Morning Prayers Wednesday, 29 April 2020
Good morning, Living Stones.
I trust that you have had a refreshing sleep, ready for this new day.
It’s a bit cooler than last week, but the gardens need the rain.
The thoughts I want to share with you this morning
are from a short book Being Disciples by Rowan Williams,
former Archbishop of Canterbury.
The idea of using it came to me following the prayers last Thursday
prepared by Glynne Gordon-Carter on the theme of obedience.
The Lord is my light and my salvation — whom then shall I fear?
One thing have I asked of the Lord
and that alone I seek,
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to behold the fair beauty of the Lord
and to seek his will in his temple.
For in the day of trouble
he shall hide me in his shelter
in the secret place of his dwelling shall he hide me
and set me high on a rock.
And now shall he lift my head
above my enemies about me;
therefore I shall offer in his dwelling an oblation with great gladness;
I will sing and make music to the Lord.
Hear my voice when I call,
have mercy on me and answer me.
Psalm 27: 1a & 4–7 (Common Worship)
God, our light and salvation, illuminate our lives,
that we may see your goodness in the land of the living,
and, looking on your beauty,
may we be changed into the likeness of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen
From St Paul’s letter to ‘the churches of Galatia’:
Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, …
By contrast the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. There is no law against such things.
Galatians 5: 16, 17a, 22–23 (New Revised Standard Version)
In ‘Life in the Spirit’, the final chapter of his book Being Disciples, Rowan Williams quotes from this letter of St Paul and writes about ‘spirituality’ in this way:
First a word of caution about supposing that there is an area of our activity called ‘spiritual life’ or ‘spirituality’. I want to try and direct attention to the whole idea of what it means to be, and to remain alive in the Spirit.
When St Paul writes about spirituality what he talks about is not a set of ‘spiritual activities’, but a series of very direct and simple challenges about the kind of humanity that we are living – about virtues, if you like. The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. And whenever we’re tempted to think that spirituality is something a bit remote and specialised, or rather exotic and exciting, in the corner of our lives, we ought just to say to ourselves – in a mantra like way: – ‘love, joy, peace, patience …’ bog standard human goodness. Spiritual teachers of many traditions remind us that spiritual ecstasy is no substitute for ordinary kindness and practical generosity.
Rowan Williams outlines in this chapter that being ‘alive in the Spirit’ involves, self-knowledge, stillness, growth (and with that change) and joy.
In our isolation we have much better opportunities for self-awareness and stillness than we had when there was opportunity to go out and about much more. And indeed we have more time to think about our spiritual growth and within that to find out those things that are of real and lasting joy.
So that, when we shall meet together again, we shall have so much more we can each contribute to one another and to the mission of the church in central Milton Keynes.
The poet, George Herbert, long ago got it, when he wrote the words:
Teach me my God and King in all things thee to see
that what I do in anything to do it as for Thee.
Let us approach Our God in self-awareness and stillness to ask for his guidance and help:
Dear Lord, the world has suddenly become such a different place.
We seem to have lost control of so much of our daily activity.
The needs of our world have become even greater than we could have imagined.
The current pestilence has made more people sick,
more people hungry, more are lonely, more bereaved from the death of loved ones.
We are all uncertain of the future.
Lord in these times when we fear we are losing hope
or feel that our efforts are futile,
let us see in our hearts and minds the image of your resurrection,
and let that be the source of courage and strength,
with that and your company,
help us to face the challenges and struggles
against all that is born of injustice and division.
Amen
We can give thanks for the signs of spring
giving us pleasure in God’s continuing to create beauty
and we can see that ‘it is good’.
We can appreciate those who work to keep us
and provide for our needs in our isolation.
We can support, in prayer, those who tend the sick,
and care for those unable to support themselves,
and to be with the dying.
We can bring before God all those working to find
new ways to overcome the ill effects of Covid-19,
those concerned with government and those who keep us informed.
Thanks be to you, our Lord Jesus Christ
for all the benefits you have given us,
for all the pains and insults you have borne for us.
O most merciful redeemer, friend and brother,
may we see you more clearly, love you more dearly
and follow you more nearly, day by day.
Amen
Let us go in peace to love and serve the Lord.
In the name of Christ.
Amen
Have a peaceful and fulfilling day good Cornerstone people.
