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Dear fellow pray-er,
Please find attached the usual summary and prayer diary for 19th December 24 to 5th February 25.
As we do not have a Rector at present, we are not always aware of events or prayer needs across the benefice, so you will see that this month’s prayers are very much related to general themes across the country. It would help us enormously if you could let us know of anything happening in the parishes that would benefit from being on the prayer diary. To this end, we will send out a reminder before we write the next edition.
Prayer Diary for the period Thursday 19th December 2024 – Wednesday 5th February 2025. We are now well into the Christmas season and approaching the Big Day! We start the Old Testament readings from Isaiah with the cry “Awake, awake”! Are we awake to what is going on? “Who are you who fear mortal men, the sons of men who are but grass, that you forget the Lord your maker.” A resounding cry for all of us to remember, with all the festivities going on, what the real point of our celebration is. With various diversions along the way due to Christmas Day and various saints’ days we continue through Isaiah to Chapter 66 where we find “This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word.” O that could live like that!
We then turn to Amos – who lived around 760BC, in the southern kingdom of Judah and was sent by God to the northern kingdom of Israel and surrounding nations to prophesy against their evil practices. In all this book the verses which stand out, for me, are the reference to the Lord standing with a plumb line in his hand to set among the people of Israel. I wonder what He would see if He set it against me, us…… our country? How would we measure up? However, there is hope at the end as the restoration of Israel is foretold.
And now Hosea another of the minor prophets who, it is believed, lived in the northern Kingdom around 730BC. The first three chapters refer to God’s call for Hosea to marry a prostitute as an illustration of God’s relationship with Israel, a country that was faithless and guilty of apostasy. Can we see any similarities today anywhere? However, we will see that repentance will bring blessings. Only by remembering how much God has done for each of us will we be able to avoid rejecting the One who can give us eternal life in glory instead of the hell we deserve. When we do sin, if we have a sorrowful heart filled with repentance, then God will bring us back to Himself and show His never-ending love to us.
Now to the last Book of the Old Testament - Malachi who lived in the 5th century BC. The book is a series of disputes or arguments. Most sections begin with God saying something or making a claim or an accusation, followed by Israel disagreeing or questioning God’s statement. Finally, God responds and offers the last word. It is interesting that the priests come in for a lot of stick and brings to my mind what has been going on recently in the Church of England – a resignation for corporate failings and, perhaps, more resignations to come? You may care to read this modern day prophecy which was published in November 2023 (https://legacyministriesint.org/the-oak-tree-and-the-church-of-england/).
The New Testament readings continue in 2 Thessalonians. Chapter 2:3 caught my eye: “3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way” and reminded me of how so many are seeking to scam us out of what we possess. It is such a nasty, cruel way of attacking people by those who have no idea of the harm they are causing. However, Paul goes on to pray that Jesus would encourage our hearts and strengthen us in every good deed and word!
Jude is our next book, this being the last book before Revelation, written by Jude who describes himself as a brother of James - who was the first bishop of Jerusalem. It is a short and pithy exhortation which starts with the plea to contend for the faith in a practical sense when we live uncompromising Christian lives and to give credit to the Lord who has changed us. A challenge for us all? He also gives short shrift to those who give themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion as well as those who reject authority!
And now to John’s Gospel with, John the Baptist being questioned by priests and Levites as to who he is! Then his identification of Jesus as “Lamb of God” and that Jesus would baptise with the Holy Spirit. Have you been baptised with the Holy Spirit? If not, then ask the Holy Spirit to come into your life! Don’t delay! We next see a stark contrast in Jesus’s attitude – at a wedding he changes water into wine – the finest according to the master of the banquet and yet when he goes to the temple at Jerusalem, he drives out moneychangers, and those selling animals for sacrificial use with a whip. What a contrast – caring for mankind and yet hating the commercialism and hypocrisy practised at the temple.
On now to 1 John 3. What a great way to start: “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” Can you stop for a while and let that sink into you? Like a fine brandy or nice wine let it roll around and ‘taste’ that writing of so many years ago and yet it is still true today - for each one of us who have turned to and accepted Jesus as the Saviour of the world, as your and my Saviour. At the end of chapter 5 you might notice the last sentence “21Dear children, keep yourselves from idols.” What are the idols in our lives? There are so many that we cherish whether cars, status, looking good, being the centre of the party, that things should be done in my way, etc? They get in the way of our relationship with Jesus and with each other.
Then we turn to 2 John and see his emphasis that we should “love one another.” That is the work of a lifetime for me. To keep on loving.
Then, 1 Corinthians where after his opening greetings and thanksgiving he appeals to them to stop quarrelling! Paul also writes about spiritual gifts – have you considered what yours are. The church we worship in is being shortchanged if we hide our gifts under a bowl! Matt 5:15 “Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.”
Finally, we turn to John’s Gospel and the account of the disciples’ feet being washed by the creator of the world…... followed by his prediction of betrayal. As the words of a hymn state “Halleluiah What a saviour!”
So, in this season of Advent we do wish you every spiritual blessing, that our Saviour will guide you and all those you love and cherish through the remaining days of this year and safely on through 2025.
With our love,
Peter & Sylvia