Evening Prayer Friday, 3 July 2020
Good Evening, everybody. Welcome to our Friday evening prayer time.
In our church, we often light a candle on the dais or the altar table during services
and in normal times, though not at present, candles are available in the chapel
for people to light if they wish when they come to pray.
Some people find the burning candle helpful as it is a metaphor for their prayers rising to God,
for others it is a reminder of Jesus’ words:
‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’
John 8: 12 NIV®
The image of God as a light in our life is a very powerful one.
If we walk into a dark room, even one which is familiar to us,
we might be afraid that we could trip over something or walk into an obstacle someone else has left there.
By switching on a light, we can very quickly be reassured and feel much more secure, even in a strange place.
The light of God in our lives can give us a sense of direction or reassurance when we are not sure where we are going.
The image of Jesus as the light of the world seems to me to have been particularly appropriate in the last few months,
when so many people have been living in circumstances which have impacted on and restricted their normal lives. Jesus, our light in dark times.
Let us pray:
Lord Jesus Christ, Light of the World,
lead us in your way.
We thank you, living Christ, that you shine a torch on our path, to guide us each step of the way. We look to you.
Teach us to listen to your voice and open our eyes to see the way in which you are leading us.
Help us to focus on those things which you would have us see and do,
and not to be distracted by things which need not concern us.
Jesus Christ, Light of the World,
guide us on our way.
We thank you, living Christ, for sunlight which makes things grow –
food to nourish us, flowers to brighten our gardens and beautify our surroundings.
We pray that you will shine your light in our lives, so that we may grow closer to you.
Strengthen our faith and deepen our knowledge of you, as we allow you to work in our lives.
Jesus Christ, Light of the World,
help us to grow closer to you.
Loving God, as the light of Jesus shines in our lives,
we know that it also shows up those things which we prefer to keep hidden.
Give us the courage to open our eyes and admit to those things which we are ashamed of,
knowing that your forgiveness is free and available to us all.
Jesus Christ, Light of the World,
forgive us, and heal us.
Jesus Christ, Light of the World,
your light shines brightly and casts shadows in those dark places where we do not always wish to go.
There are troubles in this world we would prefer not to see, because we feel powerless to do anything about them.
We pray for people whose lives have been devastated by the actions of others –
innocent victims of war, those who are victims of crime.
We pray, too, for people who are sick, those who suffer from disabling health conditions
and all who have been bereaved.
We pray that they may receive appropriate support, so that they can lead fulfilling lives.
Jesus Christ, Light of the World,
show us all how best to help one another.
The Gospels also speak of our responsibility to be a light in the world – to lead others to God.
In St Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus says:
‘You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.’
Matthew 5: 14–16 NIV®
And so, we pray:
There are times, Loving God, when the responsibility of being your light in the world
feels too heavy and we don’t feel capable of doing this.
We pray for your guidance to show each of us the particular plans you have for us – our role in your Kingdom.
Light in our world comes from many and varied sources –
search lights, streetlights, electric light and candles in our homes.
In total darkness, even the light from a match can shine brightly.
Sometimes a low light is more effective than a floodlight.
Loving God, help us not to compare our lives and responsibilities with those of other people,
but to look to you to find out what you are calling us to do to.
We ask all our prayers in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.
Amen
Christ is the world’s Light, Christ and none other;
born in our darkness, he became our Brother.
If we have seen him, we have seen the Father:
Glory to God on high.
Christ is the world’s peace, Christ and none other;
no one can serve him and despise another.
Who else unites us, one in God the Father?
Glory to God on high.
Christ is the world’s life, Christ and none other;
sold once for silver, murdered here, our brother –
he, who redeems us, reigns with God the Father:
Glory to God on high.
Give God the glory, God and none other;
give God the glory, Spirit, Son and Father;
give God the glory, God with us, my brother:
Glory to God on high.
Fred Pratt Green (1903–2000)
CCL31580
You can find this hymn on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOv2dwLrYW4
or
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tkmod9AW99s
The first version is congregational singing, the second has some lovely photographs as a background.
