Stalbridge Congregational Church Prayer/Reflection 07.06.

2020
Refreshed and Set Free
As lockdown eases, schools begin to reopen, next month we may be allowed to meet face to face – what will that
mean for us? One of the things John and I are valuing during this last couple of months is time spent in the bible
through these reflections as we carefully think about what God is saying to us through His word – we hope you are
too. This week’s reflection explores a psalm, a prophecy, and the early church; may God open our minds and hearts
to his word for today…..

Let us say the Lord’s Prayer together….

Let us read together Psalm 103
This wonderful psalm is all about the love of God…. I did a tally of all the things God has done in this psalm
– firstly for ‘me’ (v 1 – 5) and secondly for ‘the oppressed’ (v 6 – 14) Count them and be amazed!
How timely are the verses for the oppressed in these days – even when we forget them, God doesn’t – and
as much as I would avoid any kind of conflict at almost any price – God doesn’t let us – we stand up for the
‘downtrodden’ (and as wonderful as our nation is – the news reminds us of the ‘deprived’ here as well as in
America or Hong Kong or Syria and across the whole world). Who am I? Who are you standing alongside
today?

Let us pray together……

Almighty God, we come, just as we are, to seek your word for us today – in lockdown and in freedom, knowing that
you are with us in our fears as well as our joys. We come to praise you from the bottom of our hearts, from the
depths of our souls and the expanse of our minds. Accept us as we are, forgive us where we fall short, and fulfil in
each one of us the potential you have given us – thank you for all you are in our lives, in Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Let us sing together… MP 241 - Holy Spirit we welcome you

Holy Spirit, we welcome You,
Holy Spirit, we welcome You!
Move among us with holy fire
as we lay aside all earthly desire,
hands reach out and our hearts aspire.
Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit,
Holy Spirit, we welcome You.
Holy Spirit, we welcome You,
Holy Spirit, we welcome You!
Let the breeze of Your presence blow
that Your children here might truly know
how to move in the Spirit’s flow.
Holy Spirit, Holy Spirit,
Holy Spirit, we welcome You.

Holy Spirit, we welcome You, Holy Spirit, we welcome You!

Please accomplish in us today some new work of loving grace –
we pray - unreservedly – have Your way.
Holy Spirit, we welcome You, Holy Spirit, we welcome You!

Let us read together - Ezekiel 47 v 1 – 12

The book of Ezekiel – contains many prophesies of doom and gloom for the ‘nations’
– kingdoms falling like skittles, sin weighing us down – but God has a plan to bring
his people back together – and these verses give a wonderful refreshing vision of all
he will do. Our garden was gasping for water by mid-morning, despite the previous
evenings watering – everything was droopy – but as I write this – the rain falls gently
down and the cabbages stand proud and hey ho we see our first tomatoes beginning
to form! And guess what comes in the post…. Our toilet twinning certificate! We
have 3 loos in our house – never need to queue, running water to wash our hands –
imagine this was yours to share with a whole village! An instruction to keep washing
our hands would take on a whole new meaning! What price justice – Jesus’ death on
the cross! What price this toilet - £60. (tap extra!) Reflect on this.
 Let us sing together…. MP – 821 Down the mountain the river flows
Down the mountain the river flows, The river of God sets our feet a-dancing,
and it brings refreshing wherever it goes. The river of God fills our hearts with cheer,
Through the valleys and over the fields, the river of God fills our mouths with laughter,
the river is rushing and the river is here. And we rejoice, for the river is here!

The river of God is teeming with life, Up the mountain we love to go,
and all who touch it can be revived, to find the presence of the Lord.
And those who linger on this river’s shore Along the banks of the river we run -
will come back thirsting for more of the Lord. We dance with laughter, giving praise to the Son.

Let us read together – Acts 2 v 43 – 47

As we reflect on the early church – meeting together, holding everything in common, what does that mean
for us today?
Today would have been breakfast church – which part of the passage reflects this? What do you miss most?
Let us sing together …. MP 274 - I hear the sound of rustling in the leaves of the trees
I hear the sound of rustling in the leaves of the trees, My tongue will be the pen of a ready writer,
the spirit of the Lord has come down on the earth. And what the Father gives to me I’ll sing,
The Church that seemed in slumber has now risen I only want to be His breath,
from its knees and dry bones are responding with I only want to glorify the King.
The fruits of new birth.
O this is now a time for declaration, What is the Father giving us to sing?
the Word will go to people everywhere, Write a song? Poem? How can we glorify
The Church is here for the healing of the nations, God and Jesus, through the Holy Spirit?
behold the day of Jesus drawing near.

And all around the world the body waits expectantly,
the promise of the Father is now ready to fall.
The watchmen on the tower all exhort us to prepare,
and the Church responds –
A people who will answer the call.
And this is not a phase that is passing,
It’s the start of an age that is to come;
and where is the wise man and the scoffer?
Before the face of Jesus they are dumb.
A body now prepared by God and ready for war,
The prompting of the Spirit is our word of command.
We rise, a might army, at the bidding of the Lord
the devils see and fear for their time is at hand.
And the children of the Lord hear our commission,
that we should love and serve our God as one.
The Spirit won’t be hindered by division,
In the perfect work that Jesus has begun.
My song will be the pen of a ready writer.

Let us pray together….. Dear Lord, we pray for all those caught up in protests against injustice – for violence to
cease; peace to be restored; justice to be established. We pray for those who are sick and for those who are
grieving, for those who care for them and those who serve our nation – especially for…..(add your own prayer). May
Your Kingdom Come and Your will be done – on earth as it is in heaven. May the glory be yours – Amen.
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Let us sing together…. MP 1001 - Let everything that,
Chorus: Let everything that, everything that, everything that has breath praise the Lord, (Repeat)
Praise You in the morning, Praise You in the heavens,
Praise You in the evening, joining with the angels,
praise You when I’m young and when I’m old. Praising You for ever and a day.
Praise You when I’m laughing, Praise You on the earth now,
praise You when I’m grieving, joining with creation,
praise You every season of the soul. Calling all the nations to Your praise.
If we could see how much You’re worth, If they could see how much You’re worth,
You’re power, Your might, Your endless love, Your power, Your might, Your endless love,
then surely we would never cease to praise. Then surely they would never cease to praise.
Let us say the Grace together….