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, Colin Breakwell, Jean Hodgetts, Amanda Horton, Audrey Jones, Revd Peter Rainsford, Claire Woodland, James Davis, Louise Calloway, Malcolm Wright, Sharon Martin, Gary Walker, Farrah Hunter-Coley, Derek Whitty and Sharon Drinkwater
Those who have died:
Those who are ill in body, mind or spirit:
Rose Ward, Nina Davies, Keith Turner, Colin Breakwell, Jean Hodgetts, Amanda Horton, Audrey Jones, Revd Peter Rainsford, Claire Woodland, James Davis, Louise Calloway, Malcolm Wright, Sharon Martin, Gary Walker, Farrah Hunter-Coley, Derek Whitty and Sharon Drinkwater
Those who have died:
OUR PRAYERS ON MONDAY 24th JANUARY
Lord our God, we thank you for giving us your love, for letting us draw nearer to what is right and good. May your Spirit penetrate everywhere, overcoming what is false and helping people everywhere to understand the true nature of your justice. Guard us on all our ways. Protect us when our bodies and our lives are worn down by sickness and distress of every kind. Amen
Lord, we pray for all those involved in the shaping of young lives and ask that you keep them and our children safe whilst in school, college or university. Amen
Heavenly Father, we lift up all those who are facing illness. Give them the hope and courage they need today. Comfort their pain, calm their fears, and surround them with your peace. Amen
Lord, we remember those who have died and gone before us, marked with the sign of faith. May those who sleep in Christ, find in your presence: light, happiness and peace. Through Christ our Lord. Amen
Keep us, good Lord, under the shadow of your mercy in this time of uncertainty and distress. Sustain and support the anxious and fearful and lift up all who are brought low; that we may rejoice in your comfort knowing that nothing can separate us from your love in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen
Merciful God, we ask for special mercy this day for those crushed by poverty. We pray that those in the shadow of starvation may see the light of your presence in the form of life-sustaining food. Amen
Today's prayer from the Church of England:
Almighty God, whose Son revealed in signs and miracles the wonder of your saving presence: renew your people with your heavenly grace, and in all our weakness sustain us by your mighty power; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen
WEEKLY PRAYERS (16th-21st January)
Dear Father in Heaven, we thank you for giving our hearts hope for your kingdom, the kingdom of God. We thank you that we may draw strength from this hope, find new youthfulness and courage. Protect this vision and help us when we fail. We are in your hands and no one shall snatch this joy from our hearts. Amen
Prayers for our church:
Father, we thank you that we can come to you in prayer. We are comforted to know that you hear us and that you answer our prayers. Help us be content with the answers and help us to humble ourselves in our time of need. We pray for our church family and ask that you strengthen and comfort them Lord. Amen
OUR PRAYERS FOR THE SICK AND THOSE WHO HAVE DIED
Those who are ill in body, mind or spirit:
Rose Ward, Nina Davies, Keith Turner, Colin Breakwell, Jean Hodgetts, Amanda Horton, Audrey Jones, Revd Peter Rainsford, Claire Woodland, James Davis, Louise Calloway, Malcolm Wright, Sharon Martin, Gary Walker, Farrah Hunter-Coley, Derek Whitty and Sharon Drinkwater.
God of mercy, look kindly on these people in their suffering. When Jesus was on earth, they brought the sick to him and he healed them all. Today we ask you to bless all those in sickness, in weakness and in pain. Ease their burden and make their faith strong that they may always have confidence and trust in your care. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God. Amen
For those known only to you who have died, we pray:
God our Father, those who die still live in your presence, their lives change but do not end. We pray in hope for our families, relatives and friends and for all the dead known to you alone. In company with Christ, who died and now lives, may they rejoice in your kingdom, where all our tears are wiped away. Unite us together again in one family, to sing your praise forever and ever. Amen
For the bereaved, we pray:
Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” We pray today for those mourning; send them your comfort now. Wrap your arms around them and hold them tight. Shower your comfort on them. Lord, please keep and carry these precious people in their sadness and loss. Cover them with your great wings of love, give their weary hearts rest and their minds sound sleep. Lord, lift their eyes so that they may catch a glimpse of eternity and be comforted by the promise of heaven. Amen
For the hungry and the Food Bank:
Lord, we pray for our local Food Bank volunteers who help feed the poor and hungry. You made us to know what hunger is, but also to know the goodness of your provision. We pray for those who share this earth with us, but for whom hunger is a crippling, life-threatening danger. We pray for those who have nothing and have too little to eat. Amen
We pray for all the generous people we have in our community who have donated food to the Food Bank. May God protect you and keep you safe during this uncertain time. Amen
We remember those who are struggling:
Loving God, we pray today for those who are confronted by homelessness, sadness, ambiguity, isolation, the confusion of mental illness and dementia. We think of those upon whom they depend for attention and compassionate care. Look with mercy on all whose afflictions bring them weakness, distress, confusion or isolation. Provide for them homes of dignity and peace; give to them understanding helpers and the willingness to accept help. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Prayers for all of us:
We lift to God those we hold in our hearts – praying for their health, their well-being and their sense of hope. We ask for God’s help in our communication, our connection and our caring. Amen
Lord, have mercy on those who hold anger or resentment in their hearts which prevent them from fullness of life; help those who find it hard to forgive others or themselves; give your healing to those who carry the wounds of broken relationships or bereavement. Amen
Today's prayer from the Church of England:
God of all mercy, your Son proclaimed good news to the poor, release to the captives and freedom to the oppressed: anoint us with your Holy Spirit and set all your people free to praise you in Christ our Lord. Amen
Prayers for our church:
Father, we thank you that we can come to you in prayer. We are comforted to know that you hear us and that you answer our prayers. Help us be content with the answers and help us to humble ourselves in our time of need. We pray for our church family and ask that you strengthen and comfort them Lord. Amen
OUR PRAYERS FOR THE SICK AND THOSE WHO HAVE DIED
Those who are ill in body, mind or spirit:
Rose Ward, Nina Davies, Keith Turner, Colin Breakwell, Jean Hodgetts, Amanda Horton, Audrey Jones, Revd Peter Rainsford, Claire Woodland, James Davis, Louise Calloway, Malcolm Wright, Sharon Martin, Gary Walker, Farrah Hunter-Coley, Derek Whitty and Sharon Drinkwater.
God of mercy, look kindly on these people in their suffering. When Jesus was on earth, they brought the sick to him and he healed them all. Today we ask you to bless all those in sickness, in weakness and in pain. Ease their burden and make their faith strong that they may always have confidence and trust in your care. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God. Amen
For those known only to you who have died, we pray:
God our Father, those who die still live in your presence, their lives change but do not end. We pray in hope for our families, relatives and friends and for all the dead known to you alone. In company with Christ, who died and now lives, may they rejoice in your kingdom, where all our tears are wiped away. Unite us together again in one family, to sing your praise forever and ever. Amen
For the bereaved, we pray:
Jesus said, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” We pray today for those mourning; send them your comfort now. Wrap your arms around them and hold them tight. Shower your comfort on them. Lord, please keep and carry these precious people in their sadness and loss. Cover them with your great wings of love, give their weary hearts rest and their minds sound sleep. Lord, lift their eyes so that they may catch a glimpse of eternity and be comforted by the promise of heaven. Amen
For the hungry and the Food Bank:
Lord, we pray for our local Food Bank volunteers who help feed the poor and hungry. You made us to know what hunger is, but also to know the goodness of your provision. We pray for those who share this earth with us, but for whom hunger is a crippling, life-threatening danger. We pray for those who have nothing and have too little to eat. Amen
We pray for all the generous people we have in our community who have donated food to the Food Bank. May God protect you and keep you safe during this uncertain time. Amen
We remember those who are struggling:
Loving God, we pray today for those who are confronted by homelessness, sadness, ambiguity, isolation, the confusion of mental illness and dementia. We think of those upon whom they depend for attention and compassionate care. Look with mercy on all whose afflictions bring them weakness, distress, confusion or isolation. Provide for them homes of dignity and peace; give to them understanding helpers and the willingness to accept help. We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Prayers for all of us:
We lift to God those we hold in our hearts – praying for their health, their well-being and their sense of hope. We ask for God’s help in our communication, our connection and our caring. Amen
Lord, have mercy on those who hold anger or resentment in their hearts which prevent them from fullness of life; help those who find it hard to forgive others or themselves; give your healing to those who carry the wounds of broken relationships or bereavement. Amen
Today's prayer from the Church of England:
God of all mercy, your Son proclaimed good news to the poor, release to the captives and freedom to the oppressed: anoint us with your Holy Spirit and set all your people free to praise you in Christ our Lord. Amen
The Lord's Prayer:
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 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.
SPECIAL PRAYER FOR THE REVD PETER RAINSFORD
It is with a heavy heart we have to advise you that a previous vicar of St Bartholomew’s (from 1984), the Revd Peter Rainsford, is not at all well (following several months of illness) and he has deteriorated recently. We keep Peter and his wife, Pam, in our prayers.
Heavenly Father, give strength and courage to Revd Peter Rainsford as he patiently endures the suffering and pain of his illness. Take from his heart all painful anxiety. Help him to place himself in the arms of your loving and protective care; trusting in your compassionate and tender love. We ask that you be with his wife, Pam, at this time. Please heal her broken heart. Fill her with the peace and joy we know can only come from you during this difficult time. Amen
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10)
Prayer for Remembrance Day
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.”
