Prayer For the City
Those in poverty: Demonstrate
This devotional is written by Jenny Peters. Jenny and John moved to St Mary’s in 2000. Jenny now runs Connected Lives. She has a go at most things but could only be described as exceptional at parallel parking.
Reflection
Jesus was born into and died in poverty. When he was a young child his family was forced to flee the country of his birth because of atrocities perpetuated by those in authority. This passage in Luke, is where Jesus uses this passage from Isaiah to lay out as his manifesto for his earthly ministry at its inception in the synagogue at Nazareth. In it he proclaims good news to the poor, freedom for the prisoners, recovery of sight for the blind, the release of the oppressed and 'the year of the Lord’s favour'. While there are definite spiritual implications to all of these things (we are all sinners in need of his mercy and therefore spiritually poor etc) defining these things purely in spiritual terms is too narrow and doesn’t fit in with the rest of the Bible. Jesus himself preached the importance of the kingdom of God over earthly wealth and influence. He also spent time with those excluded or shunned by mainstream society, paying very little attention to those in power and authority, both temporal and spiritual. Jesus cared deeply about the economically poor and the spiritually poor.
As Christians we are called to imitate Jesus. At St Mary's we show our care for the spiritually poor by praying for and having conversations with friends, family and colleagues about Jesus (and maybe even inviting them to an event such as The Life Supper, which is looming as I write.) We show our care for the economically poor and oppressed by things we do directly (e.g. homeless meals or mentoring at local schools) and by joining in with local charities (e.g. Westminster Food Bank, Westminster CAP centre or a safe house for trafficked women. If you would like to be involved in any of these areas then please go to the social action tab on the church website and you’ll find out all the different ways that you too can bring good news to the poor.
As Christians we are called to imitate Jesus. At St Mary's we show our care for the spiritually poor by praying for and having conversations with friends, family and colleagues about Jesus (and maybe even inviting them to an event such as The Life Supper, which is looming as I write.) We show our care for the economically poor and oppressed by things we do directly (e.g. homeless meals or mentoring at local schools) and by joining in with local charities (e.g. Westminster Food Bank, Westminster CAP centre or a safe house for trafficked women. If you would like to be involved in any of these areas then please go to the social action tab on the church website and you’ll find out all the different ways that you too can bring good news to the poor.
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2019
January
John the Baptist prepares the wayJesus announces the good newsJesus heals manyJesus forgives and healsJesus heals on the SabbathParable of the sowerLamp on a standJesus restores a demon possessed manJesus raises a dead girl and heals a sick womanA prophet without honourJohn the Baptist beheadedJesus feeds the five thousandJesus walks on waterThat which defiles
February
Faith of the Syro-phonecian womanFeeding 4000Jesus heals a blind man at BethsaidaTransfigurationJesus heals a boy possessed by an impure spiritJesus predicts his death a second timeDivorceThe rich and the kingdom of GodJesus predicts his death a third timeBlind Bartimaeus receives his sightJesus comes to Jerusalem as kingJesus curses a fig tree and clear the templeThe authority of Jesus questionedPaying tax to CaesarThe greatest commandmentThe destruction of the temple
March
June
July
A Fellowship of DifferenceLove your neighbourLove your enemyNeither Jew nor GentilePray for PrideEphesians 6:10-13Ephesians 6:14Ephesians 6:15Ephesians 6:16Ephesians 6:17Ephesians 6:18-20LoveLove, for the day is nearLove is patientGod is loveCreationSabbathThe Lord does not grow wearyPsalm 23Come all you who are wearyBe stillJesus asleep in the boatQuiet you with love
August
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September
October
A Brief Skim Through the BibleA Brief Skim Through the BibleA Brief Skim Through the BibleA Brief Skim Through the BibleA Brief Skim Through the BibleA Brief Skim Through the BibleBack very soonSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the MountSermon on the Mount
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