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John 8:12           ESV
‘Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Gracious God, as our communities will be lit up this weekend with bonfire festivities and the celebration of the festival of Diwali, we give thanks for the assurance of Your light in our world, as witnessed through the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ. We acknowledge that our lives are interrupted with dark moments, when sadnesses, insecurities or challenges take over. And yet we know that Your light will never be extinguished in our world, that the love of Jesus will always radiate in the darkness if we allow him to enter our hearts and transform our communities. And so, we give thanks for every act of compassion and kindness that we receive from others. We lift before You those in need of Your light and warmth in their lives this day and we pray that we will each experience the light of Christ shining through us in the days ahead. In His name we pray, Amen.

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John 13:34-35         ESV
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.  By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Today we give You thanks for the gift of friendship with a reflection by Margaret Langdon

WALK THE ROAD TOGETHER WITH A FRIEND
Sharing our troubles
Confessing our doubt
Expressing confusion
Let it all out

Walk with another
Close by their side
Talking together
Nothing to hide

Crying the heartache
Sobbing the pain
Open to comfort
Receiving again

Keep close to a friend
God’s gift from above
Allow them to care
Extending their love

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John 13:34-35         ESV
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.  By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Gracious God, as All Saints Day is marked today, we give thanks for all those who have gone before us to witness to Your love and grace, for the people who throughout history have touched people’s lives and made a difference in our world. As we remember loved ones dear to us, we remember that nothing can extinguish the love we have for one another.
So too Lord, we give thanks this morning for all those who have been living Saints in past months; the people who have let us know we are cared for, those who have lent a listening ear when we have needed it or shared a smile when we needed lifting up. We give thanks for those who have assisted with our practical needs; helping with shopping, offering us lifts to appointments, sending a word of encouragement, any number of daily acts that have helped us to get through the day. So too, we give thanks for those in their professional capacity who have devoted their work to the maintaining of our physical and mental wellbeing. For all those who go unnoticed in our communities, yet radiate kindness and compassion, we give thanks.
Lord God, at the start of a new week, we ask for Your blessing on us all and those we love. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

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Genesis 1:31
“God saw all that he had made, and it was very good”.

Gracious God, as COP 26 begins this weekend, we turn to You in prayer for the health and sustainability of our planet Earth. Lord God, You have made us custodians of Your creation and yet humankind has destroyed many aspects of our amazing, beautiful world. We give thanks that conversations are taking place in the corridors of power about what we can do to prevent further damage and bring about restoration and healing. We pray that Your presence, wisdom and restorative power will be felt in every meeting that takes place during the conference.We pray that nations across the world will unite in the rescue plan that our planet needs. So too, we pray that You will help us to play our part in assisting the healing and recovery process.You have gifted humankind a truly beautiful and awesome home. And so, help us to take seriously our guardianship of the gifts You have bestowed upon us. May our call to be stewards govern and guide our daily living. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

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Genesis 9:13
‘I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth’.

Gracious God, as Autumn enfolds there are many days when clouds fill the skies and the rain falls. But after the rain You send the gift of the rainbow, which shoots an arc of light and colour to radiate across the darkness. Lord God, in the moments when our lives are tinged with clouds, help us to see those flashes of light when we catch a glimpse of the beauty of nature, or feel the warmth of friendship, or experience the gift of empathy and understanding. In those moments, help us to remember Your love for us and Your ceaseless presence in our lives. Amen.

Thoughts on Rainbows by Margaret Langdon 1st June 2016

The light of God made easier for us to see
A reason to stop and stare for a short time
Moments of colour in a drab day
Signs of hope in despairing darkness
The remembrance of better times gone by
The unexpected appearance of sunshine people on the darkest day.

Thanks be to God, Amen.

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Psalm 147:1  NIV
‘Praise the Lord. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!’

Gracious God, as World Opera Day is marked today we give thanks for the amazing gift of music; for harmonies, melodies and the power of sound to reach the very being of our emotions. We give thanks for composers, performers, teachers and producers. We give thanks for the work of music venues from the local village hall, to the grandest of concert halls. We lift before You all musical initiatives that seek to build and inspire communities and make a difference to the lives of people, of all ages. We acknowledge Lord God, how difficult the pandemic has been for so many in the music industry. We pray for those struggling to rebuild their livelihoods after the devastating effects of lockdowns. Help us to appreciate, value and protect the wondrous world of sound that You have created, and may music continue to be a vehicle that promotes unity, hope and joy in our world. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

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John 15:9
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love”.

Gracious God, at the end of Global Wave of Light week, across our world, we remember and honour the families and friends of all those who have experienced the loss of babies and infants. And so we pray especially today for those who have experienced miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, premature delivery, still-birth or the loss of an infant. So too, we pray for those living with the sadness of infertility. Lord God, we pray that Your love will be felt in the hearts and the homes of all those who may be experiencing any kind of loss. May they feel the assurance of Your presence supporting and sustaining them. We pray and give thanks for all midwives and healthcare professionals, and for organisations who are seeking to raise awareness of this important concern. As buildings will radiate pink and blue lights in our towns and cities this evening, may we as communities extend hands of understanding and empathy to all those in need of support and healing. God of power, may Your Holy Spirit send Your love and compassion into our communities this day. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

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Psalm 91:2
I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, My God, in whom I trust!”

Gracious God, as World Sight Day is marked, we pray today for all those whose sight is impaired. We acknowledge that Vision impairment can affect people of all ages, across all nations, effecting all aspects of life; from interaction in the community, to education, to employment, to the daily functioning of our lives. And so we pray for healthcare, for opportunities and for inclusiveness in our societies for all who live with sight loss. We give thanks for charities, support agencies and medical professionals who seek to support the needs of others. Lord God, be with all those today who live with the challenges of vision impairment. May all people be aware of Your presence with us and may the light of Your Holy Spirit shine Your love into our lives bringing strength, comfort and assurance. In the name of Jesus we pray, Amen.

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As we marked World Mental Health Day yesterday, and we begin Prison’s Week, I offer you two prayers to reflect on at the start of this week. Blessings for today, Sue

A prayer for Mental Health
Dear Lord and Father of those who have never crossed the lines,
who are held in by fears, and who are bound by walls they cannot see.
Dear Lord and Mother of those who are living on the very edge, those who find themselves drifting without boundaries.
Dear Lord who is brother to all of us that need and long for peace of mind, peace of heart and the certainty that we are loved no matter what.
Dear Lord who is sister to all who walk with the emptiness that comes with insecurity and low self esteem,
Send your Holy Spirit, and make us whole.
For we pray to you almighty God who is as fragile as we are
and who made us in your own image; who understands and sees into our hearts even when we turn away.
Unfurl us like the petals of a rose and unhide that which we have hidden. Heal our minds, heal our souls, and carry us into the Kingdom made new in your love.
Amen
(Written by Rev Michaela Youngson www.methodist.org)

The Prisons Week Prayer
Lord, you offer freedom to all people. We pray for those in prison. Break the bonds of fear and isolation that exist. Support with your love prisoners and their families and friends, prison staff and all who care. Heal those who have been wounded by the actions of others, especially the victims of crime. Help us to forgive one another, to act justly, love mercy and walk humbly together with Christ in his strength and in his Spirit, now and every day.
Amen
(www.prisonsweek.org)

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Exodus 33:14          ESV
And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

Gracious God, as we reach the middle of the week, we take a moment to pause, reflect and turn to You. There will be those of us who have had cause to celebrate and be joyful this week. There will be others who have faced challenges and sadnesses, for whom the week is proving difficult, but wherever we are, whatever emotions we are feeling, and whatever the days ahead hold for us, we know that You are with us, and that You will continue to guide and strengthen us through the remainder of the week. And so we give You thanks and we come to You with the assurance of Your presence and Your love. Amen

A reflection by Margaret Langdon
‘I may be cast down, but I’m not cast off
I may be extended, but I’ve not reached the limit
I may be feeling driven, but I haven’t reached the edge
I may be suffering a beating, but I’m not yet knocked out
Why?
Because God is always there to pick me up, pull me back, sort me out
And place me on a way that is going onward and upward
His hand is in mine, his arm is round my shoulders,
He is my strength and my redeemer.
Amen’

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Psalm 8:6-9
“You made them rulers over the works of your hands; you put everything under their feet: all flocks and herds, and the animals of the wild, the birds in the sky, and the fish in the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas. Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”

God of Creation, as World Animal Day is marked today, we give thanks for the amazing, diverse and beautiful animal Kingdom You have created for us. For animals that live in the sky, the land or the sea, we give thanks. For animals that provide us with love and companionship, we give thanks. For animals that work and serve us, we give thanks. For animals that speak of Your creative imagination in their agility, their strength, their speed and their ingenuity, we give thanks. For every species, colour, size and characteristic, we give thanks. On this day Lord, we stop and reflect upon the wonder of Your animal Kingdom because it gives us the opportunity to reflect upon Your creative power. But so too, we know that not all animals are treated with respect and compassion. And so, we pray for the welfare of all animals and give thanks for the work of organisations that seek to protect those animals that are vulnerable in our societies, across the world. Creator God, for Your gift of love in nature, we give thanks. Amen.

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John 3:16           New International Version
‘For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life’.

Gracious God, as World Heart Day is marked today, we give thanks for the love that You pour into our hearts each and every day, as displayed in the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ. May we be witnesses to that love in the world, and share it with others, so that all people may feel it’s transforming power in their lives. Amen

We engage with a reflection by Margaret Landon

There are not many things that cannot be measured
But God’s love is one of them.
Most things have a recordable beginning and an end
Except God’s love.
Everything is subject to change
But not God’s love.
Science can examine, quantify, predict, record, test
But the proof of God’s love is faith.
God’s love exists, has always existed and will always exist
It never changes, never ends, was there before the world was created.
God’s love will be there when the world ends
And the amazing thing is that it is freely available to everyone.

August 2014