This is an opportunity to pause in the middle of our day and we're particularly asked to do this in the nine days between the feast of Jesus' Ascension into Heaven, and in preparation for the festival of Pentecost. And we remember the coming of the Holy Spirit to the first disciples in Jerusalem, and we ask for a fresh sense of God's power and love for us in this time and place.
Today's prayers are led by Nicola Denyer.
Introduction
Psalm 84
1 How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord of hosts! ♦
My soul has a desire and longing to enter the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh rejoice in the living God.
2 The sparrow has found her a house
and the swallow a nest where she may lay her young: ♦
at your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God.
3 Blessed are they who dwell in your house: ♦
they will always be praising you.
4 Blessed are those whose strength is in you, ♦
in whose heart are the highways to Zion,
5 Who going through the barren valley find there a spring, ♦
and the early rains will clothe it with blessing.
6 They will go from strength to strength ♦
and appear before God in Zion.
7 O Lord God of hosts, hear my prayer; ♦
listen, O God of Jacob.
8 Behold our defender, O God, ♦
and look upon the face of your anointed.
9 For one day in your courts ♦
is better than a thousand.
10 I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God ♦
than dwell in the tents of ungodliness.
11 For the Lord God is both sun and shield;
he will give grace and glory; ♦
no good thing shall the Lord withhold
from those who walk with integrity.
12 O Lord God of hosts, ♦
blessed are those who put their trust in you.
Glory to the Father and to the Son
and to the Holy Spirit;
as it was in the beginning is now
and shall be for ever. Amen.
Short Bible Reading
Jesus said, ‘Ask, and it will be given to 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!’
Luke 11.9-13
[silence]
Prayers
We are guided in praying for ourselves and those around us, ending with this prayer:
Almighty God, your ascended Son has sent us into the world
to preach the good news of your kingdom:
inspire us with your Spirit and fill our hearts with the fire of your love,
that all who hear your Word may be drawn to you, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
As our Saviour taught us, so we pray
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.
Conclusion
May the grace of the Holy Spirit enlighten our
hearts and minds.
Amen.
Thank you for praying with us. Join us again tomorrow from midday.