I write on what is possibly the warmest day the year on the last day of April. 

My  little dog is enjoying lying in the sunshine, moving into the shade and back again. 

She gave me the idea for this month's Prayer Page. 

I searched my bank of photos and found this picture taken years ago in France. 

The birchwood was reminiscent of a cathedral, 

the sunlight dappled the floor and the air was filled with birdsong.

What would light be without the dark? 

Would we appreciate a velvet night were it not for the sequins in the sky?

I am delighted to be able to share a prayer that Pat, a member of our congregation has written for us. 

I am also  grateful to our friend Jenni, who began her child hood at Torrisholme, whose prayer was shared at our Satrday Prayer Group. 

Jenni gives us insight into the light and the darker parts of life.

I hope others will be encouraged to send prayers to bjcdfs@gmail.com for future months.

So we begin with Pat's Prayer: 

Dear Lord,  we give thanks for the beauty of our world; for the birds, busy nesting in our gardens. 

For the lovely flowers, blooming everywhere. 

Let us take time to look around us at the beauty of your creation. 

We give thanks  this morning for all the loved ones that we have recently lost. 

Doris and Ruth have been part of our church family for a long time.  

We pray for their families who will miss them being part of their lives. 

They are safe in your kingdom now, Lord bless them both. 

We pray for members of our own church who are struggling with life, whatever is the problem:

illness, worry about family members...... you know, God what is the reason.  

Be close to them and give them peace in their lives. 

Thank you for our church family who care for each other.  

We make these  prayers in Jesus  name. Amen.

****

The following prayers & pictures will reflect the theme that Pat's Prayer has begun.

Walk slowly with me

And see

What you have so often passed by:

Moss and feather

Soft cradling.

Walk slowly with me

In Matthew's gospel chapter 6 we read that Jesus said.

“ I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?"

....and we give thanks for assurances that winter does not last forever .

 Amen

*** *** *** ***

Walk slowly with me

And breathe

What you have so often passed by:

Greening hedgerows,

Secret primrose,

Walk slowly with me

Again, in Matthew's gospel chapter 6 we read that Jesus said. 

“And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.  If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?  "

....and we give thanks for assurances that 

rhythms of life persist and that endings can bring about fresh beginnings.

 When we see the birth of new life,

Find joy in maturity;

When we grieve to see our old friends

Returning to eternity,

We are touching those thin places

Where earth greets divinity.

The psalmist writes in Psalm 23,

"Even though I walk  through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,  for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,  they comfort me.

[...]
Surely your goodness and love will follow me
all the days of my life,

...and In Psalm 30 we read,

" weeping may stay for the night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning. "

With gratitude we know that the depths of grief and the sorrow of parting are reflections of the depths of love we have experienced. 

We pray  for those who grieve, that they will have hands to hold and friends to listen as they pass through their dark valleys

Amen.

In trembling fear he prayed, “Release!

“I have no strength to face this hour,

I need their prayer and yet they sleep.

“My father, hear your children weep. 

“I trust myself in your care.”

May we learn his dependency.

 In Matthew's gospel chapter 26 we read: 

 "Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, he said to them, 

“Sit here while I go over there and pray.”  

He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee  with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.  He said to them, 

“My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here, keep watch with me.”

 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, 

“My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

He returned to his disciples and found them sleeping, he asked Peter, “Couldn’t you  watch with me for one hour?” .Watch & pray that you don't fall into temptation.  

The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

We pray for people facing testing of all kinds:

• Medical tests
• GCSE & 'A' levels and college exams
• Driving Tests

In their anxiety give self discipline and confidenc, realising that whatever the result, all is well and all will be well whist God is near.

Amen.