Eastern Hills Community Church

Promises from Scripture

We are going to still ourselves now, and focus on some promises from God’s word that relax us, evoke prayer within us and prepare us for the day. At the end of this time we will join with megs and the ancient tradition of celebrating our God through singing.

Holy Spirit, breath of life – Light candle – play track ‘Cocoa Soul’ by Oka. Album ‘Elements’. Itunes.

(Read really slowly. Allow space between sentences.)

The candle is a symbol of the Holy Spirit’s presence with us, right here. Find a comfortable position where you can breathe deeply, relax, you can write, draw or just sit and close your eyes.

Ancient and pure, moving and mysteriously present  – like this flickering flame, is your Spirit Lord.

Your spirit was moving over the earth in the very beginning..before light had even opened her eyes.

The first words of our creation story read …

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the spirit of God was hovering over the waters. Gen 1:2

Ancient and pure…

The Lord God formed Adam from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being. Gen 2:7

Take 3 deep breaths…

I invite you to breathe in deeply as each phrase of this verse from Job is read and repeat these words within yourself..

‘The spirit of God has made me; (pause)

the breath of the Almighty gives me life (pause)

I too have been taken from clay.” (pause)Job 33:4

REPEAT

Jesus said: “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you.” REPEAT

“Now remain in my love…if you obey my commands you will remain in my love…I have told you this so your joy may be complete.”

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”

“If you love me you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another counselor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him because it neither sees him or knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be and is in you.”

Repeat last line.

Psalm 51:10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me.

Jesus, resurrected said “Peace be with you, as the Father has sent me, I am sending you. With that he breathed on them and said …receive the Holy Spirit.”

‘I will be still’

Music – ‘Most beautiful’ by oka.

We are going to spend some time in quiet communion with God. In this time we will rest in God. A communion which refreshes and restores.

I invite you to spend a moment, relaxing in the Spirits presence.. Consciously offering your whole self to God. Let your prayer be the loosening of tension in your body, if it helps imagine a slow flow of water, melting your muscles from the top of your head to the tip of your toes.

Psalm 16:7-9 says..

7 I will praise the LORD, who counsels me;

even at night my heart instructs me.

8 I have set the LORD always before me.

Because he is at my right hand,

I will not be shaken.

9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;

my body also will rest secure,

‘Set the Lord before you’ the Psalmist says.

We are going to spend some time just setting our minds eye on Jesus.

You may like to think about a quality of Jesus, his love, intimacy, the fruit of the spirit or a message or promise of Jesus, or a picture of Jesus.

(images of Jesus eating at the table, Jesus healing, Jesus the shepherd on screen and quote “It is He to whom I now come-this Jesus, this very Jesus. He is present and interested.”)

Think slowly over this picture or pour slowly over this message. Keep in the foreground of your mind; “It is He to whom I now come-this Jesus, this very Jesus. He is present and interested.”

We bring ourselves before you Lord, ready to worship, serve and receive you.

(Inspired by George S Stewart in The Lower Levels of Prayer )

www.artbible.net.

‘Washing of the Feet.’ Artist Unknown.

Prayer

Loving, generous God who brings all life into being through tiny seeds of hope we gather today in the mystery of your creation.

In your presence we think of all that sustains us: our friends, families and homes; clean water, fresh air, good food; even the microbes, bacteria, and enzymes and that which has yet to be named; the intricate systems which make our lives possible.

We thank you for the promise of hope and renewal that comes to us in Jesus Christ and we join together with the rest of creation in praising you our God: our God whose love and faithfulness stretches out to all generations, to all people, to every creature and all creation.  Amen. By Ruth Slater

Meditation

Allow creation to minister to you today. Worship with the bush as it brings glory to our indwelling creator God.

Spend some time in quietness, listening. Hold something in your hand, sit & observe or walk gently.

May our hearts be open to receive the nearness of God and the working of our Creator’s power.

Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.

Psalm 62:5

After a while you may like to repeat a simple sentence of worship.

Write down anything that has been revealed to you in this time.

Lord I have come to know…

Take a walk outside with a pen and paper, find a comfy spot and reflect on these things for 20 mins.

Prayer

“Gracious God, in these moments

please remind me of your presence and generosity.

Give me the wisdom and courage to live gracefully with myself, others and the world you have wonderfully made.’

Meditation

Take some time and focus on the nearness of God.

Open yourself to the presence of our Creator.

“The Lord is near to all who call on him,

to all who call on him in truth.” [Psalm 145:18]

“The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made.

All your works praise you, Lord;

your faithful people extol you.” [Psalm 145:9,10]

Reflection

Looking back over the past year,

For what are you most grateful?

What makes you feel thankful?

What gifts and growth will you take from this year into the next?

Eg. Learning, patterns, relationships, dreams, ideas, change, responsibilities, prayers, provision.

Using simple words, express your gratitude to God.

Write a word or short phrase of thanks if you would like.

When or where in the past year do you feel you were you cooperating most fully with God’s action in your life?

When were you resisting? Do you notice weeds that may have taken hold this last year? Things that have wasted your time, destroyed balance, negative habits or patterns.

How do you want to live differently in 2010?

Share these things with God.

“Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life …

Teach me to do your will, for you are my God;

may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.”

[Psalm 143:8b,10]

Closing Prayers

‘Ever-present Father, help me to meet you in the scriptures I read and the prayers I say; in the bread I break and the meals I share; in my investments at work and my enjoyments at play; and in the neighbours and family I welcome, love and serve, for your sake and that your love and peace may reign now and forever. Amen.”

I said to the man who stood at the Gate of the Year, ‘Give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown.’ And he replied, ‘Go out into the darkness and put your hand into the hand of God. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way.’ May that almighty hand guide and uphold us all.

Minnie Haskins 1875 – 1957

“God, of your goodness give me yourself, for you are enough for me. And only in you do I have everything. Amen. Lady Julian of Norwich.