Praying for NEXUS Scotland
8. Sharing the Future
8.1 Walking Together
A body isn't just a single part
blown up into something huge.
It's all the different-but-similar parts
arranged and functioning together.
(1 Corinthians 12: 14)
When the roadway runs out,
and we have to follow a vision instead,
travel with us, O God.
When only our footsteps can bless,
the roads not yet taken,
travel with us, O Saviour.
When dreams call us,
towards the pathways only yet imagined,
travel with us, O Spirit.
And may we walk the future
that curves with heaven,
gathers us in,
and calls us on again,
to journey,
towards a community called life,
and a neighbourhood called grace,
and a street called justice,
and a God called love.
Travel with us,
O God,
O Saviour,
O Spirit,
together.
Amen.
8.2 Celebrating Together
And all the believers lived
in a wonderful harmony,
holding everything in common.
They sold whatever they owned
and pooled their resources
so that each person's need was met.
(Acts 2: 44)
May we celebrate together:
in laughter and in feasting,
in sharing with the hungry and holding the lonely,
in learning something new and sharing the enthusiasm.
May we celebrate together:
in telling a story never too tired to tell,
in building a community that reshapes who we are,
in sharing a journey we wouldn’t go on alone.
May we celebrate together:
in learning from each other about ourselves,
in finding a new vision we’d never grasp on our own,
in breaking the bread and then giving it away.
May we celebrate together:
in listening to what belief does in the lives of others,
in offering what belief has done in ourselves,
in letting belief change what we never expected.
May we celebrate together:
in following you, O God of creation,
in sharing your word, O Word of heaven,
in journeying with you, O Spirit of life.
May we celebrate together,
and find you there.
Amen.
8.3 Eating Together
Don't waste your energy
striving for perishable food like that.
Work for the food that sticks with you,
food that nourishes your lasting life.
(John 6: 27)
As bread breaks,
and light breaks through,
and the membrane of heaven
is fractured once more,
may we remember you.
As wine is poured,
and truth is set free,
and the covenant of heaven
spills towards the world,
may we do this in your name.
As table is set,
and the host is readied,
and the meal of heaven
is set for the world,
may we share the gifts together.
As the community gathers,
as the story is retold,
and the word of heaven
is unleashed in the world,
may we speak of love.
In every morsel,
on every table,
in each community,
may you be waiting for us,
gathering us in,
to something much bigger,
than we have yet tasted.
Amen.
8.4 Brothers and Sisters in Christ
Bless the Marthas who work,
and the Marys who listen;
the Peters who follow,
and the Thomases who question.
Bless the Pauls who change,
and the Daniels who don’t;
the Zacchaeuses who climb,
and the Prodigals who return.
Bless the Samaritans who help,
and the Bartimaeuses who shout;
the Miriams who prophecy,
and the Sarahs who laugh.
Bless the Moses who stutter,
and the Abrahams who count stars;
the children who share,
and the women who anoints.
Bless the Simeons who wait,
and the Josephs who trust;
the Isaiahs who see,
and the Hoseas who speak.
Bless the Josephs
and the Davids who lead;
the Samuels who hear,
and the Marks who travel.
Bless this family that we are,
called the children of God,
and bless all the brothers and sisters
of you, our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Amen.
NEXUS Scotland 2007
23-25 August 2007
SECC
Glasgow
Scottish
Christian Resources Exhibition
