Morning Prayer Wednesday, 22 September 2021

Good morning, Cornerstone companions!

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless his holy name.
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits.
Who forgives all your sins and heals all your infirmities.
Who redeems your life from the Pit and crowns you with faithful love and compassion.
Who satisfies you with good things, so that your youth is renewed like an eagle’s.

The Lord executes righteousness and judgement for all who are oppressed.
He made his way known to Moses and his works to the children of Israel.
The Lord is full of compassion and mercy, slow to anger and of great kindness.
He will not always accuse us, neither will he keep his anger forever.

Psalm 103: 1–9

O Lord, you are full of compassion and mercy, show us the face of our Redeemer,
that in our frailty we may bless your name and praise you all our days;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

Then Jesus called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. He said to them, ’Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money –not even an extra tunic. Whatever house you enter, stay there, and leave from there. Wherever they do not welcome you, as you are leaving shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them,’ They departed and went through the villages bringing the good news and curing diseases everywhere.

Luke 9: 1–6

I have been feeling a bit tired recently, having had a few weeks of busy activity. The thought of having my youth renewed like an eagle’s is an attractive one. This is a psalm that asks us to put our trust in God. Our Covenant, renewed last Sunday, also does that:

TRAVELLING AS PILGRIMS on a journey that has already started and which will lead we know not where, we are pleased to place out trust in God. In whose hands the future lies and be led forward by him.

In the gospel, our Lord sent his disciples out telling them to take nothing for the journey. We have just renewed our Covenant as an Ecumenical Partnership. This also sends us out, and I always find the words of our Covenant both challenging and inspiring, particularly those that are reproduced today.

IN ORDER TO PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL by common witness and service in the community and the world, and in obedience to God’s call, through the power of the Holy Spirit, we therefore joyfully covenant with each other…

I hope that those of you who attended that service were also inspired by this and the challenges and opportunities which we agreed in a Congregational Meeting in July this year:

TO CREATE AN OASIS OF HOPE IN CENTRAL MILTON KEYNES

We have a mission to each other…
to develop an understanding of Christian discipleship;
to encourage Christian learning;
to encourage young Christians on their road to faith;
to review the ways we worship together, all five denominations.

We have a mission to the City Centre…
to promote social justice;
to enhance the ways we serve our community;
to reach out to the new residents

Let us pray for the Church, for those in positions of leadership,
for those who work faithfully in serving the needs of your people
in facilitating worship, in witness of the good news and in caring for the needy.
We pray for more people to be called to serve in these ways
and for new ways to be found to share the good news for this time and place.

Heavenly Father, you have called us in the Body of your Son Jesus Christ to continue his work of reconciliation and to reveal you to the world; forgive us the sins which tear us apart; give us courage to overcome our fears and to seek that unity which is your gift and your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

Let us pray for our world:

Creation

We are nearing the end of the period when the Church has been considering God’s creation
and our place in it. When God made man in the story in Genesis chapter 1 he said, ‘I have given you everything you need to eat and live.’ He also gave mankind ‘to have dominion over’ (NRSV) ‘to rule over’ (NIV) everything he had created.

We have to accept that we are polluters of God’s creation
and each of us has to work out ways to improve our lives.

Covid19

Most of us are well vaccinated in the UK, but that is not true of the majority in many other nations.
We have better treatments for those suffering from this virus and fewer will die as a result.
There are long-term physical problems for a proportion of those who have had infection of this virus.
We have protected the old and vulnerable,
but the effects of the pandemic and changes we have made to mitigate it
are causing emotional problems for many,
particularly among school children and those at university.

Commerce

The world economy is imbalanced, leading to shortages of some essential goods
and large increases in energy costs.
This creates difficulties for suppliers providing these,
but most of all creating problems for those least able to afford food and energy.
We have to accept that we need to take care
in case our behaviour towards our fellow citizens causes harm
and through our lack of understanding becomes selfish.

Forgive, O Lord, what we have been.
Direct what we are and order what we shall be for your mercy’s sake.

Amen

A kite needs wings to fly, as gloves need hands to be firm,
so I need to be filled, Lord, with your guiding hand,
your strengthening Spirit and your redeeming love.

Amen

A prayer by Revd Giles Harcourt, Vicar of Christchurch, Eastbourne

This can sound heavy stuff and some of us are housebound or infirm.

This prayer by Revd Giles Harcourt, Vicar of Christchurch, Eastbourne is for you.

As the seashell contains the sand of the ocean,
as the sun gives life to the universe,
as the moon gives hope through another night,
help me to contain the power of your love within my waiting
and to know that power is for me
a well very deep filled by the waters of real life,
life with you here.

Amen

Be pleased today to put your trust in God, in whose hand the future lies.

Don Head