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I once was lost…

“Today, if you are reading this and you have been marginalised, belittled, ostracised, or left out in the cold; if you have made mistakes, hurt others, or hurt yourself; if you have walked away from relationships, said harsh words, or behaved badly; if you are continually hijacked by inappropriate or disturbing thoughts, desires, or feelings; if you feel undeserving, a lack of self-worth, or that you are unlovable; then hear the message of Jesus — that God loves you, has come to you, and wants you to find your home in them.” Rev Gav, 2022

Daily Bread

Morning Prayer

Your love, O Lord, is never ending
and your mercies endure forever.
They are new every morning.
Great is your faithfulness!

The night has passed, and the day lies open before me,
and so, at the dawn of this new day, I come before you
with an open heart and ready to be filled with your love.

As I rejoice in the gift of this new day,
so may the light of your presence, O God,
set my heart on fire with love for you.
Fill me with your life-giving Spirit
that I might be Jesus to all I meet
and a vessel for your unending love.

Loving God, who abides in heaven,
you are the Father and Mother of us all.
May your holiness be declared,
your justice be observed,
your will be embraced,
and your kingdom be established
on earth as in heaven.
With the bread we need for today, feed us.
In the hurts we absorb from one another, forgive us.
In times of temptation and testing, strengthen us.
From trials too great to endure, spare us.
And from the grip of all that is evil, free us.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.

Prayed 51 times.

Afternoon Prayer

Where can I go from your spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I ascend into heaven, you are there.
If I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I ride the wings of the morning
and dwell by the farthest ocoeans,
even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me fast.

Holy God,
kindle in me the fire of your love
that I may bring warmth to the world.
May I be led from death to life,
from falsehood to truth;
from despair to hope,
from fear to trust;
from hate to love,
from war to peace.
And may I be so anointed with your Spirit
that I may be filled with both your peace and joy,
and live and work to your praise and glory.

For all that has past I thank you
and for all that lies ahead I give you praise.
May my eyes be open to see you
in all whom I serve and encounter.

Help me be Jesus to the world.
Help me be your hands and your feet.
Help me have your heart for the broken-hearted.
Help me be Jesus to a world
that needs you more than words can tell.
Help me be Jesus to the world.

And may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit,
be with me and all those I hold dear,
Now and for evermore.

Prayed 19 times.

Evening Prayer

Be still and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations.
I will be honoured in the earth.

Loving God,
As this day draws to a close
may I know your grace, mercy, and peace.
Cleanse my heart and mind
of all anxiety, weariness, and pain,
and in the stillness,
may I know your loving presence.

As I reflect on my day,
I give you thanks for all that has been done
And let go of all that has not been done,
handing it over to you
to make good that which I am unable.

For the love I have shared, I am grateful.
For provision and nurture, I am grateful.
For kindness given, I am grateful.
For the sorrow I have caused, I pray for forgiveness.
For injustices ignored, I ask for mercy.

As I look forward to this night
I cast my fears upon you –
fears of the world’s darkness
and fears in my inner being.
May I find my rest in you.

May the peace of your Spirit
that transcends all understanding
fill me and all those I love and hold dear.

Tomorrow is a new day
with new joys and new possibilities.
May I wake tomorrow
feeling refreshed, expectant, joyful,
and with a heart full of your love.

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour.

For you are with me,
now and always.

Prayed 10 times.

Night Prayer

Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

Holy God,
Into your hands I commend my spirit.
Keep me as the apple of your eye.
and hide me under the shadow of your wings.
Protect my conscious and my unconscious,
and guard me as I sleep this night
that my dreams will be filled with hope
and my rest be in your loving arms.

Spirit, in whom I live and move and have my being,
from you, nothing is hidden.
Breathe into me your cleansing wind
that I may be filled with your unending love.

Before the ending of the day,
Creator of the world, we pray
That you, with steadfast love, would keep
Your watch around us while we sleep.

From evil dreams defend our sight,
From fears and terrors of the night;
Tread underfoot our deadly foe
That we no sinful thought may know.

O Father, that we ask be done
Through Jesus Christ, your only Son;
And Holy Spirit, by whose breath
Our souls are raised to life from death.

Jesus Christ,
I cast my burdens unto you,
and ask that my soul might be refreshed as I sleep.
For I am yours and you are mine.
Now and forever.

Prayed 28 times.

Sunday 27th April (Rev Gav)

When they had brought them, they had them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them, saying, ‘We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you are determined to bring this man’s blood on us.’ But Peter and the apostles answered, ‘We must obey God rather than any human authority. The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Saviour, so that he might give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him.’

'Obedience to God' put Peter and the other apostles in direct conflict with the Jewish authorities, but they had a choice. They could have kept the peace by being obedient to the law (the court order) and doing as they had been instructed, but they chose instead to be obedient to God.

Looking more closely at the text, the authorities were less worried about Peter and the apostles preaching about Christ — after all, it was a multicultural society where there were many religions and practices. No, the problem was that it called into question the authorities themselves — accusing them of the unjust murder of a Jewish rabbi.

In our culture, for the most part, we are able to speak freely about Jesus Chris, and the love of God, but where there is dissension, it is often when, through our obedience to Christ, we criticise the human authorities themselves — their laws and actions.

For example, where I live in Bermuda, same gender marriage and civil partnerships are illegal, yet I believe with all my heart that mercy triumphs over judgment, that there is freedom in Christ, and that same-gender marriage (or at the very least, same-gender civil partnerships) should be legalised. When I speak out about this, it puts me in direct conflict with the human authorities.

Or take single-use plastics or the use of fossil fuels, the use of which damage our environment. They are legal in most territories and endorsed by the human authorities, but I am convinced that damaging creation and wasting resources is not Godly. To speak out against the use of oils and plastics puts us in direct conflict with the human authorities.

It's always much, much easier to keep one's head down and mind one's own business, but we are called to be ambassadors for God — to proclaim Jesus Christ as Saviour and be conduits for God's love. The question is, will we stick our necks out?

Holy God
May I always seek to be obedient to you,
even when iI find it uncomfortable or difficult.
Help me to honour your ways,
and be true to the values of your kingdom.
When I find conflict within myself,
may I remember that mercy triumphs over judgment.
Through the power of your Spirit, may I never stop loving
and being the witness you have called me to be.
Now and forever.

Prayed 6 times.

Our weekly Insights and Bible Study plus Member Creativity.

Insights

Rev Gav | Apr 20

Why was Jesus resurrected?

A stone tomb with a large round rock that can be rolled away from the entrance.

The power of God lives in us to bring about justice, peace, grace, and mercy in the world, and this is why, on Easter Day, we gather and proclaim, “He is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!”

Apr 14

Why did Jesus ride a donkey into Jerusalem?

When we are being ruled by dictators and corrupt politicians, love wins. When we can see no hope, nor a way out of the social, economic, and environmental problems we face, love wins. In the end, love will always win.

Apr 6

What does the symbolism and spiciness mean in John’s gospel?

The story of Mary anointing the feet of Jesus paints the picture of a Messiah who defies social norms, as John in his gospel rewrites everything we think and know about God.

Mar 29

How should we respond when we are rejected?

Whether you are a wizard, a muggle, or a mudblood, or whether you do not identify or fit into any group at all, may you know that God does not judge you and that you are welcomed and invited into God’s Kingdom!