Lent Time-Out Tuesday

As we journey through these days of 2023…and the season of Lent…

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 once again this Tuesday…..and you are invited to take time-out with God at some point…7.30am – 7.30pm….and to pause with Him….reflecting…praying….

This is a quiet place…..a safe place for you and God to take time-out together

* A space for you to be still in a busy 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

There are opportunities to pause and pray with others at 8am, 12 noon and 7pm….and John and others gathered then will be happy to see you at any of these times…..or you can arrange to pray with the Prayer Team at some point suitable for you….

In the evening, we meet as a church family (on Zoom) for our monthly Gathering for Prayer….when we take time together to give thanks for blessings received….to wait and listen with God……and to name others in need in our world, our nation and our church family, and beyond, at this time. You are most welcome to be a part of this.

You are also invited to walk round the Kirk, pondering some of Paul’s words to the church in Ephesus at various stations…..or to visit the Offering House – beside the gates – 8am-5pm – there are several helpful reflections and prayers – 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.

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 February and March our focus continues on the theme of Telling Others the Good News from Matthew’s Gospel. 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 you can still revisit Thy Kingdom Come global prayer venture daily reflections on our YouTube channel…..from our Prayer Ministry Team providing a reflection over the 11 days period

May we each and all experience time-out with the Living and True God – whenever – wherever – as step into the month of March 2023.

Daily Devotions for Monday 27th February, 2023

Morning
Look Upward and Pray to hear and receive from God, the Holy Spirit

Reading : MATTHEW 15 verses 21-31
Meditation : take time and consider this event this Monday morning.
A Woman’s Faith.
What words stay with you?
How would you describe your faith in Jesus at this time?

Then Pray with words and songs of faith in response to the LORD our God

Praise the LORD!
Sing a new song to the LORD;
praise him in the assembly of his faithful people!
Be glad, Israel, because of your Creator;
rejoice, people of Zion, because of your king!
Praise his name with dancing;
play drums and harps in praise of him.

O we believe
Help our unbelief!
In Jesus’ name, Amen

Midday
Pray God’s blessing on our Kirk Session
God of grace and mercy and wisdom, hear our prayers we ask.

Evening
Reading : read these verses again from MATTHEW 15 verses 21-31
Reflect on what you read and then give praise to our 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
Grant us great faith as we step into tomorrow
In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Sunday Evening Prayer with Others

As we step into a week….. with God – together – and in this season of Lent – you may want to revisit today’s Daily Devotions from MATTHEW chapter 15 verses 10-20– as we start to consider TELLING OTHERS THE GOOD NEWS about Jesus through 2023.

We PAUSE with the Lord in prayer as the day closes

We REJOICE in the help and blessings He has given this particular Sunday – to us and to others

We ASK for His presence, peace and strength – for ourselves and for others in our church family and our nation and in our world at this time – especially prayerfully supporting the people of Turkey and Syria, Ukraine and other parts of our world in deep need at this time

We YIELD – say Yes – to His Kingdom ways for tomorrow

Bible Verse for the Week

Jesus called the crowd to him and said, “Listen and understand.
What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”

Matthew 15 verses 10 and 11

Thy Kingdom Come – at Midday – Youth Silence

As a Church we were part of the global prayer venture last year in the 11 day run up to Pentecost – Thy Kingdom Come. This year the venture runs 18-28 May.

This prayer continues around the world throughout the year!

Each Sunday at Midday we are re-visiting one of the daily themes….and this time we revisit the Youth videos and the theme of SILENCEas we watch and listen on this last Sunday in February 2023….

Daily Devotions for Sunday 26th February, 2023

Morning
Look Upward and Pray to hear and receive from the Living God

Reading : MATTHEW 15 verses 10-20
Meditation : take time and consider this passage this particular Sunday morning.
Unclean.
What is God teaching/reminding you today?
What words stay with you?

And then pray in response – using Jesus’ words as you turn to prayer

O God of amazing grace
And inner cleansing
We bow before you
We believe in you
We trust in you
We need your touch afresh
This new day
In Jesus’ Name, Amen

Midday
Pray the Lord’s Prayer as your midday 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

Evening
Reading : read these particular verses again from MATTHEW 15 verses 10-20
Reflect on the words and images and then Pray in response to this God

O LORD, hear our evening prayers we ask
As we thank you for the blessings of this Sunday
As we believe and trust in you
And your cleansing touch
As we pilgrimage on towards tomorrow
In Jesus’ name, Amen.