Pray : Almighty God, your Son Jesus Christ welcomes us, assures us that we are his friends. We come then at his invitation, at his command. Everything he did and does is to please and honour you, so we can be sure that you welcome us in him. We really are welcome, forgiven, accepted – and there isn’t a catch. Holy, Heavenly Friend, you really do accept us, freely and without any condition except that we love you. Take from us not only our sin but our tendency to want to prove ourselves worthy – and let us be content that you love us and accept us as we are – with all our shortcomings. And being accepted in Jesus – help us to BE his friends by loving one another as he has loved us. Loving some people may be no hardship but there are others who are tough to love. Sometimes we aren’t always the easiest people to get on with. Your love doesn’t distinguish – your love goes deep, goes under the surface of first impressions and image, it goes to the heart. Your Son came not to love those who create a good impression and who tried their best – he came, he died to save the lost, for us all, that we might go at last to heaven saved by his precious blood. Teach us to change: to be changed, by your love, by Easter, by Jesus so that we may love him truly from our hearts, and so that we may love one another as he has loved us. We pray together saying Our Father…

Thought- I’ve been very fortunate with my eyesight over the years. I wear glasses for reading and I get regular check-ups for pressure etc but otherwise am fine. Very grateful for the attention given to other members of the family’s eyes. I wonder whether we give enough attention to “spiritual vision”? We talk about getting the “full picture” – listening to people, maximising the information about an issue so that we are best placed to understand what’s involved and so as to make decisions with the best possible outcome. News of Jesus being alive was getting out and more and more people were meeting him. At the end of Luke’s gospel we have Jesus welcoming the fishermen to the beach, reminiscent of their call to follow him years before. He eats breakfast with them (dead people don’t eat!) and talks with them. He equips them for what is to be THEIR mission – to take the good news of Jesus the Saviour Son of God to all who will hear it. Their eyes were opened in a spiritual way and it dawned on them that God needed THEM to carry out Jesus’ mission. We need to be open to spiritual things, to have our vision opened up – what I’m calling “Resurrection vision” – seeing Jesus, God’s purposes and the needs of the world in the light of Jesus having risen from the dead. It definitely changes our outlook – and offers real hope and encouragement. Get the full picture – ask God for spiritual vision, resurrection vision.

Pray: Lord, your love IS at work in the world. We are rather good at highlighting the troubles and difficulties, the hatred and greed, the lives that are spoiled and broken BUT you are there – you are right at the heart of where people need you –binding up the broken wounds, comforting the dying, working for justice and peace – in the hurt and devastation in war zones, in the refugee camps, in the drought hit lands in Africa, you have access to North Korea and you are among the grieving families in our own land, you are prepared to get alongside those whose lives are really in tatters. You love with an unending love, that does not distinguish between worthy and unworthy – for your love is for us all. Help us to share in sharing your love – across the globe and, perhaps even tougher, in our own community. Lord as we turn to pray for the church and for our community remind us that you are already working in our midst. You’ve always loved Montrose, and you still do. Help us to see your concern for us, for our neighbours being worked out in our midst – to praise you for it and to share in it. So we pray that you will continue to be that catalyst for change that is at the heart of your very being – change that brings the love and forgiveness of Christ home to us, to enable us to love you and others for your sake, that extends Christ-like qualities and kingdom values to our churches, homes, community. May people see that we are Christians by our love. We pray for the folks who live or work in India Street and India Lane.  SILENCE. You love us with a love that knows no limits join our prayers with those of your dear Son and answer them, whether spoken out or offered silently, for your glory’s sake. Amen.

Blessing - May the Lord bless you. Amen.