Morning Prayer Wednesday, 23 December 2020

Good morning everyone.

I hope you have not had your plans for Christmas affected by the new restrictions and have everything ready and can spend a few minutes with us all. Those of us joining will remember those who are too engrossed in preparations and cannot join in.

Psalm 25 verses 3 to 9

Make me to know your ways O Lord,
and teach me your paths.

Lead me in your truth and teach me,
for you are the God of my salvation; for you have I hoped all the day long.

Remember, Lord your compassion and love,
for they are from everlasting.

Remember not the sins of my youth or my transgressions,
but think on me in your goodness, O Lord, according to your steadfast love.

Gracious and upright is the Lord;
therefore he shall teach sinners in the way.

He will guide the humble in doing right
and teach his way to the lowly.

All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth
to those who keep his covenant and his testimonies.

Remember, Lord your compassion and love, free us, God of mercy, from all that keeps us from you; relieve the misery of the anxious and the ashamed and fill us with the hope of peace, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

St Luke, chapter 1 verses 57 to 66

The birth of John the Baptist.
Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son. Her neighbours and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy to her and they rejoiced with her.
On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and were going to name him Zechariah after his father. But his mother said, ‘No; he is to be called John.’ They said to her, ‘None of your relatives has this name.’ then they began motioning to his father to find out what name he wanted to give him. He asked for a writing tablet and wrote, ‘His name is John.’ And all of them were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue freed and he began to speak, praising God.
Fear came all over the neighbours and all these things were talked about throughout the hill country of Judea. All who heard them pondered them and said, ‘What then will this child become?’ For, indeed the hand of the Lord was with him.

Only a few of us were in the church building on Sunday to hear John Robertson preach on the reading of the visit of the angel to Mary which took place three months before the birth of John the Baptist. Our Lord coming to share our humanity was an act of God that needed a number of willing human participants. Mary said, ’May your word to me be fulfilled’. That was a ‘Yes’, later Joseph had to say yes. Elisabeth and Zechariah accepted that their son would be dedicated to God’s purpose. During our Lord’s ministry many people said ‘Yes’. Zechariah was struck dumb before he could show his acceptance, Saint Paul was struck blind before he said yes.
God’s purpose is only fulfilled when we are prepared to say ‘Yes’. Let us pray that our Advent preparations have made us ready to greet our Lord afresh this Christmas and be ready to say ‘Yes’, that is a complete acceptance of what he wants us to be in 2021.

Let us pray for all Christians preparing to celebrate the coming of our Lord in this year of strict limitations on our being able to meet together as we are used to for celebration and worship.
Pray for discernment that we will each of us know the mind of God for us in our time and be ready for a true acceptance of our part in what God wants from us.

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

Eternal God, as Mary waited for the birth of your Son, so we wait for his coming in glory;
bring us through the birth pangs of this present age to see with her, our great salvation
in Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

Let us pray for those who will be unable to celebrate Christmas as they would wish. Those who are suffering illness in hospital or nursing homes away from their families and for those who will be unable to join with their loved ones because of the needs for isolation against infection. We pray for all those unable to travel and share the celebration with their wider family and for all who will be spending Christmas Day alone. We pray for those who will be grieving for family members who have died in this pandemic or have other reasons not to feel able to join in celebrating the birth of Christ in the usual way. Here follows a prayer which was used in air raid shelters eighty years ago.

Increase, O God, the spirit of neighbourliness among us, that in peril we may uphold one another, in calamity serve one another, in suffering tend one another, and in homelessness and loneliness of exile befriend one another. Grant us brave and enduring hearts that we may strengthen one another, till the disciplines and testing of these days be ended and You again give peace in our time.
Amen.

The pandemic does not stop for Christmas and hospitals will still be receiving new patients. The political and economic problems particularly about trade and relations with the European Union have still to be resolved as we approach the end of 2020. We pray for all who have responsibility for government and commerce.
We need to pray for all those who will be working over the holiday period to tend the sick and to keep essential services operating. Pray for those who are in want of food or shelter, for those who feel overwhelmed by this pandemic, by warfare, oppression or by other disasters.

Heavenly father we pray for deliverance from these testing times and for grace that we all may find the resolve to make decisions which will bring peace and goodwill to all people on earth.
Amen.

Let nothing disturb you, nothing alarm you; while all things fade away God is unchanging. Be patient for with God in your heart nothing is lacking. God meets your every need.
St Teresa of Avilla.

Don Head