On this last Tuesday in October – you are invited to pause and pray where you are with those gathered in the Upper Room today……
P-ause with God
R-ejoice in His blessings given
A-sk for the particular needs of our church family, the SEECOS church family, our nation and our world at this time – especially the people and leaders of Israel, Gaza, Lebanon, Ukraine, Russia, Yemen and other countries in need
Y-ield to His Kingdom ways
A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the Lord;
make straight in the desert a highway for our God“.
Isaiah 40 verse 3
In 2024 we are considering BEFORE THE GOOD NEWS – GOD’S PLAN BEGINS – as we step back into the Old Testament and pausing at our times of Midday Devotion to pray for others in our church family, our city and our world.
From August-October we are journeying with the major prophets of Isaiah, Jeremiah, EZEKIEL and DANIEL.
This month we take time to consider words from the books of EZEKIEL and DANIEL.
We are all invited to listen for God’s voice and make our response as we journey together in our ‘rhythm of devotion’ in 2024.
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
Prayer for the Month of OCTOBER
O LORD our God
The God of the Prophets
Yesterday, today and forever
Meet with us
O LORD our God
The God of the Prophets
Yesterday, today and forever
Speak with us
O LORD our God
The God of the Prophets
Yesterday, today and forever
Lead us and use us
Amen and 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
As we step into this final week in October 2024….and reflect on God’s walk with us…
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 this Tuesday once more – and you are encouraged to take time-out with God…..to find a quiet place with space at this busy time of year…..7.30am-7.00pm……with opportunities to pray with others at 8am… Midday and 7pm….
* A space for you to be still in your busy needy 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
In the evening, tomorrow, we gather as a Church Family to pray – on Zoom this month – when we take time to give thanks, wait and listen and focus on those on our prayer list at this time. All are welcome….7.330-8.30pm. Please do ask Alastair or John if you haven’t received the Zoom details.
You are also encouraged to visit the Offering House – beside the gates – 8am-5pm each day – where you can find more information 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. Have you walked prayerfully around the Kirk building following the Word for Today about the Parable of the Prodigal Son helpful words for this month? As you do…pray for the building, inside and outside… The COVID-19 memorial is now in place, beside the Cairn, and you may want to visit and pause there.
You are also encouraged to use the bench at the top left of the Kirkyard (under the large tree – weather permitting!) to pause and pray – to be still with God – to ask, seek, knock, wait and receive.
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 October our focus is on the books of EZEKIEL and DANIEL. 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 the Thy Kingdom Come global prayer venture daily reflections on our YouTube channel….from members of our Church Family providing a Sunday reflection over the 11 days period. This year the venture ran 9-19 May. Will you still be praying for 5??
May we each and all experience time-out with the Living and True God – whenever – wherever – as we continue to journey through 2024.
Morning
Look Upward and Pray to hear and receive from God, the Holy Spirit
Reading : DANIEL chapter 9
Meditation : take time and consider this passage this Monday morning.
Daniel’s prayer
What words stay with you?
What are the words of your prayer this new day?
Then Pray with your own words in response to this God
Looking again at verses 4 and 5
In Jesus’ name, Amen
Midday
Pray God’s blessing on someone you met recently
God of grace and mercy and rich blessing, hear our prayers we ask.
Evening
Reading : read these verses again from DANIEL chapter 9
Reflect on what you read and then pause to pray to this God in response
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
In Jesus’ name, Amen!
As we continue to move onward from Thy Kingdom Come 2024 ……so we keep praying!!
Each Sunday at Midday we are re-visiting the daily themes – including the Cheeky Pandas and Youth Videos for the younger members of our Church Family!
Here was the global video for Day 4 2024 for us to consider afresh…..God creates
Morning
Look Upward and Pray to hear and receive from the Living God
Reading : DANIEL chapter 8
We take time to consider these words about Daniel’s vision this particular morning ….
What is your response to these words today?
And then pray in response to this God
Naming others known to you seeking the Kingdom of God
In Jesus’ Name, Amen
Midday
Pray the Prayer for the Month as your own midday prayer
O LORD our God
The God of Ezekiel and Daniel
Yesterday, today and forever
Breathe upon us
O Spirit of our God
The God of Ezekiel
Yesterday, today and forever
Renew and Restore us
O Living LORD our God
The God of Daniel
Yesterday, today and forever
Empower and use us
O Holy Spirit of our God
The God of Ezekiel and Daniel
Yesterday, today and forever
Fill us afresh
Amen and Amen!
Evening
Reading : read these words again from DANIEL chapter 8
Reflect on these words and then Pray in response at the end of your day
O LORD, our Great Hope,
We bring our evening sacrifice of praise to you
For who you are
As we acknowledge You our Help even this day.
As we name others in need
As we pray for the Church in all corners of our world
To live and speak of Jesus.
In His saving name, Amen.