Father Hear the prayer we offer not for ease that prayer should be.

Maybe today you have more time to pray. We do not have an official agenda but here is a suggestion.


Morning prayer

O God, make speed to save us.
All		O Lord, make haste to help us.
		Gladden the soul of your servant,
All		for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
		Psalm 86.4
		Praise
		A hymn, song, canticle , extempore praise or
		Blessed are you, the God of our ancestors, worthy to be praised and exalted for ever.
		Blessed is your holy and glorious name, worthy to be praised and exalted for ever.
		Blessed are you, in your holy and glorious temple, worthy to be praised and exalted for ever.
		Blessed are you who look into the depths, worthy to be praised and exalted for ever.
		Blessed are you, enthroned on the cherubim, worthy to be praised and exalted for ever.
		Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom, worthy to be praised and exalted for ever.
		Blessed are you in the heights of heaven, worthy to be praised and exalted for ever.

Psalm 98

Refrain:The Lord has made known his salvation.

1Sing to the Lord a new song, •
for he has done marvellous things.

2His own right hand and his holy arm •
have won for him the victory.

3The Lord has made known his salvation; •
his deliverance has he openly shown in the sight of the nations.

4He has remembered his mercy and faithfulness
towards the house of Israel, •
and all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. R

5Sound praises to the Lord, all the earth; •
break into singing and make music.

6Make music to the Lord with the lyre, •
with the lyre and the voice of melody.

7With trumpets and the sound of the horn •
sound praises before the Lord, the King. R

8Let the sea thunder and all that fills it, •
the world and all that dwell upon it.

9Let the rivers clap their hands •
and let the hills ring out together before the Lord,
for he comes to judge the earth.

10In righteousness shall he judge the world •
and the peoples with equity.

Refrain:The Lord has made known his salvation.

Lord God, just and true,
you make your salvation known in the sight of the nations;
tune the song of our hearts to the music of creation
as you come among us to judge the earth;
through our Saviour Jesus Christ.

Reading for Saturday

Response Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. Prayers may include these concerns: God's royal priesthood, that it may be empowered by the Spirit Those who wait on God, that they may find renewal All people that they may acknowledge the kingdom of the ascended Christ All who are struggling with broken relationships Our city of Brussels  O King enthroned on high, Comforter and Spirit of truth, you that are in all places and fill all things, the treasury of blessings and the giver of life, come and dwell with us, cleanse us from every stain and save our souls, O gracious one. Amen. The Lord's Prayer May the grace of the Holy Spirit enlighten our hearts and minds. Alleluia, Amen Conversations at the Crossroads LOOK…and be curious.  WAIT…with prayerful expectation. Come Holy Spirit: meet us at our crossroads.  READ…the text with an open mind. Now there was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, ‘Ananias.’ He answered, ‘Here I am, Lord.’ The Lord said to him, ‘Get up and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul. At this moment he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.’ But Ananias answered, ‘Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints in Jerusalem; and here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who invoke your name.’ But the Lord said to him, ‘Go, for he is an instrument whom I have chosen to bring my name before Gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; I myself will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.’ So Ananias went and entered the house. He laid his hands on Saul and said, ‘Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on your way here, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.’ And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and his sight was restored. Then he got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. (Acts 9.10-19)  LISTEN…for a word with a willing heart.  RESPOND…with prayer and action. Blazing God, your light is dangerous to us! You close our eyes so that we may open them afresh on a new world where grace and truth replace stones and hatred and we are dazzled by the bright love of your son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Prayers to continue into the day They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. Lord of Life, Hear our prayer. Father, hear the prayer we offer: not for ease that prayer shall be, but for strength, that we may ever live our lives courageously. Not for ever in green pastures do we ask our way to be ; but the steep and rugged pathway may we tread rejoicingly. Not forever by still waters would we idly rest and stay; but would smite the living fountains from the rocks along our way. Be our strength in hours of weakness, in our wanderings be our Guide; through endeavor, failure, danger, Savior, be thou at our side. God be in my head, and in my understanding; God be in mine eyes, and in my looking; God be in my mouth, and in my speaking; God be in my heart, and in my thinking; God be at mine end, and at my departing. The Blessing God the Father, who has given to his Son the name above every other name, strengthen us to proclaim Christ Jesus as Lord. Amen God the Son, who is our great high priest passed into the heavens, plead for us at the right hand of the Father. Amen God the Holy Spirit, who pours out his abundant gifts upon the church, make us faithful servants of Christ our King. Amen And the blessing of God almighty, the father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among us and remain with us always. Amen Copyright material is included from Common Worship: © Archbishops' Council

Alleluia Sing to Jesus, his the sceptre, his the throne.

Prayer and Praise

O God, make speed to save us.
		O Lord, make haste to help us         Gladden the soul of your servant,    for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.

Praise 
Blessed are you, Lord of heaven and earth, 
to you be glory and praise for ever. 
From the darkness of death you have raised your Christ 
to the right hand of your majesty on high. 
The pioneer of our faith, his passion accomplished, 
has opened for us the way to heaven 
and sends on us the promised Spirit. 
May we be ready to follow the Way 
and so be brought to the glory of his presence 
where songs of triumph for ever sound: 
Blessed be God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. 
Blessed be God for ever. 

Psalm 93 

Refrain:The Lord shall reign for ever and ever.

1The Lord is king and has put on glorious apparel; •
the Lord has put on his glory
and girded himself with strength.

2He has made the whole world so sure •
that it cannot be moved.

3Your throne has been established from of old; •
you are from everlasting. R

4The floods have lifted up, O Lord,
the floods have lifted up their voice; •
the floods lift up their pounding waves.

5Mightier than the thunder of many waters,
mightier than the breakers of the sea, •
the Lord on high is mightier.

6Your testimonies are very sure; •
holiness adorns your house, O Lord, for ever.

Refrain:The Lord shall reign for ever and ever.

Christ our King,
you put on the apparel of our nature
and raised us to your glory;
reign from your royal throne
above the chaos of this world,
that all may see the victory you have won
and trust in your salvation;
for your glory's sake.

Reading

2 Corinthians 1.20-22

Response

Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.

Prayers may include these concerns:

God's royal priesthood, that it may be empowered by the Spirit
Those who wait on God, that they may find renewal
All people that they may acknowledge the kingdom of the ascended Christ
All who are struggling with broken relationships
Our city of Brussels 

O King enthroned on high,
Comforter and Spirit of truth,
you that are in all places and fill all things,
the treasury of blessings and the giver of life,
come and dwell with us,
cleanse us from every stain
and save our souls, O gracious one.

Amen.


The Lord's Prayer

May the grace of the Holy Spirit enlighten our hearts and minds.
Alleluia, Amen

Conversations at the Crossroads

Philip and the Etheopian

LOOK…and be curious. 

WAIT…with prayerful expectation. Come Holy Spirit: meet us at our crossroads. 

READ…the text with an open mind. Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, ‘Get up and go towards the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ Now there was an Ethiopian come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. Then the Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go over to this chariot and join it.’ So Philip ran up to it and asked, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ He replied, ‘How can I, unless someone guides me?’ Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this: ‘Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and like a lamb silent before its shearer, so he does not open his mouth. In his humiliation justice was denied him.’ The eunuch asked Philip, ‘About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?’ Starting with this scripture, Philip proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus. As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, ‘Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?’ Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. (Acts 8.26-38 abridged.)

LISTEN…for a word with a willing heart. 

RESPOND…with prayer and action. 

Traveller God, 

you are also on the dusty road. 

Sometimes we find ourselves alongside those with questions, 

the excluded and sad, those seeking new life. 

Sometimes we ourselves are those people. 

Teach us not to delay a moment longer 

but to both offer and receive the water of life 

and with it, new perspectives on the journey 

in the company of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

God and Me

Tree – root and branch desires

You have on your drawing sheet a line denoting the ground, and on the middle of it, a seed. You are

going to grow this seed into a tree/your spiritual tree. Before the tree begins to grow, consider

(mark in, write draw) the things that it seeks. A physical tree reaches for light and warmth, its roots

go down to water, nutrients. What are the spiritual aims that draw you – the need for God, Love,

friendship, desire to share God with others?

Then begin to draw your tree. Make the branches wide so that you can write in them, or long, so

that you can write on them.

Silf divides our desires in two, those that form the branches above ground, those that create roots

beneath.

Consider your branch desires: to be creative, to reach out to others, to share your life with

friends, to change the world...

Consider your root desires – the things that strengthen and nourish you: to be loved,

recognised, held, cared for, to find security, to know God through prayer

It is said that there is as much of a tree below ground as above. How does yours balance? Would

you like to change the balance?

There are weeds around the tree, there are rocks below the ground, there is wind and rain

above the ground. What are the forces, the fears, that stop your tree from growing true, that push

your roots sideways, that make some branches fail? Draw them in also and name them, see if you

can work out, with God how to get round them.

Community. One of the ways of protecting a tree from the weather is to have other trees by it.

Can you envisage a neighbouring tree, perhaps standing for a Christian on whom you rely? Is their

tree wide and firm, or tall and aiming directly upwards? Can you also envisage the young trees that

shelter under yours?

Prayers to continue into the day

They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

Lord of Life, Hear our prayer.

Reading

Revelation 22.1-5

Pause, reflect on God's glory, his life giving water which strengthens us.

Alleluia Sing to Jesus, his the sceptre, his the throne

Our Father....

For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.

Whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Be a well within us

They will be like a well-watered garden, and they will sorrow no more. Send us your comforter.

 

In your strength Lord help us to spend ourselves on behalf of the hungry
    and satisfy the needs of the oppressed.
May our light will rise in the darkness,
    and our night become like the noonday.
11 The Lord will guide us always;
    he will satisfy our needs in a sun-scorched land
    and will strengthen our frames.
We shall be like a well-watered garden,
    like a spring whose waters never fail. (Based on Is 58)

God be in my head, and in my understanding;
God be in mine eyes, and in my looking;
God be in my mouth, and in my speaking;
God be in my heart, and in my thinking;
God be at mine end, and at my departing.

The Blessing

God the Father, who has given to his Son the name above every other name, strengthen us to proclaim Christ Jesus as Lord. Amen

God the Son, who is our great high priest passed into the heavens, plead for us at the right hand of the Father. Amen

God the Holy Spirit, who pours out his abundant gifts upon the church, make us faithful servants of Christ our King. Amen

And the blessing of God almighty, the father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among us and

remain with us always. Amen

Copyright material is included from Common Worship: © Archbishops' Council

12 

Take my life and let it be consecrated Lord to thee

Prayer & Praise

O God, make speed to save us.
		O Lord, make haste to help us         Gladden the soul of your servant,    for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. . Praise Great and wonderful are your deeds, Lord God the Almighty. Just and true are your ways, O ruler of the nations. Who shall not revere and praise your name, O Lord? for you alone are holy. All nations shall come and worship in your presence: for your just dealings have been revealed.  To the One who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honour and glory and might, for ever and ever. Amen. Psalm 47 Refrain: O sing praises to God, sing praises. 1  Clap your hands together, all you peoples; • O sing to God with shouts of joy. 2  For the Lord Most High is to be feared; • he is the great King over all the earth. 3  He subdued the peoples under us • and the nations under our feet. 4  He has chosen our heritage for us, • the pride of Jacob, whom he loves. 5  God has gone up with a merry noise, • the Lord with the sound of the trumpet. 6  O sing praises to God, sing praises; •  sing praises to our King, sing praises. 7 For God is the King of all the earth; • sing praises with all your skill.  8  God reigns over the nations; •  God has taken his seat upon his holy throne. 9 The nobles of the peoples are gathered together • 6 with the people of the God of Abraham. 10  For the powers of the earth belong to God • and he is very highly exalted. Refrain: O sing praises to God, sing praises. As Christ was raised by your glory, O Father,  so may we be raised to new life and rejoice to be called your children, both now and for ever Reading Luke 11:9-13 Response Blessed are those who mourn, For they shall be comforted. Prayers may include these concerns: God's royal priesthood, that it may be empowered by the Spirit Those who wait on God, that they may find renewal All people that they may acknowledge the kingdom of the ascended Christ All who are struggling with broken relationships Our city of Brussels  O King enthroned on high, Comforter and Spirit of truth, you that are in all places and fill all things, the treasury of blessings and the giver of life, come and dwell with us, cleanse us from every stain and save our souls, O gracious one. Amen. The Lord's Prayer May the grace of the Holy Spirit enlighten our hearts and minds. Alleluia, Amen Conversations at the Crossroads  Jesus and the child’s offering LOOK…and be curious.  WAIT…with prayerful expectation. Come Holy Spirit: meet us at our crossroads.  READ…the text with an open mind. Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples. When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming towards him, Jesus said to Philip, ‘Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?’ He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, ‘Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.’ One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him, ‘There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?’ Jesus said, ‘Make the people sit down.’ Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all. Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted. When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, ‘Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.’ So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets. (John 6.3, 5-13)  LISTEN…for a word with a willing heart.  RESPOND…with prayer and action. Providing God, help us to recognise what children and young people are bringing to your Church so that the hungry may be fed. May we lose nothing of their openness and engagement and may we too discover a childlike joy sharing your gifts with all who are in need and blessing them in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. God and Me Each feather or wing of the eagle has room for text.  Isaiah promised that if we wait on God we shall become able to soar – and that is what we are doing this week.  What do we need on those wings?  The new Testament is full of lovely abstract nouns –mercy,  peace and grace and we certainly need them, so you can put them in.  What about more concrete needs, sleep, a job, an answered prayer, a calling? What has God given you already?  Are you aware of those things as gifts from God?  They can also go in. Why do we want to fly?  Jesus said at the Ascension that the disciples would receive empowerment from on high to become his witnesses.  The eagle wants to fly to the mountain.  So, the other part of this picture is the mountain, your goal.  Can you draw/write on it the needs you believe God is calling you to meet?  Perhaps your mountain is still shrouded in mist – can you make guesses about what you might find there? Look back to the gifts you wrote in on the eagle, can you see how they relate to the needs you’ve picked out?  If they don’t relate, why the mismatch?  Do you want to add other gifts that tie in more closely with your goal? Do some of your wings need question marks, as you don’t know what God might give you, or even what he might already have given you which you do not understand. Prayers to continue into the day Take my life and let it be consecrated Lord to thee. They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers. Lord of Life, Hear our prayer. Reading Romans 12. 1- 13 Pause, reflect on your gifts and your use of them for godly purposes or otherwise. Conversation with God Our Father… Lord what I have and use it. Lord we knock at the door and ask. Please give us your Holy Spirit Lord empower us by your Spirit Empowered by you Lord open hearts to your will Empowered by you Lord  guide our ministry within our church and our city. God be in my head, and in my understanding; God be in mine eyes, and in my looking; God be in my mouth, and in my speaking; God be in my heart, and in my thinking; God be at mine end, and at my departing. The Blessing God the Father, who has given to his Son the name above every other name, strengthen us to proclaim Christ Jesus as Lord. Amen God the Son, who is our great high priest passed into the heavens, plead for us at the right hand of the Father. Amen God the Holy Spirit, who pours out his abundant gifts upon the church, make us faithful servants of Christ our King. Amen And the blessing of God almighty, the father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among us and remain with us always. Amen Copyright material is included from Common Worship: © Archbishops' Council