Category: Prayer of the Week

God of surprises, you go on ahead to prepare a place for us.
We hope and believe that it will be a place where: barriers are broken to reflect your justice.
A place where life is lived to reflect your righteousness.
A place where wholeness and well-being reflect your peace.
A place of quiet gentleness to reflect your compassion.
A place of warm-hearted tenderness to reflect your love.
A place of graceful selflessness to reflect your humility.
But we live in the here and now, and as we wait with anticipation and hope,
we build your kingdom right here and right now.
Amen

Loving God, we are gathered here safely in the presence of a true shepherd,
secure in the knowledge that you love us and you will never abandon us to the wolves of this world.
You would rather give up your life to protect us.
But quite often, Lord, we get lost in the alluring pastures of this world
and you abandon everything to search and bring us back to the fold.
Thank you that we have safety and security of your abundant forgiveness
and provision in your Kingdom.
Amen

Living God; as we travel the journey of life,
sometimes we are sad and discouraged, and don’t recognise your presence.
Forgive us and help us.
As we travel through new experiences, sometimes we are confused and afraid,
and forget to look for you among the unfamiliar.
Forgive us and help us.
As we meet new people, some who have different ideas and views from our own,
some who challenge and make us feel uncomfortable, we fail to see you at work in them.
Forgive us and help us.
As we listen to old familiar Bible stories,
sometimes we neglect to look for new opportunities among the well-known words.
Forgive us and help us.
Amen

Father God, you are always there for us, whether we feel it or not.
Lord Jesus, you come to us today, and say: ‘Peace be with you’
we open our hearts and receive your perfect peace into our imperfect doubting lives.
Holy Spirit, you lead us to the fullness of joy; we can’t wait to experience you more.
Come, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Amen

Heavenly Father, help us to recognise Jesus as the one who comes in your name,
as the one who blesses and saves us.
As we explore your Word this morning,
may we offer true praise and adoration in our worship,
may we be open to learn more about your ways,
and may we resolve to walk the road with Jesus every day.
Amen

God of Easter and great sacrifices, we worship you today,
and welcome you into the streets of our hearts as King of kings.
Your love does not fade; its strength endures, stretching out across history, beyond time and space.
Such love we cannot fathom; we can only marvel at a love so big.
We thank you for your great love and sacrifice for us
Amen

Loving and Living God, as we enter the season of your passion,
we pray that you will liberate us from all that binds and traps us.
Give us the courage to unbind ourselves from our resentments and fears
and to walk free in the knowledge that you love us just as we are.
For loving the world so much that you came to live on earth, thank you Lord.
We thank you, Lord Jesus.
For loving people so much that you wept when your dear friend died, thank you Lord.
We thank you, Lord Jesus.
For loving me so much that you hold me in your hand and call me by name, thank you Lord.
We thank you, Lord Jesus.
Guide us on to love you, your world, each other and to love ourselves, to your glory, and praise.
Amen

Lord Jesus, thank you for everyone who looks after children,
especially Mums on this special Mothering Sunday.
Thank you,
for our families – for dads and brothers and sisters,
for grandmas and granddads and uncles and aunties,
for foster carers and step parents.
Thank you
for special friends and neighbours, childminders, nursery workers and
school staff who all share in caring for children.
Thank you
that you love and care for us even before we are born and that we can discover your love through the people around us.
Amen

Loving God, you gave us your only-begotten Son, to take our nature upon him
and you revealed him to us at his baptism in the river Jordan.
Today, as we remember our baptism and its implication in our lives,
grant that we, who have been born again of water and the Holy Spirit,
and made your children by adoption and grace, may be renewed everyday by your Holy Spirit,
through him that died to redeem us for you.
Amen

As a gathered church, we approach the maker of heaven and earth,
with love in our hearts and hope in our minds.
We who live on earth approach the God who breathes the creative wind
across our world, and praise the name of Yahweh.
We who live as a fallen humanity approach the God who lives in perfect harmony,
and seek love, forgives and guidance in the name of Jesus.
Amen

Christ our redeemer,
when you were tempted in the wilderness, you resisted the temptation to be of the world:
we praise and worship you.
When tempted by bread; you chose the word of God.
When tempted to be spectacular, you chose humility.
When tempted by riches and powers, you chose servanthood.
We are humbled and forever grateful for the example you set for us.
Amen

Eternal God, your Son and our Saviour was glorified on earth together with you,
with the glory which he had with you before the world was.
We thank you for sending him so that we could all be saved
and that we could have an example on how to lead lives that are pleasing to you here on earth.
On this Transfiguration Sunday, we thank you for the glorification of your Son
and the power that was made known in him,
because we believe that we too can experience your power here on earth
through the Spirt he promised and sent.
Amen

Redeeming Christ, during your time on earth,
you were sought by people from all corners of the earth.
You listened to their cry for help, treated them with dignity, love and compassion,
and brought them healing and wholeness when they asked of you.
Grant us the wisdom as your church in our own time
to provide to all those who we encounter in society the help that they need
and the care that they require.
Guide us to respond to the invitation of the Holy Spirit to dream of a world made new,
where the poor are not forgotten
but given the opportunity to live and flourish with good health and equal prospects.
Amen

Creating God, you are the perfect Light of revelation,
and as you shone in the life of Jesus, whose epiphany we celebrate,
so shine in us and through us,
that we may become beacons of truth and compassion,
enlightening all creation with deeds of justice and mercy.
Set us free, from the bondage of our sins,
and give us the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known to us in your Son
that we may truly be the salt and the light in our communities.
Amen

Gracious God, you listen attentively to the cry of holocaust
yet also encourage us to sing the song of hope.
With sorrow we remember before you the tangled tale of our bonds with the Jewish people.
We repent of the centuries of hostility and hatred.
May we continue to foster a new spirit of mutual understanding, building deeper relationships
which honour the heritage of faith that we hold in common,
so that together we may bear witness to the generosity of God’s compassion and steadfast love,
which seeks to bring heaven in ordinary here on earth.
Amen