DIAKONIA Prayer Letter December 2015
This year our attention has been drawn to many areas of concern including:
* an escalation in global fear with the increased focus on acts of terrorism;
* desperate people fleeing conflict and war, seeking refuge and asylum in places far from home;
* the dramatic impact of climate change reflected in weather patterns, and the COP21 talks in Paris with a positive commitment to respond to climate change.
* an escalation in global fear with the increased focus on acts of terrorism;
* desperate people fleeing conflict and war, seeking refuge and asylum in places far from home;
* the dramatic impact of climate change reflected in weather patterns, and the COP21 talks in Paris with a positive commitment to respond to climate change.
Reflect on the areas of joys and concerns in your area of ministry, in your diaconal association, and in your nation/region. Let us hold them in our prayers together.
Reflect on your own ministry context. May our actions and priorities reflect Jesus’ love and compassion as we respond to the challenges in our own time and place.
Christmas invites us again to recognise Jesus, the Prince of Peace, and to remember that Jesus and his family were refugees, fleeing Herod’s acts of cruelty and murder. It also reminds us that Jesus, hope of the world, has a human face. In Jesus, God has ‘moved into the neighbourhood’, present among us.
May the words of this poem (written by my friend Craig Mitchell) be words of hope and encouragement in your ministry, and sustain you in your prayers.
Today God has a human face
Heaven's child in earth's embrace
Blanket wrapping grubby grace
Today God has a human face
Today hope has a human face
New life born in dusty shed
Promise crying to be fed
Today hope has a human face
Today peace has a human face
War zone cut by infant's sigh
From Beirut and Palestine
Today peace has a human face
Today joy has a human face
Angels pointing down our street
Heaven swirling at my feet
Today joy has a human face
Today love has a human face
Prodigals are welcome here
Refugees no longer fear
Today love has a human face
All earth today sees heaven's face
Mystery present in this place
Turning point of time and space
All earth today sees heaven's face
God’s blessings be with you in your ministry,
and may your ministry be enriched by the company of Christ
and the empowerment of God’s Spirit.
and the empowerment of God’s Spirit.
Amen!
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