Tue 28 Feb to Tue 7 March
Today's Resources
The First Step
Take five deep breaths. Check-in with how you are feeling – in body, in mind, in spirit. Take five more deep breaths and ask God to abide with you in this moment.
The Second Step
Read this week’s hymn verse.
Take my hands and let them move
at the impulse of thy love
Take my feet and let them be
swift and beautiful for thee
How does it describe what happened yesterday, and today?
Talk to God about this.
The Third Step
A reading from Acts 8
Day One
Then an angel of the Lord said to Philip, ‘Get up and go towards the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ This is a wilderness road. So he got up and went.
Philip is being asked to take a step into the unknown. When has this happened for you? How does it feel?
Day Two
Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch, a court official of the Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, in charge of her entire treasury. He had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning home; seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah. Then the Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go over to this chariot and join it.’
So Philip ran up to it and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah. He asked, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’
He replied, ‘How can I, unless someone guides me?’ And he invited Philip to get in and sit beside him
This stranger would not have been allowed into the Temple itself. Have you experienced being an outsider?
Day Three
Now the passage of the scripture that he was reading was this: ‘Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter, and like a lamb silent before its shearer, so he does not open his mouth. In his humiliation justice was denied him. Who can describe his generation? For his life is taken away from the earth.’
The eunuch asked Philip, ‘About whom, may I ask you, does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?’
Then Philip began to speak, and starting with this scripture, he proclaimed to him the good news about Jesus.
What does the good news about Jesus mean for you? Has this ever changed?
Day Four
As they were going along the road, they came to some water; and the eunuch said, ‘Look, here is water! What is to prevent me from being baptized?’ He commanded the chariot to stop, and both of them, Philip and the eunuch, went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.
When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away; the eunuch saw him no more, and went on his way rejoicing. But Philip found himself at Azotus, and as he was passing through the region, he proclaimed the good news to all the towns until he came to Caesarea.
Can you imagine the stranger’s joy and excitement? And imagine Philip’s excitement and joy too. Savour it all!
The Fourth Step
Read this week’s prayer. What stands out for you today?
Father of all, we give you thanks and praise, that when we were still far off you met us in your Son and brought us home. Dying and living, he declared your love, gave us grace, and opened the gate of glory.
May we who share Christ’s body live his risen life; we who drink his cup bring life to others; we whom the Spirit lights give light to the world.
Keep us firm in the hope you have set before us, so we and all your children shall be free, and the whole earth live to praise your name; through Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Fifth Step
Read the hymn verse again.
Take my hands and let them move
at the impulse of thy love
Take my feet and let them be
swift and beautiful for thee
How does this describe what’s coming up the rest of today and tomorrow? Talk to God about this.