Daily Prayers Wednesday, 26 October 2022

Good morning Cornerstone friends.

We are nearly at the end of October. Last Sunday we kept as Climate Sunday it was also the last Sunday after Trinity, kept as Bible Sunday. Today the church remembers King Alfred of Wessex who organised scriptures to be written for all churches in his kingdom in the language of his time, Anglo Saxon.

Psalm 145 verses 10 to 20
All your works praise you, O Lord, and your faithful servants bless you.
They tell of the glory of your kingdom and speak of your mighty power.
To make known to all peoples your mighty acts and the glorious splendour of your kingdom.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom your domain endures throughout all ages.
The Lord is sure in all his words and faithful in all his deeds.
The Lord upholds those who fall and lifts up all those who are bowed down.
The eyes of all wait upon you, O Lord, and you give them their food in due season.
You open wide your hand and fill all things living with plenty.
The Lord is righteous in all his ways and loving in all his works.
The Lord is near to those who call upon him, to all who call upon him faithfully.
He fulfils the desire of those who fear him; he hears their cry and saves them.

Great is the Lord and highly to be praised
King of the universe, you show the bright glory of your reign in acts of mercy and enduring love;
raise the spirits of the downcast and restore those who have fallen away, that we may  forever sing of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
(Common Worship; Daily Prayer)

St. Luke chapter 13 verses 22 to 30
The Narrow Door
Jesus went through one town and village after another, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, ‘Lord, will only a few be saved?’ he said to them, ‘Strive to enter through the narrow door, for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able. When once the owner of the house has got up and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and knock at the door, saying, “Lord, open to us”, then  in reply he will say to you, “I do not know where you are from.” Then you will begin to say, “We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.” But he will say, “I do not know where you come from; go away from me, all you evildoers!” There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you yourselves thrown out. Then people will come from east and west, from north and south and will eat in the kingdom of God. Indeed some are last and shall be first and some are first who shall be last.

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The thought that ‘The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down’ is particularly comforting to me as my wife and I are recovering from Covid infections. We are testing clear but still have several of the symptoms. We have been supported by my stepdaughter who has done some essential shopping.

Let us pray for the church in its calling to preserve our environment and encourage our society to organise our living to avoid waste of food and resources and to cut down on our ‘food miles’. Many of our English orchards have fruit that is not being harvested because there are no ‘pickers’. Pray for MK Food Bank, MK Community Fridge, the Urb Farm and other enterprises working for fairness in food distribution.

Creator God, you have given us seasons of the year to supply sufficient for our needs. Help us so to live that all can be nourished and satisfied from your bounty. Make us aware of the needs of others and caring hearts so that none shall be deprived of what they need.
Amen

Almighty God, we thank you for the gift of your holy word. May it be a lantern to our feet, a light to our paths and a strength to our lives. Take us and use us to love and serve in the power of the Holy Spirit and in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord
Amen

It is easy to be critical of our politicians at home or the leaders of foreign governments who wage war on their neighbours. We need to pray for those who hold high office especially for those with whom we disagree or those who we feel are doing wrong.

Eternal God, fount and source of all authority and wisdom, hear our prayer for those who govern.
Give to Charles our sovereign grace as a symbol of unity for all our different peoples; give to the parliaments of these islands wisdom and skill, imagination and energy; give to the leaders of international institutions vision, understanding and integrity that all may live in peace and happiness, truth and prosperity; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

May your day be marked with feelings of fulfilment and happiness so that you may end it with thankful prayer.

Don Head