St Peters RC Church Hamilton

“You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion and gracious, longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.” (Psalm 86 v 15)

Unfailing love,

Steadfast kindness,

Incomparable mercy,

Unwarranted forgiveness,

All loving healing,

Faithful promises,

Total liberty,

Continuous help,

Strong support,

Life balanced.

“ ‘Fear not for I am with you; be not dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will uphold you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand’.” (Isaiah 41 v 10)

Favour given,

Grace gifted,

Prayer answered,

Why all of this?

Wherein is the success?

In but one place

Lies the power.

In our Saviour,

The Messiah, the Lord Jesus,

In His †.

“We preach Christ crucified...to those who are called...Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 1 v 23, 24)

Jesus, offering God’s forgiveness

By His sacrifice,

Made real to appeal

By the Holy Spirit,

The Spirit of love,

A total love,

An astonishing love,

A truly amazing love,

A love beyond human reckoning,

A love beckoning us.

“ ‘You are the Christ’.” (Mark 8 v 29)

Love asking us to trust

In God’s every promise

As fulfilled by Jesus.

Jesus is our moral renewal

This education Spirit given,

Makes love its tool.

Holy love is expansive,

An incredible force,

The tower of love

Contributing to overall good.

“The secret of happiness is to live moment by moment and to thank God for all that He, in His goodness, sends to us day after day.” (St Gianna Molla)

Such good, should, could,

Will, if we pray,

Touch many everyday.

Firstly we work on ourselves

To become more loving.

For only by love

Can we act in Jesus’ name,

Ever the same giving of self.

Jesus alive in us,

Is the love of our Father.

“The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want...” (Psalm 23 v 1)

Love which by the Spirit,

Transforms, reforms a life

By holy charity.

Such charity is nothing less

Than the perfect love

Of Christ Jesus,

Risen, ascended, glorified,

Having died sacrificially,

That at the †of Calvary,

Mankind is redeemed.

“Oh, give thanks to the LORD for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy.” (Psalm 107 v 1, 2)

Reformed, restored, refreshed,

We are re-possessed by holy love,

The power to pass

From mistaken former ways,

To newness of life.

Life without sins’ strife,

The Spirit brings Jesus

To believe in us,

By love, with love, for love.

Love is life’s essence.

“Only Love, I cannot love thee, but that I must desire above all things to be like my Beloved. O give me grace to tread in Thy steps and conform me to Thy divine image, for the more I grow like Thee, the more I may love Thee, and the more I may be loved by Thee.” (Thomas Ken 1637-

1711)

Our faith in Jesus is love,

Love is His presence,

For the Spirit of holiness

Whom Jesus sends to us,

Is the Spirit of love,

Sent to us graciously

Out of our Father’s

All loving, evident mercy.

Love is the abiding presence,

The Holy Trinity ever with us daily.

“Because You have made the LORD, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling.” (Psalm 91 v 9, 10)

“Breathe on me, Holy Spirit, that I may think what is holy. Move me, Holy Spirit, that I may do what is holy.” (St Augustine)

Lord of life, Spirit of love, Father of every mercy, our hope, our peace and our joy, the power to love is found in You, comes from You, is sustained by You. Let us pray for faith to increase it, for hope to strengthen it, for

trust to deepen it, for love to adhere to it, for this is Your power all lovingly, ever lovingly offered to us, a love truly life changing, praise be. Amen.