Time-out in Advent

The Kirk is getting ready for Christmas times! The diary is looking a bit busier as we step into December!

As a Church we 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 the early weeks and months of lockdown it was not possible to open and run this space…but it is now still available for one and all…whether you belong to Liberton Kirk or not.

You are invited to come….perhaps for the first time…..

* A place with space in a busy world
** For time-out in this Advent season
* Private prayer or with others
** With God – Father Son and Holy Spirit

Above the Kirkgate Cafe…..7.30am-7.30pm

Opportunites to pray with others will be possible at 8am…12 noon and 7pm

There are guidelines to follow…..including wearing a face covering.

But…..our Tuesdays – and every day – can still be an opportunity for time out…..with God…..where we are…at home or at work

You are invited to pause regularly at some time during the day and be still with 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.

The PATHWAY of PEACE around the Kirkyard is now closed but you can still walk around the Kirk and as you walk and think and reflect and pray in these days know that God is still walking with you. You will find that there are timely prompts for this time of year to consider from the Bible as you prayerfully walk around.

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 5pm….focussing on all those affected by the coronavirus…..and during this particular week 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 latter weeks of 2020 together…..and to listen for what God is saying to us in these particular days.

Daily Devotions for DECEMBER 2020

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come.”
Let anyone who hears this say, “Come.”
Let anyone who is thirsty come.
Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life.

Revelation 22 verse 17

During 2020 we are looking at standing on the promises of God – as well as dipping into the Psalms some weekends – pausing in prayer at our times of Midday Devotion for others in our church family, our city and our world at this time of the year.

In December we consider standing on the Promises in the Bible of A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH.

We are all encouraged to listen for God’s voice and make our response as we journey together in our ‘rhythm of devotion’ as this year with a difference of 2020 closes.

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 December

Father God
You are preparing us for the coming of the new Heaven and the new Earth
The old will disappear
The new will come
Alpha and Omega
Beginning and End
You are our God and we are your children
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

A Call to Sunday Evening Prayer

As part of the Kirk’s rhythm of prayer and devotion we invite people to pause and pray each day.

We offer a Daily Devotions Bible reading each morning and a focus for midday prayer.

At this time in your Sunday you are invited to pause and pray as the day closes and you prepare to enter a new week.

You may wish to revisit PSALM 119.169-176 and consider these truths.
You may need to name others before Father God.
You may want to be still with God as you look back on your day.

Daily Devotions for Sunday 29th November, 2020

First Sunday in Advent

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

Reading : PSALM 119 verses 169-176

Meditation : take time and consider this part of the psalm this Sunday morning.
What do the words mean for you in your life?
What is God teaching you about Himself?

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

O God of Truth
We bow before you
We believe in you
We trust in you
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Midday
Pray the Prayer for the Month as your own Midday Prayer

Heavenly Father — You know us better than we know ourselves.
We are conscious of our own limitations, and the weakness of our faith and witness.
Give us your Strength and Power –
show us how to find the right way – in the footsteps of your Son.
Let the re-assurance of your forgiveness be with us always.
We think of your promises given to your people over the ages — to Abraham — to David –
to Solomon — to the Virgin Mary — to the Apostles and Saints– and to us in our generation.
Help us to live out these Promises, with the help of your Holy Spirit.
Enable us to follow in the path of our Saviour, your Son Jesus Christ.
Make us more fully able to love You, to love our neighbours, and to love ourselves in due measure.
Give life in all its fullness, to our communities and to us,
so that in this way we may be agents in the advancement of your Kirk, in our World.
AMEN

Evening
Reading : read these particular words again from Psalm 119 verses 169-176
Reflect on the words written here and then Pray in response to this God of ours

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
As we pilgrimage on towards tomorrow
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

A Call to Saturday Evening Prayer

As part of the Kirk’s rhythm of prayer and devotion we invite people to pause and pray each day.

We offer a Daily Devotions Bible reading each morning and a focus for midday prayer.

At this time in your Saturday you are invited to pause and pray as the day closes and as you step into Sunday.

You may wish to revisit PSALM 119.143 and consider these words.
You may need to name others before Father God.
You may want to be still with God as you look back on your day.

Daily Devotions for Saturday 28th November, 2020

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

Reading : PSALM 119 verse 143

Meditation : take the time to consider these words this Saturday morning.
What are you encouraged and challenged by?
Which words stay with you as your day starts?

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

Amen we pray in 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 verse again from Psalm 119
Reflect on the words…. and then Pray in response to what you have read

LORD God, our God, hear our evening prayers.
As we worship you for who you are
As we thank you for your help this day
And name others before you
In Jesus’ name, Amen.