Tuesday Time-Out Together

As a Church 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, and COVID-19 guidelines are carefully followed.

This Tuesday the Upper Room will be open 7.30am-7.30pm – and perhaps this will be a place for you to visit – for the first time?

* To find space to be still in a busy world
** To pause and pray with God – for yourself and for others
* To listen to God – Father Son and Holy Spirit – in these slower days and moments

There will be opportunities to pause and pray with others – at 8am – 12 noon – 7pm – and John and others will be glad to share these with you.

In the evening – on Zoom – we come together to pray as a Church Family – 7.30-8.30pm.
This month we come to offer prayers of Thanksgiving – to wait and listen to what God is saying to us as we step into a new season of life and work as a Church – to pray for our world and our parish at this time – and to pray for others and each other.

You are also invited to take a meaningful walk…around the Pathway of Peace that has been available during July and August around the Kirk building….starting at the Offering House.
We would invite you to take a walk around the Kirkyard and consider what God is saying to you at this time from the words displayed at various locations from the Bible. From Wednesday the focus will change to words from PSALM 25.
You are invited to use the bench at the top left of the Kirkyard (under the large tree) to pause and pray – to be still with God – to ask, seek, knock, wait and receive.

You are also reminded of the Prayer Wall available on the Kirk website under the Prayer tab – a place you can bring your prayers – and ask for prayer from the Prayer Team if appropriate.

The Daily Devotions have been taking us to the Psalms in July and August – and you may want to pray a psalm each day. During September we take time each day to PAUSE with God. 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…

Above all – make the most of a regular time-out – for body, mind and spirit!

Daily Devotions for Monday 30th August, 2021

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

Reading : PSALM 149

Meditation : take time and consider this psalm of praise this particular Monday morning.
Praise the LORD!!
What is your song of praise to God today?

Then Pray with words and songs of praise 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.

In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Midday
Pray God’s blessing on the Bible Society’s work across the UK
God of grace and mercy and rich blessing, hear our prayers we ask.

Evening
Reading : read these verses again from PSALM 149
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 and songs of praise
In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Daily Devotions for Sunday 29th August, 2021

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

Reading : PSALM 148

Meditation : take time and consider this psalm of praise this particular Sunday morning.
Praise the LORD!!
What is God teaching/reminding you about Himself?

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

O God of greatness
We bow before you
We believe in you
We trust in you
We offer you our songs of praise
This new day
In Jesus’ Name, Amen!


Midday

Pray the Prayer for the Month as your own midday prayer

How good it is to give thanks to you, O LORD.
We sing and dance with joy!
How great are your ways, O LORD.
We sing and dance with joy!

You forgive my sin and cleanse me within
I sing and dance with joy!
You help me and guide me
I sing and dance with joy!

Praise the LORD all His people
We sing and dance with joy!
Praise the LORD all His creatures
We sing and dance with joy!

Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Amen and Amen!

Evening
Reading : read these particular verses again from PSALM 148
Reflect on the words and images and then Pray in response to this God

Praise him, kings and all peoples,
princes and all other rulers;
young women and young men,
old people and children too.
Let them all praise the name of the LORD!
His name is greater than all others;
his glory is above earth and heaven

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

A Call to Saturday Evening Prayer with Others

As your Saturday closes you are invited to pause and pray with others in our Church Family as we step into Sunday

You may want to revisit the Daily Devotions for today from PSALM 147

You are encouraged to follow the pattern of A-C-T-S which many have found to be a blessing and a help

A doration … taking a few moments to bring your evening words of praise and worship to our God

C onfession … of the sins of this day

T hanksgiving … for the blessings of this day … and of forgiveness received

S upplication or Asking … for a situation…or another person…or the events expected tomorrow

In Jesus’ Name
Amen

Daily Devotions for Saturday 28th August, 2021

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

Reading : PSALM 147

Meditation : take the time to consider these words of praise this Saturday morning.
Which words stay with you as your day starts?

And then take time to Pray with Praise in response to this God
Make these words your own

Praise the LORD!
It is good to sing praise to our God;
it is pleasant and right to praise him.
The LORD is restoring Jerusalem;
he is bringing back the exiles.
He heals the broken-hearted
and bandages their wounds.
He has decided the number of the stars
and calls each one by name.
Great and mighty is our Lord;
his wisdom cannot be measured.
He raises the humble,
but crushes the wicked to the ground.

Amen we pray with praise together this new day!

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 the verses again from PSALM 147
Reflect on the words…. and then Pray with Praise in response to what you have read
This is our God!

Sing hymns of praise to the LORD;
play music on the harp to our God.
He spreads clouds over the sky;
he provides rain for the earth
and makes grass grow on the hills.
He gives animals their food
and feeds the young ravens when they call.
His pleasure is not in strong horses,
nor his delight in brave soldiers;
but he takes pleasure in those who honour him,
in those who trust in his constant love

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

A Call to Evening Prayer with Others

As your Friday closes you are invited to pause and pray with others in our Church Family as we step into the weekend

You may want to revisit the Daily Devotions for today from PSALM 146

You are encouraged to follow the pattern of A-C-T-S which many have found to be a blessing and a help

A doration … taking a few moments to bring your evening words of praise and worship to our God

C onfession … of the sins of this day

T hanksgiving … for the blessings of this day … and of forgiveness received

S upplication or Asking … for a situation…or another person…or the events expected tomorrow

In Jesus’ Name
Amen