Category: Thought for the Week

This weeks thought and prayer has been prepared by Elizabeth MacAulay, one of our prayer secretaries and elder of Newbattle Parish.

Paul prays in Romans 15:5 -6 “May God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

May we all be united in prayer in these hard times for our fellowship, our parish, our country and our world, not forgetting to give thanks for all the good things we enjoy and all the answers to prayers which have been given to us.

Below are some topics to help us in our daily prayers.

Sundays Pray for our Minister Gayle as she works very hard to fulfil her tasks in this transition period. Pray that we will come out of transition as a united body, working together to spread God’s love in our parish, in all activities we are involved in. Pray for new staff to come forward to fill the vacancies.

Mondays Remember in your prayers all those needing special pastoral care – the aged, the lonely, the sick and the bereaved, those in hospital and people suffering from broken relationships. Ask for sensitivity and compassion in all who visit and care for them.

Tuesdays Pray for all the social activities when they restart, such as coffee mornings and New to You shop, and for the foodbank and our partnership with council, social work and medical practices. Pray for good use of our premises to help people in our community.

Wednesdays Pray for our Treasurer and finance advisers, giving thanks for the way we have been helped by Presbytery and Church headquarters in recent times. Pray for our income to increase to meet the needs, after so long with no regular services, and loss of hall lets.

Thursdays Pray for our young people, for Messy Church, Parents and Toddlers, and pray for good connections between young and more mature in our parish. Pray we may be able to build on all the good work that has been done with different age groups.

Fridays May we all be faithful in supporting in our prayers the development work in Newtongrange and the activities which take place in Newtongrange at the Pool and in Mayfield at Y2K. Pray the way we have been able to take part in community activities may continue.

Saturdays Pray for our politicians and their advisers as they steer us through the COVID pandemic. Give thanks for the vaccines which give us hope that more normal conditions may come, and pray for wisdom for leaders and patience and forbearance for our people after such a long time of restrictions. Pray for other parts of the world very much worse off than we are and pray for fair distribution of vaccines to the poorest.

A Message from Christian Aid calling for action as well as prayer The last week has seen the worst violence between Israel and the Palestinians since 2014. And the conflict escalated further still over the weekend as Sunday became the deadliest day so far. As I write this the cycle of violence spirals out of control, with many innocent Palestinians and Israelis dead, wounded or simply exhausted with fear. ‘It is terrifying here. This time is not like any time before. Bombs are everywhere, my kids did not sleep since yesterday.’ These are the words of Feda’a, a mother to small children and staff member at one of our partner organisations in Gaza. This cannot continue. Join us in calling on the UK government to pursue an immediate ceasefire. Stand in solidarity with all Palestinian and Israeli victims of violence today. Email the PM ► In hope for a more peaceful future, Luke Harman Campaigns and Activism Manager Christian Aid

This Week’s Music

This Week’s Prayers

God of peace

Adapted from the Ecumenical vigil for peace in Israel and the occupied Palestinian Territory

We pray for all who suffer in the midst of renewed conflict and attack.

We pray for Israelis living with the threat of rocket fire,

for Palestinians subjected to airstrikes, attempted shootings

living under military occupation and facing eviction from their homes.

In particular, we pray for children and young people

caught up in terror beyond their understanding or control.

We pray for those who have been killed, maimed, bereaved;

those who have had their future torn away from them;

those whose lives are bleak, lacking opportunity and hope.

We pray for the people of Gaza,

living under blockade,

repeated military bombardment,

and now the threat of ground invasion

that will cause an escalation of deaths

and a descent into the depths of hell.

We repent of our complicity in silence,

our closing our eyes to the needs and wellbeing of the children

and our failure to reject the ways of violence, threat and injustice.

We pray in the name of Jesus Christ, our peace and our hope. Amen.

Prayer as we weep

Jesus, coming down from the Mount of Olives,

you wept over Jerusalem

and we weep with you now

over traumatised families

and their exhaustion with fear

over the escalating death toll

and the threat of a ground invasion

over the incitement and abuse of power

and innocent civilians paying the price

over the failure of the international community

to do all they can to intervene and stop the conflict.

Help us all to recognise on this day

all the things that make for peace.

Jesus, in the garden of Gethsemane

you prayed with deep grief

and we pray with great sorrow now

that no further blood would be spilled

that this cup of suffering be removed

from Palestinians and Israelis

and that Gaza would not descend to hell.

This is not what you want.

We pray for international intervention,

for an immediate cessation of all violence,

for Israel and Palestine to be treated as equal

and for a resurrection of peace and justice for all.

In your mercy, hear our prayer. Amen.

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11 v 28-30

This week our prayer is for all those who have been winning battles that no one sees: battles against inner doubt and lack of confidence, anxiety and isolation. In a time of great change and transition from one way of being to another, count your blessings this week, notice your resilience and thank God for all good gifts around us in food, shelter, nature and caring people. And know, that you are in the thoughts and prayers of your church.

This week’s music: