Source: Spill The Beans

Jesus, you are the Son of God. 

Even the wind and the waves, 
the stormy seas,
are calmed by your Spirit.

We might never walk on the surface of water, 
as if immune to life’s troubles,
yet, neither do we need to sink.

For you, Lord, are with us.
Your hand is upon us.
Your love is for us.
Your commitment to us is endless.

Thanks be to God, and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit, today and always.

Source: Spill The Beans Issue 35

Jesus Christ,
you know what it is to be afraid
and when you saw your friends soaked and scared, 
you came to them.

While you were on your way,
you called to them
telling them it was okay to be afraid,
that you were with them on the water.

When Peter shouted out,
so excited and courageous, 
you invited him to step out 
not to prove his faith
but to share your love.

And when the fear started
to beat harder in his heart
and his feet got wet with the waves,
you reached out your hand,
loved him,
and together you walked back to the boat.

Remind us that we are always safe with you. 

Challenge us to make more safe places for each other 
especially when we see other people scared.

Amen.

Source: Spill The Beans

You come to us early in the morning; 
wind howling, waves crashing,
the world unravelling around us.

You come to us walking on the water, 
proclaiming peace when
we feel anything but peaceful.

Somewhere in our fear, 
in our finitude,
we decided that we 
must be water-walkers 
to earn your love.

Forgive us when we step out of the boat 
to test ourselves,
to test you,
to shore up our faith,
our egos, our fear.

You do not call us out 
to test our faith,
you call us out in love, 
to be love
and you are ever by our side.

Comfort us
when the waves rock the boat.

Steady us
when the wind is up, 
and our guard is down.

Challenge us to live our faith 
from grace’s perspective 
knowing you match our steps, 
stride by stormy stride. 

Amen.

Source: Spill The Beans Issue 35

Joseph with his technicolour dream coat 
must have felt so very alone.

Jesus withdrew to solitary places 
intentionally to be alone.

Peter went to be with Christ
and then felt incredibly afraid.

Jesus disperses a crowd
who were nothing but a gathering of individuals.
Gather today with the worldwide Church 
even if you feel alone.

Withdraw with intention today to be with God. 
If you have any fear,
bring it to Christ that he may help you walk. 

As the individual that you are,
worship as you can.

Source: Spill The Beans Issue 35

Lord God,
wherever you went,
the crowds followed,
because they knew that you would feed them
in body, mind, and spirit.

May we gather friends too
because we are known to be kind and generous.
You found it difficult to have time on your own,
may we always have space
to recharge when we are tired.

Help us, Lord Jesus, just like you did,
to always see possibility and potential,
and to enhance the gifts of others,
sharing what we have
and being glad of all that others bring.
So may we love and serve you in all things.

Amen.