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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.

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Romans 15:13 ESV
‘May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope’.

Gracious God, as we move into the week before Christmas, we take a moment to pause and turn to You in prayer. At a time when the expectations are that we will be joyful, there are so many different issues that make it difficult for people to feel any sense of joy. For a second year we approach Christmas dealing with the additional anxieties and concerns of the pandemic. Our lives continue to be tinged with uncertainty and insecurities. And yet Your Word, as found in the bible, tells us that joy in its deepest sense is about assurance, the assurance of knowing You are with us at all times, the assurance that nothing can separate us from Your love, the assurance that You sent Your Son to bring light into our world to show us how to love, and to assure us that we are truly loved by You. And so, as Christmas approaches, give us the confidence to feel that assurance, give us the strength to allow that assurance to support and sustain us, and give us the energy and the inspiration to share the message of that assurance within our communities. May we be united in Your love. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

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Romans 15:13 ESV
‘May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope’.

Gracious God, as we lit the Advent candle of Joy in our Churches to mark the 3rd week of Advent, and we look at these knitted stockings, boxed ready to be delivered to schools and care homes, we give thanks for all those bringing joy into the lives of others, in what is still a dark time for many. For those continuing to ensure the roll out of the vaccination programme, we give thanks. For every angel and inn keeper in school nativities being prepared in nursery and schools up and down the country, we give thanks. For those knitting and crafting gifts for our hospitals and care homes, we give thanks. For those unseen acts of kindness, the phone call, the message, the listening ear, we give thanks.Lord God, we know that You are a God who understands His people, who empathises with our concerns and anxieties as Covid continues to affect our daily living in so many different ways. And so, as we give thanks for the beams of light that radiate in our communities, help us to feel the assurance of Your presence with us, help us to have the faith to continue to put our trust in You, and may we continue to focus on the coming into the world of the Christ Child, our bringer of light and joy. In His name we pray, Amen.

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Matthew 25:35-40    New International Version
For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’  “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’  “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Gracious God, as Human Rights Day is marked internationally today, as initiated by the United Nations, we acknowledge that sadly, we live in a world where not all people are treated equally and fairly, where not everyone is afforded the freedom to live without oppression, where not everyone has the opportunity for an education or the right to work. Amidst the pandemic, we have witnessed inequalities relating to the vaccination programme and healthcare. We have seen the plight of those desperately seeking a safe place to call home. We have witnessed the suffering of those experiencing human trafficking and slavery. Lord God, in sending Your Son into the world, You made Your values very clear; those of equality, justice, compassion and freedom for all. And so we pray that as communities we seek to fulfil Your values. Although we may not be in a position to change things on the world stage, give us the courage and the confidence to do what we can for those around us in our local communities. As a Church, help us to stand up and preach the truth of Your Son Jesus Christ so that His presence may be felt in the lives of all people. May the power of Your Holy Spirit sweep across our world, for in the power of Your name we pray, Amen.

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John 14:27
“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”.

Lord Jesus, Prince of Peace, we take a moment to come before you and quieten and calm our thoughts this day. Help us to remember that You are the One in whom we can put our trust, You are the One who will walk with us, to help us deal with the matters of the day ahead. Please give us peace of mind and a sense of Your very being, assured of Your presence with us and Your love for us.
We lift before You anyone we are concerned about this day and place them into the safety and security of Your hands. In Your name we pray, Amen.

In a moment of silence we turn our thoughts to God and we take our strength from Him with a reflection from Margaret Langdon.

Support me Lord
Take my burden Lord
Renew my energy Lord
Extend my resilience Lord
Nurture my abilities Lord
Grant me wisdom Lord
Teach me patience Lord
Heal my wounds Lord
Give me strength!

Saving me  Lord
Teaching me Lord
Reviving me Lord
Encouraging me Lord
Naming me Lord
Giving to me Lord
Trusting me Lord
Healing me Lord
You are my strength

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A Reflection for Advent 2

John 8:12.
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”

Gracious God, as we begin the 2nd week of Advent, and our streets and homes begin to fill with the lights of Christmas, we remember that even the tiniest ray of light will make its way through the darkness, that for every shadow there is a spark. We thank You for the gift of Your Son Jesus Christ, who came to restore light into places where darkness has fallen, and who in bringing light into our world, radiates a pathway of Hope. And so, this week, we pray for all those for whom life feels dark at the moment, for whom the lead up to Christmas is difficult or for those whose sense of hope is challenged. May the power of Your love break through bringing hope, assurance, and comfort. May we reflect beams of Your light in our communities. So too, we pray that You will help us to follow the light of Christ and allow its radiance to guide us and lead us forward in the days to come. Jesus, Light of our World, we turn to You. In Your name we pray, Amen.

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Matthew 25:35-40          NIV
‘For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,  I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’  “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?  When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?  When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’  “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

Gracious God, as Advent Sunday is marked this weekend, and we begin the journey to welcome the child in the manger, we remember that this beautiful child, Your Son, was a refugee. Our thoughts turn to the plight of those who have lost their lives trying to cross our seas in search of safety and security this week. May their souls rest in your eternal peace. We pray for all those that grieve. May they know the comfort and assurance of Your presence. We pray for those injured and in need of healing both physically and emotionally. We pray for all those who are still in search of a safe haven as winter continues. And finally, we pray that leaders, and those in positions of authority, will find ways of working together to deal with this ongoing complex and tragic situation. Lord God, bring healing, bring comfort, bring positive action and resolution, and crucially, bring hope into the lives of all refugees this Advent. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

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John 14:27        NIV
“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”.

Gracious God, as Inter-Faith week is marked this week, we thank You for the opportunity to learn and reach out to one another, acknowledging that our communities are made up of people with different beliefs. We pray that You will help us to forge, strengthen and sustain good inter-faith relationships. We pray that conversations will take place in our homes, our workplaces, our places of worship, wherever people meet, so that friendships can develop rooted in awareness, mutual respect, understanding, and tolerance of one another. Lord God, amidst the diversity of our beliefs, help us all to strive for unity and peace in our societies.
This morning we remember especially all those who have fled their homes to escape war and conflict and find themselves seeking refuge in other countries. We pray for all men, women and children facing winter living in temporary camps. May all those in need of security at this time be treated with compassion, empathy, and generosity, and may we find ways to do all we can to reach out to those in desperate need at this time. Lord in Your great mercy, hear our prayers. Amen.

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John 14:27        NIV
“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”.

Gracious God, as we come together this week to remember those who have died in past wars, we pray for those who grieve the loss of loved ones. May they know the assurance of Your presence with them.
We pray and give thanks for all our armed forces, serving here or overseas. We pray for their protection and also for the wellbeing of their families.
We pray for those who live with the emotional and physical scars of combat, those for whom daily living continues to be a struggle. Give to them strength, courage, and healing.
We give thanks for the Royal British Legion who will mark 100 years of service this year. So too, we pray for ‘Help for Heroes’ and all charities that work to bring comfort to all those affected by war and conflict.
We pray for all those living in countries where war and conflict, fear and violence is still destroying lives and communities. May the power of Your Holy Spirit bring peace in our world, across all nations.
Finally, we pray for all peacemakers, those who negotiate, those who speak out at great cost to themselves and their families. God of love and peace, bring unity, bring hope, and bring peace into our world this remembrance week. In the name of Jesus, our Prince of Peace we pray, Amen.

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John 14:27        NIV
“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”.

Gracious God, as we will gaze upon poppies and reflect on the process of remembering this week, today we remember Your Son Jesus Christ who came into our world to bring hope and peace. We remember his witness, his radical inclusive teaching and his outstretched hand of love and acceptance to all those in need. But so too, we remember His words of assurance and comfort, ‘Peace I leave with You, do not let Your hearts be troubled and do not let them be afraid’. And so today, we take a moment to give thanks, to reflect upon the magnitude of His words and lift before Him any troubles or concerns we are feeling at this time, for ourselves, for others, for our world. May we know You and may we know Your Peace. Lord Jesus, Prince of Peace, we come to You. Amen.