prayer hub sheet -15th may

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   The Readings for 15th May

Genesis 22: 1-18 ~ Acts 11: 1-18 ~ John 13: 31-35

Thoughts for this Week 

Acts 11.1-18, Rev 21. 1-6 & John 13. 31-35

A compulsory training experience for all CofE ordinands is that of a hospital or hospice placement. I was thrilled to be volunteering with the Spiritual Care team in our local Pilgrim’s Hospice, and would willingly speak about the inclusivity of the team with others. One comment, by a member of my local church at the time, really took me by surprise. “You’re training for the Church of England, so that’s all you should speak to.” I was angered by this, and the suggestion that in end-of-life situations, I should be checking credentials before offering compassion… I had always known that whilst ministering in church with those already called to follow Christ is most certainly part of my calling, that wasn’t the end of it. Far from it! It’s much more about trying to share the Good News of salvation with those who haven’t heard it yet. I never was able to convince this particular person of the validity of my calling. 

I think this helps to explain why this week’s reading from Acts is one of my favourites – as well as one of the most challenging! Filled by the Holy Spirit, this once impetuous fisherman has been travelling the district preaching the Good News of the resurrected Jesus – fulfilling the calling to be a fisher of men – and has ended up In Jerusalem, only to be criticized. He’s been challenged to explain why he was eating with uncircumcised men and his response is to describe the vision he had experienced when praying in Joppa. In using the vision to explain his mission, Peter is again following his Master’s footsteps – using parables and familiar concepts to tackle new and controversial ideas; ideas which are Kingdom-focused, rather than earth-bound. He speaks of seeing a multitude of creatures, wild beast and fowl, from which smorgasbord he is commanded to eat. His response that these animals are unclean (which, indeed, by Jewish law they certainly would have been deemed inappropriate for human consumption) is met with a scathing retort – if God has said they are clean, then they are clean! Peter doesn’t argue, nor does he seem disturbed by being called out on his prejudice in this way. Immediately, he is given the opportunity to put this new learning into practice, as he’s called upon to visit an uncircumcised man in Caesarea, and to preach the Gospel to his family. In so doing, a family that otherwise wouldn’t have heard are offered a relationship with the risen Jesus, and the repentance that leads to life. 

I continue to find it deeply troubling that as human beings, (yes even in the church), we see the divisions between us, rather than seeing first the love of Christ which encompasses and envelopes us all. We are each ‘fearfully and wonderfully made,’ as the psalmist says, no-one made better or worse than any other. Even Peter asks who he is to stand in the way of God’s will for all of humanity. If it’s not Peter’s role, then why should it be ours? 

Let’s pray

Lord, we rejoice that we abide in you and in your great love; you accept us when we find it hard to accept ourselves or each other. We pray that you will strengthen the fellowship of your people, that you will sustain us in our unity and help us to know we are one in you. We pray for all who are striving to realize the unity that you give to your church. We pray for inter-church relationships and all groups that help to break down barriers. 

Lord, lead us from despair to hope,

From division to wholeness. 

Lord, we remember before you all areas of ethnic violence and racial hatred, for all places where there is division, strife and animosity. We pray for all who work for peace and unity, for all that work for the building up of community and fellowship. We remember all who are scorned, rejected or belittled by others. 

Lord, lead us from despair to hope,

From division to wholeness. 

We give thanks for our own homes and for their love. We pray for homes of strife and discord, homes where there is neglect, abuse or violence. We remember homes where there is no love or where love is betrayed. We pray for all families suffering from a breakdown in their relationships. 

Lord, lead us from despair to hope,

From division to wholeness. 

We pray for all who suffer from any kind of sickness, of body, mind or spirit, for those who lives are torn apart by memories or fears. We pray for all who have suffered from any form of breakdown. We ask your blessing on our loved ones and friends who are suffering at tis time, praying especially for* Rosemary Garlinge, Colin & Judy Laker, John Vinson, Elvina and Roger Davenport, Rev Jane, Charlie Rogers, June & Bernard Edwards, Dickie & Pauline Winfield, David Ratcliff, and Lynne Lane. 

Lord, lead us from despair to hope,

From division to wholeness. 

We pray for loved ones departed, for all who have gone before us in the faith, and for the day when we will share with them in your kingdom. We remember Jill Hogben, Robert Snow, Dr Allan Beaton, who have recently died and Dorothy Horobin, Bert Want, Alan Smith, Derek Tuck and Percival Coleman whose year’s mind falls at this time. We look forward to the day when we will share fully in the communion of saints, when we will be one in the Spirit and one in the Lord. 

Lord, lead us from despair to hope,

From division to wholeness. 

Amen x 

Thanks to David Adams Glimpses of Glory 

Rev Deb

(*individuals can be named on request; these will be removed after one month, unless notified to the contrary.)

The Lords Prayer:

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; 

thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. 

Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses,

as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom, 

the power and  the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen

tooTents

The weather’s getting warmer, and families are planning for the summer holidays. Some of them will be going camping and for others part of the holiday at home could be under canvas. Lots of children like the idea of sleeping out under the stars, in a makeshift shelter, maybe building the shelter first. They listen for snuffling animals like hedgehogs or to night bird noises. The National Trust suggests it too as one of the 50 things to do before you’re 11 ¾.

We used to love putting up our tents in the Yorkshire Dales near Pen-y-Ghent, beside a stream, falling asleep to the sound of the stream or the rain… we didn’t worry, that was up to our parents. My father used to make the breakfast in the morning, porridge or scrambled eggs or fried bacon, my mother coped with the weather and clothes. We got the milk from the farmer but then spent the days out exploring, looking at caves, climbing the mountain or building dams in the stream.

In Leviticus 23 we hear of a weeklong celebration where there are instructions for building makeshift shelters: ” On the first day you are to take branches from luxuriant trees—from palms, willows and other leafy trees—and rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days. …. Live in temporary shelters for seven days: ….. so your descendants will know that I had the Israelites live in temporary shelters when I brought them out of Egypt. I am the Lord your God.”

This was part of the harvest festival of tabernacles or booths or tents, it started with serious things but ended with these days of celebration and thanks for harvest. However the tents or temporary shelters were a reminder of days spent on the move, without a fixed home, probably with few possessions, time in the wilderness, where there was no harvest. The Israelites needed to trust God completely. He doesn’t need to live in a solid structure, in church, but He meets us there because we often need the shelter.

These days we think of refugees, whether driven from their homes or with little except for the hope of a better life. So as we see tents let us also remember those who have no fixed dwelling place, not by choice but necessity. We might have mattresses or camp beds but some only have the hard ground, so like the Jews let us remember hard times. “When a foreigner lives with you in your land, don’t take advantage of him. Treat the foreigner the same as one born among you…. Remember that you were once foreigners in Egypt. I am God, your God.” We also remember with thankfulness the friendliness and hospitality we have experienced in foreign lands.

 As I write, the wind is howling down my chimney and already causing a number of fallen branches to dance across the garden. I am aware of continual updates to the weather forecast, with predictions of gale force winds, gusts in excess of 90mph and the likelihood of damage to property. Various weather warnings are already in place around the country, and the expectation is that these will be intensified over the coming hours as the tracking models become more secure. I’m sure I’m not the only person beginning to feel a little anxious about the prospect of what’s to come. 

In our Gospel reading, Jesus’ disciples are in a similar situation, though they are actually fearing for their lives. They’re in a boat, on a lake, as the storm swirls up around them, and they are in real danger. Jesus. by contrast, is peacefully sleeping. His comment to them, when woken by their shouts, is about faith – not really anything to do with their reaction to the storm at all. Which begs the question – to what are the disciples referring when they shout “Master, we’re going to drown!”? If it weren’t for Jesus’ response, it would be simple enough to speak of the turbulent waves and the ferocious wind and the real risk to life – these disciples were, on the whole, simple fishermen, so they knew and respected the power of the waters. But Jesus’ answers prompts us look more carefully, to dive more deeply, into the scene. 

Are the disciples somewhat overwhelmed by events thus far? They’ve witnessed a number of healing miracles, been party to several intense teaching sessions, seen Jesus eat with sinners and be anointed with oil, as well as participate in animated discussions with the religious leaders of the area, which they know is unlikely to end well. Are they beginning to realise that this life of discipleship isn’t going to be ‘plain sailing’ after all?

The same is true for us too. Of course, there are actual storms we have to weather, such as those forecast over the next couple of days. And we can, and should, take every precaution to ensure the safety of ourselves and others. But there are, as the disciples experienced, metaphorical storms in life too, that can be just as damaging, just as destructive, and just as terrifying. Perhaps it is here that Jesus is offering guidance. These things will happen to us – we will be thrown off course, and tossed around by events like a flimsy boat on a roiling sea – and in those times it is our faith that we can hold on to. In those times, perhaps we too should ask “Where is my faith? In what way am I able to experience my faith through this episode?” 

So, even as we physically prepare for the storms forecast this week, let’s allow our faith to prepare our hearts and minds for the storms that aren’t flagged up on weather reports. 

Keep safe x