Everything shines in the presence of God. Jesus often retreated up a mountain or into a desert wilderness when he wanted to pray. The problem that most of us have when we try to pray is our minds suddenly fill with all the things we ought to be doing. Why does that happen? Because human beings prefer to be ‘doing’ rather than just ‘being’. It is drummed into us from childhood that if we are good then we do all the things we have been told to do. Sitting, day dreaming is seen as being lazy! And being lazy is not good. I wonder how many shopping lists have been composed in church. I suspect millions. The interesting thing in the account of the Transfiguration is that when faced with God’s shining presence and stillness, Peter responds shall we build three shelters? The account doesn’t tell us but I bet John and James were nodding their heads in agreement.In other words we are exactly like those three disciples two thousand years ago. Every follower of Jesus has had to learn how to cease trying to do things in the presence of God and learning just to be quiet and be. The reality is, of course, that sometimes we succeed and often we don’t. Don’t judge yourself and feel guilty because God doesn’t judge us. Why do I have the feeling that God finds it amusing as we try to pray in silence and then our minds wander, then we try again and guess what? Our minds wander! If we succeeded every time just think how arrogant we would be and how much we would take the credit. That would be the end of humility. As we are about to begin Lent we are about to witness the total humility of our God in Jesus Christ.So keep trying to be silent in the presence of God who is with us and loves us. All he wants us to do is to keep trying. As Dave Allen used to say: “may your God go with you”. The Revd Father Andrew Lane SSL
Lord, direct our thoughts, and teach us to pray. Lift up our hearts to worship you in spirit and in truth, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ‘Extol the Lord our God; worship at his footstool. Holy is he!’ (Psalm 99: 5)Hymn: Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me...2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2Let us meet the Lord with repentance in our hearts: Most merciful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we confess that we have sinned in thought, word and deed. We have not loved you with our whole heart. We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves. In your mercy forgive what we have been, help us to amend what we are, and direct what we shall be; that we may do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with you, our God. Amen. May the God of love bring us back to himself, forgive us our sins, and assure us of his eternal love in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Prayer for the day: Almighty Father, whose Son was revealed in majesty before he suffered death upon the cross: give us grace to perceive his glory, that we may be strengthened to suffer with him and be changed into his likeness, from glory to glory; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.Luke 9:28-36Please see the message from the minister. Let us kneel before God, asking for his presence to be known to all. Let us pray. We pray for St Peter’s Church and the Church throughout the world, that all people will respond to the invitation to follow Christ; We pray for our world, that the Earth and all of its creatures will thrive - and in particular for peace in Ukraine; We pray for our friends, families and neighbours - may we all share in the love of Christ; We pray for people who are sick or suffering, to know the Holy Spirit’s healing presence; We remember the departed, and pray for all who mourn.Let us join in the words of the Lord’s prayer, whoever and wherever we are: Our Father, who 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. Hymn: Forty days and forty nights...May God give us his comfort and his peace, his light and his joy in this world and the next. And may the blessing of God Almighty who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit rest upon us and remain with us always. Let us go in peace to love and serve the Lord, in the name of Christ. Amen.
Lord, direct our thoughts, and teach us to pray. Lift up our hearts to worship you in spirit and in truth, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ‘Praise is due to you,O God, in Zion; and to you shall vows be performed, O you who answer prayer!...You silence the roaring of the seas, the roaring of their waves, the tumult of the peoples.’ (Psalm 65: 1-2a, 7)Hymn: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty...Revelation 4Let us meet the Lord with repentance in our hearts: Most merciful God, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, we confess that we have sinned in thought, word and deed. We have not loved you with our whole heart. We have not loved our neighbours as ourselves. In your mercy forgive what we have been, help us to amend what we are, and direct what we shall be; that we may do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with you, our God. Amen. May the God of love bring us back to himself, forgive us our sins, and assure us of his eternal love in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Prayer for the day: Almighty God, you have created the heavens and the earth and made us in your own image: teach us to discern your hand in all your works and your likeness in all your children; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit reigns supreme over all things, now and for ever. Amen.Luke 8:22-25Please see the message from the minister. Let us kneel before God, asking for his presence to be known to all. Let us pray. We pray for St Peter’s Church and the Church throughout the world, that all people will respond to the invitation to follow Christ; We pray for our world, that the Earth and all of its creatures will thrive; We pray for our friends, families and neighbours - may we all share in the love of Christ; We pray for people who are sick or suffering, to know the Holy Spirit’s healing presence; We remember the departed, and pray for all who mourn.Let us join in the words of the Lord’s prayer, whoever and wherever we are: Our Father, who 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. Hymn: Guide me, O Thou Great Redeemer...May God give us his comfort and his peace, his light and his joy in this world and the next. And may the blessing of God Almighty who is Father, Son and Holy Spirit rest upon us and remain with us always. Let us go in peace to love and serve the Lord, in the name of Christ. Amen.
