Morning Prayer Friday, 22 January 2021
Morning Prayer for 22nd January 2021
Good Morning! Welcome to Friday, January 22nd, midway through this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity when Christians around the world take time to celebrate our common life. We demonstrate full, visible unity in Christ that is sometimes hidden by denominational differences through the act of praying together. That unity is a way to enrich rather than diminish the diversity of the churches. Our prayers this morning draw upon the resources for this week prepared by Churches Together in Britain and Ireland and the World Council of Churches: Abide in My Love.
God of life, you call us to be praise in the midst of the world and to welcome one another as a gift of your grace. May your loving gaze, which rests upon each person, open us to receive each other today, just as we are.
AMEN
We live in a time both troubling and magnificent, an often dangerous time, where we are challenged by pandemic, war, violence, poverty, racism and climate change. Yet as Christians seeking reconciliation, justice and peace we also know the richness and value of spiritual life. To realise this, we must unite and help each other create forces of calm, refuges of peace. Through solidarity with those who suffer the love of Christ can flow through us to the world. As described in Matthew 5:
Blessed are the poor in spirit: the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
Blessed are the sorrowful: they shall find consolation.
Blessed are the gentle: they shall have the earth for their possession.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst to see right prevail: they shall be satisfied.
Blessed are those who show mercy: mercy shall be shown to them.
Blessed are those whose hearts are pure: they shall see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers: they shall be called God’s children.
Blessed are those who are persecuted in the cause of right: the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.
O Jesus you came into the world and shared fully in our humanity. You know the hardships of life for people who suffer in so many different ways. May the Spirit of compassion move us to share our time, life and goods with all those in need.
AMEN
Abiding in Christ we share a common heritage: one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism. Christians all worship God, share the Good News about Jesus and work for the good of all people. Abiding in Christ we receive the strength and wisdom to act against injustice and oppression, to fully recognise ourselves as brothers and sisters in humanity and to be creators of a new way of living, respectful of all creation.
Lord of all Creation may we today pray and work that you may truly reign. Throughout our day may your Word breathe life into our work and into our rest. May we be filled with the Spirit of the Beatitudes:
Joy, simplicity and mercy.
AMEN
Through Christ, we have learned that we are all one in the love of God. We need to use this gift in the world so that believers of all faiths in every country may be able to listen to each other and live in peace.
Now may the God of hope fill us with all peace in faith so that we may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Let us go out to greet this new day!
Cheryl Montgomery
