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Galatians 6:2    New Century Version
‘By helping each other with your troubles, you truly obey the law of Christ’.

Gracious God, as ‘Time to Talk Day’ is marked across our nation today, we lift before You all those in need of someone to talk to, for whatever reason, at this time. We remember those experiencing mental health problems, struggling with day to day living, and pray that they will find the support they need. We remember those who are feeling alone and isolated, remembering especially those who are vulnerable from Covid, for whom engaging with the community is difficult and challenging. Lord God, through the pandemic, we have learnt only too well the importance of conversation with one another. We have learnt the importance of talking about our mental health without judgement or stigma. We give thanks for the work of all mental health charities and healthcare professionals. Help us as societies to put an end to mental health discrimination. Help us to create opportunities for dialogue so that the mental health needs of all people is addressed and finally Lord God, may we each have the courage to seek help when we need it. Give us strength and assurance this day Lord, in Your name we pray, Amen.

(image:R.Rushworth –The 3 Peaks, Dolomites)
Our reflection today was written by Ruth Rushworth – thank you Ruth.

For in all things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us…..For nothing in all creation can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:37 & 39 NIV

Mighty God, as we look at this picture we reflect on your majesty, your power, your strength, your greatness and your goodness. We thank you that your hand can be seen in creation. We thank you that you care for us and have a plan for our lives, we thank you that Jesus gave his life for us and the Holy Spirit is with us to comfort and guide us along life’s way.  We thank you Lord, for your love; a love that is strong, solid, faithful and true.

As we emerge from this long pandemic and wonder what lies ahead, we place our trust in you. We lift before you those in need of your healing, your strength, your hope, your peace and your comfort.  Show us how we can care for and support those around us. Lead us to places and people where we can share your love, bring a smile and hope.

May the light of your love, shine in all our lives and brighten our days.  For your love is higher than the highest mountain. Your love for us cannot be shaken nor your peace be removed. May we hold fast to your truth this day. Amen.

image:R.Rushworth –View of Blencathra, Lake District, January 2022 )
Our reflection today was written by Ruth Rushworth – thank you Ruth.

Isaiah 41:10 (NIVUK)
‘So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Lord of love, Lord of life, your guiding presence leads us in ways that are right and true, you bring us to green pastures, to quiet waters, you refresh and restore our very being, you strengthen us, you bless us and hold us close to you.

As we take a moment this day to be still, to gaze on you and reflect on your love, we thank you for Jesus and his abiding love; for his willingness to come to this earth and show himself as the way, the truth and the life. May our lives reflect his love.

We ask for your blessings in our lives, our homes, our famililies, our communities and our world.
May there be welcome and acceptance, not rejection and disapproval,
May there be love and tolerance, not hate and anger,
May there be peace and calm, not conflict, anxiety and stress,
May there be laughter, joy and hope, not depression and sadness.

Jesus prayed to the Father saying ‘all I am I give you, everything I have is yours’ (John 17:10)  May we in response offer ourselves and all we have and are to Jesus, and accept afresh his wonderful offer of forgiveness, life and blessings in his name.

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Psalm 31:14-15:
“But I trust in you, Lord; I say, ‘You are my God. My times are in your hands.”

Today, as we mark the end of the week of prayer for Christian Unity, we share in resources provided for us by Churches in the Middle East, who encourage us to walk together as united communities, on our continuing journey with God during this season of Epiphany. May these words be a blessing to us today, and in the days to come.

Gracious God, when we only know one way and we think we must return to it, when we think that all roads are blocked, and we fall into despair, we always find you there, creating a new unexpected path before us. If we search our maps and find no route, nonetheless we always find you, who lead us by a yet more excellent way, trusting that you will always lead us back to you and forward in unity together. Amen.

Meditative Response

Journeying on parallel paths,
or often in opposite directions,
We are called by ‘another way’
to become pilgrim companions,
the people of The Way.
Compasses and maps orientated,
route finding and navigating together,
our backpacks not burdensome,
our boots crunching on,
rediscovering ancient paths,
walking humbly together with our God.

(https://ctbi.org.uk/resources-for-week-of-prayer-for-christian-unity-2022)

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Isaiah 43:19 New International Version
‘See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland’.

Gracious God, as we come to the end of the 3rd week of January, we reflect upon the start of the new year. Maybe resolutions made have already been abandoned. Maybe things aren’t going quite as we’d hoped or planned. But we give thanks that You are a God that longs to renew, refresh, revitalise our relationship with You. You are a God that journeys with us, at all times and in all places. You are a God who believes in us for who we are and for who we can become. You are a God who cares. And so, we come before You and renew our trust in You. Give us the energy, the courage and the inspiration to continue our journey with You. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

A reflection by Margaret Langdon

God is always waiting to start
He loves to do something new
He looks at me, right into my heart
And decides what he will do

He’s begun before I know it
He’s cleaning out the clutter
I don’t notice it at first
But that really doesn’t matter

Through the wilderness of my life
He makes a clear direction
And in my wasteland water flows
Making landscapes of perfection

So even though I may not see
Anything new to measure
God knows how to make things right
And new things give him pleasure

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2 Corinthians 13:11          New International Version
‘Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you’.

Gracious God, as we reach the middle of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, we remember that You sent Your Son Jesus Christ to show us how to bring unity within, and between communities. We acknowledge that Jesus calls us to respond in humility, to denounce injustice and oppression. We are encouraged that He calls us to bring about transformation and change, and to work for peace and reconciliation. Lord God, we thank You that Jesus brought hope into our world and gives us the courage, the strength and the guidance to radiate that hope into all corners of society. Help us to bring the light of hope to those living in the darkness of political unrest, social poverty, and structural discrimination. God of love, we give thanks that You are a faithful God and we are Your people. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

Psalm 33:20-22           New International Version
We wait in hope for the Lord; he is our help and our shield. In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name. May your unfailing love be with us, Lord, even as we put our hope in you.

Gracious God, at the end of a week when issues of trust and integrity dominate our news headlines, we turn to you and give thanks that You are the one in whom we can place our trust. You invite us to take quiet moments and spend them in Your presence. You assure us that You are the One who wants to heal us and restore us with your love and your grace. You promise us that you are always there to guide us as we journey forward, even when the road ahead is rocky and difficult to navigate. You pour out Your Holy Spirit to anoint, enable and equip us to follow You and be the people You would have us be. And so, as the week draws to a close, we rest assured that there is nothing, in all eternity, that can separate us from Your love, and we take a moment of quiet to reflect, give thanks, and place our Trust in You. Amen.

‘And I will trust in You alone,
And I will trust in You alone,
For Your endless mercy follows me,
Your goodness will lead me home’.
(Stuart Townend Copyright © 1996 Thankyou Music)

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Jeremiah 31:33 “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the Lord. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God, and they will be my people’.

Gracious God, as many Church communities will renew their Covenant with You this January, we take a moment to reflect upon the relationship we have with You. A relationship offered freely to us, no strings attached, no hidden agendas. A relationship that seeks to build us up, support, equip and encourage us, whatever the circumstances. A relationship where wrongs are forgiven and reconciliation is readily available. A relationship that is constantly renewed and refreshed. A relationship rooted and sustained in hope and in love. Lord God, at the start of a new year, we give thanks for Your unfailing love for us. Help us to cherish the relationship you offer to us. Help us to nurture and protect our covenant with You in the days to come. In the name of Jesus, Your Son we pray, Amen.

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Matthew 2: 10-12
“When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh.”

Gracious God, as we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany we reflect upon the journey of the Magi, the wise men, who had waited and watched for many years for the birth of the child who would bring light into our world. We recall how they gave him precious gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, gifts fit for a King. And we gaze upon the star that lit the sky, piercing through the darkness and radiating light. In the coming days, help us to keep our hearts and our minds focussed on the light of Jesus. Help us to be reassured of His presence in our world, of His love that has the power to shine in the dark places of our world today. Lord God, this Epiphany may you reveal to us Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us. Amen.

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Isaiah 9:2
“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned”.

Gracious God of wonder and mystery, we wait in anticipation and expectation to celebrate the coming of Your Son, Jesus, into our world, Emmanuel, God with us. On the eve of this Holy Night, help us to remember that on that starry night, over 2,000 years ago, a miracle occurred. True love came into our world in the form of a baby boy, a baby who grew to be a man who witnessed to  Your grace, Your love for us, so that we might experience the wonder of Your presence with us. And so, Lord God, we thank you for the night in which love shone down. This Christmas time, amidst the uncertainty and insecurity of everything going on around us, help us to  believe and trust in the miracle of Your coming into our world. Help us to believe and trust in the miracle of Your love at work in our world today through the power of Your Holy Spirit. May that love continue to shine in a world in need of hope today, hope being the assurance of your presence in every situation, however difficult it may be. In the name of the child born to be our friend, our Saviour, and our King, this Christmas Eve we pray, Amen.