Saturday, March 21, 2009

Prayer for Saturday, March 21

Day 22 : Thankfulness for ‘enough’

Scripture for reflection: Matthew 6:25-34

Prayer: Holy God,
I thank you for the many ways in which you provide my ‘daily bread’. Thank
you that I can trust you with my life. I am also thankful for the signs of change
that I see in Australia, for a growing respect for our Aboriginal people, for a
greater concern for the environment and for a growing awareness of the need
to live more simply. I pray that an economics of ‘enough’ will force out the
economics of accumulation. Amen.

Friday, March 20, 2009

Prayer for Friday, March 20

Day 21 : Prayer for the people of the Nilgiri Hills

Project, South India

Scripture for reflection: Ephesians 2:17-22

Prayer: In the land blessed by the apostle Thomas when the church was barely born, you
have brought into being a partner church given to uniting, the Church of South
India. In a land of many faiths, where Christian people must witness humbly and
respectfully, you have raised up people to convey your love. In the compassion of
a hospital, in the care of a classroom, in conversation among people of different
faiths, in the attentiveness of a tutor, you draw people towards fullness of life. Bring
us with them, we pray, as you open us to your truth that is greater than our view.
Translate your care into health, education, food, youth leadership, vocational training
and support groups. Help them, with us, find and learn the vocation to which you
call us, that we may persist in serving you in the Spirit of your Son, Jesus Christ,
through whom we pray. Amen.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

Prayer for Thursday, March 19

Day 20 : Water in the desert

Scripture for reflection: Exodus 17:1-7

Prayer: Loving God,
I am halfway through the journey of Lent. Thank you for all that I am learning
and for the gift of Lent as a spiritual discipline. Be with me in the times of
temptation and testing and help me to maintain my commitment. There have
been times when I have been tempted to give up. May your Spirit revive me.
May I find streams of water in the desert times. I pray that you will guide me
ever deeper into the possibility of travelling light during Lent and beyond. Amen.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

The Fourth Sunday in Lent: March 22

What Does Christian Love Look Like?

This is our theme for this Sunday. We are commanded to love one another. This is probably the most repeated and most emphasized command by Jesus. What does that mean? Does it just mean to be nice? Would we be the Christians Jesus means us to be if we were all like Ned Flanders on The Simpsons?
Take time this week to consider again the Scriptures in the daily readings for this week. And look at the prayers. What is God saying to you about Christian love?
The worship bulletin is here.
The Scripture for this Sunday is John 3.14-21. Try to read this familiar passage again, with new eyes.

Prayer for Wednesday, March 18

Day 19 : The storms of life

Scripture for reflection: Luke 8:22-25

Prayer: Lord Jesus,
Thank you for the gift of companionship. Through the storms of life we need
others in the boat with us. Often it is through others that you comfort me.
Help me to offer that same grace to others whose journey is difficult and
tempestuous. Give me your heart to feel with, your ears to listen with, and your
mouth to speak with. More of you and less of me. Amen.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Prayer for Tuesday, March 17

March 17, 2009

Day 18 : Getting our priorities right

Scripture for reflection: 1 Timothy 6:3-10

Prayer: I am growing in my awareness of the great gulf between the rich and the poor
in our world. I am also aware that if wealth were to be distributed more evenly,
my own nation would be affected. There would be consequences for my own
life. Despite this, I pray for a new economy of love and compassion. May we
learn to practise the biblical principles of Sabbath and Jubilee, and uphold a
more faithful economy. Amen.

Monday, March 16, 2009

Prayer for Monday, March 16

March 16, 2009

Day 17 : True worship

Scripture for reflection: Isaiah 58:5-12

Prayer: Merciful God,
I confess that there are times when my sense of the spiritual is limited to my
feelings. But today’s scripture reading challenges me to think beyond myself
and to understand that true worship also involves my behaviour and my
lifestyle. I thank you, God, that you lead me to care about the injustices of this
world. Thank you that you are not distant but are present and real in this world.
Inspire me to be a faithful disciple of Jesus. Amen.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Prayer for Sunday, March 15

March 15, 2009

3rd Sunday : What is a Christian response to injustice?

Scripture for reflection: John 2:13-22

Reflection – The Christ who wields a whip
It’s tempting to only imagine Jesus with a beaming smile, to see him reaching out to
give a blessing or an embrace. The temptation is to tame him, domesticate him, have
him bless my way of life. But the Christ who blesses little children is the same Christ
who wields a whip. The same Christ who is furious at injustice. The same Christ who
can scowl and be angry. May I be honest enough to resist turning Jesus into a one-dimensional
Christ made in my image.

Prayer for Lent Event Project : South India

Scripture for reflection: Matthew 18:1-5; 19:13-15

Prayer: When the followers of your Son argued, loving One, he averted eyes to a child,
took it in his arms, and said we welcomed you every time we welcomed such
children in your name. At another time, as followers frowned, he bent to bless
and named children as receivers of your kingdom. We invite you to bend again,
great God, to lift children up and bless them with food to end the ache of hunger
and thirst, with education that offers possibilities for which they long, with health
that lets them grow old, with clothing that keeps them warm, with hope that
conquers despair. We pray that in the villages of India and Australia children may
grow safely and lovingly, that together people may be built up in care. You have
brought us through the waters of birth and baptism so that, with them, we may
honour the earth, each other, and you. Make us part of your purpose, we pray.
Through Jesus Christ. Amen.