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1 Thessalonians 5:11   (ESV)

‘Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing’.

Gracious God, as we come to You in prayer today, we acknowledge that the pandemic has effected and continues to effect us all in different ways, as we continue to move out of lockdown. There are those who are excited at the new freedoms of hair cuts and time spent with friends in gardens and parks, whilst there are others who remain unsure of the situation or are still forced into a life of isolation because of their vulnerability to the virus. And so, as communities, may we continue to reach out to one another with empathy, compassion and understanding. Help us to ensure that no-one is left alone to deal with the effects of the pandemic and may we be witnesses to Your love and Your presence in our world. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

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Psalm 19:1-4   Good News Translation
God’s Glory in Creation

‘How clearly the sky reveals God’s glory! How plainly it shows what he has done! Each day announces it to the following day; each night repeats it to the next’.

Gracious God, as we come to the middle of the week, we stop and take the opportunity to open our eyes and ears to the beauty of the world You have given us and help us to recognise the beauty in the things we can so easily take for granted; the bird flying overhead, the daffodil bending its head on the roadside, the bee collecting nectar, the tree that has stood towering over the parkland for hundreds of years, ploughed fields of peat waiting to nurture summer crops. Creator God, as we open our minds to the wonders of Your creation, we give thanks. Help us to cherish our natural world as a reminder and as an assurance of Your living presence in our lives, now and for all eternity, Amen.

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Psalm 121    Good News Translation

‘ I look to the mountains; where will my help come from? My help will come from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let you fall; your protector is always awake’.

Gracious God, as we look out across the sea to St Cuthbert’s Cross, stood beside the rocks on Holy Island, Lindisfarne, we reflect upon the centuries that the cross has stood firm amidst storms, raging waves and high seas. We reflect upon how this simple wooden structure has remained a symbol of hope for centuries of travellers. There are some days Lord when we feel unsure and insecure, days when we feel battered and bruised by the storms of life, yet we know that Your love for us remains unchanged, that Your strength and protection will weather any storm. And so, we give You thanks and as we gaze at the serenity of this landscape, help us to feel the peace and hope in our hearts that comes from being loved by You, this day and in the days to come. Amen.

Words of Saint Cuthbert ‘Always keep God’s peace and love among you…’

Mark 12:31       NIV
The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”

Gracious God, as a new week begins, we turn our thoughts and concerns to our brothers and sisters in India as they suffer a critical lack of oxygen supplies and hospital beds, whilst Covid surges through their country. We pray for families desperately seeking treatment for loved ones. We pray for healing for those who are deeply unwell. We pray for all medical professionals trying to cope with the pressure of this emergency. We pray for loved ones in our own communities, anxiously awaiting news of family members overseas, and finally Lord God, we pray that medical supplies, being sent by other nations, will arrive quickly into the areas where they are most needed. Living God, we place the people of India into Your Hands. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

Reading Psalm 23
‘The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside still waters, he restores my soul. He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me; your rod and your staff— they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord my whole life long’.

Living Lord, You tell us that You are the good Shepherd, the one who walks beside us and refreshes our souls. As the week draws to a close, we take a moment to reflect and give thanks for a time when we may have felt You guiding us forward, when we have struggled with a choice or decision. We give thanks for the times when we may have asked for Your protection when we have felt afraid or insecure. We give thanks for the times when You may have refreshed our hearts and minds when we have felt tired or low. We give thanks for any blessing, any unexpected gift of comfort, assurance or love You may have given us this week and finally we give thanks for the peace that comes from being in Your presence, now and throughout eternity, when we place our trust in You. The Lord is our Shepherd and we give thanks. Amen

Psalm 33: 4- 7
‘God’s word is true, and everything he does is right. He loves what is right and fair; the Lord’s love fills the earth. The sky was made at the Lord’s command. By the breath from his mouth, he made all the stars. He gathered the water of the sea into a heap. He made the great ocean stay in its place. All the earth should worship the Lord’.

Gracious God, today we come to You in prayer as we join with people of all faiths, races and cultures, across our world, to celebrate Earth Day. We give You thanks for the incredible world You have given us, for its beauty, diversity, mysteries, resources and the opportunities it affords us for life. As we stop and look out of a window or step outside our homes or workplaces, help us to appreciate the wonders of the natural world You have created. Lord God, we know that we have damaged our world and upset the eco-systems that allow life to flourish. As world leaders gather today, we pray for conversations to remove any obstacles that prevent the healing of our planet. We pray for political, social and economic agendas that will create opportunities for humankind to focus on restoring the natural environment You have entrusted into our care. Help us to play our part in preserving the richness of our earthly home for future generations. Lord God, for the wonder of Your Creation we praise, thank and honour You, Amen.

John 13:34-35 The Message
“Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.”

Gracious God, as the trial into the death of George Floyd reaches its verdict, we pray once more for racial justice and equality across all nations. We thank You for the gift of diversity amidst peoples of all races and creeds and ask You to help us to commit to building communities where all people are valued and all people are respected, regardless of the colour of their skin or the language they speak. We pray for healing for all those who have suffered racial injustice, prejudice and intolerance. Living Lord, give us compassion and empathy to understand and respect the needs of our neighbours and help us to be channels of Your love and peace in our world. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

Psalm 96:11 ESV
‘Let the sea roar and all that fills it!’

Psalm 98:7 The Message
‘ Let the sea and its fish give a round of applause, With everything living on earth joining in’.

Gracious God, as people across the world prepare to mark Earth Day on Thursday, and leaders from 40 nation’s set the agenda to discuss the future of our planet, today we celebrate and give thanks for the life of our oceans and seas. Creator God, we give thanks for the millions of species that live in our waters, many still undiscovered; from dolphins and sea turtles, rays and sea bass, lobsters and crabs, to plankton and coral, an underwater world of beauty, colour and diversity. Lord God we acknowledge that as humankind we are destroying the health of our oceans and seas through, hunting, pollution, and the effects of climate change. Help us to do what we can to be informed and play our part in protecting and healing this amazing undersea world You have gifted us. As we reflect upon the joy of waves splashing on our feet, sand in our toes and the wonder of seas that ebb and flow as the tides turn, reaching way beyond the horizon, we are reminded of Your presence in our world and give thanks. Amen.

Exodus 15:2 NCV
‘The Lord gives me strength and makes me sing; he has saved me. He is my God, and I will praise him’.

Gracious God, as we turn to You in prayer at the start of a new week, we reflect upon the cacophony of the bird song from our gardens, fields, wetlands, parks and streets. There may be many challenges ahead of us this week, for many different reasons, and there may be many reasons our hearts do not want to rejoice and sing, but just for a moment, as we pause and focus upon the gift of something so beautiful, something we can so easily take for granted, we give thanks for each unique song that reminds us of the wonder and diversity of Your creation and of Your presence in our world. As we clear our minds for a moment of the clamour and noise of the concerns of the day, with the knowledge that just as You love and care for every creature into which you have breathed life, from the tiniest of finches, to the majestic swan in flight, so too You love and care for each and every one of us. As a new week begins, may we journey assured of Your creative, life-giving presence with us and may we give thanks and feel a song of joy in our hearts, knowing we are loved by You. So too, help us to share the power of Your love in our communities this day so that the hearts of all Your people may have cause to sing in praise to You. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

Hello everyone,
I am taking a little time out this coming week and so may I offer you a traditional Irish blessing for the week ahead. Reflections will resume next week, Sue

May God give you…
For every storm, a rainbow,
For every tear, a smile,
For every care, a promise,
And a blessing in each trial.
For every problem life sends,
A faithful friend to share,
For every sigh, a sweet song,
And an answer for each prayer.
Amen.