During lockdown, we have been experimenting with various ways of still being church. One of these has been our "virtual choir". Each week members of the choir and band send in recordings of themselves, to be stitched together into one whole for use in the service that Sunday. This for me is an expression of God's kingdom at work: lots of His people, all working separately and yet together in order to build something that is far more than the sum of its parts. When we recorded this song I put all the pieces into the recording, one by one, listening only to that one at a time. When I switched them all on to hear what they sounded like together I couldn't help but smile with joy. The video is a slow motion view around a valley in Tenerife (you can just see Gran Canaria in the background) and reminds me constantly that I never expected to be living here: God's plans are not always my plans, yet He always knows what he is doing in order to build His kingdom. The song in the video reflects that love, grace and mercy. When sung as part of the "Rock Eucharist" that I used to play lead guitar for, it had more than a passing resemblance to "Living on a prayer". I think that's quite appropriate, and you may notice that I kept some of my guitar solo in when recording this version.
Paul Ganney
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.
Look at the third person on your list.
Is there a way that you could
reach out to them today?
Maybe an email or Facebook message just to
let them know that you are thinking of them.
Pray for them.
Pray for the other four names on your list.