"Praise the Lord. 
He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; He seats them with princes, with the princes of their people."

 -Psalm 113: 1a,7-8 NIV
 

If you have accompanied us through the reflections this week, you will have taken quite a journey. If you are joining us for the first time, may you too experience a welcome into the loving, living, interactive relationship of God in your life.

We began by joyously receiving the good news of the universal Gospel, wherein we are invited one and all, to come with Jesus as we are, to be a part of God’s family. No one is excluded. We have recognised that whilst God is present with us as we go about our daily lives, it is necessary to also spend some reflection time with God building an intimate relationship. We have also remembered the importance of worship as a community that we may be lifted and encouraged in our faith. Connected with our God, who loves us dearly, we go out and live responsible lives, honouring and caring for all God places in our care.

It seems appropriate to end our time this week by sharing in Psalm 113 which our Jewish brothers and sisters have sung for centuries. It is part of the Jewish Hallel – songs which remind the community of God’s love and interaction with His people and of the people’s response to God.

You are invited today to
• Praise the Lord in a way that best expresses your love, joy and gratitude. It may be through song, dance, poetry, gardening or even doing some good deed to honour God.
• Find time for reflection that you may recall a moment when God has raised you up from places that have been difficult, painful or where you have felt out of your depth. Perhaps God has provided for you when you have had nothing left to draw on.
• In the stillness of your heart , absorb the joy that you are God’s beloved just as you are.

You are enough because you are being constantly created afresh by God.
 

Almighty God and merciful Father,
we give you hearty thanks for all your goodness and loving kindness

to us and to all people. We bless you for your creation and preservation
and for all the blessing of this life; but above all for your love
in redeeming the world by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of grace

 and for the hope of glory. Give us a due sense of your mercy that our 

hearts may be thankful and that we may praise you not only 

with our lips but in our lives by giving up ourselves to your 

service and by walking before you in holiness and 

righteousness all our days;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
Amen  

*Taken from the Anglican Prayer Book pg 94