Quiet Space: Sunday 19 April 2020
“A Sound of sheer silence” - Reflection on Elijah’s journey as he flees from Jezebel
Welcome to Quiet Space!
Take time to quieten yourself, light a candle and move into the Quiet Space.
Opening Reflection
The desert always waits,
ready to let us know who we are -
the place of self discovery.
And whilst we fear, and rightly,
the loneliness and emptiness, and harshness,
we forget the angels
whom we cannot see for our blindness
but who come when God decides
that we need their help;
when we are ready
for what they can give us. Ruth Burgess ‘Eggs and Ashes’
Spend a few moments reflecting on these words: perhaps with Covid19 we might feel we are in a desert place
Bible Reading: 1 Kings 9-13
Elijah was fleeing for his life into the wilderness and fell asleep under a tree. An angel touched him and told him to eat and there was food and water. This strengthened him and he walked to Mt Horeb, the Mountain of God.
“At that place he came to a cave, and spent the night there. Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”. He answered , “I have been very zealous for the Lord, the God of hosts, for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.
He said, “ Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pierces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. When Elijah heard it he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, “What are you doing here Elijah?”
Quiet Reflection
We are not physically in the desert or in a cave, but having to “Stay at home” might feel like that at times. Reflect on how we are using the time and seek a ‘sound of sheer silence’ and be open to the Presence of God.
Prayer for others and for ourselves and then join together in the Lord’s Prayer
Then you are invited to say or sing “Be still for the presence of the Lord, the Holy One is here”
Be still for the presence of the Lord, the holy One, is here
Come bow before him now with reverence and fear
In him no sin is found, we stand on holy ground
Be still, for the presence of the Lord, the holy One is here
Be still, for the glory of the Lord is shining all around
he burns with holy fire, with splendour he is crowned
How awesome is the sight our radiant king of light
Be still, for the glory of the Lord is shining all around
Be still, for the power of the Lord is moving in this place
He comes to cleanse and heal, to minister his grace
No work too hard for him, in faith receive from him
Be still, for the power of the Lord is moving in this place
Closing Prayer
God of the journey, as we travel on
alert us to the things that matter
and open our eyes to every sign of your presence.
Give us a sense of direction.
or at least a sense of purpose,
a sense of wonder.
a sense that in everything,
you are walking with us step by step.
gently leading us to the heart of things Brian Woodcock
Final Prayer
God with us protecting,
the Lord with us directing,
the Spirit with us strengthening
for ever and for evermore.
Amen
Image: Musée des Beaux-Arts de Valenciennes / Public domain