Evening Prayer Friday, 7 May 2021
Good evening, everyone.
Welcome to Friday evening prayers.
This evening, we are going to begin our prayers with a hymn
which recognises that God, our Creator,
watches over everything in His world and all that happens in it.
In the darkness of the still night
in the dawning of the daylight,
in the mystery of creation,
Creator God, you are there.
in the breath of every being,
in the birthing and the growing,
in the earth and all its fullness,
Creator God, you are there.
In the homeless and the hungry,
in the broken and the lonely,
in the grieving of your people,
Creator God, you are there.
in the tears and in the heartache,
in the Love through which we serve you,
in the anguish of the dying,
Creator God, you are there.
In our hearts and in our thinking,
in the longing and the dreaming,
in the yearning of our heartbeat,
Creator God, you are there.
In the love for one another,
in the sharing of our being
in receiving and forgiving,
Creator God, you are there.
In our joys, our hopes, our healing,
in awakening to revealing,
in your call and our responding,
Creator God, you are there.
In our prayer and in our service,
in our praise and in our worship,
in your love that is eternal,
Creator God, you are there.
So, recognising the supremacy of God, and his love and care for the world,
we pray for all those people and places who desperately need our support.
All powerful and everlasting God, we thank you for your loving care and protection.
Be with us and guide our thoughts this evening.
We each have concerns of our own which we bring to you now …
… Thank you that we can leave our cares and worries in your loving hands,
so that they do not distract us from the work which you want us to do for your kingdom.
Creator God, hear our prayer.
We pray for all who are still affected by the rampant spread of the coronavirus,
particularly the people of India, where the number of cases has spiralled out of control
and they are desperate for further supplies of oxygen.
Grant strength and patience to the medical staff,
support those who suffer and their families and friends who watch and wait.
Loving God, take away their fear and bring them peace.
We thank you for scientists and researchers who have developed the vaccines
and for medical and nursing staff who work tirelessly to bring relief to those who are ill.
We are so grateful that vaccines have been made available to us
and that the number of cases here has reduced,
but we know this is not true for so many other people throughout the world.
We are ashamed that our own Government has cut aid to those who need it most.
We pray that those in power will recognise the value of sharing your gifts
with those who need them most,
remembering that all people are our brothers and sisters,
and equally deserving of your gifts to us.
Loving God, hear our prayer.
We thank you for the Milton Keynes Food Bank
and similar services throughout the country,
which try to ensure that the hungry are fed.
We know that there are still people who cannot be sure from week to week
that they will be able to provide for their children.
We pray for all who struggle to have enough money to live on,
to buy food and keep warm.
Loving God, hear our prayer.
And now we conclude our prayers by saying the Lord’s Prayer together:
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen
May the Grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ
and the love of God
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit
be with us all, evermore.
Amen
Rosemary Kearsey
