20 Minute Service - Giving it a go.

Hymn/Song   I recently came across this song on You Tube. Click on the link below to listen to it / watch it. (When it has finished you will need to click on the back arrow at the top left of your browser to return back here.) 

Joey and Rory - Take My Hand Precious Lord

I rather liked they way in which Joey sang this song. 

Bible Reading  I came across this bible reading when looking at upcoming lectionary readings.

Ezekiel 37 New Living Translation (NLT)

A Valley of Dry Bones

37 The Lord took hold of me, and I was carried away by the Spirit of the Lord to a valley filled with bones. 2 He led me all around among the bones that covered the valley floor. They were scattered everywhere across the ground and were completely dried out. 3 Then he asked me, “Son of man, can these bones become living people again?”

“O Sovereign Lord,” I replied, “you alone know the answer to that.”

4 Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to these bones and say, ‘Dry bones, listen to the word of the Lord! 5 This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Look! I am going to put breath into you and make you live again! 6 I will put flesh and muscles on you and cover you with skin. I will put breath into you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”

7 So I spoke this message, just as he told me. Suddenly as I spoke, there was a rattling noise all across the valley. The bones of each body came together and attached themselves as complete skeletons. 8 Then as I watched, muscles and flesh formed over the bones. Then skin formed to cover their bodies, but they still had no breath in them.

9 Then he said to me, “Speak a prophetic message to the winds, son of man. Speak a prophetic message and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: Come, O breath, from the four winds! Breathe into these dead bodies so they may live again.’”

10 So I spoke the message as he commanded me, and breath came into their bodies. They all came to life and stood up on their feet—a great army.

11 Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones represent the people of Israel. They are saying, ‘We have become old, dry bones—all hope is gone. Our nation is finished.’ 12 Therefore, prophesy to them and say, ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: O my people, I will open your graves of exile and cause you to rise again. Then I will bring you back to the land of Israel. 13 When this happens, O my people, you will know that I am the Lord. 14 I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live again and return home to your own land. Then you will know that I, the Lord, have spoken, and I have done what I said. Yes, the Lord has spoken!’”

It is a slightly strange story I know -  a vision given to Ezekiel of old bones coming back to life and reforming as living people. I liked the reassurance that it gives that no matter how hopeless a situation may look, with God's involvement the most unlikely of outcomes is still possible. 

Hymn/Song  This has long been a favourite of mine. Click on the link to listen to it / watch it.

Robin Mark - As the Deer Pants for the Water

A Thought to Share 

In the daily notes I read, the author (Selwyn Huges) recently mentioned that  in Jesus, God has a face.  

I thought that was quite an interesting observation. It's hard for us to picture the Holy Spirit or God the Father- but we are able to picture what Jesus looks like.  

 

A Prayer  - the United Reformed Church website includes the following prayer regarding the situation with the Coronavirus

 

‘God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.’
Psalm 46:1, NRSV

As so much is re-shaped by Coronavirus Covid 19, let us pray with

people left unwell, beckoned by death or bereaved;
people providing professional health care and advice, looking after loved ones at home or working to create treatments and cures;
people shaping the response of nations and neighbourhoods, of commerce and industry, of service and voluntary organisations and of communities of faith;
people who are anxious or afraid, alone or isolated.

Living, loving God,
we praise you,
and through times of peril we lean into you,
for in Jesus Christ
you have trodden paths as difficult as ours,
revealing there a love that nothing defeats,
a love that bears us through.

Even as we strive to behave responsibly,
and to care reliably,
so we feel after you
that in these uncertain times we might trust you are with us,
our refuge and strength,
and our faith, hope and love might be renewed,
through Jesus Christ, Amen.

Hymn/Song  Another favourite Hymn of mine is this version of Psalm 23. Click on the link below to listen to it / watch it

Stuart Townend - The Lord's my Shepherd  

Closing Thought or Prayer

May the Lord bless us and keep us.
May the Lord make his face to shine upon us.
And be gracious to us.
May the Lord lift up his countenance upon us.
And give us his peace.
 
 
 

 

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