Category : Daily Worship
Awesome!
I can’t quite get my head around all this stuff about angels
It’s Monday and there are kids to get ready for school
And bins to put out
And work to get to on time
A pension to collect
A burst pipe to fix
A car that’s broken down
A message to be done
And then, amidst the humdrum
You break through
In shining glory
Turning up unexpected
Straight from God’s presence
Ready and able to fly at his bidding
Quick to hear and do what he says.
You have quite a history don’t you?
A pretty impressive CV!
Guarding the garden of Eden
Appearing in burning bushes
Rescuing Yahweh’s people from Egypt
Leading them through the desert
Adorning the Ark for the Covenant
Dealing with Bala am and his donkey
Coaxing Gideon out of the wine press
Looking after Elijah in the desert
Protecting Daniel and his friends
From lions and fire no less
On and on the list goes….
But here you suddenly are now.
Or have you been there all along
And we were too busy to notice?
Do you always go for the awesome entrance
Like you did with Zechariah, poor dumbfounded man?
Or like with Mary, scaring her out of her wits?
Nothing for 400 years and then this.
A blaze of light and a message from God.
Or do you sometimes come unawares?
Are you trying to get our attention?
Breaking through the humdrum
Through the rational modern mind
Through the sanitised image of chubby cherubs
Have we lost our sense of wonder
Our sense of mystery
Unprepared for the unexpected?
May it never be –
Awesome angels – come visit me!
By Sheena Orr
The Light of the World
Father God,
The Light of the world is coming.
The Light of the world is here.
The darkness shall never put it out.
Through Mary, the Word became flesh.
Through Mary, the Word came to live with us.
Blessed art thou amongst women.
He is the Son of God, proclaimed Mary.
He is the Son of God, testified John.
Who do I say that He is?
Through Moses came the Law
Through Jesus came grace and truth
We accept them with humility
God, as the Father, we praise you
God, as the Son, we thank you
God, as the Spirit, we embrace you
Amen.
It Takes Two
Father God,
Two women: sharing a common situation
Two women: mothers-to-be
Two women: loving each others’ company
Two women: both enriched by the Holy Spirit
Two women: Mary and Elizabeth
We give thanks for the joy of motherhood.
Two men: unexpected fathers
Two men: naming their children
Two men: visited by angels
Two men: both surprised by the Holy Spirit
Two men: Joseph and Zechariah
We give thanks for the role of fatherhood.
Two babies: conceived in a special way
Two babies: their histories foretold
Two babies: their futures everlasting
Two babies: both immersed in the Holy Spirit
Two babies: Jesus and John
We give thanks for the hope of our children.
Amen
A Quiet Satisfaction
Father God,
Yes, really! Father!
There’s to be a birth in the family.
It’s always good news when we hear from the
parents-to-be about their new imminent arrival.
Let us rejoice with you on this happy occasion!
But things feel a little unusual,
and we’re getting a bit uncomfortable.
You know that we’re not good in situations that are out-of-the-ordinary:
We panic.
Our minds race.
We begin to judge.
We begin to doubt.
Strengthen us.
And you’ve chosen a name? Already?
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Immanuel, God with us.
Name above all names.
Son of God.
Jesus.
What a wonderful name.
There’s to be no 12-week scan.
And yet, we know so much about this babe in the womb.
So much was foretold about him, we almost know hi m before his incarnation.
It’s almost as if… can it be…? that he already “was”?
Eternal Father, you are the beginning and the end.
And how’s mum? Quietly thrilled.
I think it’s fair to say the pregnancy was a bit of a surprise,
but she’s really blossoming quickly.
We perhaps don’t quite understand your relationship
but yet we are left with no questions: just a sense of quiet satisfaction.
Father God, Son of God, Spirit of God, grant us your peace.
Lord I Need to learn about Resting
Lord,
Today is your day
I know every day is yours,
but today is a special day.
You made it different,
You made it Holy,
You made it for rest and recreation
And you called it Sabbath
Help me to enjoy every moment of it.
Help me walk just a little slower
Talk just a little kinder
Listen just a little longer
And when I want to hurry things along
Remind me
Most things will keep
For you are the keeper of all our souls
Lord,< /div>
Teach me how to rest in your presence
Still my restless heart
Change this day from a day of trading
To a day of praising
From a day of shopping
To a day of praying
Lord
I want to honour you today
Lord,Today is your dayI know every day is yours,but today is a special day.You made it different,You made it Holy,You made it for rest and recreationAnd you called it SabbathHelp me to enjoy every moment of it.Help me walk just a little slowerTalk just a little kinderListen just a little longerAnd when I want to hurry things alongRemind me Most things will keepFor you are the keeper of all our soulsLord,Teach me how to rest in your presenceStill my restless heartChange this day from a day of tradingTo a day of praising From a day of shoppingTo a day of prayingLord I want to honour you today
God’s Frozen People
Lord
I see people struggle in the cold
Heads bent down
Battling against the snow
I see church doors closed
Stalactites hanging from their roofs
And I think are we Christians all as cold as this?
Lord
Recently my heart has become as hard as stone
I don’t like the shape I’m becoming
Help me change.
Send the fire of your Spirit to thaw us out
Make your Churches communities of refuge and warmth
Start with me Lord,
Help me to open my heart
To the poor and dispossessed
To the ones who are forgotten and ignored
De-ice my conscience
Let the warm of your grace
Change my heart
Amen
By Albert Bogle
Christmas Limited
Lord,
Forgive me when I doubt your messengers
I’ve got some sympathy for Zachariah
It was all a great shock
He was in the temple worshipping
But the last thing he expected to see was an angel.
Forgive us for our lack of angelic spatial awareness
But we are so earth bound we can’t see beyond
We find it hard to speak of Otherness – the supernatural.
Forgive us when or prayers and our expectation are so limited.
Lord,
Open our eyes to see your Glory this Christmas
Open our mouths to tell of your wonder this Christmas
Open our hearts to receive tidings of “Great Joy” this Christmas
Open our hands to give gifts of service this Christmas
Open our homes to receive all who are in need this Christmas
Amen
By Albert B ogle
There will be a meeting of the Kirk Session on Sunday, 12th December 2010 at 10.30 am
in the Session Room for the admission of new communicants to full membership of the church.
(This replaces the cancelled meeting of 28th November.)
Angels Talking Revolution
Yahweh,
I read with interest the story of Zachariah
A Priest,
struggling to talk
In your presence
while angels talk of revolution.
They talk of changing the regime,
It’s not quite the Christmas story
as I have come to know it -
or maybe it is?
Maybe it’s the Christmas story
I’ve refused to see
And others live each day.
Turmoil
Trouble
Fear
Lord,
Were you not a refugee on the run?
Nothing changes
The world is still looking for a Saviour
A leader, perhaps even a messiah.
Yahweh,
Forgive us when we are too blind to see.
Amen
By Albert Bogle
Keep My Feet On The Ground
Yahweh,
I’m full of so much Joy
I’m grinning like a Cheshire cat
You remembered your promises to me
Help me not to forget the bad days
Help me to remember
While I’m singing
Another is crying
Heaven may have broken through for me]
But for others
There are no angels
Only long standing promises that look empty
Help me remember
The feeling of waiting for change
The struggle of believing against the odds
Yahweh,
I’m in a good place now
Save me from being proud
Protect me from feeling smug
Yahweh
Keep my feet on the ground
Even if I talk with an angel
Amen
By Albert Bogle
