Reflection for Sunday 22 March 2020

God of the past, God of our memories

WE THANK YOU

God of the future, God of our dreams,

WE THANK YOU

God of the present, God of our salvation,

WE THANK YOU

You put songs on our lips, and make us your people,

WE PRAISE YOU

For the beauty of the earth, For the beauty of the skies, For the love which from our birth Over and around us lies, Lord of all, to thee we raise This our grateful hymn of praise. For the beauty of each hour Of the day and of the night, Hill and vale, and tree and flower, Sun and moon and stars of light, Lord of all, to thee we raise This our grateful hymn of praise. For the joy of human love, Brother, sister, parent, child, Friends on earth, and friends above, Pleasures pure and undefiled, Lord of all, to thee we raise This our grateful hymn of praise. For each perfect gift of thine, To our race so freely given, Graces human and divine, Flowers of earth and buds of heaven, Lord of all, to thee we raise This our grateful hymn of praise.

These are unsettling days, for sure. And I know many people are feeling anxious and worried. It’s good then to pause a while and remember to ponder a while on some positive thoughts.

I received this reflection a few days ago and share it with you now.

And the People stayed home.

And read books, and listened, and rested,

and exercised and made art, and played games

and learned new ways of being,

and were still.

And listened more deeply.

Some meditated, some prayed some danced.

Some met their shadows.

And the people began to think differently.

And the people healed.

And, in the absence of people living in the middle

of ignorant dangerous, mindless, and heartless ways,

the earth began to heal.

'And when the danger passed,

and the people joined together again,

they grieved their losses

and made new choices,

and dreamed new images,

and created new ways to live and heal the earth fully,

as they had been healed'.

Attributed to Kitty O'Meara

Today has been designated a National Day of Prayer

Taking place on Sunday 22 March, people of faith are being encouraged to light a candle and place it in their window at 7pm.

The following prayer can be used when lighting the candle:

For all that is good in life, thank you, For the love of family and friends, thank you, For the kindness of good neighbour and Samaritan stranger, thank you.

May those who are vulnerable, hungry or homeless, experience support, May those who are sick, know healing, May those who are anxious or bereaved, sense comfort.

Bless and guide political leaders and decision-makers, with wisdom, Bless and guide health workers and key workers, with strength and well-being, Bless and guide each one of us, as we adapt to a new way of living.

And may the light shining from our windows, across road and wynd, glen and ben, kyle and isle, be reflected in our hearts and hands and hopes.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

The Blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son and Holy Spirit be with you this day and forevermore,

Amen.