Please keep the following people in your prayers this week.  
Those who are ill in body, mind or spirit:
Jean Hodgetts, Rose Ward, Nina Davies, Vicki Ellis, George Carter, James Carr, Lindsey Dawes, Fred Clarke, Ted Dodd, Chris Handley, Mike Harrison, Stephen Wright, Sam Martin, Lynn Yule, Keith Turner, John Manns, Charlotte Talbot, John Lewis, baby Frankie Rowley, Debbie Sampson, Ray Stansbie, Barbara Willerby, Lilian Freeman Natalie Price, Malcolm Wright, Lesley Beech, Debbie Sampson, Colin Breakwell, Audrey Jones and Revd Peter Rainsford.
Those who have died:
Joseph Simms, Betty Clyne, Marjorie Stockham and Dave Bliss.

​Our daily prayers on Saturday 6th March

Prayer for today:
 
Lord our God, you are our help and our comfort. We look to you and to your promises. Grant that we may remain full of courage, also in our personal concerns, so that we do not complain like fretful children, but cheerfully wait for your great victory on earth. May we become your people. Grant your Spirit to your people, not only to a few but eventually to many. Lord our God, we pray that your will may be done on earth among the nations; may your will be done on earth as it is done in heaven. Amen

Prayers for all of us:
 
Dear God, your Son taught us to love our neighbour and to care for those in need as if we were caring for you. In this time of anxiety, give us strength to comfort the fearful, to tend the sick and to assure the isolated of our love, and your love, for your name’s sake.  When evil darkens our world, give us light. When despair numbs our souls, give us hope. When we stumble and fall, lift us up. When doubts torture us, give us faith. When nothing seems sure, give us trust. When ideals fade, give us vision. When we lose our way, be our guide. We pray we may find serenity in your presence, and purpose in doing your will. Amen
 
Almighty and merciful Father, hear graciously the prayers we make for those affected by the virus in various parts of the world, in our country and especially in our town. Grant healing to the sick, eternal life to the dead and consolation to the bereaved families. Amen
 
Father, thank you for our families. Thank you for the laughter, the learning, the tears and the triumphs that fill our homes. May we honour you with our actions and our words. May we build up each other according to your principles. May we extend forgiveness when there is hurt. Amen

Lord, be with our children and grandchildren who are away at college or university. Please watch over them and keep them safe. Amen

God, please bless all our key workers who have laboured long and hard for the rest of us. Keep them safe, bless their endeavours and give them strength. Have mercy on us all, dear Father. Amen
 
We pray for those who are ill in body, mind or spirit:
 
Lord, look upon us with eyes of mercy. May your healing hand rest upon those who are ill. May your life-giving powers flow into every cell of their bodies and into the depth of their souls; cleaning and purifying, restoring them to wholeness and strength for service in your Kingdom. Amen
 
Loving God, we pray that you will comfort those who are suffering. We ask that you lend skill to the hands of healers and bless the means used for cures. Give them confidence in the power of your grace, that even when they are afraid, they may put their whole trust in you; through our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen
 
We pray for those whose loved ones have died:
 
Lord, we pray for those who have died. Give them their reward, console those who loved them and weep with us for lost lives, for you are our resurrection and our life. Amen
 
Jesus, you 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. Amen
 
We remember all those who are struggling:
 
Dear God, the anxiety we face often feels like too much to carry. We’re tired and weary. We’re drained. We face discouragement at every turn. Yet we believe you are a miracle-working God, and we thank you that you are fighting for us today. Please help us to release our burdens to you. We know you can carry it all so much better than we ever could. We trust that your power is far greater than the difficulties we’re up against. We believe that you are mighty and that you are bigger than this trial. Amen

For the hungry and the Food Bank:
 
Lord you are our Father, a loving parent who cares for us - your children. Here today, we are just a few of your many million precious, loved and valued children. Help us to recognise the needs of our brothers and sisters - all made in your image - especially those suffering poverty and hunger, particularly those living in Wednesbury. Amen

Today’s prayer from the Church of England:

Almighty God,
by the prayer and discipline of Lent
may we enter into the mystery of Christ’s sufferings,
and by following in his Way
come to share in his glory;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Weekly Prayers 28th February-6th March

Prayer for today:

Dear Father in Heaven, we thank you that you have always been gracious to us, revealing your great goodness and power in ages past and in the present. You are the almighty one, who works wonders on earth and who rules the heavens so that we can be blessed and helped on our earthly paths. Let your goodness and your justice be revealed throughout all the world. Let your light shine in us who believe in you. Let your light shine into the whole world. Let your name be glorified. You are our Father, both in heaven and on earth. You give our lives security now and in eternity. Amen

Prayers for our church: 
 
Dear God, we pray for Fr Mark and ask that you keep him safe. We pray that our congregation can stay close to their faith. Amen

Lord, in these days of mercy, make us quiet and prayerful; in these days of challenge, make us stronger in you; in these days of emptiness, take possession of us; in these days of waiting, open our hearts to the mystery of your cross. Amen

OUR PRAYERS FOR THE SICK AND THOSE WHO HAVE DIED.
 
Those who have asked for our prayers:
Jean Hodgetts, Rose Ward, Nina Davies, Vicki Ellis, George Carter, James Carr, Lindsey Dawes, Fred Clarke, Ted Dodd, Chris Handley, Mike Harrison, Stephen Wright, Sam Martin, Lynn Yule, Keith Turner, John Manns, Charlotte Talbot, John Lewis, baby Frankie Rowley, Debbie Sampson, Ray Stansbie, Barbara Willerby, Lilian Freeman Natalie Price, Malcolm Wright, Lesley Beech, Debbie Sampson, Colin Breakwell, Audrey Jones and Revd Peter Rainsford.

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. We ask that you watch over all those awaiting operations. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God. Amen
 
For those who have recently died, we pray for:
Joseph Simms, Betty Clyne, Marjorie Stockham and Dave Bliss.

Lord, we humbly entrust Joseph, Betty, Marjorie and Dave to your care.  In this life you embraced them with your tender love; bid them now eternal rest. Amen
 
Jesus said “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust God still and trust in me. There are many rooms in my Father’s house; if there were not, I should have told you. I am going now to prepare a place for you and after I have gone and prepared you a place, I shall return to take you with me; so that where I am you may be too. (John 14:1-4)
  
For those known only to you who have died, we pray:
 
Father of all, we pray for all those whom we love but see no longer. Grant to them eternal rest. Let light perpetual shine upon them. May the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen
 
Almighty and eternal God, from whose love in Christ we cannot be parted, either by death or life: hear our prayers and thanksgivings for all whom we remember this day; fulfil in them the purpose of your love; and bring us all, with them, to your eternal joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

God our Father, your power brings us to birth, your providence guides our lives, and by your command we return to dust. Lord, 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:
 
God of love and mercy, embrace all those whose hearts today overflow with grief. Grant them space to express their tears. Hold them close through the coming days. Amen
 
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 in difficult times; made more acute during the current Coronavirus pandemic. 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
 
God of faithfulness, your generous love supplies us with all that we need. We know that all we have is yours. We celebrate the work that you have done in Wednesbury through the Food Bank by means of the generous support of local people and volunteers. Through the Food Bank we are able to offer food to the hungry, a drink to the thirsty and compassion to the strangers in our town. Accept our offering of worship and service. May your Spirit empower us to be your hands and feet in our community as we continue to serve those in crisis. We pray that you bless all those who give and receive. Increase the capacity of the Food Bank; help the food to get to those who need it most. 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, 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 pray that even when loved ones cannot physically be together they will not feel apart. We ask for God’s help in our communication, our connection and our caring. Amen

Father, we seek your wisdom daily. Be with people making decisions that affect the lives and futures of our families, communities, country and the wider world. May truth and empathy be the touchstones of people setting policies for our protection. Amen
 
Lord God, whose Son, Jesus Christ, understood people’s fear and pain before they spoke of them, we pray for those in hospital or sick at home; surround the frightened with your tenderness; give strength to those in pain; hold the weak in your arms of love, and give hope and patience to those who are recovering; we ask this through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord. 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

We pray that people will follow government guidelines for the safety of themselves and other people. 
 
Gracious God, give skill, sympathy and resilience to all who are caring for the sick. Strengthen them with your Spirit, that through their work many will be restored to health; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

Come to us, Lord our God: stretch out your arm to save, strengthen our hands to love, for the sake of the world that is your own. Amen

Today's prayer from the Church of England:

Almighty God, by the prayer and discipline of Lent may we enter into the mystery of Christ’s sufferings, and by following in his Way come to share in his glory; through Jesus 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.

​PRAYERS FOR US IN LOCAL LOCKDOWN

Please do what is right to protect all of us – our families, our friends, our neighbourhood.

"Keep us, good Lord, under the shadow of your mercy. Sustain and support the anxious, be with those who care for the sick, and lift up all who are brought low; that we may find comfort knowing that nothing can separate us from your love in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen”

“Ever present God, be with those who are still isolation, be close to us in our distancing, be healing in our sickness, be joy in our sadness, be light in our darkness, be wisdom in our confusion, be all that is familiar when all is unfamiliar. For Jesus’s sake. Amen”

WE PRAY YOU WILL STAY SAFE.
​

​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.”
​

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