Morning Prayers Tuesday, 21 April 2020
Good morning, Cornerstone friends.
Let us draw aside together to give thanks for this new day.
Be conscious of nothing except your own breathing:
in — out slowly, in — out a natural rhythm.
I was on retreat many years ago in Lee Abbey, and this breathing exercise was used every morning.
On one morning the leader asked us to breathe in, then to breathe in and, a third time, to breathe in …
Do not try it. You cannot. You must have the rhythm of in — out.
Keep breathing: in — out.
The reason the leader at Lee Abbey was asking us to breathe in all the time and not to breathe out was to remind us that we pray:
‘Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us’.
It is rather like breathing.
We cannot receive full forgiveness if there is no room because we have not forgiven those who, we feel, have done wrong to us.
It is an in and out thing that should be natural.
But it is all too easy to suffer from ‘spiritual asthma’!
Bless the Lord O my soul
and all that is in 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
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 on all who are oppressed.
Psalm 103 verses 1–6 (Common Worship)
As we rejoice in the gift of this new day,
so may the light of your presence, O God,
set our hearts on fire with love for you;
now and for ever.
Amen
Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals
yet chosen and precious on God’s sight,
and like living stones, let yourselves
be built into a spiritual house
to be a holy priesthood,
to offer sacrifices acceptable to God
through Jesus Christ.
For it stands in scripture:
‘See, I am laying in Zion a stone
a cornerstone, chosen and precious;
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.’
and
‘To you then, who believe, he is precious;
but for those who do not believe,
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the very head of the corner.’
1 Peter 2: 4–7 (New RSV)
A thought to share with you all.
This came on Facebook from @PeacefulMindPeacefulLife via Karl Ruttlidge.
In the rush to return to normal,
use this time to consider which parts of normal
are worth rushing back to.
Dave Hollis
We are keeping our fellowship together in a real way while we are in isolation.
Our sharing of worship uses the new media and we are getting better at using it.
It is possible that, in coming out of isolation,
some of us will be able to meet together in our church building,
while others are still in isolation in their homes.
Even when we are all able to come together, are these new skills with new media going to be useful?
How can we use them in future as part of sharing our faith with those who do not attend church, for whatever reason?
We can all start to think on this from today so we are ready to share our thoughts in the months ahead.
For now let us bring our thoughts to God in our prayers for the world,
which is in such trouble that none of us has experienced in our lifetime.
We are in isolation, but our troubles are very little compared with many,
particularly those in parts of Africa, Asia and South America.
Our city is supported by people who are working tirelessly
in our hospital and in social care for the needy in our community;
in providing services to our homes;
in keeping supplies of essentials such as food and medication;
in keeping our links to one another via our phones and computers.
Let us give true thanks to God for all those who are keeping us safe and well
and ask God to be with those who are suffering, some of them alone with no one to care.
Last week the news included the story of Captain Tom Moore
from Marston Mortaine, just the other side of junction 13 on the M1.
He is nearly 100 year old and his sponsored walk in his garden
has inspired over a million people to give over £20 million to NHS Charitable Trust.
Thank you God for the spirit of life and generosity
becoming evident in so many places at this time.
Last week also the news reported on the death of
Mary Ajipong, in Luton, just two junctions along the M1 from Milton Keynes.
She was known in her workplace in Luton Hospital as Sister Mary Boateng,
a midwife, who died from Covid 19 while heavily pregnant.
She died, but the baby daughter lives without a mother,
and Ernest Boateng, now a widower and single parent,
lives trying to avoid media interference with his private grief.
Loving Lord, we pray for Ernest and all who suffer,
let us ask God to offer consolation and peace,
the love of friends and family to support them through this time.
Let us pray for the safety of those who care for the sick and frail
in hospitals, care homes and individual homes in our land;
for parents working from home and caring for school children
who would normally be returning to school this week;
for those who are keeping us in touch with our church;
for family, friends and neighbours continuing to show us they care;
for one another as we find ways of dealing with our strange circumstances.
The Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit
be with us all, ever more.
Amen
………………………………………………
Go well today with a positive spirit, good Cornerstone people
