Tuesday Prayers

Tuesday prayers is run by Sarah Rock-Evans and alternates between prayers for Children, Families and Schools and Thy Kingdom Come. For further information please email office@squarecorner.org.uk

Thy Kingdom Come ( 30th March)

Hi Everyone,

So, just over a year since I set out with this format, we have arrived at the last Tuesday Prayers by email! I don't think I ever anticipated it would be needed for so long but I am so grateful to all of you who have stuck with it and encouraged me with your feedback - thank you!

After today we will break for three weeks, returning on Tuesday 20th April in-person at St Mary's Uffculme at 9.15am, meeting for 30 minutes or so, subject to the usual social distancing requirements and face coverings being worn. We will continue to alternate with the current themes of Children, Families and schools one week, and Thy Kingdom Come the next. There is no need to book and you are welcome to invite others. I don't think we will run out of room but wouldn't it be amazing if we did?!

This is Holy Week so I have chosen a theme of Mystery for our prayers today. Faith will always come with an element of mystery during our lives in Earth, and the Easter story has plenty about it that we can't quite explain - why did Jesus die, how did He rise again, how did He overcome the power of death and what does that mean for us today? Of course there is a lot we can understand and learn, but like much of life, there are parts that remain unexplained.

I have chosen 1 Corinthians 13 v 8-13 for our verses today:

Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. 11 When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. 12 For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

As we begin, take a moment to read over that slowly, to pause and be still and invite God to be with you.

Giving thanks

> Let's give thanks for the mystery of God's love; our scripture starts today with the phrase "love never fails". We may get used to hearing that but if we look at it with fresh eyes it is a wonderful truth. Love never fails! Whilst we may not be able to fully explain that, we can take some time to thank God for our experience of His love, and for the way he extends that to all of mankind and creation. How wonderful that we can serve a God of love!

> Give thanks that God calls people to Him through His grace - another mystery! We are not required to understand or work our way into is Kingdom - He simply accepts us, because of who He is, not because of what we have or have not done. Hallelujah!

Praying for others

> For some people faith is too mysterious to accept. Let's pray for those today who have questions about faith, or who have stopped wondering and asking because they can't find the answers they are looking for. If you know someone in his situation, take some time to pray for them now, asking God to help them to be open to His love and to finding faith.

> Many people are living with anxiety, which could be described as a fear of living with mystery, a difficulty in accepting what we can't control. Let's pray for anyone we know today who is affected by anxiety, for those seeking to help those suffering and for ways for peace to be found.

> Who do you know who lives with a difficult sense of mystery? Perhaps it is a chronic illness, a relationship that doesn't resolve or a job situation where the doors seem to keep closing. Take some time to pray for that person to receive courage, support and guidance to accept and move through whatever they face.

Praying for ourselves

> Where do you need God to speak through your unanswered questions today? As we walk through Holy Week perhaps that raises questions for you, or you may have other uncertainties that play on your mind. Take some time to ask God to meet you in the incomplete picture and to comfort you with His presence and His love.

> For many the shape of life over the coming months is still somewhat unclear and that is likely to impact on what we can do as Christians to live out our ministries. You may like to use this time to sit quietly, asking God to lead you over the coming weeks and months and to show you opportunities to share His love amidst the uncertainty.

To finish, verse 13 of our scripture today says: And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

I pray as we go from here you will know a deep sense of God's love for you, whatever your circumstances.

And last of all...a quote from Mother Teresa! "I used to believe that prayer changes things, but now I know that prayer changes us, and we change things."

Thank you for praying,

Sarah

Children Families and Schools Prayer (23rd March)

Dear Everyone,

Here we are for a Children, Families and Schools prayer week and it is officially Spring, hooray! This also of course means we are heading towards Easter and the end of the school term - already!

I have chosen Psalm 91 v 1-2 to focus on this week. It says "Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.

2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”

As we begin our prayers this week, you may like to light a candle or have a holding cross in your hands and take a few moments to read over those verses several times and let them sink in as you become more aware of God's presence with you.

Giving thanks

> Let's give thanks for the work being done by many churches, schools, Christian organisations and volunteers to help children explore the story of Easter. Given current restrictions this requires extra energy and creativity, so deserves extra thanks! Who do you know who is working in this area in some way? Take a moment to bring them before God, thanking Him for them and asking for His blessing on them.

> Give thanks for the work of all school staff to regather children and help them settle and start learning again.

Praying for others

> Let's pray for those pupils in GCSE and A-Level exam years who are facing uncertain systems of assessment, and for their teachers who will be awarding grades in this way. Pray for wisdom, understanding and fairness in all of this.

> Let's pray for those children who remain unsettled by the uncertainties of lockdown and the disruption to schooling, that they may receive the nurturing and support they need and look forward with hope.

> Pray for children hearing the Easter message this year, that they may receive an awareness of God's love for them, and know that he can be their shelter and refuge as our verse in psalm 91 tells us Pray for seeds of faith to be planted and watered, even over Zoom!

Praying for ourselves

> Looking back at our verse for this week, have you known God as a place of refuge in your own life, either recently or a long time ago? If so, take a few moments to recall how that felt and to thank Him for providing that place of safety.

> Where do you need to be reminded of God being your shelter? Where do you need to trust Him more? Take some time to share those areas with God, perhaps silently, out loud (if appropriate!) or in writing, inviting Him to meet with you in your need and help you to sense His provision and protection.

To finish, a quote from pastor and author Tim Keller: "The basic purpose of prayer is not to bend God's will to mine but to mould my will into His."

Finally, a reminder that this weekly email format for Tuesday prayers will continue to the end of March, then we will break for school Easter holidays and (all being well) return to in-person prayer meetings in St Mary's Uffculme on Tuesday mornings from 20th April. I will send further details closer to that time.

Thank you for praying!

Sarah