Hanging on just about sums us up at the moment. Miss Phoebe is not taking chances as she drapes precariously on a side table that she should not be on but has decided that it enables the tail end to be near the log burner whilst the front paw end rests on the familiar arm of the sofa which is her usual place. It’s a bit unstable but she is comfortable and spent the evening quite contented oblivious to our attempts to move her and our bemusement at her constant return to ‘living on the edge’.
It’s a bit like us we ‘living on the edge’ at the moment and then along comes something that reassures and comforts and it was the sunlight on St Peter’s one evening this week that did just that.
They say a picture says a thousand words and being lucky enough to capture this image it would be easy to ruin it with further comment. It needed something about light to sum it up and well Himself always seems to give us a nudge in the right direction...
“… For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness, made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ…”
2 Corinthians 4
Then I was nudged towards some more....
"...Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining…”
1 John 2
I can’t explain it but I find comfort and encouragement in both those passages. Like Miss Phoebe who is clinging on to the sofa, with no in depth explanation, just because she can sit in a precarious position, I just find comfort in those words and a warm glow lights up inside. In 1 John 2, wow...'because the darkness is passing' and in 2 Corinthians 4, well the whole verse actually! I love the picture in my minds eye of of us being lit up because we have the Word nestled within our hearts and God's glory is displayed in the face of Christ...
God's glory is still all around us despite the gloom in the news and I hope you don't mind me sharing some of that stunning light that He has graced us with this week. Yes we have had rain, and its been cold, but that only increases the beauty and gift of His creation when He shares His light with us. Barnwell Park was breathtaking and I love the reflections of the heavens in the water, it made me think of His unending Kingdom He has us surrounded in His light and His love, even though it is tough right now.
With that in mind I have included some of the prayers from the Cofe website perhaps you might say them after the meditation tomorrow morning?
SET B - special coronavirus prayers
Let us pray to the Lord,
who is our refuge and stronghold.
For the health and well-being of our nation,
that all who are fearful and anxious
may be at peace and free from worry:
Lord, hear us,
Lord, graciously hear us.
For the isolated and housebound,
that we may be alert to their needs,
and care for them in their vulnerability:
Lord, hear us,
Lord, graciously hear us.
For our homes and families,
our schools and young people,
and all in any kind of need or distress:
Lord, hear us,
Lord, graciously hear us.
For a blessing on our local community,
that our neighbourhoods may be places of trust and friendship,
where all are known and cared for:
Lord, hear us,
Lord, graciously hear us.
We commend ourselves, and all for whom we pray,
to the mercy and protection of God.
Merciful Father,
accept these prayers
for the sake of your Son,
our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.
It is a time of Harvest and it is difficult not to celebrate, so pleased to be able to share this with you...
https://www.facebook.com/393167314163588/videos/1204838226565413/ Laudemus Deum is such a lovely Taize chant too!
See you virtually at 9am tomorrow morning friends, night night and peace be with you.
Caroline :)
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