Inclusive House Prayer

Scripture: John 10:16 (NIV) – “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen.  I must bring them also.  They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.”

Message: You may have thought that inclusiveness was something new. I first heard the word in 1993 from our Pastor in England.  However, Jesus’ ministry was based on inclusiveness as He embraced outsiders in the parables of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), and the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-32), during the encounter with the Woman at the Well (John 4:5‑30), and in (John 10:16) where Jesus describes sheep from another fold that will be welcomed in.

During our time in England in 2023, we visited Christchurch Priory, located less than 3 miles from where I grew up.  The Priory’s history goes back to 800AD, firstly with a wooden church, and more recently with the current building, constructed around 1100 AD.

As we entered the sanctuary, we were welcomed by a 17^th Century prayer written by Thomas Ken.  Ken is considered a great hymnist; the last stanza of his hymn “Awake my soul, and with the sun” written in 1695 is better known as the Doxology which we sing regularly at Asbury.  Ken was prebendary (administrative canon) of Winchester Cathedral and Chaplain to the Bishop.  Later he became Bishop of Bath and Wells.  He took on two kings, firstly Charles II, by refusing to provide a home for the king’s mistress (Nelle Gwyne) at Winchester Cathedral; secondly James II, by refusing to support the reinstatement of “Indulgences” when the king needed to raise funds. 

Bishop Ken’s beautiful and powerful inclusive “House Prayer”¹ reflects his life and his ethics.  It is the Prayer for this devotional; there is nothing more to add.

Let us seek to be inclusive and welcoming to all God’s children without reservation, and not be a stumbling-block to anyone, especially those with whom we disagree and those we might have the urge to judge.

Prayer: “O God, make the door of this house wide enough to receive all who need human love and fellowship; narrow enough to shut out all envy, pride, and strife.  Make its threshold smooth enough to be no stumbling-block to children, nor to straying feet, but rugged and strong enough to turn back the tempter’s power.  O God, make the door of this house the gateway to thine eternal kingdom.”¹  Amen.

David Vatcher - see 2 of 2

1.      “House Prayer” by Bishop Thomas Ken.  17^th Century.  Public Domain.