16th March 2022

A thought from George Ford

‘Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.’ Romans 12:21

Reflection

Whenever we witness evil of any kind it easy to sense its strength and to feel helpless, but St Paul writing to the Roman Christians urges them not to be overcome by it, but to overcome it with good. We have seen immense good amongst the evil of recent weeks. Those many small acts of kindness, encouragement, support and generosity bolstering people efforts amid upturned lives as we continue to seek for God’s love peace and justice to prevail.

Prayer

Almighty God and Heavenly Father we continue to hold before you the upturned and displaced people of Ukraine. We praise and thank you for the many acts of kindness, help, support and generosity towards them in their suffering, and we continue to pray for your peace, mercy and justice to prevail there once more. Amen.

Worship

Beauty for brokenness, hope for despair, Lord in your suffering world this is our prayer: Bread for the children, Justice, joy, peace; Sunrise to sunset your kingdom increase! God of the poor, friend of the weak, give us compassion we pray: melt our cold hearts, let tears fall like rain ; come change our love from a spark to a flame.

Refuge from cruel wars , havens from fear, Cities for sanctuary, freedoms to share; Peace to the killing-fields, scorched earth to green, Christ for the bitterness, His cross for the pain. God of the poor, friend of the weak, give us compassion we pray: melt our cold hearts, let tears fall like rain ; come change our love from a spark to a flame. (Graham Kendrick 1993)