Prayer: 

O God, make speed to save;

O Lord, make haste to help us:

Make your ways known to me, O Lord

And teach me your paths

A song of praise

You Christ, are the King of glory, the eternal Son of the Father.

When you took our flesh you set us free, you humbly chose the Virgin's womb.

You overcame the sting of death and opened the kingdom of heaven to all believers.

You are seated at God's right hand in glory.

Bible reading:

2 Peter 1: 2 – 4

Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

His divine power has given everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that though them we may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 

Reflection

I am sure that each of us in our lives have made and received promises. I too have made promises to people at various times and for various reasons such as at my confirmation, when I began my working life, on my wedding day and also on the day I was licensed in my role as a lay reader.

Having made promises I suddenly realise that that when we say "the confession" in a church service it is to seek forgiveness for the broken promises I/we make to God and to others, by using the words:

"we have sinned through our own fault, in thought word and deed, and what we have left undone".

In Peter's letter we are reminded that God gives us "great and precious promises" which God always keeps. I just wonder how much better we, and this world, would be if we made and keep "great and precious promises". 

We pray 

Let us unite in prayer by saying a prayer for Ukraine

God of peace and justice we pray for the people of Ukraine.

We pray for peace and the laying down of weapons.

We pray for those who fear for tomorrow, that your spirit of comfort would draw near to them.

We pray for those with power over war and peace, for wisdom, discernment and compassion to guide their decisions.

Above all, we pray for all your precious children, at risk and in fear, that you would hold and protect them.

We pray in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace.

Amen

And now let us each take a moment to think of those in need of prayer and comfort and offer them before Christ our merciful redeemer;  and then end our thoughts and prayers in the words of the Collect

O Lord our God, grant us grace to desire you with our whole heart;

That so desiring, we may seek and find you;

And so finding, may love you;

And so loving, may hate those sins from which you have delivered us;

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen

and finally the words of the  Lord's prayer

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. 

and 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 for ever. Amen.

The Conclusion and Grace 

May God grant to us, to our communities and to the world justice, truth and peace.

May the light of Christ our Lord shine in our hearts

May we keep our promises to God and to other people  and may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ  and the love of God  and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us and all whom we love today and always. 

Amen