Matilda leads both Morning and Evening Prayer this week, in the season of Lent (marking the 40 days Jesus spent in the desert). Morning Prayer – Matilda reads a passage from Hebrews, Chapter 5, verse 11 – Chapter 6, verse 12. This scripture warns us against assuming we have arrived at a perfect understanding of what it is to be Christian – immune to any influences around us and unwilling to listen carefully, without prejudgement. Instead we are encouraged to be mindful and ever fresh in our response to being Christians; “Even though we speak in this way, beloved, we are confident of better things in your case, things that belong to salvation. For God is not unjust; he will not overlook your work and the love that you showed for his sake in serving the saints, as you still do. And we want each one of you to show the same diligence so as to realise the full assurance of hope to the very end…”

We pray for the people of Ukraine and Russia and for world peace. We pray for wise decision-making and for the moral integrity of all world leaders in the face of evil – most especially this morning.