#MorningPrayer Friday 1st March 2019

#MorningPrayer 

Show us, Lord, 

where there are false gods in our lives, 

things that distract us from worshipping you; 

help us to remove them from our landscape, 

that our hearts & lives may be fixed on you alone. 

Help us to recognise you, to rejoice in you, 

& to follow you, always.

#MorningPrayer Thursday 28th February 2019

#MorningPrayer 

Keep us, Lord, ever-faithful to you 

and to the ways of your kingdom. 

May we rejoice continually 

in the freshness of the love you have for us, 

and daily be astonished & excited 

by the unsurpassable truth & wonder 

of your resurrection, 

and the new life it brings us.

#MorningPrayer Wednesday 27th February 2019

#MorningPrayer 

Keep us faithful, Lord, to your law of love, 

that we may love you & our neighbour as ourselves. 

Keep us from placing our trust in other ‘gods’, 

whether people, possessions, power or practices. 

May our hearts be set on you, 

& on being your Body in and for the world.

#MorningPrayer Tuesday 26th February 2019

#MorningPrayer 

Lord, may we be servants not of our own ego, 

but of your Spirit. 

Help us to find the wisdom that comes from faith 

and a deep relationship with you, 

that we may follow your call and do your will, 

inspired and enabled 

by the true kingship you revealed on the Cross.

#MorningPrayer Monday 25th February 2019

#MorningPrayer 

Help us to know, Lord, 

that true greatness comes 

not from displays of worldly wealth or cleverness, 

not from acclaim in the eyes of others, 

but from keeping your commandment to love, 

as we follow your call in faith 

and share your blessing 

with the world & with all.

#MorningPrayer Sunday 24th February 2019

#MorningPrayer 

Insipre us Lord, 

to seek the real treasure 

of your love and salvation, 

allowing its beauty 

to outshine all 

that the world and its false gods 

has to offer. 

May we turn not to things 

which seem to promise but cannot deliver, 

and turn instead to you, 

to your blessing and your call.

#MorningPrayer Saturday 23rd February 2019

#MorningPrayer 

Keep us, Lord, 

from finding our purpose & our meaning 

among the ‘kingdoms’, the systems, of this world - 

instead, remind us that your kingdom is different, 

is built on divine love and truth,

& is eternal and life-giving. 

May we focus on these things, 

now & always.

Speech for General Synod 22 Feb 2019

As I wasn’t called to speak, here is what I would have said in the debate on Evangelism and Discipleship. Please feel free to share!

Bill Braviner

Durham, 104

Synod, it is hugely encouraging and important that we are putting time and energy and money into our work of telling people the good news of God’s love for us, and the nourishment to be found through word and sacrament as part of God’s pilgrim people.

It was great to be at the digital fringe this morning, and hear about:

• The amazing success of #FollowtheStar and other campaigns
• Excellent resources to support evangelism and discipleship development
• Great improvements to our online offering, with more to come
• Great openness to hearing feedback and suggestions, and to act on them

There are wonderful developments like 

• “an ordinary office” (Launched during our July synod last year, now used 100k times in 6 months, with no funding), 
• Alexa skills, 
• social media content etc 

These make a huge difference to many people.

Digital is one aspect of our opening up what we have to offer, to many more people. We ought to put serious resources behind our small, yet award-winning digital team, and others in the field who can help and engage with us on this.

There are many who can’t always, or can’t ever, access our buildings

If that’s because they’re at work etc, and can go another time, then OK

But where the buildings, or the way we do what we do, put up barriers, it isn’t.

I would make a plea that in our outreach, we continually look for ways to make engagement easy and accessible to all, physically, intellectually, and in all sorts of other ways, so that we embody and live out the truth that the Gospel is good news for all, and mean what we say when we say “All Welcome”. 

So it’s not just digital...

• It’s also buildings that people can get into and use

• It’s welcome, hospitality and attitudes that encourage and Enable

• It’s great content, in all sorts of media, that supports faith and sings for the joy of the gospel.

There are so many people who need (and want) to find what we have found - the love of God in Jesus. 

Synod, let’s do all we can, in all the ways we can, to make Accessible Church a reality for everyone.

#MorningPrayer Friday 22nd February 2019

#MorningPrayer 

In all the changes and chances of this life, Lord, 

help us to keep our focus on you, 

and on your love for us 

and mercy towards us. 

Give us the faith and the courage 

to acknowledge you before others, 

and to give account 

of your love 

and your blessings 

to the world.

#MorningPrayer Thursday 21st February 2019

#MorningPrayer 

As your living Temple, Lord, 

grant that we may truly be 

the sign of your presence in the world, 

the sign of your glory to the world, 

and the sign of your love for the world. 

Help us lead people to find you, 

and to place themselves 

in your hands of grace and peace.

#MorningPrayer Wednesday 20th February 2019

#MorningPrayer 

In our life & worship as your living temple, Lord, 

inspire each of us to follow your call upon us, 

& fulfil the vocations you gave given us, 

that together as one we may truly be your Church, 

revealing your glory to the world 

& sharing your love & blessings with all.

#MorningPrayer Tuesday 19th February 2019

#MorningPrayer 

Lord, you place us, your living temple, in the world 

& send us to the world 

that we may proclaim your truth, love, & life 

to all people and to all creation. 

Give us hearts to be diligent 

in making this temple all it should be, 

that you may be known & loved by all.

#MorningPrayer Monday 18th February 2019

#MorningPrayer 

Inspire us Lord, 

to build a temple for you to dwell in - 

not a temple of wood & stone, 

but a temple of your people, 

a living temple to live out your love and proclaim eternal life, 

that all may know you, 

God of truth, love and blessing, 

and in you find life & love.

#MorningPrayer Sunday 17th February 2019

‪#MorningPrayer‬
‪When things grow, change & develop, Lord,‬
‪help us, under your guidance,‬
‪to discern the right way forward,‬
‪and to accept your call upon us.‬
‪May we, like #Stephen ‬
‪step up to your call,‬
‪and be ready to speak your words,‬
‪show your love,‬
‪& be a blessing ‬
‪come what may.‬

#MorningPrayer Saturday 16th February 2019

#MorningPrayer 

In you, Lord, we have peace - 

even in the midst of uncertainty and turmoil, 

even if the world seems against us. 

Grant us to know your peace, 

to live your peace, 

and to share your peace, 

that all may come to know you, 

the source of all peace, 

and dwell in your love.

#MorningPrayer Friday 15 Feb 2019

#MorningPrayer 

You go with us, Lord, 

wherever you send & lead us, 

and bring life in its fullness through your love. 

You turn our mourning into dancing 

as your kingdom life bursts forth & renews us. 

Give us hearts to share that life with all, 

that all may know your love for them.

#MorningPrayer 14 February 2019

#MorningPrayer 

Remind us, Lord, 

that all things come from you, 

and when we give, 

it is of your own that we give you. 

Help us to listen for the guidance of your Spirit, 

that we may hear the call to kingdom living, 

and be generous with your gifts to us, 

for the blessing of others.

#Morning Prayer 13 Feb 2019

#MorningPrayer You call us, Lord, to share in your work of blessing the world & its people & communities, and give us a share in your Spirit to encourage & enable us. Keep us faithful & focused in sharing your love, even when it is not returned, that your light may shine for all.

#MorningPrayer 12 Feb 2019

#MorningPrayer 12 Feb 2019
You call us, Lord, 
to love one another as you love us: 
help us to love unreservedly, liberally, 
with compassion & challenge, 
with care & concern, 
with joy & delight, 
with purpose & focus. 
Help us love one another into blessing, 
sharing your love for all, 
with all.