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, Bashira Salhotra, Sandra Partridge, Marion Haywood and Lin Walford.
Those who have died: Nona Bassett.
OUR PRAYERS FOR SUNDAY 24th SEPTEMBER
Lord of the harvest, with joy we have offered thanksgiving for your love in creation and have shared in the bread of the kingdom: by your grace plant within us a reverence for all that you give us and make us generous and wise stewards of the good things we enjoy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Almighty God, we thank you for the gift of being able to speak to you directly through prayer. We express our concerns for the Church, the world, our local community and people in particular need. Bless us as we walk on earth under great stress and temptation. Keep us from going astray, and let what you have placed in our hearts grow toward perfection, to your glory and your honour. May our hearts always know the joy that our struggles and suffering are not in vain, that if we are faithful, we may bring forth the fruit of righteousness. Amen
Dear God, everywhere we walk, let it be on your path. Everything we see, let it be through your eyes. Everything we do, let it be your will. For every hardship we face, let us place them in your hands. Every emotion we feel, let them be your Spirit moving in us. Everything we seek, let us find it in your love. We thank you for this day; we are safe in the protection of your loving care. In Jesus’ name, we offer ourselves to you. Amen.
Bless our Sovereign Lord, King Charles, and all who are in authority under him; that they may order all things in wisdom, righteousness and peace, to the honour of your name, and the good of your Church and people. Amen
We pray for unity among all nations, that the barriers of hatred, prejudice and fear may be dismantled. Help us to see one another as your beloved children regardless of our differences. Heal the wounds of hatred and resentment that keep nations and individuals apart. We continue to pray for the people of Ukraine and for other countries suffering conflict across the world, praying especially for those who grieve loss of life; for the injured or traumatised; and for those whose properties have been destroyed or livelihoods ruined. We ask for your healing presence in their lives. Amen
Lord, we pray for our local community: that through your grace we may be good neighbours to each other and to the whole of creation. We thank you for the work of the food bank volunteers, charity worker and for all those working for people in our community. Amen
Heavenly Father, we pray for those who are sick and suffering in body, mind or spirit, that you wrap them in your arms of comfort. Ease their pain and grant them peace. Let them feel your loving presence and know that you are walking beside them through this journey. May they find solace in your promises and place their trust in you. We name before you those on our sick list: 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, Bashira Salhotra, Sandra Partridge, Marion Haywood and Lin Walford. Amen
We lift up those who are bereaved, whose hearts are heavy with loss and sorrow. Wrap them in your arms of love and provide the solace that only you can give, and may they find strength in your presence. May they feel your nearness, and experience the healing balm of your grace. We remember the soul of Nona Bassett. Amen
Loving Father, thank you for teachers, teaching assistants and other staff in our local schools. Grant them your encouragement, wisdom and peace. We pray for our children over the coming week and ask that you keep them safe whilst in school. Comfort and restore those children living under shadows of unhappiness, abuse, pain or fear. Pour out your blessingsupon them, we pray. Amen
Father, thank you for our families. 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. Help them to find comfort in your love and grace, and guide them to a place of peace and wholeness. Amen
As we step into the week ahead, may your presence go before us 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
Lord our God and Father, we look deep into your mighty Word and see the glory of the new world you will create according to your justice and truth. We thank you for giving us this joy on earth in the midst of all our toil and striving. We look deep into your Word; to this hope our lives are directed, to this hope you have called us. Praise to your name, for you have already done great things for us. Let many find the light, for in this light they may look to you in simple faith and constancy until the end, when throughout the world we may see your glory and your grace. Amen
Lord of all, we pray for those who work for change – campaigning for equality of opportunity, striving to break down preconceptions, and building bridges across divided communities. Encourage them in their efforts, and grant that through bringing people together prejudices may be overcome. Reach out in love, and heal our divisions. Amen
Lord, no matter what, you offer healing to us; you see our pain and disease. You offer forgiveness to us. You free us from our wounds and scars. You let us come close to you and never shun but always accept. You look at us with love and kindness, and see the worth in each of us. You make the impossible, possible. Thank you. Amen
Lord, we pray for the volunteers in our lives and thank them for their tireless dedication. May your Spirit bless them with continual guidance as they faithfully serve others. We thank you for the volunteers in our local food bank and charity shops, who help support people in our town. Amen
Be with our children whilst they are in school this week. Watch over them and keep them and their teachers safe. Amen
Lord, be with those who are suffering in body, mind or spirit, some of whom we know and pray for personally and whose names are on our Weekly Prayer list. Others we do not know, but they need your comfort, strength and grace to sustain them in their days of pain or grief. Amen
We pray for those who have died and ask that you be with all people who are mourning the loss of a loved one. Amen
God of peace and justice, we continue to pray for the people of Ukraine and other countries in the world where there is unrest or conflict and who are suffering from grief, loss of homes or livelihoods. We ask that your Spirit of comfort will draw near to them. 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 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.
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.”