Ruach Breath Of Life

Music: Lauda 2, written and performed by Bill Klein God, give us worthwhile work to do, and precious people to befriend for You. Meet with Your people, Lord, as they go to work this day. May all they do help to fulfil Your purposes in the world. Use us wherever we go today, more perhaps than we realise at the time. Grant to those who work in spiritually sterile places an awareness of Your presence and Your pleasure; a quiet determination to be there for You, rather than a slow counting of the hours. Bless those who are looking for work. Grant them hope and inspiration in their seeking – and joy and success in the finding. Help me not to try to play a role that is not mine to play. Let my heart be transparent so that people will trust me, and I can be open to them. Grant me grace to listen to what people have to say. It’s important to them and to You; And when I do speak, help me to bring Your love and wisdom. Fill the land with godly workers and God-inspired enterprise. Grant vision skill and good

Music: Lauda 3, written and performed by Bill Klein This is an extract from an exhortation Hilda gave her monks and nuns in the seventh Century at the great double monastery of Whitby. So trade with the gifts God has given you. Bend your minds to holy learning that you may escape the fretting moth of littleness of mind that would wear out your souls. Brace your wills to action that they may not be the spoils of weak desires. Train your hearts and lips to song, which gives courage to the soul. Being buffeted by trials, learn to laugh. Being reproved, give thanks. Having failed, determine to succeed.

Music: Vivaldi: 'Autumn' - Concerto No. 3 in F major from The Four Seasons Musicians: Shirley Richards, Suzanne Herzog, Helen Rees, Julian Chang, Jo Garcia Lord, we remember those who have meant a lot to us but from whom we have grown apart. Help us not to resent those who, for whatever reason, appear to have distanced themselves from us. Help us to honour the stand that they take for You, and their desire to seek after You. In Jesus’ name - bless those who were once our close friends and who are still Your beloved ones to this day.

Music: Francis Cummings: Psalm 45 Musicians: Francis Cummings, Cathie Muncey, Natalie Halliday, (strings) Mike Halliday (clarinet), Jane Horsfall (Celtic Harp) James Horsfall (keyboard) CS Lewis said, ‘God whispers to us in our pleasures; He speaks in our conscience, but He shouts in our pain; it is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.’ Lord, we ask that You will come especially close now to all who are in special need of grace: the bereaved and confused, the downtrodden and destitute, and those who are suffering for the sake of righteousness. Father, I confess that my heart is often cold and indifferent to those who are suffering for loving You. I pray now for those whose lives and liberty are at risk for loving You. As you strengthened Paul in his sufferings, abundantly comfort all imprisoned saints this day. Give them strength and health in their times of trial. Deliver them and their loved ones from the poison of fearful thoughts, and bless them, and the communities that they represent, for the cos

Music: An oboe concerto by Marcello and a sonata by Jean Baptiste Loeillet Musicians: Amy Roberts (oboe), Francis Cummings, Claire Lewis Lim, Chian Lewis Lim, Corinne Frost, Matthew Deakin (strings) It’s been said that there are no atheists on the night before a battle. Help us to seek You, Lord, in our times of crisis. ‘I cry out to God Most High, who fulfils His purposes for Me.’ In all our distress You too are distressed. In all our hurting You are present. Be with us in all the unexpected difficulties and dangers that we encounter on our way. ‘I cry out to God Most High, who fulfils His purposes for Me.’ Be with all who wrestle with inner doubts and struggles today, or who are experiencing a sense of shame. ‘I cry out to God Most High, who fulfils His purposes for Me.’ Lord, I am susceptible to discouragement. It is the most insidious of all the devil’s temptations because it severs the nerve of kingdom love and enterprise. Stir my spirit to keep on trusting You, and not to succumb to the pangs of

Music: The Second movement of Torelli’s trumpet Concerto in D (Etienne), plus an improvisation on the theme. Musicians: Philippa Barton, Helen Rees, Julian Chan, Jo Garcia, (strings) James Horsfall (keyboard) Solzhenitsyn wrote, ‘The line dividing good and evil cuts through the hearts of every human being, and which of us is willing to destroy a piece of his own heart?’ Make us willing to face the things we need to face. Help us to overcome evil not just by avoiding infringing specific laws, but by being diligent in seeking You. May no pressures from within or without blunt our zeal for You. Lord, deliver us from evil. Confound confusion and scatter all the powers that are arrayed against us. Increase the flow of trust and the spirit of prayer within our hearts. “No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me," declares the Lord. We pray for those whose days are spent

Music: A beautiful piece that Richard Williamson originally improvised, followed by further improvisations Musicians: Julian Chang (viola soloist) Julia Herzog, Shirley Richards, Suzanne Herzog, (strings), James Horsfall (keyboard) Forgive us, Lord, that we are the generation that believes in our disbelief. There is no limit to the depravity that we have fallen into, Lord, or to the cynicism we have embraced. Are You not right when You decree your judgement against a land that has enthroned ways contrary to Your laws? Yet just as we have experienced Your mercy in our own lives, so we dare to pray that You will look with favour, even now, on our land. Be not a passing stranger or an unwelcome guest, but come as the Bright Morning Star, as the ruler and leader of Your people, and the Saviour of the Land. High King of Heaven Remember not what we have done, Nor all we deserve, But for Your own name’s sake Renew and restore Your people. Send a fresh wave of Your Spirit, And raise up Your co-workers to rebui

Music: Albinoni: Opus 9, no. 2 D minor oboe concerto – 2nd movt. Adagio Musicians: Anthony Thompson, (trumpet) Philippa Barton, Helen Rees, Julian Chang, Jo Garcia (strings) Simon Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, where are You going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I’m going you cannot come, for the moment, but you shall follow me afterwards.” Death is not the extinguishing of light, but the blowing out of the candle because the dawn has come.’ Father we place into Your hands all who are grieving now, who have had hopes or loved ones snatched away. Great heart of our heart, comfort and support them in their loneliness. May good memories live on and vain regrets be resisted. Grant them Your supernatural peace and the confidence to know that there will be new life beyond the loss and abandonment – and that You will somehow replace all that they have lost or had taken from them. Come Spirit of Hope Pour out Your Mercy on us. Come Spirit of Grace Bid condemnation flee away. Come Spirit of Glory Anoint Your people

Music: Vivaldi: Concerto in D minor Op. 8:7 2nd movement. Musicians: Shirley Richards, Helen Rees, Cathie Muncey, Chian Lewis Lim, Corinne Frost, (strings) Fontane Liang (harp) Bless all who even now are waking up on the far side of the world and looking to You. Hold our nation in the palm of Your hand. As night falls and the workers of darkness bestir themselves, Protect our land from their malice and from acts of wanton destruction. Loose each victim from those who send out tormenting spells, From all snares of seduction and bewitching, from lust and depravity, from despondency and despair. May the outstretched hand of the Lord push back the frontiers of darkness, and grant such strength and succour that those who follow You may never tire of serving You. Lord, we follow Your leading now, as You prompt our spirits to pray now, far beyond our place of work or neighbourhood, far beyond our Christian circles and connections, Holy Spirit of Prayer, set our hearts free to follow Your leading now.

Music: From the Oboe Concerto by Cimarosa Musicians: Thomas Herzog, (oboe) Francis Cummings, Suzanne Herzog, Chian Lewis Lim, Corinne Frost, Jo Garcia (strings) In the stillness of my heart, Lord, I wait for You. I long to hear Your voice and to follow You. Help me to recognise and harness those emotions which are creative and to avoid those which are destructive. When I’m feeling angry, let it make me more prayerful – but let it not consume me with resentment or leave me bent on vengeance. Deliver us from our fears, Lord, but help us to recognise which ones need to be resisted and which may be telling us something important about ourselves. May no lack of courage cause us to miss the opportunities that You send our way. Thank You that You guide us carefully and gently. If You had not refreshed us, we would not have made it this far. Help us to resist the many accusations and the guilt which the Accuser of the Brethren sends our way. Help us to overcome the nagging thought that we have nothing much t

Music: Minor Muse by Colin Owen Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness and put upon us the armour of light. Lord, You alone know our inmost thoughts and the true condition of our heart. Overcome our reluctance to seek You and deepen our trust in Your dealings with us, Lord. For where we are tempted to see only difficulties You see a whole range of possibilities. Strengthen our will to serve You, that we may give no foothold to the watching powers of darkness. Stir up a worshipping warrior spirit within us. Where we have difficult choices to make and tasks to attempt, guide us in our decision-making and keep us diligent in seeking You. Grant me the strength to await Your timing, for if I insist on doing things my way, it’s much harder for You to be able to do them Your way. Help us to recognise when evil forces are at work, in our own hearts and situations, in our churches, and amongst the nations of the world. Help us to turn and face You, Lord, for even when evil does strike

Music: One thing I ask; Huw Humphries and Wellspring, ‘Echoes of Hildegarde’ (Improvisation by Linda Entwistle Jesus det eneste (Jesus, the only One, Norwegian hymn); Andreas Henkel, Wie lieblich sind Deine Wohnungen (Ps. 84) Musicians: Wellspring; Linda Entwistle; Mike Halliday (clarinet), Peter Richards (French horn), Teresa Brasier, Hilary Trotter, Helen Rees, Jo Garcia and Anna Frazer (strings), Nicola Gerard and Elizabeth Long (flutes), Justin Coldstream (keyboard), David Booth (guitar), Beth Davies (bassoon), As the waters flow each day into the harbour, so each tide marks a new beginning. We trust You Lord to make this new beginning in our hearts and to lead us on to glory. Let nothing and no one thwart Your purposes, but may You receive the joy and the praise as we become the people You long for us to be. In the name of the One who was, and is, and is to come. Amen. Jesus, lover of My soul, hold me in Your arms. Develop goodness in my heart through the fire of Your Holy Spirit. Keep me alert and watc

When I hesitate, help me not to falter or to hesitate with what You have given me to do, for when I hesitate I give ground to the enemy. Free me from trying to carry responsibilities that are not mine to carry, and from avoiding those which are. Lord, free us from judgmental thoughts and assumptions, that trap us and others in unhelpful patterns of behaviour. Keep us from the pitfalls of pride and peer-group pressure. Confront our selfishness and purify our motives. Forgive the hard thoughts we harbour against those who do not readily think well of us; especially those who are in a position of authority or influence over us. Judge of all men, Fountain of Forgiveness, we lay down our prejudices and our judgemental criticisms. May the grace of the Holy Spirit set us free from ingrained responses which harden our attitudes. Break open such relationships as have become imprisoned in bitterness or deadened by years of mutual non-respect. Judge of all men, Fountain of Forgiveness, be glorified i

Music: From the Oboe Concerto by Cimarosa Musicians: Thomas Herzog, (oboe) Francis Cummings, Suzanne Herzog, Chian Lewis Lim, Corinne Frost, Jo Garcia (strings) Cleanse our inmost desires. Help us to love what You love and to hate the ways by which evil appeals to our senses. Straighten out our muddled longings, Lord – especially those which would make us quest after things which in reality would do us a great deal of harm. Lord, deliver us from evil. May humility, truth and love safeguard us from the evil one. When I see someone who is so much more obviously blessed and gifted than I am, help me not to feel rejected or passed over. Keep me from the sharp pangs of jealousy and envy. I hand these feelings to You now. Lord, deliver us from the power of envy and rejection. Release my heart to weep with those who weep and to rejoice with those who rejoice.

Music: Per Crucem (Taize) Musicians: Wellspring Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence whenever our hearts condemn us. For God is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything. Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from him anything we ask, because we obey his commands and do what pleases him. [1 John 3:18] As we come to the end of this day, Lord We praise You for the grace that You have poured upon us. So many gifts and blessings that You have showered upon us. Thank You for all Your mercies, big and small. Lord, Your presence is strong now at the end of the day. Guard this fragile candle - let nothing put out its light. I hand back to You every hurt that I have sustained, Every situation that remains unresolved and every disappointment that has saddened and weighed me down. Draw their sting and turn t

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Have mercy upon us, O Lord, have mercy, according to Your unfailing love have mercy, according to your unfailing riches in Christ, O Lord hear our prayer. Hear the longing of Your people for righteousness to prevail, and for Your glory to visit our land. May your mercy come quickly to meet us, for we are in desperate need. Fountain of Favour Renew the hearts of Your people Fountain of Worship Restore the hearts of Your people Wellspring of Joy Renew and restore the hearts of Your people In the name of the One who was, and is, and is to come. Amen.

Lord, I focus now on You, with all my heart and mind and soul. Teach me how to rest and play and pray and send my spirit soaring far and wide. Let Your angels inspire and direct me And bring the touch of heaven very near. Watch over my emotions, Lord, Let no wayward fears or longings rule my heart. Capture wayward thoughts and wild emotions Restore my heart to silence Expand my heart to love. Focus my heart on You, Lord, lest it seek wrong and foolish things. Still the darting flitting shafts of longing And fill my emptiness with the awareness of Your Presence. Focus my eyes, Lord, Lest they wander and stray Restrain and retrain my tongue, Lord, To speak words that strengthen and build others up. May no reckless decisions or rash and hurtful words Bring trouble to myself or others today. Focus my mind, Lord. To think Your thoughts and to pray Your prayers. I offer You My eyes to see for You My heart to seek and rest in You My whole being to love You. In the name of Him who formed the eye and planted the

As we know, David faced huge trials at every stage of his life: external ones, for sure, as wave after wave of devastating reverses came his way (along with unparalleled opportunities), but also internal ones, causing him to wrestle with both the challenges that faced him, and his own shortcomings. His perseverance and persistence in seeking the Lord in and through each such tossing tidal wave were what brought so many of his psalms to birth – and in such a way that they in turn have given us a voice and language with which to express our own journeys, turmoils and celebrations. What a debt we owe to this poet-warrior-king, and father of the nation! We are going to ponder here something of the accumulative toll that repeated shocks had taken on David’s hitherto resilient heart – most especially the impact that his son Absalom's revolt had on him, causing him to have to flee for his life into the wilderness. What we find in this track is David deliberately turning from despair to worship. We have set it t

On this track we are taking something of an aside from the literal story of David’s time in the wilderness to imagine David being caught up in a ‘green pastures’ moments, pouring out his heart in love and trust to the Lord as he had done on so many previous occasions in less challenging circumstances, using Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase of the opening verses of Psalm 63 in The Message as the starting point for this reflection. We have set this outpouring of worship to the second movement of Sophia Dussek’s lovely Harp Sonata in C minor, which Fontane Liang plays beautifully for us here.

Learning to worship, and to be content in all circumstances is not something that comes easily to most of us. When we have endured many stern and bruising challenges, it can be hard to pursue and grasp hold of that spirit. Having found, or more probably rediscovered it, however, knowing when to rest in contentment, and when (and how) to resist something that is not right, is a matter of both experience and discernment. (Compare Luke 3:14, 1 Tim. 6:8 and Heb. 13:5 with James 4:7 and 1 Pet. 5:9) One thing is for certain, all who are eager to move in the power of God will inevitably find themselves going through many tests and trials, just as David did – however much smaller out own may be. As the Jewish sage Joshua ben Sirach reminds us, My child, when you come to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for testing. Set your heart right and be steadfast, and do not be impetuous in time of calamity. Cling to Him and do not depart, so that your last days may be prosperous. Accept whatever befalls you,