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Praying from the contents of my pockets
Day Two - My Church Keys
Perhaps an easy one. The Church keys represent a practical and special part of my life.
Practical in having access to the church to prepare things for various activities during the week and to carry out maintenance tasks.
A special part as I am able to pop in for prayer and reflection, as I feel I need, in particular for the Wednesday morning prayer meeting..
The Church building is just that, an inanimate structure, but it is the location for so much community activity and fellowship means that it has a vibrant life within it.
We maintain the building for all of the things we are able to do within it and not for its own sake. Not as a collection of materials no matter how beautiful. But as a beautiful place where we encounter God.
So we pray for the practicalities of maintaining a church building and for the weekly activities that are possible because we have a well maintained set of buildings.
Let us pray
Loving God, we thank you for your Church
for those who came before us in this place.
For their vision and passion which built this church and fellowship,
here in this part of St Albans.
We thank you for the inspiration of the Holy Spirit which
allowed them to see a vision and pursue it.
For those who have donated and generated the funds
to build and sustain the structures which
through the years have been,
Hatfield Road Methodist Church.
We pray for all of those who
continue to maintain the fabric of the building.
Both paid and those who give their time and talents
from a love of you and all this fellowship means to them.
We pray for all of the weekly activities which happen in the buildings
whether secular or divine.
May our open doors demonstrate our love for you
and the love and care we have for the community around us.
We pray for your continuing inspiration
in the ways that we use our buildings
and the activities we plan and support.
We pray for our reflection on the five practices study,
which we have recently undertaken.
For the direction you may inspire us to take
through that study and reflection.
Particularly today we think of
the changes we may make to the building
or additional uses we may plan to introduce in it.
We pray for all people who enter our premises,
whether for worship, fellowship or non-church related activities.
May we provide a warm welcome and show our love
as we offer our premises to support community and family activities.
May our worship in this place inspire us and draw each of us closer to you.
Loving God, we pray your blessing on our fellowship.
Let our buildings be a blessing and not a burden
Let our passion be spent on you and not bricks and mortar
Help us be a beacon shining in the heart of Fleetville.
In Jesus' name. Amen
Some resources which might be helpful in our times of devotion.
Hymn - Singing the Faith 25 - God is here as we his people.
Reading - Exodus Chapter 31 Verses 1 - 11 - "Artisans for building the Tabernacle".