translation in the Iona Abbey Worship Book.

How I love you, God, my strength,
my rock, my fortress, my champion.
You are the rock where I take refuge;
my shield, my sure defender;
my stronghold and my shelter.
In the anguish of my heart, O God,
I called to you for help.
From your sanctuary you heard my voice;
my cry came to your ears.
You reached down from the heights
and took hold of me, O God;
you drew me from the flood waters,
from all that overpowered me.
You brought me into a broad land;
you saved me because you loved me.
You will make my lamp burn bright, O God;
you will lighten my darkness.
With you I can break through any barrier;
with your help I can scale any wall.
How perfect are your ways, O God,
how dependable your words;
a shield to all who make you their refuge.
You alone are God,
you alone our defence,
girding me with strength,
making the path safe for me.
You have given me a shield of salvation;
have upheld me and trained me with care.
You have given me freedom for my steps;
my feet have never slipped.

God lives! Blessed be my rock.
Praise to you, my God and Saviour.
I will praise you among the nations.
I will sing praises to your name.

Now for our intercessions. Today I have chosen to focus on Ukraine, the Platinum Jubilee and ourselves.

Sovereign God,
We pray for the nation of Ukraine, its leaders and people. We pray that you would make your presence known to them at this time of strife. We pray for their protection and for an end to the Russian invasion. We pray for the innocent, the frightened, the dispossessed and those who have lost loved ones, homes and family. We pray that you would bless the endeavours of those who work for peace and an end to this conflict. Have mercy, we pray, on Ukraine. May your peace rule in the hearts and minds of all. Continue to stir up the leaders of the world to work together for the good of all.
We pray this in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace.
Amen. (Diocese of Perth)

Gracious God, we give you thanks for the long reign of your servant Elizabeth, our Queen, and for the example of loving and faithful service which she has shown among us. Help us to follow her example of dedication and to commit our lives to you and one another, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Lord Christ, I thank you for your love so strong,
May that love flow through me to others,
May I be patient when change comes slowly.
May I be kind when life seems harsh.
May I be gentle when others feel bruised.
May I be humble when things go well.
May I be peaceful when anger arises within.
May I forgive when wronged.
May I rejoice when the truth is discovered.
Love never fails but I do.
May I persevere when the way is hard.
Amen.