Hi Everyone,

4 more days to go until Pause, Ponder and Pray finishes and we begin our new daily prayer texts plus a once a week midweek musings. If you have signed up to the midweek musings mailing list, and have given us permission to contact you by text message, you will receive this automatically. If you are not currently signed up and would like to be, please contact Gordon to let him know.

With love

Jess

Pause

Take a moment now to recognise that you are in the presence of God. It might help to slow your breathing. Take a few deep breaths in and out.

Let’s pray together:

Draw us into your love Christ Jesus and deliver us from fear.

We say together our family prayer:

Our Father in heaven, 
hallowed be your name, 
your kingdom come, 
your will be done, 
on earth as in heaven. 
Give us today our daily bread. 
Forgive us our sins 
as we forgive those who sin against us. 
Lead us not into temptation 
but deliver us from evil. 
For the kingdom, the power, 
and the glory are yours 
now and for ever. 
Amen.

Ponder

Today’s reading is Luke 11:5-13

And he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread; for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.’ And he answers from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything because he is his friend, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs.
“So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for a fish, will give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asks for an egg, will give a scorpion? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”

• How easy do you find it to be persistent in prayer?
• How do you respond to the idea that the good gift that God gives his children is the Holy Spirit?
• What is Jesus saying to you today?

Pray

Father God, thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Help me to pray with persistence for the things that are important to you. Amen

Say a prayer today for who are struggling today with unanswered prayer.

On our church list today we pray for:
Shirley, Kathy and Jenny Anderson 
Agnes, Duke, Jayden and Jason Ablakwa

Let’s finish by praying this blessing:
​
May God give us 
his comfort and his peace, 
his light and his joy, 
now and forever. 
Amen

Hi Everyone,

Pause, Ponder and Pray is changing to a daily prayer text from Monday next week. We will also send out Midweek Musings once a week.

Just to correct the information I sent out yesterday. If you have previously signed up for Midweek Musings and on that form you gave us permission to contact you by text message, you will automatically receive the daily prayer text and Midweek Musings from next week. If you have not yet done this but would like to receive the prayer texts and Midweek Musings, please get in touch with Gordon and we will add you to the list.

With love

Jess

Pause

Take a moment now to recognise that you are in the presence of God. It might help to slow your breathing. Take a few deep breaths in and out.

Let’s pray together:

The Lord is with us. Let us praise his name together.

We say together our family prayer:

Our Father in heaven, 
hallowed be your name, 
your kingdom come, 
your will be done, 
on earth as in heaven. 
Give us today our daily bread. 
Forgive us our sins 
as we forgive those who sin against us. 
Lead us not into temptation 
but deliver us from evil. 
For the kingdom, the power, 
and the glory are yours 
now and for ever. 
Amen.

Ponder

Today’s reading is Luke 11:1-4

He was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” He said to them, “When you pray, say:
Father, hallowed be your name. 
Your kingdom come. 
Give us each day our daily bread. 
And forgive us our sins, 
for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. 
And do not bring us to the time of trial.”

• How easy do you find it to pray?
• How might the pattern Jesus taught his disciples be useful for you in prayer?
• What is Jesus saying to you today?

Pray

Lord Jesus, thank you that you teach us to pray. Help me to keep prayer as a priority in my life. Amen

Say a prayer today for those who are struggling to connect with God.

On our church list today we pray for:
Mavis Moorhouse 
Jocelyn Plummer

Let’s finish by praying this prayer:
​
In darkness and in light, 
In trouble and in joy, 
Help us, heavenly Father, 
to trust your love, 
to serve your purpose, 
and to praise your name 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

We are on the countdown to Pause, Ponder and Pray ending and the daily prayer texts beginning. If you would like to receive the daily prayer texts please let Gordon know and he can add you to the list.

With Love

Jess

Pause

Take a moment now to recognise that you are in the presence of God. It might help to slow your breathing. Take a few deep breaths in and out.

Let’s pray together the ancient prayer:

Maranatha. Come, Lord Jesus.

We say together our family prayer:

Our Father in heaven, 
hallowed be your name, 
your kingdom come, 
your will be done, 
on earth as in heaven. 
Give us today our daily bread. 
Forgive us our sins 
as we forgive those who sin against us. 
Lead us not into temptation 
but deliver us from evil. 
For the kingdom, the power, 
and the glory are yours 
now and for ever. 
Amen.

Ponder

Today’s reading is Luke 10:38-end

Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.”

• Who do you identify with most in this story?
• What are the things that are distracting you from focussing on Jesus?
• What is Jesus saying to you today?

Pray

Lord Jesus, thank you for inviting me to draw close to you. Help me to free myself from distractions. Amen.

Say a prayer today for those who are struggling with the stress and busyness of life.

On our church list today we pray for:
Briyanna Mvoto, Yinka, Yoanna and Zaza 
Elizabeth, Ore, Fifi and Victoria

Let’s finish by praying this blessing:
​
To our troubled world: peace from Christ. 
To our searching world: love from Christ. 
To our waiting world: hope from Christ. 
Amen

Hi Everyone,

This week is the last week of Pause, Ponder and Pray by email. From Monday 12th October we will be changing to a pattern of daily prayer text messages and a weekly Midweek Musings. 

If you would like to recieve the daily prayer text, please contact Gordon and we can add your phone number to the list.

If you were not receiving Midweek Musings before the lockdown period and would like to, please also let Gordon know.

With Love

Jess

Pause

Take a moment now to recognise that you are in the presence of God. It might help to slow your breathing. Take a few deep breaths in and out.

Let’s say together:

The Lord is here, his Spirit is with us.

Let’s share together in the family prayer:

Our Father in heaven, 
hallowed be your name, 
your kingdom come, 
your will be done, 
on earth as in heaven. 
Give us today our daily bread. 
Forgive us our sins 
as we forgive those who sin against us. 
Lead us not into temptation 
but deliver us from evil. 
For the kingdom, the power, 
and the glory are yours 
now and for ever. 
Amen.

Ponder

Today’s reading is Luke 10:25-37

Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?” He answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.”

But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while traveling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, ‘Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.’ Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”
What does it mean for you to love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength?

• Who do you need to view as your neighbour?
• What is Jesus saying to you today?

Pray

Father God, thank you for your love. Help me see others through your eyes and to love them accordingly. Amen.

Today we pray for all who feel that they are unlovable.

On our church list today we pray for:
Helen Tyrese and TJ Yeboah, Doreen Mellish

Let’s finish by praying the grace:
​
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
and the love of God, 
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit 
be with us all, now and evermore. Amen.

Afternoon all! - well at leas there is some consistency as I send out my last 3Ps - it’s the afternoon again, but this time after another wonderful church service!

Jess will be sending out the final weeks' worth until…. radio silence, or your daily text (do contact Gordon with your mobile phone number if you want to receive these). So, in the meantime;

Keep safe
Keep in touch
Keep the faith

Simon

Pause
 

• Mark this time as one set aside for God by focusing on your breathing. 
• Count to 5 as you breathe in, hold your breath for another 5, and then exhale slowly again counting to 5. 
• You might want to think about the things you want to receive from God: holding a word in your mind as you breathe in, and equally share with Him a word concerning something particular that you want to hand over and leave with Him (perhaps a worry, care, concern or failing) when you breathe out.

 
Ponder

‘Listen to another parable. There was a landowner who planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a wine press in it, and built a watch-tower. Then he leased it to tenants and went to another country. When the harvest time had come, he sent his slaves to the tenants to collect his produce. But the tenants seized his slaves and beat one, killed another, and stoned another.  Again he sent other slaves, more than the first; and they treated them in the same way. Finally he sent his son to them, saying, “They will respect my son.”  But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, “This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get his inheritance.”  So they seized him, threw him out of the vineyard, and killed him.  Now when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?’ They said to him, ‘He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and lease the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time.’Jesus said to them, ‘Have you never read in the scriptures: “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone;
this was the Lord’s doing, and it is amazing in our eyes”? Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people that produces the fruits of the kingdom. The one who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; and it will crush anyone on whom it falls.’
When the chief priests and the Pharisees heard his parables, they realized that he was speaking about them.They wanted to arrest him, but they feared the crowds, because they regarded him as a prophet. Matthew 21:33-end

Think: Thank God, for the many chances we receive from him and for sticking with us.

Pray

“Prayer should be the key of the day and the lock of the night.” George Herbert
 
Pray this evening, reflecting on the good things of God that you have received from him today, 
 
Church members: Matthew Wilson, Sharon Finn.
​
Our Father in heaven, 
hallowed be your name, 
your kingdom come, 
your will be done,  
on earth as in heaven. 
Give us today our daily bread. 
Forgive us our sins 
as we forgive those who sin against us. 
Lead us not into temptation 
but deliver us from evil.  
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever.  
Amen
 
Keep us, good Lord, 
under the shadow of your mercy. 
Sustain and support the anxious, 
be with those who care for the sick, 
and lift up all who are brought low; 
that we may find comfort 
knowing that nothing can separate us from your love 
in Christ Jesus our Lord.