Daily Worship

Comment by Alison on 16th Aug 2012, at 12:54pm.

1/8/12 Wed, Armchair Basketball today. Not an olympic sport in the arena of media glare. The tenderness as Elaine positions the basket a few centimetres from outstretched arms, positioning the ball in his/her hands, encouraging the thrower (who has dementia) to see the target/basket. The love which indwelt and permeated as each person was encouraged to aim and release. The love, joy and rejoycing together as the challenge and excitement shared allowed a greater awareness of movement, understanding and sight, giving each of us a greater awareness of the TLC needed. The games change to a beanbag being thrown onto a gridded yellow mat with letters of the alphabet printed in black on it. The beanbag thrown it lands on C, names beginning with C. The man to my left (with dementia) calls out to the others, “communicants”  followed by others calling out people’s names remembered…Charlotte… as stories were told ... of friendship, love… places remembered, Christ remembered, in word and action. The offer extended at the start of the morning to visit/be welcomed into the local church building a few metres away with its beautifully restored beveled old walls with its new interior of lush red carpet such a wonderful space… ...  an exploration, this two way flow journeying together with new sounds, sights, smell, touch and taste - new listening…

Comment by Alison on 19th Aug 2012, at 9:04am.

Reassuring dreams, prepartion dreams, warning dreams, comforting dreams, communion dreams… . All honour and glory be to you Lord.

Comment by Alison on 20th Aug 2012, at 7:30am.

“everything that has the breath of life in it”

Comment by Alison on 21st Aug 2012, at 11:33am.

The tiniest part, listening is often quite beautiful. Engaging in a way, which encourages, inspires, lasts ... Yesterday I did not imagine I would be creating a power point to help a united charge or today designing a poster encouraging daily worship,or tomorrow reaching out in that community, the delight and priviledge it is to serve in so many ways that few know the involvement and what a priviledge to prayerfully be in a place, to serve in ways which leave a humble gratitude in my heart looking and helping. A team where the Lord has said “I will be with you to the very end of the age” Matthew 28v20b

Comment by Hazel McC on 31st Aug 2012, at 5:35pm.

I guess death is just the end of the beginning… and, nothing can separate us from God’s love or those we love.
Thank-you for your prayer!

Comment by Hazel McC on 13th Sep 2012, at 5:36pm.

I often think prayer is like having a blether with a good friend. No need for any graces, intellectual words or spiritual knowledge…just chatting,..and listening.
I think you can pray anywhere, at anytime - driving to work, doing the ironing… at work, or leisure.
..and when I cannot speak, nor say what is in my heart, I know it does not matter, God completely understands. He knows just how I am feeling.
  In the silence,or clamour of the world, the power of prayer is very real.
It is sharing moments with the one who loves us most and will never let us down
Thanks for your prayers on Sanctuary First

Comment by Hazel McC on 03rd Oct 2012, at 6:18pm.

I always think this particular verse is lovely. Jesus does not just ask certain people,  it does not matter if we are rich, poor, clever, witty, grumpy or gracious - Jesus ask us all, each one of us, whatever and whoever we are.
He loves us all.  Maybe looking through the eyes of Jesus in love at others would help our world be a better place.
Thank-you for the nice prayer too.

Comment by Hazel McC on 04th Oct 2012, at 6:40pm.

I so find it hard to keep believing God has plans for me..after waiting for what seems an eternity..nothing seems to have happened….and , I’m getting on in years!
Maybe His plan is just for me to be where I am, be that somewhat alone. Maybe in all these moments of aloneness there is time to notice more, and pray for others.
Maybe that is just God’s plan for me.
Like your wee prayer.Thank-you!

Comment by Alison on 05th Nov 2012, at 9:18pm.

Yes, you see a log Lord, you touch a heart implanting compassion, transplanting a critical thought transforming it to a humbling observation and action. A grafting of your will ln your land, tending your flock. There are many many logs Lord but you, this bonfire night, are kindling faning into flame these logs as we repentantly journey through your grace and mercy. Is this your will Lord to clear the walk way, enabling us to forgive as quickly and completely as we have been forgiven ourselves, your word being a light to our path, revealing the path littered with logs and boulders but the way ahead full of your glory, with uplifted heart, rejoycing minds, energised beings, praising, worshipping you Lord and loving one another with a joy and peace in our hearts and minds. All the parts of your body Lord, appreciating, loving, serving, giving, delighting, tending, teaching, caring, healing, embracing, praising… your children Lord who are ordained to praise not being hindered but head held high with a skip in our step coming alongside one another out of love with always that appreciation in our heart keeping us grounded as you were grounded. Lord in your mercy hear our prayers offered to you with repentant hearts ... in Jesus name Amen

Comment by Hazel McC on 10th Nov 2012, at 1:57pm.

Often I feel inadequate, afraid of things which would probably make most other people laugh. Perhaps my biggest fear is speaking in public - yet, deep down, I know that it does not really matter how awful I speak, if my words do come out in a jumble, if my Scottish accent is so much coarser than that of others present, who speak both intellectually and so precisely… God knows what is in my heart , why, despite these terrifying feelings of panic and fear, I just do it anyway.
For in these moments, I especially trust that God is there, by my side..and, really, there is nothing to fear at all.
For love is so, so stronger than any fear
Thankyou for your nice prayer.

Comment by Alison on 03rd Dec 2012, at 10:35am.

Thank you Kate and Neil and the team who choose the readings. Kate your three prayers “Good News”, “What a day” and “Light” and the scripture reading Hebrews 12 v 1-3, tie in beautifully to preliminary planning, for a creative, joint evening worship service on Joy happening the beginning of Feb

Comment by Hazel McC on 03rd Dec 2012, at 6:47pm.

Thank you for a lovely video with interesting thoughts - “God among us”.

Comment by Hazel McC on 03rd Dec 2012, at 6:50pm.

Thank you for your lovely prayer.
I always think it helps in our journey of life to know that there is nothing that we go through or experience that Jesus has not experienced Himself.
And, knowing that, we also are assured that He completely understands and His love surrounds and holds us close.
Thanks again

Comment by Hazel McC on 17th Dec 2012, at 4:33pm.

Thank you for your lovely prayer.
I think Christmas is such a difficult time for a lot of people, yet, every year, somewhere amidst the tinsel,decorations, hustle of seasonal festivities.. there is always a wee moment, a moment of stillness and calm .Somehow, God’s love reaches us, and the promise that He is with us always in whatever circumstance or situation we find ourselves . The promise of love for all, now, at Christmas, in the New Year .and, all eternity.

Comment by Hazel McC on 24th Dec 2012, at 4:57pm.

Thank you for your lovely prayer.
Wishing all on Sanctuary First a peaceful, happy Christmas and a 2013 filled with love,hope and joy.

Comment by Hazel McC on 01st Jan 2013, at 10:12am.

Dear Sanctuary First Folk - Thank you for all your encouragements, prayers and togetherness that is shared on Sanctuary First- it is a lovely place to be….and wishing you a good 2013 filled with unexpected delights, peace, hope and love.

Comment by Hazel McC on 12th Jan 2013, at 8:36pm.

Thank you for your lovely prayer, Liz.

Comment by Hazel McC on 18th Jan 2013, at 7:10pm.

Thank you for your lovely blessings and wishes.
May all in Sanctuary First have a blessed 2013 too - a year full of hope, joy and peacefulness.

Comment by Hazel McC on 20th Jan 2013, at 9:08am.

Thank you for such a nice prayer.
Sometimes it does feel that our time is different from God’s time ...and, I often forget that wishing that things would happen just that bit quicker!
So good to know that our times, fears, hopes and wishes dearest to our hearts are all in God’s hands and He will never let us down.

Comment by Hazel McC on 23rd Jan 2013, at 6:43pm.

Ann - enjoying your stories about real and very precious people.
GCM is dear to my heart - so it is lovely to hear about those personalities you have met on your travels.
Thank-you!