A particularly warm welcome to
St Cuthbert Church and Home Prayer Group,
whether at Home or in Church.
Our prayers this morning are ‘Search and You will Find’
God exhorts us to find Him , as he is longing for those who are sadly lost.
Some scripture passages help us.
In Acts 17 we hear how God wants us to find Him.
27 God has done all this, so that we will look for him and reach out and find him. He isn't far from any of us,
Then in Matthew 6 v33 Jesus is clear about our priorities.
But more than anything else, put God's work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well
St Paul talks about the benefits of seeking God in Romans 2 v7-8. In doing so, we will gain a true life.
He will give eternal life to everyone who has patiently done what is good in the hope of receiving glory, honor, and life that lasts forever. 8 But he will show how angry and furious he can be with every selfish person who rejects the truth and wants to do evil.
In Matthew 7 v7 Jesus is quite plain in His promises.
Ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you.
Everyone who asks will receive Holman’s Hunt’s picture.
Shall we commence our prayer time together with the prayer that Jesus taught us.
Our Father which art in heaven ,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. AMEN.
Highways to help find God.
FINDING GOD AS A NEED FOR GUIDANCE IN OUR LIVES A PRAYER FROM ST PATRICK .
May the strength of God pilot us,
May the power of God preserve us,
May the wisdom of God instruct us,
May the hand of God protect us,
,May the way of God direct us.
May the shield of God defend us,
May the host of God guard us against the snares of evil; and the temptations of the world. AMEN
FINDING GOD AS A NEED FOR OUR FORGIVENESS.+A PRAYER FROM GEORGE APPLETON.(adapted)
The sin of racial pride that sees not the faith that all men are divinely made, but that each is the sibling for whom Christ died.
The burgeoning greed that never heeds the needs of others involved in a merciless system looking only at profit and dividend. The lust of possessions that cannot accompany us on our last migration.
Take away these sins O lamb of God.
The massive sin of war - billions of pounds wasted on weapons, bombs...the hungry left unfed grief stalking unnumbered homes. Weep over us.
Take away these sins O lamb of God.
The sin of the world, alienation from thee, not just weakness, but civil intention.
Take away these sins O lamb of God.
Begin with me O lamb of God, forgive my sins, cleanse my heart, disarm my will, and let me fight armed with thy truth, righteousness and love. With thy cross of love incised upon my heart.
Take away these sins O lamb of God AMEN
FINDING GOD AS A NEED FOR KNOWING TRUE JOY, A PRAYER FROM ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON.
Grant to us O Lord the royalty of inward happiness, and the serenity of living close to thee. Daily renew us in the sense of joy, and let the eternal spirit of the Father dwell in our souls and in our bodies, filling every corner of our hearts with light and grace, so that bearing about with us the infection of good courage; we may be the diffusers of life, and may meet all ills and cross accidents with gallant and high hearted happiness, giving thee thanks always for all things. AMEN
FINDING GOD AS A NEED FOR PATIENCE.FROM MILES COVERDALE.
O God give us patience when those who are wicked and hurt us . O how impatient and angry we are when we think ourselves unjustly slandered, reviled and hurt. Christ suffers blows upon his cheek, the innocent for the guilty, yet we may not abide one rough word for his sake. O lord grant us virtue and patience that we may take all adversity with goodwill, and with a gentle mind overcome it. And if necessity and thy honour require us to speak, grant that we may do so with meekness and patience, that the truth and thy glory may be defended, and our patience and steadfast continuance may be perceived . In Jesus name we pray. AMEN.
FINDING GOD AS A NEED FOR OUR ROLE OF SCATTERING GOD’S PEACE FROM JOHN JOHANSEN BERG.
We light this candle for peace Lord. May its light scatter the darkness, may its flame be a symbol of hope. May its burning be a sign of faith, joining with many other lights for peace .
We light this candle for peace Lord. May each of our lives here this morning be an expression of peacemaking. May we seek to be lights in a dark world, pointing to you, JESUS, the Prince of peace, and following you in the way of peace.
Let the candle burn as a sign for. peace offered to you. AMEN.
ENSURING THAT NO BARRIERS CAN PREVENT OUR FINDING GOD, A PRAYER FROM DAVID ADAM.
Circle me Lord, keep protection near, and danger afar.
Circle me Lord, keep hope within, keep doubt without.
Circle me Lord, keep light near, and darkness afar.
Circle me Lord, keep peace within, keep evil out. AMEN
ANOTHER PRAYER RECOGNISING BARRICADES IN OUR SEARCH TO FIND GOD FROM CS LEWIS.
From all my lame defeats and oh! Much more
From all the victories that I seemed to score;
From cleverness shot forth on thy behalf,
At which, while angels weep, the audience laugh;
From all my proofs of thy divinity,
Thou, who wouldst give no sign, deliver me.
Thoughts are but coins. Let me not trust instead
Of thee, their thin worn-worn image of thy head.
From all my thoughts, even from my thoughts of thee,
O thou fair silence, fall, and set me free.
Lord of the narrow gate and the needle’s eye,
Take from me all my trumpery lest I die. AMEN
A PRAYER FROM CARDINAL NEWMAN, THAT WE MAY KNOW GOD’S WILL FOR EACH ONE OF US.
Dear Jesus, help us to spread your fragrance everywhere we go. Flood our souls with your spirit and life. Penetrate and possess our whole being so utterly that our lives may only be a radiance of yours. Shine through us, and be so in us, that every soul we come in contact with may feel your presence . Let them look up and see no longer us but only Jesus. Stay with us , then we shall begin to shine as you shine , so to share as to be a light to others. The light O Jesus will be all from you, none of it will be ours, it will be you shining on others through us. Let us preach you without preaching, not by words but by example, by the catching force, the sympathetic influence by what we do, the evident fullness of the love our hearts bear to you. AMEN.
Our own silent prayer
Shall we say the Grace. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all evermore. Amen.
Shall we say the Grace.
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us all evermore. Amen.
Thank you for being with us whether at home or in Church, and so contributing to our prayers for ‘Search and You will Find.’
Roger.
Our next Church and Home prayer group meeting is usualluy held on the first Wednesday of each month and will be advertised on our website and in our church magazine.
We would very warmly welcome your support.
After the prayer meeting in church, there is a short Holy Communion service which begins at 10.30am and lasts about half an hour. There is no pressure to stay, but you would be most welcome! There is also the added bonus of coffee and fellowship in a local cafe after the Holy Communion service!
