ohn 17:21 NLT
Jesus prayed “…that they will all be one…just as you and I are one.. so that the world will believe that you sent me.”

Emmanuel, God with us, we thank you for this beautiful banner made with love, care and great skill. We thank You that it is a reminder of Your values of love and friendship, extended to all people. We thank You that You enfold us in Your wrap-around love.

God with us, Jesus prayed that we all may be one, as He is one with You.  We thank You and reflect on aspects of Your nature – 

U – You are love, wisdom and understanding.
N – You are near to all who call on you.
I – You are immutable – you do not change. 
T – You are the way, the truth and the life.
E – Your love is from everlasting to everlasting.
D – Your light overpowers darkness.

Loving God, as Easter approaches, we reflect on Jesus’ journey to the cross and the miracle of his resurrection.  Draw your people, Your church on earth, closer to You in unity and strength that we may share the wonderful news of Jesus with a needy and hurting world. Amen.

Ruth Rushworth

John 16:33 NIV
‘I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart! I have overcome the world’.

A letter from God
Come, my child
Take a moment
Sit with me
Rest your head on my shoulder
Be at one with me
Breathe in my peace
Be still, for I am your God.

Know my child that whatever the circumstances, my unfailing love for you will never be shaken, never be moved. You are constantly in my thoughts, you are the apple of my eye, trust me and let me guide you. Before you were born I knew you. I formed you in your mother’s womb. I am with you all of your days.

Bring your worries, your problems and your sorrows to me, seek my wisdom, my comfort, my strength. Bring your hopes and your joys to me and share my delight in you.

I love you. I gave my life for you, that you may have life in me. I am your God, your love, your strength, your life.

Crafted by Ruth Rushworth

(Image: M P McKellar)

Jesus said “Peace be still!”     Mark 4:39 NKJV

God of peace, we think of the story of the disciples struggling to row across Lake Galilee in the middle of a raging storm. They were making no progress, the wind was howling and gigantic waves threatened to overturn the boat.  The disciples were terrified and cried out to Jesus who was asleep in the bottom of the boat “Lord save us”.  Jesus stood up and commanded the wind and waves to be still.  And the wind ceased and there was a great calm.

God of peace, as we reflect on this familiar  story in Mark’s gospel, may we take just a few moments to be still before you, to quieten our minds and to breathe in your peace……

Jesus said
“Peace I leave with you;
My peace I give you.
I do not give to you as the world gives.  
Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
John  14:27 NIV

We thank you that you are a God of peace.  When circumstances in our lives, or events in the world leave us feeling anxious or afraid, may we remember to call out to you. We pray for your peace in our deepest being. Please settle any restless thoughts and bring your calm.  We thank you for those who work to bring peace. We pray for peace in our world. We lift before you those who have no peace, those who have no-one to pray for them and anyone you have placed on our hearts today. Would you lead them to a place of peace in Jesus. Thank you. Amen.

Ruth Rushworth

(image:www.publicdomainvectors.org)
2 Corinthians 1:2-4        ESV
‘Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God’.

Gracious God, as World Cancer Day is marked today, we lift before You all those dealing with the trauma of Cancer at this time. We appreciate that this is an illness that brings with it pain, anxiety and uncertainty and so we ask for the power of Your healing and Your compassion in every situation. We ask for Your assurance and courage for all those tasked with waiting, for diagnosis, for results, or for treatment. So too we pray for all family and friends seeking to support loved ones in their journey with cancer. Give assurance and courage to all those who in need today, Lord, and may Your presence be felt in our homes, our hospitals, and our hospices.
Lord God, we acknowledge the adverse effect that the pandemic has had upon the situations of many. So too, we recognise that dealing with Cancer affects a families financial situation,  particularly those in lower-income countries, and so we lift before You the theme for this year’s World Cancer Day, “closing the care gap”.
We ask for Your blessing upon the endeavours of all those searching for cures and new treatments, and look to the day when Cancer will be eradicated.
Finally God of love, help us as communities to reach out and support all those affected by Cancer. In the power of Your love and healing we pray, Amen.

(image:www.publicdomainvectors.org)
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.

(image:www.PxHere.com)
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)

(image:www.pixabay.com)
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

(image:www.maxpixal.net)
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)

(image:www.pixabay.com)
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.