On this last Tuesday in November – you are invited to pause and pray where you are with those gathered in the Upper Room today……
P-ause with God
R-ejoice in His blessings given
A-sk for the needs of our church family, the SEECoS churches, our nation and our world at this time – especially the people and leaders of Israel, Gaza, Ukraine, Yemen, Somalia and other countries in need
Y-ield to His Kingdom ways
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9 verse 6
During 2022 we were looking daily at the theme of GOOD NEWS as we journeyed with Paul through his letter to the ROMANS.
In 2023, we have been looking at TELLING OTHERS THE GOOD NEWS with Matthew, Mark, Luke and John and pausing at our times of Midday Devotion to pray for others in our church family, our city and our world.
In December we journey through ADVENT together.
We are all invited to listen for God’s voice and make our response as we journey together in our ‘rhythm of devotion’ in 2023.
These Devotions are but one way to feed on God’s Word in the morning, at midday, in the evening… to pray with Him continually through the day and even to share with others the treasures or hurdles you discover.
The Church website and Facebook page (even on a handy mobile) provide a fuller daily devotional page. However it all follows the pattern below which the information provided fits into, based on the Kirk’s origins of the Celtic and Northumbrian traditions which we started as a church family in 2015.
Morning
Reading and Meditation on the content and Prayer of response
Midday
Prayer – mostly for others
Evening
Verse(s) from the morning reading
Reflection and Prayer at the end of the day
Prayer for the Month of DECEMBER
Wonderful Counsellor
Prince of Peace
Son of God
Son of Man
Be born afresh in us
Live in us
Live through us
Living Lord Jesus
Amen and Amen we pray.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven
Hallowed be Your Name.
Your kingdom come
Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
And forgive us our sins
As we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
But deliver us from evil.
For Yours is the kingdom, the power and the glory.
Now and for ever
Amen
Upper Room day and evening Gathering for Prayer
Morning
Look Upward and Pray to hear and receive from Jesus, Saviour and Lord
Reading : JOHN chapter 14 again
Jesus – the only Way, Truth, Life
The Holy Spirit – promised
What words or images stay with you?
What is God teaching/reminding you today?
What are you asking Him for at this time?
Pray in response to what you have read
Taking time to pause and listen for God’s answer to you
I call to the LORD for help;
I plead with him.
I bring him all my complaints;
I tell him all my troubles.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Midday
Take time to listen for God to speak with you at this time of day
Ask, seek, knock….hear!
Father God…thank you.
Evening
Reading : read JOHN 14 again – in another version?
Reflect on these words from Jesus…. and then Pray….to Him
Asking….seeking….receiving….
I call to the LORD for help;
I plead with him.
I bring him all my complaints;
I tell him all my troubles.
In Jesus’ name.
Amen and Amen.
As we prepare to step into Advent…….
As we journey onwards through these closing days of November 2023….
At Liberton Kirk we usually set aside a Tuesday each week and provide a place with space – the UPPER ROOM – a place for time-out in our busy days above the Kirkgate Cafe. This is a safe place for you to be.
The Upper Room will be open this Tuesday and you are encouraged to take time-out with God…..to find a quiet place with space…..7.30am-7.00pm……with opportunities to pray with John and others at 8am… Midday and 7pm.
* A space for you to be still in your busy needy world
** To pause and pray with God at this time – the God of all comfort, wisdom, mercy and hope.
* To listen to God – Father Son and Holy Spirit – in these times
You are invited to join with others in our wider SEESCOS church family as we gather for prayer – on Zoom – 7.30-8.30pm. We will give thanks…wait and listen….pray for others in need…..and each other. Alastair or John can provide the Zoom meeting info.
You are encouraged to visit the Offering House – beside the gates – 8am-5pm each day – where you can find more information and helpful leaflets and booklets about our faith and our Kirk. There is also a Prayer Request Box situated here for you to leave your own personal requests – our Prayer Team will prayerfully support those you name. Have you walked the Word for Today yet?
You are also encouraged to use the bench at the top left of the Kirkyard (under the large tree – weather permitting!) to pause and pray – to be still with God – to ask, seek, knock, wait and receive.
The Daily Devotions have been taking us to a daily time of considering God’s Good News with God’s written Word – and you may want to pause to pray with others at the start of each day as we consider the truths behind the words of this part of the Bible. During November our focus continues on the words and events from THE GOSPEL OF JOHN as we continue on the theme of Telling Others the Good News . This is available on the Kirk website blog and our social media pages on Facebook and Twitter from 7am- and in the church magazine.
And – don’t forget the brief Sunday morning Reflection at 8am…….and the Thy Kingdom Come global prayer venture daily reflections on our YouTube channel….from members of our Church Family providing a reflection over the 11 days period. This year the venture ran 18-28 May. Will you still be praying for 5??
May we each and all experience time-out with the Living and True God – whenever – wherever – as we step into Advent 2023.
Morning
Look Upward and Pray to hear and receive from God, the Holy Spirit
Reading : JOHN chapter 11 verses 1-44
Meditation : take time and consider this passage again this Monday morning.
Lazarus
Martha and Mary
Jesus
Resurrection!!
What words stay with you?
What is your response to all that is said and done here?
Then Pray with your own words in response to this Jesus
Honestly
Humbly
Asking
In Jesus’ name, Amen!
Midday
Pray God’s blessing on our Kirk Session members
God of grace and mercy and rich blessing, hear our prayers we ask.
Evening
Reading : read these verses again from JOHN 11 verses 1-44
Reflect on what you read and then pause to pray to this God in response
Praise the LORD!
The LORD takes pleasure in his people;
he honours the humble with victory.
Let God’s people rejoice in their triumph
and sing joyfully all night long.
And so to you, O God, we bring our evening words of prayer and faith
In Jesus’ name, Amen
