Westbury-on-Trym Baptist Church

Gathering: Give thanks to the Lord because he is good. His love is eternal.

Reading: Matthew 28:16-20

Reflection: Listen to God’s word to the church

Go, make disciples, baptise and teach, and remember Jesus is always with you.

These are important words Jesus wants us to hear. We have established a relationship with God and maintain that relationship as we would with any friend, through daily conversation. God wants more people to come into that relationship with him.

Therefore we must go, get active in the life of the church, inviting others to join us. We must intentionally make disciples and we do this first by bringing them into the family of faith through baptism and second by teaching them all that Jesus commanded. Each of us should be a teacher or a student.

Difficult times will come to even the best of us, so we must never forget that we are not alone. We have the fellowship of believers to aid us when we call, we have the constant companionship of the Holy Spirit, and we know that death is not the end of life.

He is Risen!

Prayer point: He is risen indeed! Hallelujah!

Free prayer 

Ending: In your mercy, let your kingdom come

Gathering: Give thanks to the Lord because he is good. His love is eternal.

Reading: John 20:1-10

Reflection: Listen to God as he directs your thoughts

One of the mottos of the Reformation was Sola scriptura, scripture alone. The bible is God’s special revelation to us.Reading, studying, and preaching the word is of central importance in the reformed tradition because God speaks to us primarily through the bible. That does not mean opening the bible, pointing to a verse, and assuming God directed you to that particular word. It does not mean picking out one sentence and saying that is the final word of God.

It does mean becoming more and more familiar with the themes of scripture throughout the bible as a guide for your life.

Journaling is one form of listening for God and allowing God to guide your thoughts as you reflect on scripture. Read the scripture passage above, more than once if needed, then think about it. Begin writing about the thoughts, feelings, images and questions that come into your mind as you think about the scripture and how it relates to what is going on in your life.

Thank God for the gift of His word to guide us.

Prayer point: Thank you that you are still there in the confusion and uncertainty of this story.

Free prayer 

Ending: In your mercy, let your kingdom come

Gathering: Give thanks to the Lord because he is good. His love is eternal.

Reading: Luke 23:39-46

Reflection: Listen to God in scripture

Lectio divina (prayerful reading) is an ancient method for praying with the bible. It involves being open to hearing a personally enlivening and transforming word from God in the words of scripture.

Begin by choosing a brief passage of scripture, and a place where you can be quiet and undisturbed in your prayer time. After you have taken a few minutes to quiet your mind, turn your attention to the passage you have selected. Read it once, being alert for any particular word or phrase that draws your attention in a special way. Meditate on this word or phrase, allowing it to engage you fully.

Does the word upon which you are meditating connect with some aspect of your own experience? As you hold this word or phrase in your heart, let yourself become aware of any feelings, images, or memories that arise in you. Respond to the word you have heard, simply and directly. Your heart may call out in thanks, or praise, or joy. Rest in God’s presence, content simply to be with God. Try it with the above scripture passage.

Prayer point: Thank you for these words that allow me to see you as fully human, as vulnerable as I am, as much in need of your Father’s care.

Free prayer 

Ending: In your mercy, let your kingdom come

Gathering: Give thanks to the Lord because he is good. His love is eternal.

Reading:  Joshua 24:16-18 and Luke 9:23

Reflection: Listen to God on a prayer walk

A prayer labyrinth is a form of walking meditation. A labyrinth is not a maze. There are no dead ends or wrong turns. Although highly convoluted, there is only one path leading to the centre and back out again. Walking the labyrinth can be a solitary experience, but you are never alone; you are with God and often others share your path.

Any walk can become a prayer walk. While on your walk, you may listen to God by offering thanks and praise and asking for God’s help for yourself and others. You may choose to contemplate your day or a particular situation, seeking an awareness of God’s presence in it and God’s guidance for it. You may reflect on your own spiritual journey, thinking of your walk as a metaphor for your travels thus far. You may choose to memorise some scriptures as you walk.

Prayer point: What does it mean for you to take up your cross and follow Jesus? Think about your own spiritual journey and give thanks for the ways you have been led. What might God be saying to you about the next step? How is he calling you to follow him?

Free prayer 

Ending: In your mercy, let your kingdom come

Gathering: Give thanks to the Lord because he is good. His love is eternal.

Reading: Psalm 23

Reflection: Listen to God through guided prayer using prayer beads

Prayer beads have been used in the Roman Catholic Church for centuries to guide their prayer life. Using beads can be a way of centring and focusing our prayer life.

You can make prayer beads from any kind of beads or just take a cord and tie knots in it to guide your prayers. You could use multiple beads to count your blessings, for each petition of the Lord’s Prayer, Psalm 23, the Apostles Creed, the Beatitudes, or the Ten Commandments. It is just one way to guide us to listen for God’s word to us.

Prayer point: As I pray I remember all those who have prayed these words over the years and all over the world. Thank you that I can be part of this crowd of faithful believers who know and love you.

Free prayer

Ending: In your mercy, let your kingdom come

Gathering: Give thanks to the Lord because he is good. His love is eternal.

Reading: Psalm 37:3-7a

Reflection: Listen to God through the prayer of ‘examen’

The prayer of examen is a guided prayer in which you review the events of the day and search for God’s presence.

Begin by quieting yourself through a few deep breaths. Think back over the events of the day without judgment. When did you give and receive the most love? When did you feel the most alive? When did you feel the greatest sense of belonging – to yourself, to others, to creation, and to God? When did you lack joy or peace? When did you feel life draining from you? When did you feel the least sense of belonging? What was your lowest point?

Acknowledge God’s love for you, warts and all. Form prayers of praise, confession, and petition based upon your day.

Prayer point: Thank you God. You are all I need.

Free prayer 

Ending: In your mercy, let your kingdom come

Gathering: Give thanks to the Lord because he is good. His love is eternal.

Reading: Psalm 46:10

Reflection: Listen to God through ‘breath’ prayers

In Hebrew the words for breath and spirit are the same word, ruach. A breath prayer can help us be still and listen for God. It is a short prayer that can be said or thought in a single breath. Breathe in, breathe out, and pay attention to the breath within you. Rhythmically repeat one of the phrases below, or choose your own.

Do not be afraid. (Luke 2:10)

I am who I am. (Exodus 3:14)

Be still and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10)

My thoughts are not your thoughts. (Isaiah 55:8)

Peace be with you. (Luke 24:36)

Your sins are forgiven. (Luke 5:20)

I will be with you always. (Matthew 28:20)

Prayer point: In the silence may I truly know that you are God. You are closer to me than breathing. You know me through and through. You hold me in your arms and you will never let me go.

Free prayer 

Ending: In your mercy, let your kingdom come

Gathering: Give thanks to the Lord because he is good. His love is eternal.

Reading: Luke 18:13

Reflection: Listen to God through the Jesus prayer

Part of any conversation is listening. Likewise an important part of prayer is quiet time to listen and attempt to discern God’s will through that still small voice. Prayer invites us to be a part of God’s plan as we listen for God’s direction.

“The Jesus Prayer” refers to a short prayer, the words of which are: ‘Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner,’ constantly repeated. It is a devotion that can be used at any moment, whatever the situation. The main emphasis is on the repetition of the prayer; it can be said while sitting, walking, or working, silently or aloud. It brings us into God’s presence with no other thought but the miracle of our standing there and God with us.

Perhaps this is what Paul meant when he said, “pray without ceasing.”

Prayer point: ‘Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

Free prayer 

Ending: In your mercy, let your kingdom come

Gathering: Give thanks to the Lord because he is good. His love is eternal.

Reading:  Isaiah 55:5-11

Reflection: Bring the need for salvation for those who don’t know God into God’s presence

We are called to pray that all might know God.

God is a gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. We do not know who will be saved by God. God’s ways are not our ways. We ought not to be surprised if we meet certain people in heaven, for God’s thoughts and ways are higher than ours. God sent Jesus to save the world; we ought not to be surprised if indeed that happens.

Pray that all others will know of God’s abundant love, grace, and mercy. Tell them what a difference God has made in your life. Invite them into a covenant relationship with God. Be listeners and doers of God’s word.

Prayer point: It is your desire that every single person should know and love you. May that be our desire as well. Give us the words to speak and tell of your love for us. Let our lives be filled with your love so that people see not just us but you through us.

Free prayer 

Ending: In your mercy, let your kingdom come