The start of the year the whole church is looking at being Upward looking and how we encounter God, we’re doing the same thing at six30 evening services on Sundays. We have a great mix of speakers lined up and starting us off in February is Nikki who is leading an evening in the church inspired by the book Be Live Pray by Becca Dean, where we actively look at what prayer is, how we do it and what we can pray about. Check out speakers for the next few months by keeping up to date on our six30 page but also come along on Sunday night if you would like to look more into how to pray day by day.
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Tuesday is Upper Room day
Each Tuesday the hall above the Kirkgate Café becomes the Upper Room…..a place with space….comfy sofa, chairs, music, journals, readings…….time out with God…….from 7.30am to 7.30pm. You are very welcome to come and make use of this time and space as and when you want.
At 7.30-8.00am, 12.00-12.30pm and 7.00-7.30pm there are times to share with others in prayer and comment at the Daily Offices.
The Café downstairs is open from 9.30am-2.00pm Monday – Thursday…….great menu…great prices!!
Celtic Devotions 2nd February ’16
Morning
Pray to hear and receive from Jesus, our Saviour and Lord.
Reading : Psalm 119 verses 9-16
Meditation : consider the question here and the answers that follow….
Pray in response – to live, speak, rejoice, meditate and delight aright – use verse 16 as you pray
Lord Jesus,
Hear our prayers at the start of this day.
Help us to delight in the Father’s commands
And not to neglect the Word we read – even today.
Amen.
Midday
Take time out to listen for God to speak with you – ask…seek…knock…hear!
Master, speak – even to us.
Evening
Reading : read verses 9-16 again
Reflect on these verses and what they say to you and then pray verse 12 in response
O God, hear our evening prayers.
Liberton Artisans
Recently we have been assisting three members of the Kirk at home with small jobs. We have also been in contact with Liberton Primary School (Nursery Dept) to arrange painting some small sheds that the children play in. We will hope to be doing this during the Easter break. We have been running now for ten months and have been able to help many people in the area. Please visit our page here on the Liberton Kirk web site to read more about us.
Celtic Devotions 1st February ’16
Morning
Pray to hear and receive from Father God.
Reading : Psalm 119 vs 1-8
Meditation : consider these opening verses….when I look in God’s mirror what do I see?
Pray to steadfastly walk by God’s Highway Code – make verse 7 part of your prayer
Father God
Hear our prayers.
May your blessing rest on us and help us oh we ask
As we consider our ways according to Your Word
Amen and amen.
Midday
Pray God’s blessing on all those who travel daily on our roads
Father God, hear our prayers.
Evening
Reading : read verses 1-8 again
Reflect on the words written here and Pray anew to obey God- with His help
O God, may our evening prayers be pleasing to You.
What would Jesus say to David Bowie?
Lindsay and I are both early morning people, and we usually set our radio alarm for 6.30am, so that we can spend half an hour listening to the news before getting on with our day. Last Monday morning, therefore, made for interesting listening.
The 6.30 headlines were, firstly, about plans to close the Calais refugee camp, and secondly, the meeting of heads of the worldwide Anglican Communion. At 6.45am, however, there was a newsflash to announce the death on Sunday of David Bowie, following his eighteen month battle with cancer.
Next up was an interview with the Justin Wellbye, the Archbishop of Canterbury, about the future of the Anglican Communion. “Before we begin,” said the presenter, “what are your thoughts on David Bowie?” By 7.00am, the headlines had changed, with David Bowie top of the list. These headlines were followed by a report from Calais, which had to be cut short. The reporter had clearly put in a lot of work and was expecting to be given a longer slot. “Sorry we have to stop you,” said the presenter. “You may not have heard, but David Bowie has died.”
At the time, we couldn’t help but wonder – if this is how Radio 4’s flagship news programme is dealing with this, what is the mainstream media going to be like? Sure enough, for the rest of the day David Bowie’s life and achievements were given wall to wall coverage.
Don’t get me wrong. The vinyl collection in my attic includes four of Bowie’s first five albums, and over the years I have both enjoyed and admired his musical genius and artistic creativity. But, at the same time, I know that there were sides to Bowie’s character that I didn’t admire, and I would not have recommended him to anyone as a role model.
All this has caused me to reflect on what this says about our society today, and its relentless capacity to idolise.
The biblical definition of an idol is that it is something ‘man-made’ and attractive, but ultimately false, and which draws us away from God. If you’ve been one of the millions of people who have viewed Bowie’s final album, ‘Dark Star’, which was released two days before his death, you may well have been given even more reason to wonder about the motives behind it. Although already acclaimed as a masterpiece, it is hardly reassuring on the theme of dying. It does, however, appear to be a deliberate attempt by him to lay a claim to the notion of ‘Bowie the god’ – someone who, even in death, would welcome our worship.
By now David Bowie will have met with his maker, and will have had to look back on his life in the clear light of God’s truth. But what about us? Who and what do we worship, and where does God come on our list?
Much love, John