Hiraeth Community Prayers

Why “Hiraeth Community”? A couple of people have asked me why the name ‘Hiraeth Community.’ To answer that, let me take you back … back to the dark old days we used to call the global covid pandemic. Because, it seemed to me, in the midst of all the madness and uncertainty, that people were searching. Genuinely searching while experiencing all sorts of new struggles. Whether it was people I encountered online or ‘facemask to facemask’ People were longing for something more than, facetime, furlough and pharmaceuticals. I was also well aware already of this word, this concept we have in Wales of “Hiraeth” - I knew that it fitted pretty well with that longing, nagging, yearning that I sensed in others and experienced myself. On my Instagram a definition of Hiraeth popped up on my timeline. This is what it said: "a deep sense of longing for home - perhaps a home we've never visited - a yearning for place or person that goes beyond this existence." And I was like, “Yep, that’s it - that’s what we’re feeling.” Those who believe AND those who don’t yet believe. So out of that, I thought “Hiraeth Community.”  A way of sharing the hope we have because of what Jesus did for us.  Sometimes Christianity can be presented as a cure for all our common problems - but I was learning that it’s important to acknowledge that we live in this awkward space, where we know there is something more, there is something better. We’re certain of it because of what Jesus has done and promised and yet we still pray  “Your Kingdom Come.”  No one was satisfied with the way things were in 2020 - no one is ever truly satisfied with the world, or themselves. Something deep within us knows there’s more than all this.  And for believers, we know who the king is, we know what he’s like, and that just intensifies the desperate hunger that we have for the fullness of his reign to be our daily reality.  So the tagline of this small digital endeavour became:  “helping those who long for home to find their way and finish strong.” It’s funny isn’t it so many people spend thousands of pounds and years of their lives - travelling the world to find themselves … but do we ever try and answer the question “Why are we all so lost???” Each of us are longing to find ourselves, our place, and our purpose - we have a Hiraeth for real identity, real home and real meaning. If I could channel my inner Dai Woolridge for a moment - we’ve all got the longing for belonging I’M CONVINCED THAT THE ONLY THING THAT CAN REALLY SATISFY THAT LONGING, THAT HIRAETH - IS JESUS.  A song that spoke to me in those dark days of Global shutdown was Graves into Gardens - with these opening words: I searched the world But it couldn't fill me Man's empty praise And treasures that fade Are never enough Then You came along And put me back together And every desire Is now satisfied Here in Your love So that’s what it’s all about - Hiraeth Community - for those longing for home, wanting to help people to find their way and finish strong.

You remember the story I hope that you do Of God who created, everything, everyone even you When the God who spoke created, He created it good & mankind could enjoy it just as he should But the problem with people that you’ll soon come to see Is that no one is good, not you, no not even me Who exactly is ‘good’ that’s an important question Answering that is life’s most important lesson Give me a rule & I’m sure to break it If it looks good to my eyes then I’m sure to take it We see this in life as we fight & we thieve & we see it in the beginning with God’s Adam & Eve “All that I’ve made is given to you freely Every fruit, every veg, it’s yours, the lot, really But you mustn't eat the fruit from that one seed No rules but that one.” the Lord God decreed & so they enjoyed it the world they’d been given Living with God on earth as in heaven They ate & they drank & were never in need Living life as they ought, how the Lord God decreed Except until one day when a foe not a friend Came to whisper his lies & God’s laws to amend "Really? He said that, he outlawed that seed Are you sure you heard him right, what the Lord God decreed Did He really say that? In God can you trust Restricting your freedoms, He treats you like dust A God who denies you puts me at unease Take a moment & think what the Lord God really decrees He knows you’ll be like Him when you eat from that tree The fruit He’s forbidden will help you to see. Knowledge of ‘good’ & what’s ‘evil’ proceeds That’s why He stops you, the Lord God in decrees.” Grasp your own destiny, take life by the horns Eat from that tree, look there's no thorns The fruit looks so tasty & ripe from that seed Eat it now both of you that’s my decree” The serpent had tricked them, they bought all his lies Following him not God looked best in their eyes Eve took it & ate & then gave it to Adam & he ate it & enjoyed it but at once a great chasm A divide had appeared, not one you could see Between Adam & God & His beautiful Eve God came to greet them & He noticed their deed At once His heart sank, they’d broken His decree “Not me, Blame her, she’s the one who led me astray” “Not me either, the serpents the one who made us his prey” “He asked if you loved us then why you decreed? What was so terribly wonderful about that seed & now we know it’s not the fruit that’s the problem It’s our hearts, not the rules, our inability to follow the Naked we stand here, ashamed rule breakers Rebelers against you who loved us & made us" They were right of course when they surveyed the scene Everything, all creation had somehow lost its sheen God hadn’t come to dwell as before He’d come to judge them for breaking His law The verdict was labour, hard labour at that For the man the kind that breaks your back For the woman in childbirth she’d know her sentence & death to all people, each one of their descendants But God wasn’t happy to simply hand out that verdict A promise came also, so sweet you should’ve heard it “A rescue will come to you both from her seed” A rescue how wonderful, what the Lord God decreed! “It won't be pretty what He’ll have to do To live & to die before making things new But I promise to you, to the creatures I love We can be together again if you trust in His blood” “Who is Good?” Not Adam, not Eve My guess is that it isn’t you either, I’m certain not me Only one was good & you know Him as Jesus He came from the Father to save us, to free us It was love in the beginning & love in the end Love that created & love that repaired “God Is Love.” I’m sure you’ve heard But that Love is seen in the incarnate WORD Jesus it was who spoke the creation Jesus it was who gave live through oration Jesus it was who banished from Eden Jesus it was who promised to save them Jesus it was who took on our flesh Jesus it was who died our death Jesus it was & Jesus it is It’s always been Jesus, everything is His Jesus it was, that promised seed He’s what’s good, just as the Lord God decreed

Contemplating and meditating on the 7 Cries of Jesus on the Cross recorded in the gospels. In this prayer, a reflection on what Christ has achieved as much as what He said, and we're challenged to trust God in the most difficult of circumstances. Far too often we let circumstances and suffering cause us to turn away from the Father. But Jesus, at the end of it all, knew into who’s hands to commend His very self. Lord help us to do likewise Written and read by Sammy Davies Inspired by Luke 23:46 It isn’t easy Choosing light when darkness surrounds Trusting God When life has been so hard And yet Here walks Jesus Beaten Mocked Scorned Entrusting Himself Into His Father's hands Life is a shadowy place Through which we all traverse Why would we not entrust ourselves to the Father too? Choosing You, our God Is never an easy thing to do Suffering and circumstance Call us, all too often, away from your care But Jesus knew, when all was said and done That You, our Father in Heaven Are worth giving our lives too So, we commit ourselves today Rescue us from the power of those around us Preserve us in the presence of our persecutors Make Your face shine on us Let us experience Your salvation Do not let our cries go unanswered Save for the boasting of our enemies What lies before us In Jesus Is ever so sweet Give us eyes to see through this momentary darkness To glimpse Your wonderful light Amen

Contemplating and meditating on the 7 Cries of Jesus on the Cross recorded in the gospels. In this prayer, a reflection on what Christ has achieved as much as what He said, we can consider how the old sacrifices were repeated day after day, year after year. With respect to those old sacrifices, they were “finished” only to be repeated the next. It should overwhelm with thankfulness that what Jesus is done is complete indeed. And yet we are still longing for His work in us to be completed. Written and read by Sammy Davies Inspired by John 19:30 Over Finished Accomplished Your suffering has ceased Our salvation achieved For You came to make a way And a way You made - through blood and tears How hard we would otherwise struggle To make ourselves acceptable How burdensome the task To make ourselves somehow ‘lovely’ How costly it had seemed to offer again and again How costly was the single gift You gave Once sacrifices were on repeat But this Lamb is enough You hung where our lives lead And in rescuing, deliver us where You are You have set us apart So make us HOLY in our lives You have changed everything for us So LORD please change us There is nothing we can do So put us to the work You have prepared Amen

Contemplating and meditating on the 7 Cries of Jesus on the Cross recorded in the gospels. In this prayer, a reflection on what Christ has achieved as much as what He said, we're given a riddle to unravel. It’s a strange thought that the one who promised to fill us up - he thirsted. In an odd way it could make Jesus less appealing - after all you wouldn’t take business advice from someone who’s bankrupt would you?! But Jesus, obviously, is different. He “became thirsty” precisely because he had come to stand in our place. He became poor in order that in him we would become rich. His thirst didn’t last - and because of His great love for us neither must ours. Written and read by Sammy Davies Inspired by John 19:28 Who knows what it is to hunger? Who knows what it is to thirst? Could God? Creator of all things Sufficient in Himself We certainly do In this world of our own making Where few have too much While many have none at all We know what it is to hunger We know what it is to thirst We know life twisted and broken and emptied out The Bread of Life on offer for us Yet we turn aside The Spring of Living Water But we kneel at another spot How can we be full? How can our thirst be quenched? When we have strayed so far? The rich became poor For our sakes The innocent became guilty For our sakes The One who supplies all things ran out For our sakes If you will forgo all things for our sakes Is there anything that You will not supply? We thank You Lord Jesus For that thirst For Your real suffering To set us free & to fill us up Keep us close to We would choose no other place Than sat at Your table Recipients of Your generous Grace Amen

Contemplating and meditating on the 7 Cries of Jesus on the Cross recorded in the gospels. In this prayer, a reflection on what Christ has achieved as much as what He said, we're confronted with the enormity of what Jesus succumbed to. The One who called himself ‘the Light of the World’ was enveloped in darkness. It is a profound juxtaposition which speaks loudly to those of us willing to listen. Matthew includes details about supernatural darkness, the saviour's silence and the eventual return of the light which make this cry, the question of forsakenness, all the more powerful. The darkness reigned while Christ was silent. But at the sound of His voice once more light returned. This prayer is an attempt to wrestle with the magnitude of what Jesus endured for our sake and to gently call us into a place where we desire His light and life to be experienced more and more. Written by Sammy Davies Inspired by Matthew 27:45-46 Before You spoke there was darkness Without You, there is not No life, no joy, no light Yet into that darkness, You spoke and there was First light, then - everything And in Your light life & joy But we chose something else We chose to turn from You To cling to the shadows Life in the dark is difficult Life in the dark is hard Life in the dark is not what You desire So, You came Not just speaking into the darkness But walking … The Light of the World stepped down Into the darkness we have created The Light shone - but we did not recognise it And darkness schemed, darkness conspired To extinguish the Light so that death might reign In darkness You hung Creation in mourning for its Creator The weight of our rejection on Your shoulders In darkness You hung And silence For 3 hours darkness filled the air And when You spoke it was not calling out the light When You spoke it was despair at what darkness had brought But despair is not the end Darkness does not have the final word Even then the light returned At the very sound of Your voice death and darkness fled And life and light came forth The shadows receded and Your glory shone We had chosen death But You were bringing life We rejected But You reconciled You who knew no sin Became sin So that we could be The Righteousness of God We still know darkness Around us and in us Speak again O Lord Make it flee wherever it is found Amen

Contemplating and meditating on the 7 Cries of Jesus on the Cross recorded in the gospels. In this prayer, a reflection on what Christ has achieved as much as what He said, we must acknowledge how differently He sees us, and our relationships, than we see ourselves and each other. What Christ was doing on the Cross was so massive, so far-reaching, that when its results are right before us we can scarcely believe our eyes. We might call to mind the promise elsewhere that those who give up fields, family and friends in order to follow Jesus will receive 100-fold in His kingdom. As Jesus hung on the Cross, and directed Mary and John to one another, He declared this to be a present reality in His people, the Church. Written and read by Sammy Davies Inspired by John 19:25-27 What do we see? When we look out across Your world? When we gaze upon Your people? Filled with wonder, awe and praise Do we see this place, these people as You do? There is beauty to be sure But so too is there brokenness and sorrow Life without You is a lonely thing Life minus our creator is monochrome at best While our hearts search for nearness, yearn for intimacy Our experience is isolation born of suspicion and fear But You. With vision so clear You see In truth the whole gamut of the work of Your hands A creation filled with splendour and beauty And a people not pushed apart but drawn together We need not fear being alone when we are in You God, our God, come near so that we would never be far off You promised that what we lose in order to follow We will receive back 100 fold in Your kingdom When the world ridiculous us You cherish us When the world insults You pronounce blessing When family, friends, and colleagues abandon us You tell us, “Child of the most High - Look! Here is your household.” Lord give us those same eyes that see the truth in technicolour Give us those eyes that, looking down from the cross Saw what was being recreated in You Give us those eyes to see We pray in Jesus name Amen

Contemplating and meditating on the 7 Cries of Jesus on the Cross recorded in the gospels. In this prayer, a reflection on what Christ has achieved as much as what He said, we are reminded that our requests, though they may seem large, are tiny compared for what Christ has in store for us. Jesus in his response to the thief went BIGGER and sooner than the meagre request. How much mercy was waiting to burst out for us in Christ! Written and read by Sammy Davies Inspired by Luke 23:39-43 Silently You suffered A King concealed amongst criminals Majesty unravelled and exposed What a sight - even to those who hung stripped with You To most a spectacle worthy of ridicule But to some the truth at last revealed How wonderful that You would enter in How magnificent that You would stand in How amazing that You would be our substitute When questions and doubts and confusion abound Your Cross supplies the answers Your love, made broken flesh, the final word Alone we are helpless Alone we are exposed But near You there is hope Cause our faith to grow Give us renewed conviction Make us bold to approach our King Even as we summon the courage to make our requests Spying some small gift on some distant shore You are preparing a lasting legacy to be received even today Grace and Mercy are currency So, silence the mocking in our ears Silence the mocking in our hearts Silence the fear that warns us to keep our distance For You have said To those who come “Today - You will be with me” Amen

Contemplating and meditating on the 7 Cries of Jesus on the Cross recorded in the gospels. In this prayer, a reflection on what Christ has achieved as much as what He said, we are reminded that the forgiveness that Jesus offers is of a different order completely to the forgiveness we extend. The grace of God is this, that before we could acknowledge our guilt or ask for His forgiveness, Jesus was making a way. Written and read by Sammy Davies Inspired by Luke 23:33-34 You have revealed to us the better way To bless those who curse us To pray for those who mistreat You have commanded us To love our neighbours as ourselves With no statute on how they might act But God, our living God, our God made flesh You do not simply instruct and direct But You go before us and have lived as we ought to live When Christ, so innocent, took our place From that place, He looked down and forgave We seek forgiveness when our guilt overwhelms We pursue forgiveness when our failings are revealed Yet Christ prayed for our forgiveness when we were unaware Christ paid for our forgiveness when we had yet to confess Truly that is love To cover over for another Without persuasion or pleading To cancel a debt without application When You open our eyes God To our lowly position, our feeble estate Already the place at Your table has been set Because Christ Jesus has gone before Jesus - Thank You For moving towards us While we were still turned away You command You instruct But, Jesus, You lead the way To pray for those who mistreat To bless those who curse us To love our neighbours as ourselves You have revealed to us the better way And by the Son summon us to walk it Amen