Jan282021
Pray With Us

Dear All,

Tomorrow, the 31st,  is Racial Justice Sunday.   The plea of the psalmist in tomorrow’s scripture readings is that we ‘ …listen to his voice, harden not your hearts’. Racial Justice Sunday seems a good time to act on this request.

 

We are sharing with you ‘A Place at the Table’ – all about inclusion – & a prayer on the theme.  We are also including an extract from Pope Francis’s just published new book ‘Let us dream – the path to a better future’.  It is both encouraging & challenging.

 

Let us pray that our blessing this week will reach all those who feel excluded & find no place at our table.  (‘May the Mind of Jesus’ from ‘In Tune with Heaven’.  Belmont Abbey).

 

Love to you all & hoping you are enjoying the weekend

 

For Everyone Born

Shirley Erena Murray

For everyone born, a place at the table,
for everyone born, clean water and bread,
a shelter, a space, a safe place for growing,
for everyone born, a star overhead,
and God will delight when we are creators
of justice and joy, compassion and peace:
yes, God will delight when we are creators
of justice, justice and joy!

For young and for old, a place at the table,
a voice to be heard, a part in the song,
the hands of a child in hands that are wrinkled,
for young and for old, the right to belong,
and God will delight when we are creators
of justice and joy, compassion and peace:
yes, God will delight when we are creators
of justice, justice and joy!

For gay and for straight, a place at the table,
a covenant shared, a welcoming space,
a rainbow of race and gender and colour,
for gay and for straight, the chalice of grace,
and God will delight when we are creators
of justice and joy, compassion and peace:
yes, God will delight when we are creators
of justice, justice and joy!

For just and unjust, a place at the table,
abuser, abused, with need to forgive,
in anger, in hurt, a mindset of mercy,
for just and unjust, a new way to live,
and God will delight when we are creators
of justice and joy, compassion and peace:
yes, God will delight when we are creators
of justice, justice and joy!

For everyone born, a place at the table,
to live without fear, and simply to be,
to work, to speak out, to witness and worship,
for everyone born, the right to be free,
and God will delight when we are creators
of justice and joy, compassion and peace:
yes, God will delight when we are creators
of justice, justice and joy!

 

Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ,
in your ministry
you were approached by people
of many different nations and cultures.

You listened to their cry for help,
treated them with love and compassion,
and brought them healing and wholeness.

 

In our own time may we provide
to all those who are suffer
the help that they need
and the care that they require.

May we respond to the invitation of the Holy Spirit
to dream of a world made new
where the poor are not forgotten
but are given the opportunity
to live and flourish with good health and equal prospects.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.

Amen.

 

From ‘Let us Dream’ Pope Francis.   He reflects on this time of pandemic.

‘I see an overflow of mercy spilling out in our midst.  Hearts have been tested.  The crisis has called forth in some a new courage & compassion.  Some have responded with the desire to reimagine our world; others have come to the aid of those in need in concrete ways that can transform our neighbour’s suffering.  That fills me with hope that we might come out of this crisis better.  But we have to see clearly, choose well, & act right.’