Friday Prayers and Thoughts
Take a moment to listen to the still small voice of God within the bustle of the day which has begun. Find a quiet place where you can enjoy precious moments of peace in God's presence. Sit quietly and listen to the sounds of the world around you, both outside and in the place where you are. Breathe slowly and rest in God's presence......
God to enfold me,
God to surround me,
God in my speaking,
God in my thinking.
God in my sleeping,
God in my waking,
God in my watching,
God in my hoping.
God in my life,
God in my lips,
God in my soul,
God in my heart.
God in my sufficing,
God in my slumber,
God in mine ever-living soul,
God in mine eternity.
(taken from Carmina Gadelica)
Be my vision, Lord
this day and every day
The centre of my life
The focus of my thoughts
Be my wisdom, Lord
inspiration of my words
every situation
your Spirit my support
Spend a moment asking God for real wisdom for this day, in the words you use, the decisions that you will make and the actions that you will take. Take time to ask for forgiveness for those times when you have let yourself down.
You call us to love
as you love,
care as you care,
seek justice,
mercy and truth
in a world that has yet to feel
the warmth of your embrace.
But we fail to heed your call,
draw back from those in need,
say nothing when we see
injustice.
Become invisible.
Forgive us, you whose love
is better than life,
you whose Grace extends to all.
Forgive us, and enable us
to be the people we could be,
that your name might be
on the lips of all people.
Amen
Listen if you have a minute to this Taize song - Da pacem cordium - and as you listen to the words and music just empty your mind of the coming day's fears and concerns
Listen to the words of confort from the Psalmist:
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore
we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into
the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains
quake with their surging.
(Psalm 46:1-3)
Set our hearts on fire with love of thee, O Christ our God,
that in that flame we may love thee with all our heart,
with all our mind, with all our soul, and with all our strength,
and our neighbours as ourselves;
so that, keeping thy commandments,
we may glorify thee, the giver of all good gifts.
Source unknown (Eastern Orthodox)
Let us make our way together, Lord;
Wherever you go I must go:
And through whatever you pass,
There too I will pass.
Teresa of Avila, 1515-82
You might also find useful........
A Cycle of prayer from Common Worship: Services and Prayers
for the Church of England for Morning, Evening and Night prayers
Morning Prayer ..... Yesterday | Today | Tomorrow
Evening Prayer..... Yesterday | Today | Tomorrow
Night Prayer ........ Yesterday
| Today
| Tomorrow
("Daily Prayer provided by the official Church of England web
site,
© The Archbishops' Council of the Church of England, 2002-2004.")
The Methodist Church has a very accessible Daily Bible Study which you may like to look at - 'A Word in Time' - learn, reflect, and share your thoughts
You can also find daily prayers on the Sacred
Space website,
the Northumbrian
Community and the Salvation
Army website
A selection of favourite quotes for meditating upon
