Please keep the following people in your prayers this week.
Those who are ill in body, mind or spirit: Rose Ward, Nina Davies, Keith Turner, Amanda Horton, Audrey Jones, Sharon Martin, Gary Walker, Doreen Millard, Lin Walford, Sarah Lunn, Dennis MacDonald, Vera Malton, Heather Walker, John Stockall, Bill Cartwright, Iris Thomas, Rita Hampton, Susan Stanley,King Charles and the Princess of Wales.
Those who have died: Brian Ruston.
OUR PRAYERS FOR 6th-11th MAY 2024 Lord our God, we look to you and to Jesus Christ our Saviour. Continually renew your grace and your power in our lives, that we may have light even in dark and distressing times. Help us to be ready to take anything upon ourselves, to serve you with body and soul, with all we have and are. Have mercy on our world. Amen
Lord God, we pray for your guidance and wisdom in the decisions we make this week. Help us to be a light to those around us and to act with love and integrity in all that we do. Fill us with your Holy Spirit so that we may have the strength to face any challenges that come our way. Amen
Heavenly Father, comfort and relieve all those who are ill, especially those named on our prayer list and whose names were remembered in our prayers on Sunday. Give your power of healing that they may be strengthened and have confidence in your loving care. Amen
Merciful God, we pray for all those who have gone before us and those known only to you. We hold in our prayers Bryan Freeman and Brian Ruston. We pray for those mourning and ask that you send them your comfort now. Wrap your arms around them and hold them tight. Give their weary hearts rest and their minds sound sleep. Amen
We pray for people experiencing conflict across the world; may God’s peace and love prevail. We pray that the Christian message of peace and love will impact the world through the power of the Holy Spirit. We remember all those affected, especially in Ukraine and the Middle East, and ask that you be with them. Amen
We pray for those who work in care homes or visit the elderly or sick; for charity workers; and for the emergency services. We pray for the volunteers who work in the Food Bank. We thank those people who help to maintain our church and grounds. Be with them all and keep them safe. Amen
Lord, watch over all families this week, especially those living in abusive relationships. Amen
Be with our children whilst at school this week. We give thanks that children in this parish have the opportunity to attend school and to learn and we thank you for the role teachers play in the lives of our children and in our society. We pray for students sitting their GCSE examinations and for students doing final revision for their A levels that start next week. Amen
God of compassion, be close to those who are afraid or alone. In their loneliness, be their consolation; in their anxiety, be their hope; in their darkness, be their light. Amen
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen
PRAYERS ON SUNDAY 12th MAY 2024
Lord, on this Ascension Sunday you have been lifted high. You were the servant of all, yet you are above all and beyond all. You were despised and rejected, yet your name is exalted above all names. Fully human, yet divine, you were taken into heaven, yet are here by our sides. Amen
Lord our God, we thank you that we can be children of your Spirit and because you have called us, we receive eternal gifts that enable us to stand firm, even when many sorrows and burdens weigh us down. For you are our life, and in all the darkness, even that of death, you give us light, strength, and joyful hope. We ask that you keep these alive in us. May an ever brighter light shine on all that you have already put into our hearts, on all that draws us daily to you. Help us to pray simply and sincerely, unselfishly and gratefully, remembering the needs of others as well as our own. Amen
God of love, as we celebrate this festival of Jesus’ entry into heaven as Saviour and Lord, we pray for our Church as we continue to face an uncertain future. We ask that you give us all vision, energy and faithfulness in prayer and build us up in faith. We confess our need of your presence and your guidance as we face the future. We ask that you strengthen and sustain all those who volunteer in our church. May we not lose sight of the many and varied needs of this neighbourhood. Hold up before us the vision of your kingdom, a kingdom of justice and mercy, of truth and compassion. Amen
We pray for all families in this community, especially our children. Show us how best we can help them as they face their problems and prepare for life in the world. Help us to establish a relationship of trust between them and ourselves. Make our homes a place where they may find love and security. We pray for local schools, the teachers and support staff. We remember all those young people who are sitting public examinations at school, at college or at university and pray that their efforts will be justly rewarded and that they will achieve what is necessary to move forward along their chosen path. Amen
We pray for people who are ill. Give them courage, hope and peace, and the knowledge that you are present in their weakness, pain and suffering. We pray especially for those who have no one to help them, that in their loneliness they may know you are with them. We pray for those who are on our sick list and name before you: Rose Ward, Nina Davies, Keith Turner, Amanda Horton, Audrey Jones, Sharon Martin, Gary Walker, Doreen Millard, Lin Walford, Sarah Lunn, Dennis MacDonald, Vera Malton, Heather Walker, John Stockall, Bill Cartwright, Iris Thomas, Rita Hampton, Susan Stanley, King Charles and the Princess of Wales. Amen
Heavenly Father, we pray for those whose hearts have been saddened by the death of someone close and dear to them. Help them to experience the comfort of the Holy Spirit. We pray for families throughout the world who have lost loved ones this week both through tragic events and through natural causes. Jesus is the light of the World, a light which no darkness can quench. We remember those who have died and name those on our prayer list: Bryan Freeman and Brian Ruston. Amen
We pray for the needs of this world. Let there be peaceful agreements between warring nations, a more just division of the riches of the earth and a more compassionate treatment of each other’s wounds and needs. We especially pray for peace in Ukraine and the Middle East. We pray for your protection of all those who serve in our own armed forces, and we thank you for their commitment to defend our freedom. God of peace, we ask that you watch over everyone and keep them safe. We pray for all who are suffering the after-effects of disaster, both natural and man-made. Give them strength as they work to rebuild their lives. We pray that the time may be hastened when there will be peace on earth and goodwill between all people. We pray for our precious world, lent to us to nurture for a season and then to pass on in good order for generations to come. Amen
Father, we come to you with a heartfelt prayer for people experiencing homelessness, particularly children and families in need with no place to call home. We ask that you keep them from physical and emotional harm. Fill their hearts with hope for the future. In their struggles and hardships, we ask that you open doors of opportunities for them. We pray that they find chances for employment, options for safe housing, and access to resources that can help them rebuild their lives. Amen
Thank you Lord for all those who help our community to run smoothly because of their jobs, voluntary work or neighbourliness. We pray especially for those working in care homes, hospitals and day centres. We thank all people who work in local charity shops and in the food bank. Amen
We ask you, Lord, to be with all people across the world who are experiencing terrible hunger. We pray for you to end their persistent hunger. Provide the food they need to grow and thrive. Pour out your grace on families struggling to feed their children, especially in our community. Amen
Father, let us give thanks for all we hold dear, especially our health, our families and our friends. May we honour you with our actions and our words and may we extend forgiveness when there is hurt. God of all comfort, we pray for all those who suffer from abuse and ask that you help them to find comfort in your love and grace. Guide them to a place of peace. Amen
May your presence go before us this week and guide our every step. Grant us the grace to live out our faith in your love. May our lives be a living testimony to your goodness and grace. We entrust the days ahead to your care, knowing that you are with us always. Amen
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen
OUR PRAYERS FOR 13th-18th MAY 2024 Lord our God, whose light shines out of the darkness and gleams brightly into our hearts, we want to see your goodness clearly and have confidence in it, no matter how much around us is dark and disquieting. We want to remain firm and full of trust, looking to what you have put into our hearts so that we may come to know you. Be with us with your Spirit. Amen
Grant us the serenity to accept the things we cannot change, the courage to change the things we can, and the wisdom to know the difference. Amen
Lord God, we pray for your guidance and wisdom in the decisions we make this week. Help us to be a light to those around us and to act with love and integrity in all that we do. Fill us with your Holy Spirit so that we may have the strength to face any challenges that come our way. Amen
Heavenly Father, comfort and relieve all those who are ill, especially those named on our prayer list and whose names were remembered in our prayers on Sunday. Give them your power of healing that they may be strengthened and have confidence in your loving care. We ask for your healing hand to be upon on those who are suffering. Grant them comfort, strength, and wisdom. Amen
Merciful God, we pray for all those who have gone before us and those known only to you. We hold in our prayers Bryan Freeman and Brian Ruston. We pray for those mourning and ask that you send them your comfort now. Wrap your arms around them and hold them tight. Give their weary hearts rest and their minds sound sleep. Amen
We pray for people experiencing conflict across the world; may God’s peace and love prevail. We pray that the Christian message of peace and love will impact the world through the power of the Holy Spirit. We remember all those affected, especially in Ukraine and the Middle East, and ask that you be with them. Amen
We pray for those who work in care homes or visit the elderly or sick; for charity workers; and for the emergency services. We pray for the volunteers who work in the Food Bank. We thank those people who help to maintain our church and grounds. Be with them all and keep them safe. Amen
Lord, watch over all families this week, especially those living in abusive relationships. Amen
Be with our children whilst at school this week. We give you thanks that children in this parish have the opportunity to attend school and to learn and we thank you for the role teachers play in the lives of our children and in our society. We pray for all students sitting their GCSE and A levels examinations. Amen
God of compassion, be close to those who are afraid or alone. In their loneliness, be their consolation; in their anxiety, be their hope; in their darkness, be their light. Amen
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; thy kingdom come; thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen
PRAYER FOR ALL WHO SUFFER AS A RESULT OF WAR:
Let us pray for all who suffer as a result of war and ask that God may give us peace: We pray for all of those who have died in the violence of war. Each one is remembered by and known to God; May God give them peace. We pray for all members of the armed forces who are in danger this day, remembering their families, their friends and all who pray for their safe return; May God give them peace. We pray for all civilian men, women and children, whose lives are disfigured by war or terror, and we call to mind in regret the anger and hatred of humanity; May God give all peace. We pray for all peacemakers and peacekeepers, We pray for all who seek to keep this world secure and free; May God give all peace. And we pray for all who bear the burden and responsibility of leadership: political, military and religious; We pray that they may have the gift of wisdom and work in the search for reconciliation and peace; may God grant us all peace. O God of truth and justice, we hold before you those whose memory we cherish, and those whose names we will never know. As we honour the past, may we put our faith in your future; for you are the source of life and hope, now and for ever. Amen.
They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning we will remember them.
A fitting end to our Remembrance Day prayers is Nelson’s Prayer: On the morning of the battle of Trafalgar, Nelson made an entry into his journal and with it the following prayer: “May the great God, whom I worship, grant to my country and for the benefit of Europe in general, a great and glorious victory and may no misconduct in anyone tarnish it; and may humanity after victory be the predominant feature in the British fleet. For myself individually, I commit my life to him that made me; and may His blessing alight on my endeavours for serving my country faithfully. To him I resign myself and the just cause which is entrusted to me to defend. Amen.”
PRAYERS FOR THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE AND RUSSIA Lord of all the earth, be present with the people of Ukraine at this time of danger, fear, and conflict. Grant that wise and peaceable counsels may yet prevail, and give to all suffering nations the freedom they desire and deserve. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen Gracious God, we pray for the people of the Ukraine and the people of Russia; for their countries and their leaders. We pray for all those who are afraid; that your everlasting arms hold them in this time of great fear. We pray for all those who have the power over life and death; that they will choose for all people life, and life in all its fullness. We pray for leaders of the world; that they will be inspired by the wisdom and courage of Christ. Above all, Lord, today we pray for peace for Ukraine. Amen Lord, the situation the people of Ukraine now face is not a new one. The name Ukraine translates to 'borderland' and this nation and its people have seen struggles with Russia for a century. They are a resilient people who live in a volatile area of the world that has seen regular war and upheaval. Yet Jesus walked the earth in a similar part of the world, plagued by oppression and a ruthless empire. Your word promises in Isaiah 26:3 that, “you keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” We ask that the people of Ukraine may be safe and secure; that they will know not only peace on earth but your true and unwavering peace. Amen God of peace and justice, we pray for the people of Ukraine today. We pray for peace and the laying down of weapons. We pray for all those who fear for tomorrow, that your Spirit of comfort would draw near to them. We pray for those with power over war or peace, for wisdom, discernment and compassion to guide their decisions. Above all, we pray for all your precious children, at risk and in fear, that you would hold and protect them. We pray in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Amen.