Prayer - Service

Yesterday I agreed with my Spiritual Director that I will begin a new series of posts. I will be trying to write and post a weekly prayer. Each prayer will be an opportunity for me to reflect on my reading, experiences and/or preaching during that week.

This is the first prayer in the series which has been written for use tomorrow at the Redbridge deanery welcome service for Bishop Stephen. I was asked to write a prayer on the theme of service for Monish Balaji, one of our young people at St John's Seven Kings, to read during the service. The prayer is based on themes and phrases taken from Bishop Stephen's writings and sermons.

Lord Jesus we, your motley band of muddled and broken humanity, are the inheritors of the great vocation which you shared with your first disciples. We are the ones who are called to share the light of Christ today and shine with that light in our own lives. You long for us to be ‘salt’ and ‘light’ in our world as we bless our communities by serving them as you have served us.

Enable us to be a church that is gospel centred, servant hearted and mission focused; a church that connects with every person and every community. Enable us to see how we can serve the people with whom we have contact in such a way that the gospel becomes intriguing, challenging and appealing to them. Enable us to get inside the shoes of other people so that they can be welcomed and accompanied at every point of their faith journey. Enable us to enable others to do their very best and to achieve their fullest potential. Enable us to become a household of peace and joy where true and lasting values are held, taught and celebrated.

Lord Jesus, as we are enabled by you to serve others, may we build the kingdom of your love where a new humanity is revealed and your reordering of the world is celebrated and shared. Amen.

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Graham Kendrick - The Servant King.