No Upper Room but

As we journey through these days of Holy Week 2023…..

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 NOT be available this Tuesday….but you are invited to take time-out with God at some point in this Holy Week…….and to pause with Him….reflecting…praying….

Find 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

You are also invited to walk round the Kirk, pondering some of the words laid out at the various stations…..or to visit the Offering House – beside the gates – 8am-5pm each day – 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 April our focus continues on the theme of Telling Others the Good News from Mark’s Gospel after Easter and dipping into Psalms this week. 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 we journey through the month of April 2023.

Daily Devotions for Monday 3rd April, 2023

Holy Week

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

Reading : PSALM 57
Meditation : take the time to consider this psalm today as you journey into Holy Week.
I will take refuge.
I will praise you, O LORD.

What words or images stay with you?
What is God saying to you this morning about Himself?
What is your response to God’s Word today?

Pray in response – to our God , the God who is with us

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 those facing health issues at this time
O LORD, have mercy on each and all and give help we ask

Evening
Reading : read the Psalm again prayerfully at the end of your day
Reflect….. and then pray to God in response

LORD God, the LORD Almighty, hear my prayer this evening.
As I thank you for the blessings of this day
As I call out to you for others
As I lay myself and this world before you
Confessing my failures of this day
Trusting you for tomorrow
In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Bible Verse for the Week and Sunday Morning Reflection

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
In God, whose word I praise—
in God I trust and am not afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?

Psalm 56 verses 3 and 4

Do you follow our Sunday morning reflection on the Bible Verse for the Week?
It is found on our YouTube channel…and our Facebook page……..8am each Sunday morning.
This morning’s reflection comes from our friend Mike Parker.

Daily Devotions for 2nd April, 2023

Palm Sunday

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

Reading : PSALM 56
Meditation : take time and consider these words this Sunday morning in Lent.
Be merciful to me O God.
My enemies.

What encourages and challenges you today?
What words stay with you?

And then pray in response to the LORD our God
Pray your own prayer as you step into today.

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 verses again from PSALM 56
Reflect on all that is said here in this particular passage and then Pray in response to this God

O LORD, our Great God,
Hear our evening prayers of praise we ask
As we thank you for what we read
As we look back over our day
As we look ahead to tomorrow
As we name before you those we are concerned about.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Daily Devotions for Saturday 1st April, 2023

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

Reading : PSALM 53
Meditation : take time to consider these verses this morning in Lent.
The fool says….
When God restores….

And then Pray in response to what you read – to this God of ours.
Pray for God’s help today for yourself and for another

In Jesus’ name
Amen and Amen

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

Dear Lord,
After Your humiliation, You walked steadfastly on
to a certain painful and brutal death.
You were afraid for You sweated blood with anguish,
but You still went on so that all those of us who truly believe
may rise to be with You at the end of our mortal journey.
We praise You and joyously give thanks to You for Your steadfastness.
Amen.

Evening
Reading : read PSALM 53 again
Reflect on this God, your God, our God…. and then Call on Him in your evening Prayer

LORD God, our God, receive our praise
For who You are
For your help and protection even today
And as we give it all back to you
May you continue to reach and save people
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done across our world
In our community, in our city.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Sunday Evening Prayer with Others

As we step into a new week….. with God – together – in this season of Lent – you may want to revisit today’s Daily Devotions from PSALM 51– as we continue 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