Daily Prayers Friday, 4 March 2022
Today is World Day of Prayer, when Christians across the world will be gathering to pray on the same theme – this year for the people of England, Wales and Northern Ireland, though our thoughts will be directed too to the people suffering at this time in Ukraine. The service centres round a passage from Jeremiah, chapter 29, the key verse of which says, ‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ (Jeremiah 29:11)
As many of you will either be joining the service at church, or worshipping with us online, I am not using prayers from the World Day of Prayer service here, but I am drawing on some from the supplementary material which I have received.
So. Let us pray
God of sunshine, joy and beauty
God of darkness, clouds and pain,
We worship you,
We praise you,
Thank you for all you have given us.
For your love and protection
For your encouragement and inspiration
For your sensitivity to our needs.
God of the past, the present and the future,
Our thoughts and prayers are with our sisters and brothers in the Ukraine and the surrounding countries in their fear and distress.
We pray too for all other regions of the world where there is conflict, unrest or oppression.
We pray that reconciliation will overcome hatred,
peace will conquer war, hope will replace despair
and that your plans for the world and for us, its people, will be fulfilled.
God, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
We thank you, God, for the World Day of Prayer movement. Thank you especially that today people across the world are praying for us here in this country. We pray for people throughout our land – remembering especially those who are struggling at this time because of low income, or work pressures or failing relationships. Help us as a church to welcome all, to listen to those who are lost or lonely and to care for all who cross our threshold.
God, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
We have seen the plans you had for us,
A wonderful creation of a perfect planet,
A vast and incomprehensible universe and a space sparkling with light in the darkness.
We have seen the baby born in a manger.
We have seen the boy growing in wisdom and knowledge.
We have seen the miracles, the love and compassion,
We have seen his death and cruel destruction.
We know of the resurrection and ascension.
We have also seen human greed and cruelty,
pride, racial prejudice, poverty and war.
But we know you have a plan for us
for we have seen your faithfulness, your power and glory.
In you we trust.
You still have a plan for us.
Show us the way.
God, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
Lord, help us to trust in you as we face the future.
We admit that the future seems unclear and without direction,
And how easy it would be for us to stay within the comfort zone of those things which are familiar to us.
Gracious and loving God, although we sometimes get anxious about the future, we know that everything is in your hands.
Thank you for giving us hope for a better future.
Be with us each step of the way as we face the months and years ahead.
God, in your mercy
Hear our prayer.
And now, a prayer from the 16th century, from St Teresa of Avila:
Trust in God.
Let nothing disturb you.
All things pass.
God never changes.
Patience achieves all it strives for.
Those who have God
Find they lack nothing.
God alone suffers. St Teresa of Avila
And we finish with an Irish blessing
May the road rise up to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rain fall soft upon your fields
And, until we meet again.
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.
We ask all our prayers in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour.
Amen
Rosemary Kearsey
