That’s when the vestments
and hangings in church go green - after Easter-tide, Pentecost and Trinity
Sunday. But it’s not just a switch from golds and reds to something more
mundane. It’s the reminder that it’s in the ordinary
times of life that we do our growing - as surely as the grass in your garden
will now be growing. So green is the colour of life, growth and hope.
Much of life is
about “getting through it.” Fabric takes up much of our time, energy and money
in the life of the Church. I’m glad today to have been able to say goodbye to
the roofers who have spent the last two and a half weeks at St. Cuthbert’s -
but I know we now have to turn to financing and fitting a new heating system.
Hopefully there’ll be plenty of fun along the way. But let’s not lose sight of
why we are doing it. Keep prayer at the heart of our faith - it will give us
energy and growth. Here’s a borrowed reminder of how the simplest of prayers
may be effective. References with acknowledgment to Parish Pump…
Prayers don’t need to be long to be acceptable to
God.
For instance, consider:
St. Peter (Matthew
14.30): Lord,
save me.
A Canaanite woman (Matthew
15.25): Lord, help me.
Samuel (1 Samuel
3:10): Speak,
for your servant is listening.
Psalm 43.3: O send out your light and your truth; let
them lead me;
let them bring me to
your holy hill and to your dwelling.
Christians in later years have adopted the same
form.
Michelangelo: Lord, make me see your glory in
every place.
Gladys Aylward: O
God, give me strength.
William Barclay: O
God, keep me from being difficult to live with.
Francois Fenelon: Teach
me to pray. Pray yourself in me.
John Wesley: O Lord, let us not live to be
useless, for Christ’s sake.
Why not practise
saying a simple sentence prayer of your own each day?
Martin Jackson
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