Evening Prayer Thursday, 22 October 2020
A reading from Psalm 90
1 Lord, you have been our dwelling-place
throughout all generations.
2 Before the mountains were born
or you brought forth the whole world,
from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
3 You turn people back to dust,
saying, ‘Return to dust, you mortals.’
4 A thousand years in your sight
are like a day that has just gone by,
or like a watch in the night.
5 Yet you sweep people away in the sleep of death –
they are like the new grass of the morning:
6 In the morning it springs up new,
but by evening it is dry and withered.
13 Relent, Lord! How long will it be?
Have compassion on your servants.
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
for as many years as we have seen trouble.
16 May your deeds be shown to your servants,
your splendour to their children.
17 May the favour of the Lord our God rest on us;
establish the work of our hands for us –
yes, establish the work of our hands.
Psalm 90: 1–6 & 13–17
Dear Lord, who is from everlasting to everlasting, we praise you, and bless your holy name.
Although we are as grass, and our life on earth is but a twinkle in the years of your creation,
you care for every one of us, and give us all that we need.
Although the corona virus pandemic is an affliction, effecting all our lives,
we know that it will pass, as all things pass, swept away by the tide of time.
We pray that you will guard and guide all those who are troubled by the virus,
whether they themselves are sick with the virus,
or their treatment for another medical condition is not available at present,
or because the restrictions impose an intolerable burden.
We remember single-parent families with small children
who lack the normal opportunities for play and socialisation with their peers,
and ask that your church may find creative ways to assist.
We pray for the frail and the elderly, who are deprived of proper contact with their families.
May we all do all we can to help those who are lonely to feel less alone –
a quick phone call, or even just a wave through the window as we pass their home.
We ask for your blessing on the newly announced ‘Gentleplaces’ project for the bereaved,
launched yesterday by the Milton Keynes Mission Partnership.
This project is designed to offer opportunities for people suffering bereavement
to talk in a friendly environment with others who are also bereaved.
Bless we pray, those volunteers at Cornerstone who will be helping to provide this service.
May they know that you are with them and supporting them in their roles.
Although we may not know how long it will be,
we know that one day we shall overcome the current pandemic,
and we shall praise you for your steadfast love for us.
You satisfy us every day with your unfailing love
and we can sing for you and be glad all day long.
As we prepare for the night ahead may your love rest on us,
so that we may have a restful night
and be ready in the morning to turn our hands to whatever tasks you have established for us.
We close our prayers this evening by saying the Grace together:
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the love of God
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit
be with us all, evermore.
Amen
