Words of Light and Hope from Sue Page, Lay Minister

[Try saying these words with pauses and silence between the sections once or twice a day]

In you, O Lord, I seek refuge;

do not let me ever be put to shame;

in your righteousness deliver me.

Incline your ear to me;

rescue me speedily.

Be a rock of refuge for me,

a strong fortress to save me.

You are indeed my rock and my fortress;

for your name’s sake lead me and guide me,

take me out of the net that is hidden for me,

for you are my refuge.

Into your hand I commit my spirit;

I believe in the Sun even when it is not shining;

I believe in Love even when I cannot feel it;

I believe in God even when He is silent.”

[Words written by a Jewish prisoner on the walls of a cell n Cologne. Discovered after the 1939-45 war].

Lord, You know me and love me…

You know my hurts and pains and fear

Forgive my times of despair and preoccupation with ‘me’

May I be aware of Your Presence in this tough time

Open my eyes to catch sight of You in the growing Light, and in the Words I read and hear and say

And in the sounds and delight in nature!

Lord You are here with me now

Hold me in the safety of Your Loving Arms! Amen

One day people will touch and talk perhaps easily,

And loving be as natural as breathing and warm as sunlight,

And people will untie themselves, as string is unknotted,

Unfold and yawn and stretch and spread their fingers,

Unfurl, uncurl like seaweed returned to the sea,

And work will be simple and swift as a seagull flying,

And play will be casual and quiet as a seagull settling,

And the clocks will stop, and no one will wonder or care or notice,

And people will smile without reason,

Even in winter, even in the rain.

A.S.J.Tessimond