Our dear friend Erica gave me this wooden plaque a while ago, she had found it and after a discussion at our prayer group on praying hands, saw this and thought of me. It has a cherished place in my sewing room; study 4b as my family like to remind me as I seem to have colonised most spare corners of the house for purposes devoted to writing, teaching, sewing, embroidery and quiet places. These spaces contain other precious gifts along with other mementoes and words written by friends and remind me we are all the “…work of His hands…” Psalm 19.…it is the closing stanza which is widely used as a prayer every time many preach. This psalm packs so much in it, creation, God’s law, our reverence to God, the circular notion of our daily observations and daily trying to do better…(a nod to the Lord’s Prayer) it’s packed, so much within the verses…the reminder God makes things anew. His constancy, His covenant of His Love for us. Lent is our chance in the cycle to renew ourselves and renew our relationship and for our Love for Him.
A Psalm of David.
1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. 2 Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. 3 They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. 4 Yet their voice[b] goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. 5 It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. 6 It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth.
7 The law of the Lord is perfect,
refreshing the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The precepts of the Lord are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm,
and all of them are righteous.
10 They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the honeycomb.
11 By them your servant is warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
12 But who can discern their own errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then I will be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.
14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer
We seem to have lurched from one world crisis to another plus we have had ferocious storms which have battered us. We are exhausted. A lack of love for humanity, plus greed and revenge by one rogue despot seems to have rocked us, yet again; especially when we us humans, have been at our lowest ebb. Evil is like that, it tries to creep in and cover up the Light. But Light remains, it cannot be extinguished. We have seen Light shine brightly through these cracks these vast fissures in counter actions through the world as people’s unite in prayer and action to help our present affliction. There is a saying “Many hands make light work” as friends in Christ these “works of His hands” our hands and hearts can work together to pray for peace and for reason to return to the Ukrainian and Russian situation.
https://youtu.be/w-MzgxGGqLA See I am hear says the Lord - Taize
As an extra thought I have included the prayer written by Archbishop Justin Welby and Stephen Cotterell, some of the gathering this morning found the words and image below helpful.
Icon of Christ and Abbot Mena: this image could also be read as a reminder that Christ is with us always...
A Prayer for Ukraine
God of peace and justice,
we pray for the people of Ukraine today.
We pray for peace and the laying down of weapons.
We pray for all those who fear for tomorrow,
that your Spirit of comfort would draw near to them.
We pray for those with power over war or peace,
for wisdom, discernment and compassion
to guide their decisions.
Above all, we pray for all your precious children, at risk and in fear, that you would hold and protect them.
We pray in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace.
Amen
Archbishop Justin Welby
Archbishop Stephen Cottrell
Prayers said together this morning:
Let us pray…
”…Jesus says, ‘For everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.’ I invite you now to join with me in knocking on that door in confidence that God will hear our call. Using our clenched fist to help us pray…
Together stretch out our thumb on one hand. Lord, in thanksgiving we come to you first and we count our blessings. Thank you God for today and for the good things in our lives. For the resurrection of Jesus who destroys death and sin. For the pulling together in community to support, love and care for one another. (pause)
Next we stretch out our index finger; the finger we use to point. Lord, in petition we come to you first and we pray for direction in our lives, for the decisions we need to make, the things for which we are responsible. We pray for direction for the world and its people, for all those who are facing uncertainty and anguish, that they might find their path. For those who are dealing with enforced change, for those who are waking up to fear. (pause)
Unfolding our middle finger, the tallest on our hand as we pray for those who have power in the world: Lord, we come to you first and ask that you listen to the prayers of our Church leaders, the Queen and her ministers, other governments, and local leaders. We pray that good health is restored to Elizabeth our Queen in her Platinum Jubilee year. That strength and courage surrounds Prince Charles, Camilla the Duchess of Cornwall and the close royal family. We pray that they are guided by justice, peace and truth in their decisions and leadership.
We pray for our Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the government and the opposition, MP’s and local counsellors as they makes decisions and take directions that affect us all. We ask that all leaders may be faithful to your call to work together and to share our resources with those in need.
The unthinkable continues in Europe. We ask that a peaceful outcome is brought to the situation between Russia and Ukraine and her near neighbours. In all we do together, Lord this week inspire us to act justly and to reverence all You have made. Archbishops Welby and Cotterell draw us together to pray….
God of peace and justice,
we pray for the people of Ukraine today.
We pray for peace and the laying down of weapons.
We pray for all those who fear for tomorrow,
that your Spirit of comfort would draw near to them.
We pray for those with power over war or peace,
for wisdom, discernment and compassion
to guide their decisions.
Above all, we pray for all your precious children, at risk and in fear, that you would hold and protect them.
We pray in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace.
Amen
(pause)
Our ring finger is the weakest finger. It can’t do much on its own. Lord, we come to you first and pray for the people we rely on: our friends and family, the people we depend on and those that depend on us. We pray for all those in caring positions, give them the strength they need to support others. We continue to pray for Stephen and his family and ask that you bring peace to the minds of all those who are in fragile places today. (pause)
Lastly unfurling our little finger we pray for those who desperately need help: Lord, we come to you first and pray for the sick, the poor, the weak, the vulnerable, the bereaved and those who face violence.
We remember those who have died, within our own church family and our wider families and for all who mourn. May the Resurrection bring hope to the hearts of all who suffer. (pause)
And finally we lift both our hands to God in thanksgiving, Lord, we come to you first, we place our individual needs in your hands, for our hopes, our dreams, hear our prayer. Calm us oh Lord into a quietness that heals and listens, help us be still in your presence as we face storms and squalls in our lives; may we grow each day into greater wholeness in body, mind and spirit. Amen
(pause)
Let us bring our prayers together in the words Jesus taught us…
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever
Amen
To echo Archbishop Stephen Cotterell this week even we feel it impossible to do anything we can all do something and that is pray."
Peace be with you friends. <><
Celtic Prayers at 9.30 on Friday mornings at St Peters, Oundle
Followed by Lent Reflections from Celtic Lent book, with coffee somewhere!
https://www.dec.org.uk/ Desaster Emergency Committee Fund
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