Monday Morning Mail

Loving God | Loving Each Other | Loving our Community

Good Morning!

Yesterday there seemed to be a big theme of Harvest, which I hadn't planned but which worked well! In the evening, Richard preached on Psalm 65, and brought out the importance of praising God for all his goodness to us, in creation, in the abundance of this world and above all in rescuing us through Jesus. Philip and Andrew picked up on the theme of gratitude at the morning services, speaking on the Grain Offering in Leviticus 2. Both of them brought out that the grain offering is based on the hard work of the farmer in sowing, reaping, threshing and grinding the grain. So, when God accepted the offerings of the Israelites, it lifted all of their work into the sphere of worship. There is also the wonderful reminder of the Israelites always making sure that the offerings contained the salt of God's covenant, which reminded me of Colossians 4:6 which we looked at last term.

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

So let's make sure that as we worship God this week, as we go about our daily lives and as we praise God by how we work as well as what we say while we work, that our conversation is always full of grace, and seasoned with the salt of God's promises to us.

Several people commented yesterday morning on what I said while praying for the situation with the government and gay marriage. I think it's important for us to pray:

• For wisdom for the government. 1 Tim 2:1-2 says "I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people – for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness."

• For the church – that we would always be full of grace and seasoned with salt – that we'd find Jesus' balance between always showing grace and accepting people, while never condoning sin and still calling people to repent.

• Repenting of our own homophobia – how can we despise those whom God loves so much that he gave his son for them?

• Repenting too of all the times when we give in to pressure from the world rather than trusting God.

• Wisdom for us in speaking to our friends, families and colleagues, particularly for those employed by the government.

Here's the General Thanksgiving from the BCP, which is a great prayer to pray to thank God for all his goodness to us!

Almighty God, Father of all mercies,

we your unworthy servants give you most humble and

hearty thanks for all your goodness and loving kindness.

We bless you for our creation, preservation,

and all the blessings of this life;

but above all for your immeasurable love

in the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ,

for the means of grace, and for the hope of glory.

And give us, we pray, such a sense of all your mercies

that our hearts may be unfeignedly thankful,

and that we show forth your praise, not only with our lips,

but in our lives, by giving up ourselves to your service,

and by walking before you in holiness and righteousness all

our days;

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit,

be all honour and glory, for ever and ever.

Amen