Psalm 46

New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth.[b] A song.

1 God is our refuge and strength,

an ever-present help in trouble.

2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way

and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,

3 though its waters roar and foam

and the mountains quake with their surging.[c]

4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,

the holy place where the Most High dwells.

5 God is within her, she will not fall;

God will help her at break of day.

6 Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;

he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

7 The Lord Almighty is with us;

the God of Jacob is our fortress.

8 Come and see what the Lord has done,

the desolations he has brought on the earth.

9 He makes wars cease

to the ends of the earth.

He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;

he burns the shields[d] with fire.

10 He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth.”

11 The Lord Almighty is with us;

the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Almighty God, Loving Father

We praise you, our refuge and strength, an ever-present help, in all times; good and bad.

We thank you that the hope and assurance of the Psalmist – that you are “with us”; the “fortress” for your people – is true for us because of the Lord Jesus. You God Almighty came to be with us in the flesh.

We praise you Lord, for your works; indeed the desolations you’ve brought on your enemies on earth :

The power of sin,

The power of death,

We thank you that in Christ you have defeated them for us.

Almighty God, we confess our sin. We confess that so often – especially in times like we’re experiencing now – we look for refuge elsewhere.

We seek comfort and peace, and assurance from other “lords”, from other things that we believe will provide refuge and relief.

We confess that we strive to save ourselves. We strive to make our lives more “safe”, instead of “being still”, and turning to you for help, rescue and hope.

Father we confess that causes us to do and say things that do not please and honour you. It moves us to sin against others as we take advantage of people, push them down, or put ourselves before them and their needs.

Forgive us please for Jesus’ sake.

Father we pray now that as we gather together around Jesus – wherever we find ourselves – that we’d be reminded again of the power of Jesus’ death for us.

We ask that by your Spirit’s power, we’d be encouraged to trust in the refuge and hope Jesus gives us.

Please send your Spirit to give conviction of sin, and to give us life.

We pray this in Jesus’ strong name, Amen.

Our Father in heaven
Hallowed be Your name
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.

For the Kingdom, the power, and the glory are Yours
Now and forever. Amen.

Father we pray that today your name would be honoured.

We ask that Christians all over the world would through their prayers and witness, bring praise and glory to you; especially as nations, cities, and communities struggle with the spread of Corona-virus.

Father, have mercy on us. Give us the grace to respond to a crisis that is causing fear and anxiety with a confidence that comes from knowing Jesus, and with a servant-hearted attitude that seeks to bring the love of Christ in practical ways to our neighbours and friends. Help us be those who serve and love others well at this time.

We thank you for news coming from China of the way in which the witness of Christians in Wuhan, has commended Jesus to others. We ask that you might do the same through us. Please grant that through your people, all over the world, the Kingdom would grow, as many turn to Jesus for refuge and strength.

Father help us to live in ways where we resist the temptation to be self-protecting and self-serving.

Help us as we face the frustrating prospect of not being able to do the things we normally do; as we struggle with disappointment, and angst – help us to be careful and patient with one another. Forgiving, kind and gracious.

Father we thank you that you care about our daily needs.We thank you that we can depend on you for what we need today. We thank you that you have tomorrow under control.

We have needs in terms of our health and well-being. Father in a time when people are anxious about becoming sick, we pray that you would preserve us and keep us well.

We think especially of vulnerable members of our church community. We think of the elderly and those whose health is already concerning them. We pray Lord that you would sustain them and give them peace.

Today we’re able to experience what it’s like for those who can’t gather with us. We remember in our prayers Elsia Symons. We give thanks for her today on her birthday. Grant that she’d remember your presence with her. Grant that she’d continue to trust in your power and strength.

Father we pray that you’d meet that need we’re feeling – the hope for a cure for Coronavirus. Please grant skill and speed to the researchers who are working for a cure.

Please give our leaders, Scott Morrison and the national cabinet he has formed; clarity about the steps they need to take humanly speaking to manage and lead us well. Please work for our community’s good through them.

And Father we turn to one another – we bring one another’s needs to you now in the name of Jesus. Amen.

John 11:45-57

New International Version - UK (NIVUK)

The plot to kill Jesus

⁴⁵ Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. ⁴⁶ But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. ⁴⁷ Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin.

‘What are we accomplishing?’ they asked. ‘Here is this man performing many signs. ⁴⁸ If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.’

⁴⁹ Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, ‘You know nothing at all! ⁵⁰ You do not realise that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.’

⁵¹ He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, ⁵² and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. ⁵³ So from that day on they plotted to take his life.

⁵⁴ Therefore Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the people of Judea. Instead he withdrew to a region near the wilderness, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples.

⁵⁵ When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, many went up from the country to Jerusalem for their ceremonial cleansing before the Passover. ⁵⁶ They kept looking for Jesus, and as they stood in the temple courts they asked one another, ‘What do you think? Isn’t he coming to the festival at all?’ ⁵⁷ But the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who found out where Jesus was should report it so that they might arrest him.

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