Lord,
you offer freedom to all people.
We
pray for those in prison.
Break
the bonds of fear and isolation that exist.
Support
with your love prisoners and their families and friends,
prison staff and all who care.
Heal
those who have been wounded by the actions of others,
especially
the victims of crime.
Help
us to forgive one another,
to
act justly, love mercy and walk humbly
together
with Christ in his strength
and
in his Spirit, now and every day. Amen
How
do we read the Bible?
For
understanding. To get our mind round
things. Easy for that to be a focus.
Value
of a verse that speaks very simply into the lie we lead.
One
such verse has been chosen for Prisons Week as the theme this year.
It
is a week we have supported for many years, together with Langley House. It was in Lawrence Squires time at the
beginning of the 60’s that the churches of Cheltenham had the vision to open a
home to provide accommodation for ex-offenders.
And so the Knole was opened.
People from Highbury decorated a room.
Adrian
Stanley was working for Langley house and built up those relationsh8ps with
Katherine too.
And
we have continued to support it.
Each
year they provide a set of prayers for the week.
This year my eye caught those prayers and I felt they could be helpful in our focus on prisons but also for each one of us as well.
And
so I want to reflect on what those prayers say to us and say to us about our
concern for those in prison.
We
have one particular link in a prison context – that’s good to hear from.
And
that is Moffat – an update from him
Then
the verse - it comes from Malachi 4 and
I want to link that with John 8:12
But
for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness will arise with healing in
its wings.
Malachi
4:2
I
am the light of the world; those who follow me will not walk in darkness but
will have the light of life.
Stand in the Light
Day One For Those Who Work in Prisons
Those
who are busy and weighed down with responsibility, stop, stand in the light and
find
strength
and rest.
This
is something for each of us to take to heart.
If you have one take a look at your diary. Look at the to do list. Maybe you can think of things in the week
past, in the week to come. Maybe it’s
not so much the busy things once done as the round of basic things that you
face this week – and you would love to have the busyness back of a full diary
and a full house – that in itself is a burden to carry.
1
Those
who are busy and weighed down with responsibility, stop, stand in the light and
find
strength
and rest.
2
For
all who work in prisons, and care for those who are imprisoned, it is
very
easy to get sucked down into the suffering and needs of others, to be so
committed to
ensuring
that others have the tools they need to change and turn their lives around that
they
forget
their own needs. In times of stress and pressure, of financial constraint and
shortage
of
resources, prison staff want to make a difference but need to remember to take
care of
themselves,
of one another and to offer support and affirmation.
3
Lord,
you said ‘come to me all who labour and are heavy laden’, you said ‘cast your
burdens
on me
and I will give you rest’, give to each of us and to all who work in prisons
and carry the needs and
burdens
of others, the grace, strength and courage to continue, and the rest they need
for
renewal
and recreation. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Day Two For Those Who Are Prisoners
Those
laid low, rise up, stand in the light and find your feet.
That’s
something we each of us can relate to at times. It may be you are in a time that is laid
low. You may know of someone
personally. Think of yourself. Bring that person to mind.
1
Those
laid low, rise up, stand in the light and find your feet.
2
It is
so hard to get up when we feel we have dropped off not just God’s radar, but
everyone else’s as well. It is hard to have faith when so many things seem to
have gone wrong, when we are stuck in shame and paralysed by fear of the
future. This is not all that there is; the light of God’s presence shines in
the darkest place and is not and cannot be overcome.
3
Loving
Lord you always come to meet us wherever we are. Give to each of us, those who
are on our minds at the moment and to all those serving sentences in our
prisons the strength to lift first their eyes and then their hearts to
recognise your light. Raise us and them up to stand in your presence and serve
you, set us and them free from the power of darkness, make us and them ready to
start again and learn to walk in your Light. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Day Three For Victims of Crime
Those
living with loss, in pain and fear, take a deep breath, look up and out, stand
in the
light
and find courage.
Think
of moments of loss – you have experienced or those close to you.
1
Those
living with loss, in pain and fear, take a deep breath, look up and out, stand
in the
light
and find courage.
2
Do not
be afraid. Jesus said, “I am with you always to the end of time”. Seek healing
for the past, invite Him into your present and future, and take hold of his
promise to accompany you on your journey into survival.
3
Lord
Jesus, you gathered around you friends and disciples and empowered them with
the
Holy
Spirit to face ridicule and disbelief, danger and death, yet still to
persevere. We pray
for
the victims of crime, for all who have suffered loss, pain or injustice. Fill
them with that
same
Spirit to confront the challenges in their lives, to witness to your healing
power with
strength
and confidence. Build up their trust in you so that they can manage their fears
and,
relying
on your grace and strength, continue their journey onward into the Light. In
your
name.
Amen.
Day Four For Those Who Work in The Criminal
Justice System
Those
carrying heavy burdens of responsibility, lay them down awhile, stand in the
light and
find
rest and peace.
Think
of responsibilities we have – responsibilities at work, towards others, to
family, to ourselves. Weight of
responsibilities
1
Those
carrying heavy burdens of responsibility, lay them down awhile, stand in the
light and
find
rest and peace
2
Those
of us who daily have difficult and life-changing decisions and judgements to
make can be overwhelmed by the weight they carry and by the anxiety of making
mistakes. Take courage from the example of Jesus who trusted in God to hold Him
still, through arrest and injustice, to death and Resurrection. Stand firm in
the knowledge that He brings light out of darkness and He will lead us into
that Light.
3
Loving
God, whose will for your people is to bring justice and mercy to all the earth,
be
present
with all who work in the criminal justice system. Enlighten their understanding
and
inform
their judgements. Give to them the grace of discernment, that they may seek
your will
in all
things and work always for the common good. Keep them firm in their commitment
to
exercise authority and responsibility impartially, in the knowledge that all
power comes
from
you and that you will provide the strength needed for the journey onwards.
Shine your
light
into all the difficult situations that they face and the judgements that they
make, that
justice
and mercy might truly reign in all the earth. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Day Five For The Families
Those
who are hurting, lift your heads, stand in the light and find healing.
Think
of those who are hurting – in our own context, further afield – victims of war
1
Those
who are hurting, lift your heads, stand in the light and find healing.
2
It is hard to be the parent, friend or partner
of someone convicted of serious wrongdoing, caught up in darkness and pain that
are not of your making, to be held responsible for the actions of
others,
whose misdeeds over which you have no control. How might we have failed them?
How
can we help them to grow and to make amends? It is hard too, to walk alongside
loved
ones
who have been the victims of others, those who are in desperate need of healing
and
wholeness.
Confronted in so many different ways by the pain of evil and the desire for
light
and
healing, we need God’s grace and strength to make the first move, to lift our
heads and
see
the light, the hope for the future.
3
O God,
your hands are strong to save us and swift to bless. Bring wholeness and
healing
to the
families of all victims or perpetrators of crime. Give to them the gifts of
grace and
strength
that they might stand in your light and grow towards a better future; support
their
loved
ones and show the fruits of repentance in changed lives, lived for your glory
and the
good
of others. Lord, in your name we pray. Amen.
Day Six For Our Communities
Those
who can make a difference, join together. Link your arms you people, link your
hearts;
stand
in the light and find strength.
Making
a difference in our world
1
Those
who can make a difference, join together. Link your arms you people, link your
hearts;
stand
in the light and find strength.
2
Often
it is hard to believe that we can make a difference,
but as
drips of water wear away stones, as waves change coastlines, as seeds become
grain
and
fruits, so we have God’s grace and strength when we join hearts, minds and
hands, and
work
together, standing in His light and doing His will to build community. We are
designed
to
live and grow together in order to flourish, to tend and restore to wholeness
those who
are
the victims of others, and to welcome back those who have been outcast and
punished
and
need support to build new lives.
3
Loving
God, you call us into fellowship with you and with one another. Shine your light
into
our
lives and our communities, fill us with your love and send your Holy Spirit so
that we
may be
tireless in working to build up our communities into places of safety and
creativity.
By
ourselves we may be weak, but in your light and with the Spirit’s power we can
have faith
and
hope that the future can be different, lives transformed and your will be done.
Hear our
prayer
for the sake of Jesus our Lord. Amen
Let’s
remember that wider world.
Stand
in the light.
Sense
of the light of Christ’s presence
And do
our part too.
No comments:
Post a Comment