Father God, you see and hold our past, our present, and our future.
We lay them now at your feet.

We bring to you our past… that bittersweet mix.
Memories to hold, though some leave us cold.
Of all we have tasted, nothing is wasted, 
The good, let us keep; the rest, let it sleep.
What didn’t go to plan, like tracks in the sand,
As tide fills the bay, may it be washed away.

We bring to you our present…
The psalmist longed to dwell where you dwell,
Father we do as well.
We bring you our brokenness, our pain, our fragility
Confess that our hope does not depend on our ability,
As secret spring sap starts to vivify the tree
May your Holy Spirit now fill and flow in me,
Our cold and damaged parts and those afflicted by life’s storms,
Like Narnian statues, be revived! – by Aslan’s breath that warms.

Father we bring to you our future… the way that lies ahead,
Each smooth or rocky road, every path that we may tread,
Like that ancient star of Bethlehem, your light before us gleams
The place of desert drought you make a place of streams,
In you we find our faintness fades, on wings like eagles we rise
Fresh fortified for joy – and trial – that now before us lies. 

For BBC Local Radio Sunday Service, 24th January 2021

Image by Himsan from Pixabay