There’s a prayer that goes………

“Build us into one church

a church with big windows

and OPEN DOORS”……………….err….

not at the moment, do I hear you say. It does sadden me greatly, the church ought to be open to each and everyone, especially at a time of such huge crisis. However, the church isn’t turning its back on you. It is to keep us all safe as possible; so, no services , no meetings within its walls at the moment not even for private prayer, on an individual basis.

It is good to have the peace, and feeling of being held that our churches bring to us, but God is bigger than a building and is to be found wherever we are. For me, the outdoors, God’s natural Cathedral, is where I feel close to Him. But, don’t worry if prayer won’t come, we all have our dry times. Just allow yourself to be prayed for, and you are on my list. More importantly, we learn from our reading today we are all on Jesus’ list! If you wish for a chat, to discuss the readings, or pick holes in my “blogget”, please phone, or email, I’ll try and answer any questions you may have, and I’ve a lot of time to listen.

I tell you, when this is all over the church will open the doors wide and throw a party for all the community, and the drinks are on me ( well, let’s not be rash, this is Bednall and Acton villages I’m talking to, so the first one, say!) Delphine

Sunday 29th March

Reading :John 17 vs 6-8; 15; 20-23

Jesus prays for His disciples and for us

I have made Your name known to those whom You gave me from the world. They were Yours, and You gave them to me, and they have kept Your word. Now they know that everything You have given me is from you; for the words that You gave me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I come from You; and they have believed that You sent me.

I am not asking You to take them out of the world, but I ask You to protect them from the evil one

I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you. Father are in me, and I am in You, may they be also in us, so that the world may believe that You have sent me. The glory that You have given me I have given them, so that they may be as one, as we are one. I in them and You in me, that they may be completely one, so that the world may know that You have sent me, and have loved them even as You love me

Prayers

Prayer is the deliberate and persevering action of the soul. It is true and enduring, and full of grace. Prayer fastens the soul to God and makes it one with His will, through the deep inward working of the Holy Spirit.

Our prayers bring great joy and gladness to our Lord. He wants it and awaits it. He says, “Pray inwardly even though you find no joy in it. For it does good, though you feel nothing, see nothing, yes, even if you think you cannot pray.”

So let us now offer up to God all that troubles us about………

The Coronavirus crisis

The world

The church

Those that are sick, in mind, body, or spirit

Those that have died, and those left to mourn

Each other

And lastly, ourselves