Evening Prayer Thursday, 7 January 2021
Greetings dear friends.
Let us pause for a moment as we come before the Lord in thanksgiving prayers for his wonders and love for us his children.
Prayer
In your hands, dear Lord, is held the whole creation. It is your gift of fragile wonder. It is ours to treasure as you do. It has been made more frightening now by our reckless actions. We who have been used to freedom are confined, we who are used to controlling so much are floundering, we who expect healthcare to work find it overwhelmed, we who worship find our churches shut. Now, we watch and wait and worry. Grant us your peace today. Send us signs of hope in the love that is shared, and the kindness shown. Help us to go gently with ourselves and with others we pray in Jesus name.
Amen.
Reading
Isaiah 60:1-5
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. See, darknesscovers the earth and thick darkness cover the peoples,
but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. Lift up your eyes and look about you: All assemble and come to you; your sons come from afar, and your daughters are carried on the hip. Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy; the wealthon the seas will be brought to you, to you the riches of the nations will come.
All around us, there is chaos and a sense of helplessness. Most of Western Europe is in a second pandemic lockdown or some form of restriction and the impact of Brexit have yet to be known. Across the pond Trump has disgraced the presidency by inciting his followers to attack the institutions of democracy in America. America has lost its moral authority. Thousands are at home having lost their jobs and means of livelihood. Hundreds of thousands are dead, and millions are sick on a level unseen before. Its bad news everywhere.
And in these bleak moments we hear Isaiah saying See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness cover the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.
As we reflect prayerfully on Isaiah’s words, we are reminded that God never abandons us. We may not recognize him in the moments of our sorrow and sadness, but he is right there! That is when we see only one set of footprints on the sand as he carries us on his shoulder.
Do not lose your faith or hope. Hang in there…our help is coming!
Prayers
Lord we pray for your world at the moment in the grip of a virus. We pray for all the people working in the frontline. Give them fortitude and courage. We pray for all keeping essential shops and industries going, all sustaining communities and neighbourhoods, all in authority and power. We are learning more and more every day what it means to live together and apart. We are learning more of the ties that bind our shared humanity. So, we pray for others suffering too, especially where their resources are so much less than ours, their strength already spent, their homes a refugee shelter or a cold street. We place ourselves and all we know and love into your safe keeping. We pray for your protection and healing. We pray that your blessing and peace will dwell amongst us and in your world in the name of Jesus Christ, and in the powerful presence of Your spirit
Amen
Meditate on these word of a wonderful hymn as you sleep!
Take my life and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in endless praise.
Take my hands and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
Good night, folks. May the Lord watch over you and bring you to a tomorrow with hope and fulfilments of dreams.
Nite, nite?
Revd. George Mwaura
