Christ has no body now on earth but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours; yours are the eyes through which he looks with compassion on the world, yours are the feet with which he is to go about doing good, and yours are the hands with which he is to bless us now.

St Teresa of Avila

The family of God

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love.

Ephesians Chapter 3 verses 14-17 NRSV

Almighty God, holy and gracious God, we thank you for our life together in the family of your church;  for all those people you send to us to love, to nurture, to share in worship, to guide and to help them to grow in their faith;

for the many gifts shared among us as we seek to build up our community of faith;

for the precious lives woven together as we seek to enhance and develop the mission and ministry of your church;

for the generosity of spirit and the love which flows freely through being servants of the greatest servant of all, Jesus Christ.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

The Church, the body of Christ

Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God's sight, and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiri­tual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

1 Peter Chapter 2 verses 4-5 NRSV

What is God calling you to do?

O Lord, you have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from far away. You search out my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways,

even before a word is on my tongue.

O LORD, you know it completely. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is so high that I cannot attain it.

Psalm 139 verses 1-6 NRSV