Pray : Gracious, yet almighty and loving God draw near to us as you have promised. Be to us both the King of Glory and our gracious heavenly Father. In the midst of our troubled, busy and sometimes chaotic world be present to reassurance and bless. Bring the wonderful accounts of your work among the early Christian church alive for us in this our day and age. Hearten us with the reality of your Son’s risen presence in our midst and enable us to put our trust in him today every bit as much as Paul and the others so long ago. Take us with our doubts and hesitation, the thought that we don’t have it in us to be effective agents for the gospel, perhaps that we haven’t the time or the inclination to share the good news. Enlivening God, restore to us and to all your people a deep desire to love you with all our hearts, to love others for Jesus’ sake and to want people to know, love and serve him. Give us a confidence in the good news and in your ability to equip us to play our part. We freely admit that we are not perfect. We come to you with all our faults and failings but in Jesus’ name ask both for your forgiveness in Christ and for the empowering of your Holy Spirit that we may go forward into life’s adventure fully prepared and eager to be co-workers with you and with one another. “Though your sins are as scarlet, they shall be white as snow!”  Isa 1 “Go then to all peoples and make them my disciples…” Matt 28 Lord, help us to see that all this applies to us – the assurances, the challenge and the promise of blessing. Touch our hearts with the love of Jesus Christ your Son and grant us the grace to respond appropriately – in Jesus’ name we pray. Our Father…

Thought- It was common knowledge that the late Queen Mother was never happy about the abdication which led her husband to the throne. Yet, for all that she and King George responded to their call to duty as did the late Queen to her dying day. And yesterday, in Westminster Abbey in face of the congregation and the world the new King pledged to do his duty. Duty is not a popular concept these days but we would all be the poorer if countless people, mostly away from public gaze, did not dedicate themselves to their work and the service of their fellow human beings. That should not mean that we take advantage of their good nature. After Easter, the risen Jesus commissioned his followers to go into all the world and make disciples, teaching everything he had commanded – and he promised them the equipping of his Holy Spirit. Whether it was our design or not, as his modern-day followers we have fallen heir to that duty (and equipping). The voice beckoned Paul to come over to Greece to help share the good news of Jesus. Perhaps our call isn’t so far away – have we a vision for sharing the good news of Jesus in word and action in MONTROSE among our neighbours? Because that is where I believe God is calling us to begin with fresh vigour. The needs are there, he is ready to support us – but we need to be willing to play our part. The details will differ for each of us, we have different strengths, aptitudes, inclinations – some are leaders, upfront people, some are doers, some are supporters, practical folk, praying folk – God needs us all and he his willing to give us all we need to further his call. Are we open to receiving a renewed vision for the gospel, for the good news, for mission – not in Macedonia, but in Montrose?

Pray: Lord, we commit to you the needs of so many in our world and in our community – locally for shelter, work, peace; for guidance and reassurance; for friends, for a reason to live, rather than “just about getting by”; in the world – for all these things but also freedom, justice, education, the basics for life; and a sense of a future that is worth living . For all the trouble spots and places of hurt and near despair – too many to name we pray your blessing. Lord of the world, of all nations, be present to console and to bless. We pray for His Majesty the King on his coronation. As he pledged himself to his duty give him the wisdom, strength and tenacity to hold firm to his responsibilities and an openness to you the King of kings. Lord, do not allow us to be deaf to your call to us to help with the sharing of the good news of Jesus. Don’t let us leave it to others or imagine that it is something only for elsewhere or a past age. Help us to see through the veneer of satisfaction without Jesus and seek to share in fitting, appropriate and relevant ways what a difference has made in our lives and can yet make among our friends and neighbours. If Jesus came through the door of the church today or rang our doorbell and asked us to come and help him, we would. He knows our strengths and our weaknesses, what we have on our plates, he knows our doubts, our fears, our hesitations – he knows because he loves us but still he wants us to join him in the greatest adventure of all time – lived loving and serving him, sharing in making known the good news of salvation, near and far. Not boring, but exciting; not irrelevant, but significant; not a waste of time or a lost cause but the best possible way of spending our time and with guaranteed certain hope of “success.” Come and help us – hear God’s call whether it comes through the voice of scripture, in your dreams or through the pleas of human voices. We pray for our congregation and for the work that lies ahead of us. In our prayer walk we remember those who live or work in Bents Road and Teviot Place. In a moment of silence take the thoughts of our minds and the concerns of our hearts and join them with your heavenly petitions. SILENCE. Lord, in your mercy hear and answer our prayers for Jesus’ sake. Amen.

Blessing - May the Lord bless you. Amen.