Thoughts for the Day

How lovely is your dwelling-place,
O Lord of hosts!
My soul longs, indeed it faints
for the courts of the Lord;
my heart and my flesh sing for joy
to the living God.

Even the sparrow finds a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may lay her young,
at your altars, O Lord of hosts,
my King and my God.
Happy are those who live in your house,
ever singing your praise....

For a day in your courts is better
than a thousand elsewhere.
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the
house of my God
than live in the tents of wickedness.

(New Revised Standard Version)

*Window of Manorbier Bay in St James' Church.

Thoughts

From my computer I can see dozens of sparrows in the garden, flying from the bushes to the stone bird-bath, and then as quickly hiding in the bushes again if there appears to be a threat; the fluffy chicks tumbling over themselves to throw the water in all directions, or land on the branch of the low tree. Their nests must be in the tightly packed hydrangea bushes. The psalmist says the sparrow has a home, and he longs for God's home - that is the temple in Jerusalem.

This psalm fills me with longing for when we can go to church to worship, but I know for us this won't happen for some time, the numbers of visitors and the age and health of some of our congregation preclude this as Covid-19 continues. However, God does not live in a church! Through His Holy Spirit He lives in each of our hearts, and we can worship at home, either alone, or on line when I send out the service of Holy Eucharist today and every Saturday following (God willing), or join in Morning Prayer on Zoom. We can learn about God through study, and through these Thoughts. We can pray, simply by talking to God and sharing our worries and joys, as we ask for His help. We can sing, even if you have no voice, God won't care as you praise Him - sing any hymns that you know, or look them up on line and sing along. Worship is not just for Church!

Saturday 22nd August, follow up thoughts

Heavenly Father,
You are not kept in by walls of stone,
but live in our world and in our hearts.
As many of us remain shut out from our churches
help us to keep our faith vibrant,
through as many ways as we can,
so that eventually we may come together again
as stronger, more mature Christians.
Amen.