22^nd June 2016

About Words

Loving Father… more now than any other time,

when the internet is bringing the world together,

we are aware of our fellow country men and women

and children whom we know are not as fortunate as we are.

As we gather, drawn together by your Spirit to hear your word,

the word that enriches life,

we think of the media world of words, words-words-words

- and we come in faith seeking those words which bring life

- and Hope, and Reconciliation and friendship and unity.

We thank you that Jesus the Word of Life has become the Mediator

 between us and others, creating the ground of deep friendship

and the true tones of understanding among us.

With sorrow we know too that cyber bulling is only too prevalent.

Words can hurt, silence can be used to break off communication,

and words can be used to bring what is false, as well as true,

and can become the vehicles of half truths and lies.

And so we pray for those who take no delight

in the friendship of good conversation,

and those whose tongues run away with gossip

and idle words or use words that hurt,

to impress, to fool others but who deceive themselves.

Father we thank you for the precious word to us in Jesus,

spoken with such care and love

and pray that all may find speech to echo His love and His thoughts,

that we may share the word of love with one another

and with all whom we meet … As He taught us to pray we say,

…Our Father who art in heaven…etc.

 

The late Rev Alan Crawford,  2014-15 (adapted .E.A. Curnow 2016)

 

A Prayer for Personal Health / Accident Crisis.

Dear Lord you have known me from the beginning.

You have given me the gift of life and more than any person right now,

you alone know my plight, my inmost feelings,

my physical and emotional state. .

Lord meet me in my weakness because my world has suddenly changed.

It is full of uncertainty and rather than being in control

I am dependant upon you and others. I feel cut off, disappointed,

anxious about the future, and I don’t want it to be this way.

Gracious God who delivers, in this moment

I am asking you to help me face my condition.

I know my life belongs to you,

so I rightly place it where it belongs, in your hands.

Gracious God who heals, bath my brokenness in your great love.

As I let go of my inner fears help me to learn again to rest on you.

Gracious God who provides, grant me the courage,

patience and persistence I need to believe that you will

grant me all the grace I need to come through this time.

Strengthen me in times of pain and frustration when recovery seems slow.

I know I will find little peace if I think only of myself

so fill my mind with thoughts of how, as the Lamb of God,

your great love has blotted out my sins.

Move my mind in such a way that I lean on you

and your righteousness so that I know you are really for me.

Help me to use this experience to grow my compassion

and understanding of others who face some kind of crisis.

In my need help me to be a tool of healing to others,

by turning the care shown to me around so that it becomes

your healing care and comfort to others.

 

In Jesus name, AMEN.

Rev E.A.(Ted) Curnow 2016.