Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ,

Into the brightness of each new day,

Into the darkness of each unfolding night,

Your presence is seen, and heard, and felt.

In You there is nothing that is virtual or unreal,

For You are a Lord Who is present

In flesh and blood and spirit.

When in our daily lives we are immersed

In scanning screens large and small,

We may be grateful for the ease of communication,

But remind us that You are a God incarnate.

Your expectation is to meet with us in person.

For all the benefits of technology

And the invention of the human mind,

May we never forget the human heart and hand,

The human eye and ear and mouth, 

That connects us in a more humane way 

To the Divine.

From the infant at Bethlehem, 

To the teacher by the Lakeside, To the Man on the Cross, 

To the Redeemer amidst His followers, 

Help us never to be afraid to handle our Saviour, 

Reverently, fearfully, confidently, faithfully.

In these days of change and transformation in our Church,

In times of letting go and picking up, 

May our present lives reach out, with You, 

To the communities in which we are placed, 

And to the people we seek to serve.

May our incarnation in village, town, and city 

Be a living reminder of Your presence, 

In Your Church, 

With Your people, 

Laying our hands upon daily life.

To comfort and heal, to encourage and correct, 

But always with Your grace and love at heart, 

Reaching out beyond pages and screens, 

And into a tangible world, 

Requiring our tangible faith, at work, 

For the good of all.

Through the gift of Your Son, our Saviour, 

Jesus Christ.

Amen