Morning Prayer Wednesday, 14 July 2021
Good morning, Cornerstone friends.
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me bless his holy name.
Bless the Lord my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
Who forgives your sins,
and heals your infirmities.
Who redeems your life
and crowns you with faithfulness and compassion.
Who satisfies you with good things,
so that your youth is renewed like an eagle’s.
The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
Psalm 103: 1 – 6
Merciful Lord, show us the face of our Redeemer, that we may bless your name and praise you all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
At that time Jesus said, ‘I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such is your gracious will.
‘All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
‘Come to me all, you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble of heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’
Matthew 11: 25–30
The psalm is another song of praise and thanks.
The gospel reading is strange in one way. How do we know about this prayer of our Lord unless he told it to others? It is not clear to whom Jesus was addressing these words, because it comes after he gave a stern rebuke on the places in Galilee who had rejected his teaching. It is at a time early in his time teaching there in the area where he lived, before travelling further and teaching in Jerusalem. It seems as if he wanted to appeal to the general public by passing the synagogue authorities and those with power, which meant those who worked for the occupying Roman Empire.
In any event the reading finishes with the words of great comfort. ‘For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’ Let’s hold on to that.
Let us pray for the church:
In Cornerstone our first ‘streamed’ service enabling those on the internet to have the same worship as those in the building seems to have worked. Next Sunday we have a congregational meeting to consider how we move forward. We now know the changes in regulation that the government proposes from next Monday, but it may take a while for guidance to come from our different denominational authorities before we can decide any changes in our arrangements for worship together. Our safeguarding team have already asked for our views on how quickly we should relax the current restrictions. We pray for all those who will take responsibility for the changes to come.
We need to give thanks for the work done by the safeguarding team, for the few stewards, the choir of six and others who have enabled our worship in the building to proceed safely, and those who do the posting of our daily prayers on the various sites on the web for us to share thoughts together each day.
Almighty God, who called your church to bear witness that you were in Christ reconciling the world to yourself; help us to proclaim the good news of your love, that all who hear it may be drawn to you; through him who was lifted up on the cross, and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God now and for ever.
Amen
Let us pray for our world that seems to be dividing into two or three competing and antagonistic world power blocks and smaller-scale conflicts at a more local level affecting the safety and well-being of millions. We are relaxing the restrictions in our country, but other parts of the world are unable to overcome the suffering from this infectious virus which has spread across the whole world.
Last Sunday we heard of the vision of God revealed to Amos of humanity being judged by a ‘plumb line’.
We need to pray for all those in power, which includes us; in the power we have to spend our resources in such a way that reduces the effects of climate change or the exploitation of those who grow or manufacture the goods we consume.
Almighty God, from whom all thoughts of truth and peace proceed: kindle, we pray, in the hearts of all the true love of peace, and guide with your pure and peaceable wisdom those who take counsel for the nations of the earth that with tranquillity your kingdom may go forward, ‘til the earth is filled with the knowledge of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
May we all today be conscious of all that God is giving us to sustain us and enable us ‘infants’ to grow is his wisdom.
Don Head
