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, Malcolm Wright, Sharon Martin, Gary Walker, Keith Potts, Bryan Freeman, Sarah Reynolds, Doreen Millard, Danny Peters, Tony Breakwell, Sandra Partridge, Marion Haywood, Lin Walford, Sarah Lunn, Dennis MacDonald, Samantha Felton, Vera Malton, Heather Walker, Joseph Davies, John Stockall, Graham Rigby, Bill Cartwright, King Charles and the Princess of Wales.
Those who have died: Eric Shenton, Martin Holland, Sue Riches, Tom Millington and Keith Taylor.
PRAYERS ON SUNDAY 17th MARCH
There are many people in our lives who need prayer. When we pray for others, we join God in his work in our lives. When we pray for others, we share in their burdens, but we also learn to trust God. God hears when we pray for others, and he answers.
Dear Father in Heaven, grant that we may come to you in the Spirit. Through your Spirit gather us and many others on earth around our Lord Jesus Christ, the great Saviour of humankind. May our hearts become truly free and may we be led safely through distress, fear, and want. Amen
God of boundless mercy and unfailing love, meet us here, we pray. Join our hearts in wholehearted worship, breathe your word into our souls. Engrave your covenant of grace into our minds and hearts. Inspire and shape us, unite and encourage us, that our lives may reflect your love and justice to the world. Amen
Lord, we thank you for the gift of today. Refresh us and invite us to discover your presence in each person we meet and every event that we encounter. Teach us when to speak and when to listen, when to ponder and when to share. In moments of challenge and decision attune our hearts to the whisperings of your wisdom. When our day goes well, may we rejoice. When it is difficult, surprise us with new possibilities. May our living today reveal your goodness. Amen
Strengthen Michael our diocesan bishop, and all your Church in the service of Christ, that those who confess your name may be united in your truth, live together in your love and reveal your glory in the world. We welcome the Revd Sue Boyce today and thank her for joining us for our service. 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. Amen
We give you thanks for Charles your servant and our King. We thank him for his devotion to his family, nation and Commonwealth. Bless all who are in authority under him; may they govern with wisdom and integrity. We continue to pray for King Charles as he carries out some of his duties whilst having treatment for cancer and we wish the Princess of Wales good health during her convalescence. We ask that you be with the Prince of Wales as he shoulders the burden of his position whilst King Charles and the Princess of Wales recuperate. Be with the Queen and the rest of the Royal Family carrying out their duties, also. Amen
We pray for our nation and its leaders, and for all those who are seeking to bring peace and justice to our dangerous and troubled world. We pray especially for your protection for all those who serve in our armed forces, and we thank you for their commitment to defend our freedom. Lord, we pray for countries across the world experiencing conflict, especially in Ukraine and the Middle East, and ask that you be with all those who grieve loss of life and those who are injured or traumatised. We pray for those whose properties have been destroyed or livelihoods ruined and ask for your healing presence in their lives. God of peace, we ask that you watch over everyone and keep them safe. Amen
God of mercy, 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. Restore those who are suffering in body, mind or spirit. We pray especially for: Rose Ward, Nina Davies, Keith Turner, Colin Breakwell, Jean Hodgetts, Amanda Horton, Audrey Jones, Malcolm Wright, Sharon Martin, Gary Walker, Keith Potts, Bryan Freeman, Sarah Reynolds, Doreen Millard, Danny Peters, Tony Breakwell, Sandra Partridge, Marion Haywood, Lin Walford, Sarah Lunn, Dennis MacDonald, Samantha Felton, Vera Malton, Heather Walker, Joseph Davies, John Stockall, Graham Rigby and Bill Cartwright. Amen
We remember those who have died and are known only to you. We name Eric Shenton, Martin Holland, Sue Riches, Tom Millington and Keith Taylor, and ask that you be with their families and friends at this time. Father, you are a constant source of comfort in times of mourning. May they feel your nearness and experience the healing balm of your grace. May their memories become joyful, their days enriched with friendship, and their lives encircled by your love. Amen
Heavenly 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
Everlasting God, strengthen and sustain all those who volunteer in our church; that with patience and understanding they may love and care for your people; and grant that together they may offer to you their gifts and talents. 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
Lord, strengthen all teachers and help them to be firm, patient, expecting excellence but forgiving of mistakes. May they support their students and motivate them to do their best. We pray for our local schools that they are places of great discovery, adventure and creativity. May they be places where our children can love to learn and learn to love; where everyone is respected and all are deeply valued. Watch over our children whilst they are at school, college or university, and keep them safe. We pray, also, for the uniformed organisations who meet in this parish. Bless all those who guide, support and teach them. 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
Today on St Patrick’s Day, we finish our prayers by quoting a short prayer written by him: May your days be many and your troubles be few. May all God’s blessings descend upon you. May peace be within you, may your heart be strong. May you find what you’re seeking wherever you roam. May the strength of God pilot us, may the wisdom of God instruct us. May the hand of God protect us, may the word of God direct us. May thy Salvation, O Lord, be always ours this day and for evermore. 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 WEEK 18th-23rd MARCH 2024
God of love, you are with us every day. We thank you for the gifts, talents and skills with which you have blessed us. We thank you for the experiences that have brought us to this moment. Be with us as we move forward, rejoicing with you and supporting one another. Amen
We pray for your guidance and wisdom in the decisions we will 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. Amen
Let us pray for the people we know who need God's healing touch today. Lord, touch them with your healing power, grant them peace amidst pain, confidence in your wisdom, and the ability to draw strength from the knowledge that underneath are your everlasting arms. We pray for those on our sick list, whose names were mentioned in our prayers on Sunday. We pray, also, for those known only to you. Amen
We pray for King Charles as he carries out some of his duties whilst continuing to undergo treatment for cancer and we hold in our prayers the Princess of Wales, as she recuperates from recent surgery. We ask that you place your healing hands on them both during their time of convalescence. Amen
Merciful God, we pray for all those who have gone before us and those known only to you. We hold in our prayers Eric Shelton, Martin Holland, Sue Riches, Tom Millington and Keith Taylor. We pray for those mourning; 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 all people affected by conflict in 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 for all those affected, especially in Ukraine and the Middle East, and ask that you be with them. We are all conscious of the great upheaval, turbulence, violence and suffering in our world at the moment. Amen
Gracious God, we pray for the work and service of all care homes and day centres caring for the elderly and sick people in our community. We pray, also, for all those doing charitable or voluntary work and give thanks to the volunteers who run the food bank. Amen
Lord, be with our children whilst they are in school this week. May they be places where everyone is respected, and all are deeply valued. We thank you for the role teachers play in the lives of our children and in our society. Amen
Lord, watch over all families at this time, especially those living in abusive relationships. 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.