Bible Reading and Prayer

As part of Christian living and practice people are encouraged to develop the discipline or habit of regular Bible reading and prayer.

Loving God help us to remember that you are here with us.
May we listen to your word as we read and may we pray to you in faith.

                                                Bible Reading

The following weekly pattern of Bible readings are as suggested by the Revised Common Lectionary which is a book of church Bible readings that operates on a 3 year cycle.There are readings from the Old Testament including a Psalm and readings from the New Testament including the Gospels.

For ease of convenience the readings will change every 3 months in line with our Quarterly Plan. 

December   4: Isaiah 40: 1-11. Psalm 85: 1-2 & 8-13.
                       2 Peter 3: 8-15a. Mark 1: 1-8
                 11: Isaiah 61: 1-4 & 8-11. Psalm 126.
                       1 Thessalonians 5: 16-24. John 1: 6-8 & 19-28.
                 18: 2 Samuel 7: 1-11 & v16. Psalm 89: 1-4 & 19-26.
                       Romans 16: 25-27. Luke 1: 26-38 & 47-55.
                 25: Isaiah 52: 7-10. Psalm 98.
                       Hebrews 1: 1-4 & 5-12. John 1: 1-14.

January      1:  Jeremiah 31: 7-14. Psalm 147: 12-20.
                       Ephesians 1: 3-14. John 1: 10-18.
                   8: Genesis 1: 1-5. Psalm 29
                       Acts 19: 1-7. Mark 1: 4-11.
                 15: 1 Samuel 3: 1-10. Psalm 139: 1-6 & 13-18.
                       1 Corinthians 6: 12-20. John 1: 43-51
                 22: Jonah 3: 1-5 & v10. Psalm 62: 5-12.
                       1 Corinthians 7: 29-31. Mark 1: 14-20.
                 29: Deuteronomy 18: 15-20. Psalm 111.
                       1 Corinthians 8: 1-13. Mark 1: 21-28

February     5: Isaiah 40: 21-31. Psalm 147: 1-11 & v20c.
                       1 Corinthians 9: 16-23. Mark 1: 29-39
                  12: 2 Kings 5: 1-14. Psalm 30.
                       1 Corinthians 9: 24-27. Mark 1: 40-45
                  19: 2 Kings 2: 1-12. Psalm 50: 1-6.
                        2 Corinthians 4: 3-6. Mark 9: 2-9
                  26: Genesis 9: 8-17. Psalm 25: 1-10
                        1 Peter 3: 18-22. Mark 1: 9-15  

Prayer

Circuit Prayer Meetings
There will be a time of prayer before each Circuit Meeting from 6.45pm.

In Christian tradition prayer has taken many forms but with a definite structure even if only a single sentence. The following prayers may be helpful.

In the Morning
Lord my God, as with all creation i offer you the life of this new day. Give me grace to love and serve you to the praise of Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.

In the Evening
Lord my God, at the ending of this day and in the darkness and silence of the night, cover me with healing and forgiveness that i may take my rest in peace. Through Jesus Christ my Lord. Amen.

The Lords Prayer
 (one version)
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

Of Thanksgiving
We thank you God for you are gracious. You have loved us from the beginning and you remember us in times of trouble and of happiness.
We thank you God for you came to us in Jesus Christ who has redeemed the world and saves us from our sins.
We thank you God for you have sent your Holy Spirit who comforts us and leads us into all truth. Amen.

Of Confession
Loving God i have sinned against you in what i have thought, said and done.
I have not loved you with my whole heart. i have not loved others as myself. 
I am truly sorry. Forgive me for the sake of your Son, Jesus Christ my Lord, that i may serve you in newness of life, to the glory of your name. Amen.

For Others
Let us offer our prayer with all God's people through Jesus Christ our Lord who ever lives to pray for us.  We pray for the needs of the world........
                                               We pray for justice and peace......
                                               We pray for the Church.......
                                               We pray for all in trouble or distress......
                                               We pray for the ill, lonely or bereaved....
                                               We pray for new beginnings.....
                                               Your kingdom come. Your will be done. Amen.

For the Bible
Blessed Lord, who caused all holy scriptures to be written for our learning. Help us to hear them, read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them. That through patience and the comfort of your holy word we may embrace and ever hold fast the hope of eternal life which you have given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Covenant
God of grace, through the mediation of your Son, you call us into a new covenant. Help us therefore to draw near with faith and join ourselves in a perpetual covenant with you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Lent
Our Saviour Jesus came from heaven to be the bread which gives life to the world. Gracious Father give us this bread, that Christ may live in us and we in him. Amen.

A Blessing
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen.