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A prayer for VE Day
From the Act of Commitment for PeaceLord God our Father,
we pledge ourselves to serve you and all humankind,
in the cause of peace,
for the relief of want and suffering,
and for the praise of your name.
Guide us by your Spirit;
give us wisdom;
give us courage;
give us hope;
and keep us faithful now and always. Amen.
Exodus 35.20–36.7
20When all the congregation of the Israelites withdrew from the presence of Moses. 21And they came, everyone whose heart was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing, and brought the Lord’s offering to be used for the tent of meeting, and for all its service, and for the sacred vestments. 22So they came, both men and women; all who were of a willing heart brought brooches and earings and signet rings and pendants, all sorts of gold objects, everyone bringing an offering of gold to the Lord. 23And everyone who possessed blue or purple or crimson yarn or fine linen or goats’ hair or tanned rams’ skins or fine leather, brought them. 24Everyone who could make an offering of silver or bronze brought it as the Lord’s offering; and everyone who possessed acacia wood of any use in the work, brought it. 25All the skilful women spun with their hands, and brought what they had spun in blue and purple and crimson yarns and fine linen; 26all the women whose hearts moved them to use their skill spun the goats’ hair. 27And the leaders brought onyx stones and gems to be set in the ephod and the breastpiece, 28and spices and oil for the light, and for the anointing-oil, and for the fragrant incense. 29All the Israelite men and women whose hearts made them willing to bring anything for the work that the Lord had commanded by Moses to be done, brought it as a freewill-offering to the Lord.
This passage brings a smile to my face, as it has echoes of making things for the Christmas bazaar! However, during an extended time of no services, and no weekly offerings, verse 22 might be appropriate to note: ‘…everyone bringing an offering of gold to the Lord’.
Churches do come across some very bizarre items in the plate from time to time but, so far, I don’t recall any gold. With us all travelling less, the next few months might give us the time to make things for the Christmas bazaar. (mail the office to pass your contact onto the bazaar organiser for ideas)
from Pslam 33
(one day, when we are back in church in casual conversation, ask me why this psalm also brings a smile to my face, since a teenager)
1 Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous,
for it is good for the just to sing praises.
2 Praise the Lord with the lyre;
on the ten-stringed harp sing his praise.
3 Sing for him a new song;
play skilfully, with shouts of praise.
4 For the word of the Lord is true
and all his works are sure.
5 He loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of the loving-kindness of the Lord.
6 By the word of the Lord were the heavens made
and all their host by the breath of his mouth.
7 He gathers up the waters of the sea as in a waterskin
and lays up the deep in his treasury.
8 Let all the earth fear the Lord;
stand in awe of him, all who dwell in the world.
9 For he spoke, and it was done;
he commanded, and it stood fast.
10 The Lord brings the counsel of the nations to naught;
he frustrates the designs of the peoples.
11 But the counsel of the Lord shall endure for ever
and the designs of his heart from generation to generation.
12 Happy the nation whose God is the Lord
and the people he has chosen for his own.