Offering Spiritual Sacrifices - 7 May

What is the foundation of our lives? Last week we spoke about a chain. A chain is a metaphore to illustrate the importance of having a strong bond to God. In today’s reading we hear of summilur type of illustration, in this instance Peter is talking about having sturdy foundation. This foundation on which we build our lives is that of Jesus, the corner stone.

The letter of First Peter was written to several churches. These churches made up a small community of faith, scattered across the Roman Empire and viewed with suspicion and hostility. What they needed in such hostil inferoment was a was a sense of identity.

In essense our reading is about identity. Once again we are touching on a very heated topic for modern day, and that is the questions surrounding identity. What am I? What should I become? How should I interact and behave? In today’s eara these questions are exstremly important and for some reason very contested.

Peter is communicating what the identity of these scatted communities should be. He advises to put away malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy and slander. Become like living stones that is built up as a spiritual house, to offer spiritual sacrifices to God. Peter encourages the new believers to know who and whose they are. They are spiritual beings, that is that has made Jesus there cornerstone. It is then very beautiful put that they are chosen. In other words, they are valueble enough so that God chose them.

With all the questions surrounding identity in modern times Peter brings reasurance that:

we are acceptable,

we are valuable,

we are capable and forgivable.

God excepts us for who we hare through the works of Jesus and HS.

Therefore, we may become living stones, a temple for God living to his glorry. We may lay the foundation for who we are on Jesus our corner stone and stability.

Coronation

Baptism

Spiritual Sacrifices

Living stones

spiritual house

We are the temple of God

Jesus Christ is our cornerstone

Prayer of Approach and Confession

Coronation

Baptism

Spiritual Sacrifices

Living stones

spiritual house

We are the temple of God

Jesus Christ is our cornerstone

A prayer of approach Almighty God, your Word has led us here; your truth has echoed in our minds, your Spirit has touched our lives, your being is within us. You are more than we see and more than we know, more than we can comprehend or imagine or wish for. You are ours and we are yours, and together, we are your family. To you be all praise and glory. Amen

A prayer of adoration Blessed God, we cannot see and know the depth of your being, but, for what we do see and know, we worship and adore you. We find in you protection, guidance and love. We find in you forgiveness, acceptance and repentance. We see in you a way of living that is right and just, loving and caring. We feel the spark of your Spirit in the depths of our beings and know you to be true. You search us and know us and are forever with us. Blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, as you are one, may we be one with you and all. Amen.

A prayer of confession and an Assurance of forgiveness A prayer of confession Holy God, whose perfect nature challenges and changes us, our guilt weighs heavy on our shoulders. It saddens us that we fail you so often when we: fail our families, friends and neighbours; fail to recognise need; fail to see how we can be the hand that guides, the love that enfolds, the word that strengthens. Forgive us that we deliberately look the other way and avoid the hard challenges you call us to. Forgive us, O God, for our failings, our deafness and our blindness in reaching out and offering your love. Amen. Assurance of forgiveness Your love is abundant, your forgiveness unimaginable, O God. May we hear your still small voice that says, ‘My child, my much-loved child, your sins are forgiven, your slate wiped clean, the weight of your guilt removed. Go in peace to love and serve your neighbour. Amen.

Prayer for King and his Family

Coronation

Baptism

Spiritual Sacrifices

Living stones

spiritual house

We are the temple of God

Jesus Christ is our cornerstone

Almighty and everlasting God, exalted above all nations and peoples, today we seek your blessing upon Charles, our King. Anoint him with the gifts of your Holy Spirit as he seeks to fulfil his calling amongst us. Strengthen him with wisdom and justice to serve the people of this land to the honour and glory of your name.

We ask you to bless Camilla, our Queen, William, Prince of Wales, the Princess of Wales, and all the generations of the Royal Family. Grant to them joy and peace on this day, and inspire them by your Spirit in their work.

Ever living God, you bring us together in our households, our families, and our communities, and you teach us to love one another as Christ has loved us. In these days of celebration, support us in the service of our neighbours, and in pursuit of the common good of our nation. May your will be done in us, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.