You are invited to pause and pray with others in our Church Family at this time in your day
You may want to revisit the Daily Devotions Bible verses for today – MATTHEW 6 vs 5-15
You may need to name others in need known to you before Father God
You may want to be still in God’s Presence as your day closes
On this particular Monday..at the start of another new month…as the nation journeys through this further stage of Lockdown.. you are invited to pause and pray with others in our city and across the nation…to the LORD our God, our Father God.
You are encouraged to pray for all those affected by the coronavirus
For family and friends
For all families in our villages and towns and cities at this time
For NHS and Care Home staff across the nation
For our country and our national leaders at this time of decision making
Considering the time and the opportunities we have at the moment to spend with God in prayer….and in this week leading up to World Day of Prayer on Friday 5th March….
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 these busier days. In these weeks and months of lockdown 2021 it is not possible once again to open and run this space….for the moment .
You are invited however to make time to pause and take time out…at this time of the year in this season of Lent…perhaps for the first time….. and it doesn’t have to be a Tuesday!
However, this Tuesday instead of visiting the Upper Room you are encouraged to…..tarry a while with God, maybe a bit longer than usual……to wait…ask…seek…receive….
* Find a space to be still in a busy world
** For a regular time-out during this month
* Private prayer for yourself and for others
** Listening to God – Father Son and Holy Spirit
You are encouraged to speak with Him….to listen to Him.…to receive from Him…especially at this time as we seek to hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church in our times.
You are invited to share in the Midday Prayers and Evening Prayers that will be posted online at 12noon and 9pm on various days on the Kirk website and on our social media pages. We are also encouraged to pray with others in our city and across our land at 6pm….focussing on all those affected by the coronavirus…..and during these particular weeks you are invited to join with others and pray for all those affected afresh by the new coronavirus restrictions.
We are all invited to pray with others in our Church family as we journey through these early days of 2021 together…..and to listen for what God is saying to us in these changing and uncertain days. You are encouraged to take some exercise by the Government..and we would invite you to take a walk around the Kirkyard and consider the Word for Today words and images from PSALM 121 at this time.
Morning
Look Upward and Pray to hear and receive from God, the Holy Spirit
Reading : MATTHEW 6 verses 5-15
Meditation : take the time to consider this passage today.
Jesus’ model Prayer.
What words or images stay with you?
Pray in response – to our Father God , the God who is with us each day
Pray your own words at the start of this day
Of praise and worship
Of confession and trust
Of need – for yourself and others
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Midday
Pray God’s blessings on the work of TEARFUND in our world
O LORD, have mercy on this venture we call out and pour rich blessings!
Evening
Reading : read the passage again prayerfully at the end of your day
Reflect….. and then pray to God in response to Jesus’ words
LORD God, our Father God, hear my prayer this evening.
As I praise you for who you are
As I humbly name others before you.
As I call out to you for others in this day
As I lay myself and this world before you
In Jesus’ name. Amen.
The Lord lives! Praise my defender!
Proclaim the greatness of the God who saves me.
Psalm 18 verse 46
Let us have confidence, then, and approach God’s throne, where there is grace.
There we will receive mercy and find grace to help us just when we need it.
Hebrews 4 verse 16
During 2021 we are looking together daily at the theme of PRAYER – and pausing at our times of Midday Devotion to pray for others in our church family, our city and our world at this time.
* In March as we continue towards Easter we consider therefore the theme of WHAT A FRIEND WE HAVE IN JESUS. *
We are all encouraged to listen for God’s voice and make our response as we journey together in our ‘rhythm of devotion’ during this year of 2021.
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
A Prayer for the Month of March
Jesus
Saviour and Friend
Bearer of our sins and griefs
Bring God’s perfect peace
Jesus
Lord and Friend
Faithful in our storms
Help us – we call out
Jesus
Our Strong Friend
Carry and shield us
As we pray to You
Amen
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