STONES

This month of remembrance, we look at stones. Stones are used as markers for our lives, we give stones when we propose marriage, we are buried under head stones and so on. The bible mentions stones quite often, stones are used as boundary markers for the land, they are used to remember also. Jacob sets up a stone to remember one of his encounters with God and makes a promise to God there, Joshua is commanded to build a pile of stones when they cross the Jordan, so that the future generations will ask what the stones mean. Jesus mentions that he too is a stone, the stone the builder rejected which has become the cornerstone and indeed Jesus is the cornerstone of our faith. There are many other instances of stones in the bible and in our lives. We hope that this will be a thought provoking month, as we remember and celebrate. Our weekly themes look at these different aspects Week one looks at the solid reliability of God the Rock, that no matter the circumstances we find ourselves in God can be relied upon. Thanks to Louise McClements who has written the prayers for this week. In week two we are looking at the Standing Stones, there are many standing stone sites in our country and the bible has many accounts of stones being used as an altar at which to worship God. Alex Shuttleworth is writing the prayers for week two. Stumbling blocks and stepping stones is the theme in week three as we look at the relationship between those things we stumble over, which may hurt us and the things which we work through which bring us into a deeper relationship with the God who suffered in the person of Jesus Christ. Week three’s prayers have been written by Alister Bull. Dr Rory MacKenzie has written the prayers for week four and has explored the theme of Jesus the Corner or living stone. Jesus is the cornerstone of the Christian Church and the foundation on which everything else rests.